WesternU - Malignant DPT Program

[Mobilizificatio]

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I'm usually not one to air out dirty laundry on the internet, but a lot of people are as upset as I am about this program and I think prospective students deserve to know what is really going on. This program is such a massive frustration to try and get through. The administration is extremely unprofessional and disorganized, the faculty are generally incompetent, disorganized, and inconsistent with both their expectations and material.

Here are some examples:

-There is no oversight of the schedule or the content of individual classes. The schedule is constantly being changed at the last moment, classes have mandatory attendance and there is barely enough time to study or do anything out of class. The department chair has berated the students on several occasions about her displeasure over them not bringing aspects of the schedule or course content to her attention after it became an issue.

-One professor got her powerpoint material off of some random free website (she shared this info with the class). There were constantly conflicts between what the powepoints said and other information that this teacher actually said. She was then extremely vague and evasive when asked to resolve these contradictions.

-They have on multiple occasions assigned exams and projects assigned at the last minute to be done during breaks. Classes have also been rescheduled at the last minute to take place on days that were scheduled off (hope you didn't make plans for the three day weekend, Dr. X forgot her kids graduation was that week and is rescheduling for your extra day off! Yep, it's mandatory!).

-They'll tell you great things about the variety of their rotations and that you'll get to do different sites for each rotation. And they do have great options, as long as your choice is between outpatient ortho and outpatient ortho. Currently all three classes are competing for rotations because they SCHEDULED ALL THREE CLASSES TO GO AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!! So if you get your outpatient ortho within a two hour commute you just struck gold.

-Tuition is $33,000 a year. You will have to fundraise to pay for your graduation. Then pay to attend. Then your family will have to pay to attend. Then you have to buy your faculty mandatory gifts. Yes, they made a list of the stuff they want...

-The department chair berated the class for being incompetent and not seeking tutoring because they weren't performing well enough. Next semester she berated the class for seeking tutoring - new rule, you need to be failing a class to qualify to have a tutor. Awesome.

-They love to hold mandatory meetings where they tell the class about whatever last minute change/problem they're having/to tell the class how horrible they're doing. Whenever any student brings up a concern (even when the department chair asks to hear concerns) they are humiliated in front of the class for speaking out.

-They'll tell you the schedule is blocked off so you can attend conferences - nope!

-Faculty/administration will constantly harp on you about professionalism then turn around and act like the most unprofessional, backstabbing, biased, disorganized, personality disorder-manifesting group of people you have ever encountered.

-Office staff will lose your stuff (ie test) and lie about it.

Sorry for the rant, but this has been weighing on my mind for a loooong time and the current students are too scared about repercussions to speak out. The students body is actually a great group of people, and their awesome board scores are a testament to the brains and perseverance it took them to navigate through this quagmire. Unless you hear that the WesternU DPT faculty/administration has been completely restructured don't waste your energy on applying here.

 

[kjo11]

Are you a graduate of the program?

 

[Ngozi Onyema]

On a semi related note, the undergraduate University that I am currently attending is facing some serious trouble with issues with accreditation and some foul stuff the President of the University has allegedly done. That's Kean University. The professor in one of my classes today brought it to the class' attention and it has me kind of scared how it might affect my getting in to a DPT graduate school in 2013.

 

[RizDPT]

Mobilizificatio,

Are you a graduate of the program? If so this information is much appreciated. I have gotten into two PT programs already but was holding out for Western. I might have to reconsider based on this information.

 

[Tom51]

I agree. They didn't consider my application complete because I applied to the "advanced DPT program" rather than whatever the correct one is. However, on the application they do not give a description of what is what and there was no basic DPT option to choose from. I still don't really know what I did wrong on the app but nonetheless, it is not being considered.

 

[optionpaloma]

I'm usually not one to air out dirty laundry on the internet, but a lot of people are as upset as I am about this program and I think prospective students deserve to know what is really going on. This program is such a massive frustration to try and get through. The administration is extremely unprofessional and disorganized, the faculty are generally incompetent, disorganized, and inconsistent with both their expectations and material.

