<p>My D is debating between a docrate freshman 6 yr entry level PT program, or going the regular undergrad route and applying to PT grad programs later.
The pros of the 6 yr program- No more applying to schools and taking standardized tests, no worrying about maintaining an A average to get into grad school, this program allows study abroad and is not so intense that she could not do her sports, student government and activities. Cons: not really the city she wants to spend 6 yrs. in They have winter! She is a sun person. She could instead go to Pepperdine and be close enought to drive home, close enough to visit her brother at a nearby Ca school( 1 hr away). They are very close. Close enough for her HS friends to come visit and she loved the school</p>
<p>These are all her thoughts I am rephrasing</p>
<p>She has heard however that it is more difficult to get into PT grad school then medical school and doesn't want this hanging over her head for 4 years.
She is an A-, B+ student with 1320 SAT's. Her strengths have been her leadership roles and activities.</p>
<p>Of course we have not heard back from finaid for either school and to complicate things she has some fantastic offers at other schools.</p>
<p>She will visit he PT school and hopefully that will clear up the issue. Any thoughts would be appreciated. The clock is ticking........</p>
<p>Arizonamom: you asked for thoughts. Here are a couple of random ones.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Winter is good for you, especially if you're not the one who has to shovel snow. At college they do it for you, and you can go sledding on cafeteria trays with no responsibilities.</p></li>
<li><p>On the other hand, if it really means spending 6 years in that city that's not likeable for some other reason, that's a different story. I wouldn't recommend it.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't know that I would recommend attending a school solely because it has a 6-year program for anything. I know that some people (high school students included) feel that they absolutely know what they want to do with their life, I also know from experience and observation that this can change. I would look at the school from the perspective of a 4-year college that may offer an advantage if she decides to go through with it. Is it a good overall match for her, especially if she changes major?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If she's really sure of PT, then the six year program is the way to go. D's roommate is in year 4 right now and wouldn't do it any other way. She has friends who have been bitterly disappointed not getting in to grad PT programs even with great grades, scores,etc. Her roommate has loved it - she spent a semester in Germany and has had time to be a college student yet knows she has the program locked up. She's from Texas and the school is definitely in a winter state but it hasn't bothered her too much. She always goes home or somewhere warm for spring and Christmas breaks and enjoys the change of seasons as something she might not experience again after these six years.</p>
<p>Wow, I can always count of you for insights. Thanks dadofsam, baymom and vietdad! Baymom that is concerning that the students with good grades and scores could not get into grad school, I wasn't sure how real that concern was but sounds like it is accurate. She is looking at St Louis University. Anyone have info on living in St Louis or the college?</p>
<p>I had to laugh just a little - we up here in Wisconsin do NOT think of St Louis as having real winter! My aunt lived in St Louis and we visited her every year. We always thought it was so hot and humid even in spring. I guess it's all relative. That being said, St Louis is a nice town - they have the river area that is a great entertainment district and there's a lot to do there. As far as SLU, S has friends going there although we haven't visited. If it's anything like the other Jesuit schools we have had experience with it will be rigorous academically with teachers who are more than willing to get involved peronally with your D's education. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Thanks baymom, I visited Wash U with my S last year and we were stuck in a blizzard, the airports closed down and I had to drive on an unplowed highway, My S was disgusted with me as I was driving 5 miles an hour and petrified.Guess I've been in Arizona too long!!!</p>
<p>What bad luck! It figures that would happen. My sister-in-law moved to Arizona ten years ago after living in Wisconsin her first 40 years of life and now won't drive in the snow at all! It's easy to get out of practice. I don't think that's really the norm in St Louis though.</p>
<p>My personal opinion. I would jump on the opportunity of the 6 year PT program. Just erasing the stress of pre-PT would do it for me. It is so hard to get into a PT program. There are not very many spots and a lot of people applying.</p>
<p>My SIL is a PT. She loves it. She can get a job anywhere, anytime, and she can practically name her price. She works part-time now, it's a great job for her as she has small children.</p>
<p>My opinion, if she decides that she doesn't like PT, the courses that she takes will be very condusive to other careers. Nursing, pre-med, exercise physiology.</p>
<p>Just some thoughts...make sure that you visit SLU before you make your decision. We visited there a couple years ago when my daughter was visiting colleges...Everyone seemed really friendly, great food, and it is a beautiful campus...lots of flowers and statues, but the college is laid out in straight line so it was a long walk between the dorms and the classes...</p>
<p>It is truly inner city St. Louis...(not like WUSTL which we also visited) although the college seems to isolate itself from the area around it by making the main walkways green and inviting, there was no doubt that just outside the row of buildings was inner city...the college had bought a nearby hotel and converted it to apartment housing, but it is outside the perimeter of the row of buildings, so students do go outside of the campus proper ... We saw a fair amount of security guards, but were frustrated to see some of them standing around in groups in the parking garage talking and smoking...My daughter ended up in Cleveland, so its not that we are afraid of a city, but just something that you should consider...</p>
<p>We also noticed that a large population of the students seemed to smoke...between classes, outside buildings etc., something that really turned my daughter off of SLU. The 6 year program sounds like a great idea, but make sure that your D loves the campus...6 years is a long time to "tolerate" something...and sometimes those 6 year programs do not transfer credits easily to other colleges if she were to decide to leave....</p>
<p>just to clarify a bit...My daughter really did like SLU, much better in fact than WUSTL, but I wanted to give you our impressions of the SLU campus...so please don't interpret those negative comments as us hating the SLU campus.</p>
<p>My daughter is at a college across the river in Illinois and goes into St. Louis very frequently. She loves the area. Great airport that has Southwest airlines for cheap flights. Whenever she comes home to PA, she complains about how cold it is here and how the weather is usually warmer in their area, so I guess it's just a matter of perspective! I'm with Baymom, when you said, "they have winter". I thought you were speaking of a Northern state. Missouri does have four seasons but the humidity might be more traumatizing then the snow.</p>
<p>As to your reasons for her to go to Pepperdine, well, everything changes once they're in college. The kids get together on breaks and in the summer and, sad as it seems now, close proximity is not that important after the first year.</p>
<p>Arizonamom, I know that your daughter has had other ideas of possible majors over the past few months and chances are likely she may change her mind yet again. So, the question I would ask her is: Would you be happy at the PT school IF you decide to switch majors for some reason?</p>
<p>If the answer is yes, than sure, go for it. If the answer is no, she'd want to transfer if she changed majors, then go for the school she truly loves. It will all work out in the end one way or another. </p>
<p>Frankly, to me, your undergraduate years should be a time to explore your career options. Only a very few kids really are ready to commit to the rest of their lives at 18. Which type is your daughter?</p>