TWU v. UTMB PT school

[everybluemoon]

Hey everyone! I got offered admission to UTMB and TWU at Houston campus. I am having a really hard time deciding between them. Any advice y'all have would be much appreciated.

Here is my pros and cons list:

UTMB:
Pros: everyone is really friendly, neuro oriented (12 week long neuro clinical), cost of living is slightly cheaper, interdisciplinary classes, strong anatomy lab, offer medical spanish in their curriculum, won't be in a big city so I won't have too much distraction from school
Cons: Galveston is dirty and smells, also they're kind of due for another hurricane, have to leave town for clinicals, tuition is $45k, average pass rate of 84%

TWU @ Houston:
Pros: located across the street from Texas Medical Center (big networking plus), tuition is only $33k, can probably stay in town for clinicals, average pass rate of 94%
Cons: I don't know if they are more uptight/strict with their program or if everyone is as collaborative as UTMB

*both schools are heavy on research and offer DPT-PhD fast track programs and have 33 month long programs*

If I forgot anything or you have something to add I would really really appreciate it!!

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[jjjDPT]

In my opinion, go with TWU. My top priorities when choosing between schools were 1) tuition 2) pass rate and 3) location. TWU is the best option for those factors.

Congrats!

 

[DPTErudition]

Trust me, the difference in tuition alone means you should go with TWU.

 

[jjjDPT]

Trust me, the difference in tuition alone means you should go with TWU.

Yes. TWU is 27% less the cost of UTMB, and that's not including what you will possibly save from doing clinicals in-town versus out-of-town (paying double rent).

It sounds like neuro is a special interest? You can just prioritize your clinicals at TWU to include a good neuro experience.

 

[DesertPT]

average pass rate of 84%

NPTE website says the 3 year ultimate pass rate for UTMB for 2010, 2011 & 2012 was 100%. Are you talking about some first time pass rate numbers the school provided?

https://www.fsbpt.org/FreeResources/NPTEPassRateReports/NPTEPassRatesByState.aspx?exam=PT&state=693
(scroll down to the bottom)

 

[goyo1010]

I'm preeeeeeetty biased, buuuuuut:

TWU @ Houston:
Pros: located IN the TMC; surrounded by dozens of academic and health care institutions within walking distance, as well as those around the Houston area; tuition is low; high pass rate; strong anatomy lab. TWU is pretty balance in terms of neuro and ortho, meaning you can actually decide what to do for clinicals. You get a 7 week neuro-specific rotation, then a 12-week whatever you want to do rotation. TWU has a very close relationship with TIRR (most of our neuro professors work/worked there) and we get lots of opportunities to do labs and observe at TIRR IP and OP centers. In terms of interdisciplinary classes, that doesn't happen much. We do have people from other professions guest lecture, lead discussions, etc as well as have classes that address interdisciplinary care, but as for actually sitting in classes with OT, PA, nursing, or MD students, that doesn't really happen at TWU. The DPT-PhD program is also great with great mentorship; I'm in it.

 

[everybluemoon]

to knj27: no I am referencing the pass rate for the program. both schools have a 3 year board average pass rate of 100%.

UTMB: http://shp.utmb.edu/PhysicalTherapy/StudentGraduationOutcomes.asp
TWU: http://www.twu.edu/physical-therapy/entry-level-dpt.asp
"Average Graduation rate for the last three classes was 94%"- TWU

 

[everybluemoon]

I'm preeeeeeetty biased, buuuuuut:

TWU @ Houston:
Pros: located IN the TMC; surrounded by dozens of academic and health care institutions within walking distance, as well as those around the Houston area; tuition is low; high pass rate; strong anatomy lab. TWU is pretty balance in terms of neuro and ortho, meaning you can actually decide what to do for clinicals. You get a 7 week neuro-specific rotation, then a 12-week whatever you want to do rotation. TWU has a very close relationship with TIRR (most of our neuro professors work/worked there) and we get lots of opportunities to do labs and observe at TIRR IP and OP centers. In terms of interdisciplinary classes, that doesn't happen much. We do have people from other professions guest lecture, lead discussions, etc as well as have classes that address interdisciplinary care, but as for actually sitting in classes with OT, PA, nursing, or MD students, that doesn't really happen at TWU. The DPT-PhD program is also great with great mentorship; I'm in it.

Do you/did you get to graduate with your same DPT cohort while in the PhD fast track program? This is highly intriguing to me as I wish to pursue research.

 

[DesertPT]

to knj27: no I am referencing the pass rate for the program. both schools have a 3 year board average pass rate of 100%.

UTMB: http://shp.utmb.edu/PhysicalTherapy/StudentGraduationOutcomes.asp
TWU: http://www.twu.edu/physical-therapy/entry-level-dpt.asp
"Average Graduation rate for the last three classes was 94%"- TWU

Ah gotcha. Well that 84% just seemed to be a freak year that had a higher dropout rate for some reason, graduation was in the 90's in the two years prior...that seems to happen at PT schools, there will just be a random year all of a sudden with a higher attrition rate.

 

[AlanWattsBlues]

Ah gotcha. Well that 84% just seemed to be a freak year that had a higher dropout rate for some reason, graduation was in the 90's in the two years prior...that seems to happen at PT schools, there will just be a random year all of a sudden with a higher attrition rate.

96%....90%.....84%....Yikes! I don't know, that steadily declining graduation rate would send off major red flags to me. . I've seen people fail out or drop out for a number of reasons, but half the time it seemed to be a shared responsibility between student and faculty. And for everyone who leaves the program for one reason or another, there are more who are clinging on for dear life and having a miserable time.

 

[DesertPT]

96%....90%.....84%....Yikes! I don't know, that steadily declining graduation rate would send off major red flags to me. . I've seen people fail out or drop out for a number of reasons, but half the time it seemed to be a shared responsibility between student and faculty. And for everyone who leaves the program for one reason or another, there are more who are clinging on for dear life and having a miserable time.

Hmm, perhaps. Graduation rates rates rarely drop below 80% at a school so I guess if next year's number continues the pattern of decline that really would be a bad sign.

When I went to visit there, Franklin Pierce University Goodyear told me that one of the current classes had 10 out of 30 drop out. They claim it was mostly students having personal problems and that it was just kind of an odd year, and that the other two classes that they have had so far have only had 2 or 3 drop out. Who knows...

 

[goyo1010]

Do you/did you get to graduate with your same DPT cohort while in the PhD fast track program? This is highly intriguing to me as I wish to pursue research.

Yes, I graduated with my cohort. You simply have the option of making your DPT research project (required for graduation) part of your PhD studies. TWU utilizes a 3-study dissertation; however, you may still do the single study dissertation format. In addition to your DPT research project possible going towards you PhD project, you can also start taking additional PhD classes while in your DPT program. When you graduate from your DPT program you are officially accepted as a PhD student--you're only conditionally accepted into the PhD program while you are still finishing up your DPT.

 

[chanmccr]

I accepted my offer at UTMB, and I'll start in August! When's the deadline for your decision?

 

[DPTRVTCCRP]

I was accepted into both programs as well (TWU Dallas rather than Houston) and it is what you make it - UTMB changed their program up a little recently which could account for the decreased class. Also something that gets over looked is if the people that dropped from the class entered the next class? It could have been something as simple as someone got pregnant, or had a medical emergency and needed to step out a year to take care of it. The numbers can be misleading. Look at the NPTE pass rates for better numbers. The school is what you make of it - you just need to put in the work.

Good Luck!