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TailGate -> Re: Need help regarding choosing PT shool in LA. (October 16, 2001 4:43:00 PM)
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Some insight. You might have seen the discussions about PT schools and finances. Whether or not financing and future loans make any difference to you or not, what's relevant is that two of the schools will cost you in excess of 55k to graduate whereas the public one, Long Beach will only set you back 5k. Since I too am local to the LA area, I should make you aware there are a few more programs than those three (if those are a local representation of the areas you are willing to drive to). There's always USC's DPT. There's Cal State Northridge's RPT/MPT (although i think they lost their accredidation). There is Western University's MPT out in Pomona. There is Loma Linda's MPT out in Loma Linda (San Bernadino where the 215 and 10 freeways meet). Cal State Fresno also has an MPT program. Getting into evaluating the programs themselves, LBPT is your best bet for trying to get educated at the least possible cost. I actually have first-hand experience there. Most of the faculty have been/were teaching at USC at one point. Very much so the cirriculum is EBP and research focused. Its actually really cheap to live in Long Beach too (in comparision to Brentwood - i'll touch on that later). In terms of freeway access, Long Beach has it...LOTS of it. There is NO problem in terms of driving in from the surrounding communities. Free parking too right around the PT department. The Professor's focus? On educating you the cheapest way possible - they actually go out of their way to make things you need from class availible at the lowest possible cost - ie books NOT from the bookstore, class packets NOT from the bookstore. They understand what it means to be a full-time student not working. Many of the PT's students have chosen NOT to utilize student loans. One thing too, LB is a huge public school. Lots of ppl to meet throughout the whole age-spectrum - if your not married, going back to "college" is not a bad thing. In regards to Mount St. Mary's, its a good program from what I understand. However, living in Brentwood is VERY-VERY expensive and its almost impossible to commute their in the morning from anywhere. Expect to pay 400-500 to share a house with 6 or 7 other ppl. The 405 and the 10 both suck (ppl heading into Santa Monica) and it takes a good 20+ minutes to actually get to the TOP of the **** hill that the school is on once you've gotten off the freeway. Cost - prohibitive. Student Body? Small all-girls catholic school. For some, this might be a good thing (that was a joke). Pacific University....VERY new program...i would be cautious..i've heard of students having to "find their own internships". This is stuff that LB/MSM does for you...any SHOULDN'T BE DOING IF YOUR PAYING 55k to go there!!!!!! Freeway access - decent as long as your not comming up from orange county up the 57N. (One more since I already wrote it...) Chapman University...decent program (they have a cadaver for every student) but, like MSM, a prohibitive cost. Decent freeway access, fairly reasonable surrounding area$ - you can find lower-cost places in Santa Ana/Anaheim etc. The 5 Southbound out of LA is pretty good. I have a friend who commutes from Pasadena down the 5 in morning traffic to Orange - takes about 30-40 minutes with free-flow...everybody is heading northbound to LA and/or Mount St. Mary's. Hope this helps...choose wisely young jedi...
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