Here are some examples:

-There is no oversight of the schedule or the content of individual classes. The schedule is constantly being changed at the last moment, classes have mandatory attendance and there is barely enough time to study or do anything out of class. The department chair has berated the students on several occasions about her displeasure over them not bringing aspects of the schedule or course content to her attention after it became an issue.

-One professor got her powerpoint material off of some random free website (she shared this info with the class). There were constantly conflicts between what the powepoints said and other information that this teacher actually said. She was then extremely vague and evasive when asked to resolve these contradictions.

-They have on multiple occasions assigned exams and projects assigned at the last minute to be done during breaks. Classes have also been rescheduled at the last minute to take place on days that were scheduled off (hope you didn't make plans for the three day weekend, Dr. X forgot her kids graduation was that week and is rescheduling for your extra day off! Yep, it's mandatory!).

-They'll tell you great things about the variety of their rotations and that you'll get to do different sites for each rotation. And they do have great options, as long as your choice is between outpatient ortho and outpatient ortho. Currently all three classes are competing for rotations because they SCHEDULED ALL THREE CLASSES TO GO AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!! So if you get your outpatient ortho within a two hour commute you just struck gold.

-Tuition is $33,000 a year. You will have to fundraise to pay for your graduation. Then pay to attend. Then your family will have to pay to attend. Then you have to buy your faculty mandatory gifts. Yes, they made a list of the stuff they want...

-The department chair berated the class for being incompetent and not seeking tutoring because they weren't performing well enough. Next semester she berated the class for seeking tutoring - new rule, you need to be failing a class to qualify to have a tutor. Awesome.

-They love to hold mandatory meetings where they tell the class about whatever last minute change/problem they're having/to tell the class how horrible they're doing. Whenever any student brings up a concern (even when the department chair asks to hear concerns) they are humiliated in front of the class for speaking out.

-They'll tell you the schedule is blocked off so you can attend conferences - nope!

-Faculty/administration will constantly harp on you about professionalism then turn around and act like the most unprofessional, backstabbing, biased, disorganized, personality disorder-manifesting group of people you have ever encountered.

-Office staff will lose your stuff (ie test) and lie about it.

Sorry for the rant, but this has been weighing on my mind for a loooong time and the current students are too scared about repercussions to speak out. The students body is actually a great group of people, and their awesome board scores are a testament to the brains and perseverance it took them to navigate through this quagmire. Unless you hear that the WesternU DPT faculty/administration has been completely restructured don't waste your energy on applying here.

Welcome to the board, Mobilizificatio!

What year are you?

I'm so sorry to hear about the extremely negative experience you're having at Western. I realize you can only speak for yourself, but I attended a Western info day last year, and the DPT students that took us on a tour seemed really content with the program -- do you think they were just faking it to make the school look good?

 

[rcedillo4]

I'm usually not one to air out dirty laundry on the internet, but a lot of people are as upset as I am about this program and I think prospective students deserve to know what is really going on. This program is such a massive frustration to try and get through. The administration is extremely unprofessional and disorganized, the faculty are generally incompetent, disorganized, and inconsistent with both their expectations and material.

Here are some examples:

-There is no oversight of the schedule or the content of individual classes. The schedule is constantly being changed at the last moment, classes have mandatory attendance and there is barely enough time to study or do anything out of class. The department chair has berated the students on several occasions about her displeasure over them not bringing aspects of the schedule or course content to her attention after it became an issue.

-One professor got her powerpoint material off of some random free website (she shared this info with the class). There were constantly conflicts between what the powepoints said and other information that this teacher actually said. She was then extremely vague and evasive when asked to resolve these contradictions.

-They have on multiple occasions assigned exams and projects assigned at the last minute to be done during breaks. Classes have also been rescheduled at the last minute to take place on days that were scheduled off (hope you didn't make plans for the three day weekend, Dr. X forgot her kids graduation was that week and is rescheduling for your extra day off! Yep, it's mandatory!).

