USC DPT program vs Cal State MPT programs

[laiels]

I have been accepted to USC DPT program as well as both the Cal State Northridge MPT and the Cal State Long Beach MPT programs. Does anyone have any words of advice on whether or not I should attend the USC program vs choosing one of the Cal State programs?
USC is the top ranked program in the nation and offers a DPT whereas the Cal states offer only MPT. I guess the biggest advantage of going to USC would be due it top ranking and reputation, as well as the fact that it offers the higher DPT degree. The biggest disadvantage would be the $130,000 price tag vs $20,000 for the Cal State programs....and if going to USC and getting the DPT isn't going to offer me a competitive advangage over the Cal State MPT programs, then it may not be worth it.

-any insight as to whether the DPT offers any economic advantage/ability to get a job, vs MPT

-does graduating from a more renowned school such as USC offer a competitive advantage in when
getting a job/commanding a higher salary?

-Do the Cal state schools have a good reputation as far as their program goes?

It would be especially helpful if someone attended one of the programs could offer their insight....or perhaps if someone who has worked with and/or hired grads from these programs could offer their insight on how well prepared new graduates from these programs tend to be...thanx for everyone's input
laiels Posts: 1Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:31 pm

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[palibballer1]

I got waitlisted at USC and CSUN and i didnt even bother accepting the USC waitlist spot. Luckily i got off the waitlist at CSUN and that's where I'll be going this fall. MPT 12' baby!

My research has shown that it doesnt matter whether you have a DPT or an MPT, all that employers care about is whether you are a LICENSED PT, which a DPT and an MPT both give you the opportunity of becoming. Unlike law schools and business schools your job placement and therefore salary will not depend on the school ranking.

I personally know that CSUN has great facilities and our class size is 34 students, as opposed to the 90 that USC will have. This will provide a great personal learning environment as the student/teacher ratio will be so low and a great way to meet and get close to your future collegues. I think that the cost difference is so great that it just isnt worth going to SC. As PTs we will not be making six figure salaries anytime soon, and to have 130k in debt just isnt worth it. CSUN is 21k, and that includes books, parking, any any expense you can think of for school.

I hope some of this helps you out, but i think you knew most of it already otherwise you wouldn't have made your post in the first place. Regardless, I hope to see you in our CSUN MPT class. Go bruins, trojans suck, hehe.

 

[laiels]

thanks for your input paliballer. Did you apply to CSULB's program? if not, any reason why?

 

[palibballer1]

I actually did not apply to CSULB. I went there for an informational meeting last September, which was held in their department, and afterwords i got a tour of their facilities. They were not up to par with other universities, in my opinion, and I just couldnt see myself going to school there for three years.

Did i convince you to join me at CSUN for this fall? C'mon, itll be fun and besides, it'll feel MPT without you there. Corny joke, i know, but i thought it was creative.

 

[ptstudenttobe]

I got accepted to USC and CSULB as well as other schools in the Southern California Area and will attend CSULB. I chose this mainly because there is practically no difference between MPT and DPT (hiring rates, salary, etc) and with the economy where it is now, it didn't make sense for me to take such a large amount of money in loans to pay for USC and the other private schools. Most of the therapists I've worked with tole me that I should get my MPT degree and get my license in the least amount of debt possible. And after a few year, if the DPT is absoulutely necessary, I can get my tDPT later only which could possibly be paid for by the company I work for. This basically sold the MPT route for me because 1. I like to save money and 2. I'd like to pay off any debts ASAP.

I currently work for as an aide for grads of USC and CSULB, among others, and find no difference between the two. Granted the alumnus from Long Beach graduated about a decade earlier than the USC grad, it seems to me that both schools have prepared the two well into their careers.

Here's my take on your questions

-any insight as to whether the DPT offers any economic advantage/ability to get a job, vs MPT.
As of right now, no. Insurance companies basically control the amount of reimbusement the therapists gets from their treatment. That being said, many insurance companies don't properly reimburse companies their proper share, and withother proper payments, the salary of PT's are meager (compared to others in the healthcare professions). In addition, medicare and medicaid has continued to reduce their caps for their patients which means less visits and essentailly less reimbursement. Until these two issues are addressed by the government, there can't be too much of a difference between DPT and MPT. The vision 2020 can't really go on until this and many other kinds are worked out.

-does graduating from a more renowned school such as USC offer a competitive advantage in when
getting a job/commanding a higher salary?

No, graduating from a more renowned school such as USC, in my opinion offers better facilities as compared to the CSU's. This make sense because with the amount of tuition they're charging, they are able to afford the better things. Bear in mind that the rankings are purely subjective and many schools choose not to participate in it. So don't base your decision on rankings alone.

-Do the Cal state schools have a good reputation as far as their program goes?

i've heard good things from the therapists I've worked with. CSUN and CSULB are both well established programs and although their facilities aren't as good as USC's, their program is definitely up to par if not better than some of the other programs in Southern california. Although, I'm a bit biased with the CSU's I'm sure if you do choose going to Northridge or Long Beach, you wont' regret it.

 

[pttrac]

Great input guys, but please use the search function next time. This topic has been beaten to death.

 

[laiels]

hi, sorry

I actually did more than do a search for this topic. I went through all 19 pages of this forum reading various threads about choosing schools and the importance of DPT vs MPT before posting this thread. What I was hoping for was real life experiences from people who had specifically worked with Cal State and USC grads and/or had gone to those programs so that I could get input from someone with direct experience with those programs.

 

[pttrac]

Okay, as long as you did your research that is really good. It is just that I always see noobs posting up before actually doing a search. I will give you my .02 as well.

Any insight as to whether the DPT offers any economic advantage/ability to get a job, vs MPT?

There is no advantage right now to have a DPT over an MPT. As long as the program is accredited and you are able to sit for the board exams and pass in your particular state for licensure than you should be okay. I personally worked with the outpatient coordinator in a major hospital and he told me that he does not give the DPTs that apply any more weight than the MPTs. They are all judged on their experience and other factors. He told me that in the future that might change, but it would be like 20-30 years from now.

Does graduating from a more renowned school such as USC offer a competitive advantage in when getting a job/commanding a higher salary?

I think this will really depend on the area you live in or even the person who actually does the hiring. I have worked with USC alums and I am pretty sure they had the same opportunities and chances of being hired as anyone else. If by luck you get someone who was a USC alum doing the hiring then maybe that might be an issue. As for higher salary, it will not matter.

Do the Cal state schools have a good reputation as far as their program goes?

I think that all the CSUs have a pretty good reputation. I know two alums from CSUN that worked at my hospital and they are highly regarded there. They have been in the field for more than 25 years though. I have also seen some CSULB grads come through there and they seem confident in themselves. I am not sure about Sac State, but I know a few on here that go there, so they might chime in. I have my B.S. and soon to be M.P.H from both CSUs, so I might be a little biased. 😀

 

[blahblah56]

palibballer, are you from hawaii?

 

[palibballer1]

Nope.

 

[coconuthead]

Hi, all, great threads. It answered lots of my questions. I've do an other search regarding with CSU Fresno.

From what I got, I felt CSU Northridge and CSULB is more well known than other CSUs. What are your thoughts about CSU Fresno's program, particularly its MPT-DPT program? I would hope to hear from people who is attending the program now or already graduated from there, or if you have worked with someone graduated from CSU Fresno.

Thanks