<p>I'm having a big dilemma in choosing between Columbia, WashUSTL, Pitt and USC*. I have been accepted into all these colleges for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. I am only on the alternate list for USC so I'm only sort of accepted.</p>
<p>I am a Southern California guy but I'm not afraid to move away from the Golden State. I was wondering if I could get some input comparing these schools to each other to help in my decision.</p>
<p>A couple of facts are WashU and Columbia are both around 85thou for a three year program where as Pitt would be more like 111thou for three years at out-of-state tuition. I have researched using rankings and WashU and Pitt are tied for #2 below USC at #1 and Columbia is ranked #33 (but still a top 20 school because of ties). Cities were the schools are located are St. Louis, Pittsburgh, New York, and Los Angeles respectively.</p>
<p>Some questions of mine would be: Are the graduate programs located on the main campus and if not are the medical campuses nice and how do they compare? How are the equipment and staff? What type of opportunities are available?</p>
<p>If any of you personally know these programs and would like to give me some insight as to why I might want to consider one over the others I would GREATLY appreciate it as I have been mulling over it for a couple of months now. I would eventually like to move back to California or somewhere like it and I was not born with a silver spoon so cost is an issue. Due the rankings matter that much and would I be selling myself short by going to a #33 rather than a #2? I am pretty intelligent so a difficult curriculum does not scare me nor does a hefty clinical week total.</p>
<p>I can answer a few of your questions. D1 and I visited WashU’s PT program 5 years ago when she was looking at undergrad schools (ended up in 6 year direct admit BS/DPT program in our state). Their facilities are superb and research opportunities excellent. Location is on medical campus a few miles from undergraduate/main campus. Very friendly. I am a Pitt graduate (not PT though)-graduate program is on main campus. Pitt is a very urban setting right beside/ affililiated with several major hospitals in Pittsburgh. I know nothing about the other 2 programs but my advice would be to go where you will have the least debt as PT’s make a good living but they certainly are not wealthy. On the other hand, there are many opportunities for hiring bonuses and tuition forgiveness programs by employers.</p>
<p>SC does not have a waiting list. I do not understand the alternate list. In this case SC has been first in this field for some time. If you can manage the finances go to SC. Do visit the school as you are in California.
Have you been to Explore SC?</p>
<p>I would not pass up the opportunity to go to Columbia, but the cost of living would be much less in St. Louis. It sound like if you are going to go with rankings WUSTL is the way to go.</p>
<p>Since I would be in the program for 3 years I researched a little bit and found that St. Louis is in the top 5 for highest crime rate in the nation and has been for a while. I know cost of living in St. Louis would be much cheaper than New York but is it really worth it?</p>
<p>I am an alternate for USC as I have received a letter indicating so. I have visited the campus but as other DPT programs the medical campus is not located at the main campus site. USC is the top program in the nation but is also the most expensive for tuition BY FAR!</p>
<p>I would most likely want to come back to California after graduating and to do that and be successful I wanted to know if any of you out there new of affiliations that WUSTL or Columbia had out here in Ca. I know Columbia has a few but I don’t know of any for WUSTL. I know that USC provides 50weeks of clinical experience were as Columbia has 38. I could not find and statistics for WUSTL or Pitt. By the way, Pittsburgh is also high on the crime rate scale as reported by the FBI statistics for 2008.</p>
<p>Thank you for all who have replied and to those that will. =)</p>
<p>Columbia, OBVISOULY, more prestige, better alumni connections(the alum are more infulential), more research oppertunities, plus your in downtown manhattan, and there is always something to do…wow hate it when people ask the most obvious questions…</p>
<p>^^
Agreed alumni connections is what is really going to take you places. But really, you should be in good position at any of these schools. Personally, I would choose Columbia. I’m bias though.</p>
<p>“Columbia, OBVISOULY, more prestige, better alumni connections(the alum are more infulential), more research oppertunities, plus your in downtown manhattan, and there is always something to do…wow hate it when people ask the most obvious questions…”</p>
<p>Granted Columbia is an ivy league school BUT in terms of Physical Therapy WUSTL is ranked higher (#2) with more recognition and way more research opportunities. When you say the alum are more influential it would depend on where you are correct? So even though I could say that I have a strong alum from Columbia if I don’t live in the tri state area that probably wouldn’t mean too much. WUSTL is also very well renowned and known nationally. I would not have posted a dilemma if it was obvious. Try to look up some rankings and see where the schools stack up before you say that you “hate when people ask the most obvious questions”</p>
<p>I have spent a tremendous amount of time researching and comparing schools and just wanted other people’s insight if they actually had any real experience in my situation.</p>
<p>You OBVIOUSLY don’t know anything about Physical Therapy Schools and only go by name recognition which is understandable because when I first heard that an ivy was ranked #33 in the nation I was surprised.</p>
<p>So…please I’d like educated and informed responses not some people just wanting to put their two cents on something that they know nothing about.</p>
<p>I am not leaning towards or against any one school I just like to know the facts, pros, and cons before I make a big decision like this one.</p>
<p>Thank you to those that posted meaningful,insightful, and educated replies.</p>
<p>I have thought about going to Pitt. It would be more of a choice for me but out-of-state tuition is pretty high.</p>
<p>Pitt is a public university I think? So it could be less expensive if I could obtain residency but I have already asked about this and have been told that it would take more than just living there for a year to obtain residency in Pennsylvannia.</p>
<p>I totally see what you mean about the whether in St. Louis. You said that Columbia over USC. What are your reasons? I would like to hear them.</p>
<p>I live in Cali right now and only 30min or so away from the Medical School campus but others have posted that they wouldn’t pass up the chance to go to Columbia. I just don’t want to miss out on an opportunity if it really is one.</p>
<p>I know that either way I’m not going to have a bad education or academic experience so now there’s just other factors involved.</p>
<p>Your career is assured. All other things being equal (i.e., finances), I’d choose the school closest to where you hope to practice - the contacts you make (i.e. future partnerships) might stand you in good stead. Since you hope to practice in Cal, I’d think USC is ideal.</p>
<p>IF you plan to reside in California, then USC is the best choice. Plus their alumni connections in this state can’t be compared.
Also, they are ranked #1 as you previously stated? Seems pretty clear to me…</p>