-They'll tell you great things about the variety of their rotations and that you'll get to do different sites for each rotation. And they do have great options, as long as your choice is between outpatient ortho and outpatient ortho. Currently all three classes are competing for rotations because they SCHEDULED ALL THREE CLASSES TO GO AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!! So if you get your outpatient ortho within a two hour commute you just struck gold.

-Tuition is $33,000 a year. You will have to fundraise to pay for your graduation. Then pay to attend. Then your family will have to pay to attend. Then you have to buy your faculty mandatory gifts. Yes, they made a list of the stuff they want...

-The department chair berated the class for being incompetent and not seeking tutoring because they weren't performing well enough. Next semester she berated the class for seeking tutoring - new rule, you need to be failing a class to qualify to have a tutor. Awesome.

-They love to hold mandatory meetings where they tell the class about whatever last minute change/problem they're having/to tell the class how horrible they're doing. Whenever any student brings up a concern (even when the department chair asks to hear concerns) they are humiliated in front of the class for speaking out.

-They'll tell you the schedule is blocked off so you can attend conferences - nope!

-Faculty/administration will constantly harp on you about professionalism then turn around and act like the most unprofessional, backstabbing, biased, disorganized, personality disorder-manifesting group of people you have ever encountered.

-Office staff will lose your stuff (ie test) and lie about it.

Sorry for the rant, but this has been weighing on my mind for a loooong time and the current students are too scared about repercussions to speak out. The students body is actually a great group of people, and their awesome board scores are a testament to the brains and perseverance it took them to navigate through this quagmire. Unless you hear that the WesternU DPT faculty/administration has been completely restructured don't waste your energy on applying here.

If you are a student, this is a big issue to deal with. I was considering Western U because I have family near there and now this makes me reconsider things. Still, update us with more info if you can.

 

[Mobilizificatio]

I'm out of the program, but I get regularly updated as to what is going on. On an interview day you will get a rosy view from the students because they have a lot to lose by speaking out. Also, sometimes it's hard to have perspective when you're in a program and you don't have any experience with other places, you just keep your head down and plow through the BS because you assume that that is just how it is everywhere. But no, it's not, and people paying as much $ as they are deserve better than the product WesternU is putting out. The other programs at Western (PA, VetMed, DO, Dental) are run so much better, it's just DPT that's like this, it's sad. I posted this here because the program is competely resistant to internal criticism, the only way things will change is if people from the outside take notice. I can't speak directly about the quality of other programs, but if you have a choice you deserve to hear about my experiences with Western.

*caveat - there are some wonderful faculty at Western, they're just eclipsed by the pathological ones.

 

[TheOx777]

If all of the malignant details states are even remotely true then the CAPTE needs to be notified IMMEDIATELY! I am honestly in disbelief by some of the alleged actions of the faculty/administration at Western.

 

[dny22]

.

 

[calidpt32]

I am currently in my first year at WesternU (DPT 2014) and I absolutely LOVE my program. We are getting a high quality level of education with exceptionally knowledgeable faculty. We are lucky enough to have a triple board certified (women's health, hand, and ortho) and several doubl certified faculty members that truly love their profession and are anxious to share with us. We have an AMAZING anatomy instructor who keeps all of the material relevant to the PT profession with lab instructor who are alumni of Western and share their clinical experiences with us which also relates to the anatomy material. I am truly appalled by the level of criticism that has been given towards the faculty. We have never had any problems with the schedule being UPDATED as the semester rolls on. It does not get changed to hurt us but adjusted to our own needs. We also DO get time off to go to all of the APTA and CPTA conventions. Next week is CSM in Chicago and it is OUR OWN decision if we would like to go and is NOT mandatory. They are giving us a 5 day weekend or those who have chosen to go and if you aren't going then it's just that, a FIVE DAY WEEKEND!! As for our department chair, she does run a tight ship but as long as you do what you are supposed to do there is NO problem!! Our class has a great time and spend plenty of time hanging out and enjoying class parties. But this is a professional level program so we take the responsibility of showing up to all of our classes. Why pay the tuition and not go to class?? That's crazy in your own part! If anyone is considering Western please direct your questions to my inbox and I'll give you honest answers from my own perspective. There are so many positives I can't list them here or I'd be up all night! Sorry if I made any error I'm doing this on my phone!

 

[nvp]

Mobilizificatio,

Are you a graduate of the program? If so this information is much appreciated. I have gotten into two PT programs already but was holding out for Western. I might have to reconsider based on this information.

Did you hear back from tennessee state?

 

[tobegray]

I am currently a student in the DPT program at Western U and it has come to my attention that one of my fellow classmates has painted an undesirable picture of my school on this forum. I response to that I thought that there should be another opinion. I am sorry that your experience was so terrible, but I have a different view of my time in PT school.

I have friends that are in other programs and there is not a single one out there without problems. As long as the school is trying to advance the curriculum and continuing to challenge the students to their full potential I feel that there might be a few bugs along the way. As with anything though the department learns and tries to change things for the better. The main thing is that when I started school the department had done a complete overhaul on the curriculum. That basically means that our 3rd year students went through a completely different program than the one that I am in currently. The good news is that my class was the guinea pig class and that they should have most of the kinks worked out. I do believe that the new way of doing things is so much better than before, but at the same time it is more demanding on me as the student. I feel that it is a good challenge for me, plus I would rather make mistakes here in school than out in the real world.

Secondly I wanted to address the issue of showing up to class. You are going into grad school you need to be prepared to spend a great deal of time at school and not as much time doing all the things that you might want to do. It is like having a job, like most jobs you will not have breaks in the middle of the week. The same is true for grad school even though it says that there is a day off on your schedule does not mean that it is set in stone and you might have to come into class that day. The other thing is yes it is mandatory to attend class, but that does not mean that faculty is not understanding. I have had classmates take days off for weddings and as a matter of fact I am taking off a day next week to go to our national conference in Chicago. I used to skip class quite a bit in undergrad and now I have only missed a hand full of days. It was explained to me within the first week of school that our learning here is no longer about us it is about our future patients. Which brings up the question would I want a medical professional to treat me if I found out that he/she was never in class.....probably not. So from here on out everything we do is with the patient in mind.

Thirdly I wanted to address the question about the professors. We have some amazing professors on staff. Some of them have done so much in there lives and are leaders in their fields. It can be intimidating at times when you are talking to someone that is triple board certified, but I always feel like they are down to earth and that I can approach any professor with concerns. They truly want the best for us and they care. I have had my issues with certain professors due to personality differences and you just deal. I feel that even though I didn't get along with certain professors there was still a mutual respect for each other. I know for a fact that I am not the smartest person in my class, but I am attentive, inquisitive, and I work hard. This does not go unnoticed by the professors and they are more happy to help you when they see that you are trying and that you care. The other thing that I wanted to add is some of the professors have amazing contacts which allows us to have guest lectures come and talk to us, we have real patents coming in to class so we can observe them, and we have the opportunity to go on observations outside of class as well. I also saw that there was stuff about our department chair on this forum. Dr. Schilling is a very passionate woman, which to some can come off as her being abrasive. I too have had times where I have gone to her and voiced my opinion about certain things. She may not agree with me all the time, but she is willing to listen to what you have to say. Even if it doesn't go the way you want she has more respect for you if you care enough to come talk to her. Some people are afraid of her, but I am not. If it is something that means enough to me I will be the first one in her office. At this point in your life and in your education you have to take control and make your voice heard.

Lastly I wanted to outline some things that I love about this school. The small class sizes are awesome and it allows you to have hands on time with both professors and TAs. I love that we had a year of anatomy with cadaver dissection because I think that we know anatomy better than anyone else. We get to select the elective classes that we take in our third year. Most importantly of all we have fun.

I hope that this helps with your decision. In the end it doesn't matter where you go to PT school as long as you feel that you belong. Best of luck.