Older new student, St Aug Flex

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A20RepSquat -> Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 13, 2007 4:47:37 PM)
Hi All, I've been lurking and enjoying the forum thoroughly. This is my first post. 1. I expect to enter the U of St. Aug Flex program in late 2008 or early 2009. Anyone have comments on that program? 2. What should I study prior to starting e.g. innervations, etc. My background: 56 y.o., work as computer programmer fulltime and as lic massage therapist on weekends. I'm currently doing pre-reqs and expect to do observation this Spring. Regards

SJBird55 -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 13, 2007 7:51:12 PM)
I am definitely not a fan of a whole program that is basically online with some "weekend" courses for learning what we do as physical therapists. My opinion is that this program is catering to what students may want, but sacrificing "quality." I can see a major online component for a transitional DPT (this is for licensed physical therapists), but not for someone that is going to go through 4 years with the majority of the work online. You're willing to spend $60,000 and not have the face-to-face guidance... no other student peers to practice with/work with/study with? What about anatomy lab? You really think you are going to learn the details of anatomy to the same degree as those of us that dissected cadavers? I think you'd get "book smarts" online, but I doubt that you'd be as proficient with a person in front of you and I doubt that you'd be as proficient at performing the various hands-on evaluative procedures. Supposedly you'd have the same amount of "lab" hours, but the difference is that they are spread out - which means, you're going to hammer a bunch of stuff on each weekend and when too much hands on stuff is thrown at you, you aren't going to be proficient at it... those on campus can walk into a closed lab with another student and practice, learn the material in reasonable chunks and have more frequent feedback so the proficiency can become more rock solid over time. That's just my opinion though. You know what I'd ask... I'd like to know the statistics on 1) passing licensure exam on first attempt for that particular program 2) how many students have gone through that program 3) the caliber of the instructors 4) a list of facilities that have hired grads from that program with contacts to question the caliber of the therapist 5) a list of facilities where internships for the program occur and contacts of therapists within those facilities that have been clinical instructors to ask a comparison of students in the flex program to an on-campus type of program 6) contact a HPSO or a few professional liability companies and see if they can do a query of PTs and see if any PT that has gone through that program has had any costs incurred by the liability company. I know I'd do my homework on this one. Sometimes the easiest, most accommodating route that more readily fits into life to reach a goal isn't always the best route.

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 13, 2007 7:59:38 PM)
Thanks SJBird55. You've made some very good points. I will check further. There definitely is the convenience factor in that I have 2 mortgages to pay so I cannot afford to attend fulltime. This is the only program that meets my needs including being, almost literally, in my back yard (the hands-on work, every other weekend is conducted 2 miles from my home). I have thought of a shorter PTA program at a local community college but even that is a 2 year fulltime commitment which is not possible for me. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

shalaka -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 16, 2007 2:10:21 PM)
Hi, I came here to ask question abt FLEX today and so glad to see someone already started it. I am very interested in enrolling into FLEX. I have done bachelors in PT from India and advanced masters from UF. I had always wanted to go for DPT, and not PhD which is more research oriented. But I am not currently licensed and cannot enter into t-DPT. I am looking for a program that is CAPTE accredited. This one suits with it being online and a degree further. Though SJBIRD55 has good points here, I agree the biggest factor is convinience. Another good thing is admission 3 times/ year. Hey A20RepSquat, do you know how many volunteer hours/ areas do they need? I hope to get into as early as possible. Internship affiliations and locations are my concern too. I live in gainesville and have a family to look after so would prefer location closer. hmmmmm Regards, Shalaka

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 16, 2007 3:19:56 PM)
shalaka, they require 80 hours of observation (none for volunteer) in any standard PT setting. ONce you are in the program the hands-on is done every other weekend in Boca Raton, so of course, you'd have to make arrangements for hotel, etc. Contact me privately if you like.

Anomaly -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 18, 2007 8:00:43 PM)
I am glad to see someone older than myself attacking this endeavor. I am a PTA and prior to that was a rehab tech. I am currently in PT school. I am 47 years old. I am curious as to how you came by your username. I still squat myself. From time to time I do "supersquats" i.e. 20 rep set with what I have been doing 10 reps with. I looked at the flex program but would have to relocate and so stayed where I am and went fulltime. I am in my second semester. Does St. Aug. Have Gross anatomay including dissection included in this program? I pretty much agree with SJBird55 in that respect. I had undergrad Gross with Cadavers and 1st semester MPT Gross including dissection. Many PT settings will not let PTAs perf. sharp debridement because they have not had Gross! Even if you plan on NOT working in a setting where wound care is provided you may end up rotating weekends and be required to attend to wounds. I would look into what they offer and require as far as Gross anatomy. Wound care aside you also need to get the 3 dimensional perspective of the body. No book can offer that! Good luck to you. I will be curious as to what you decide and follow your posts if you choose the flex. Anomaly

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 19, 2007 12:07:13 PM)
Hi Anomaly, >>I am curious as to how you came by your username<< I'm a fan of Stuart McRobert & the whole Hardgainer crowd & I believe that if you will do only one exercise then choose the squat. That said, I find the 20 rep squat so intense that I rarely attempt it [image]http://physicaltherapy.rehabedge.com/image/s7.gif[/image]. Re the Flex program and dissection, per the St Aug curriculum, all courses are the same for Flex and on-campus students which includes cadaver dissection. As SJBird55 mentioned, and I would agree, there probably will be less opportunity for hands-on in the Flex program. I remain committed to doing Flex because it's the best route for me given my circumstances (married, 2 mortgages, need to have some regular income). I will keep you all posted as to my progress once I'm in the program. If I need to supplement dissection work I might be able to attend a 5 day course given by David Kent in Orlando. http://www.kenthealth.com/news/dissection-08 I expect to come out of the program on par with most graduates of on-campus programs so I will do what ever extra work is required, during, or more likely, after graduation. I do appreciate the advice from all of you. Please keep it coming. Email me privately if you wish at david@PopsHouse.com

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 19, 2007 12:14:45 PM)
BTW, if you don't mind, what school are you attending? Some impressions of your 2 semesters??? Thanks

SJBird55 -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 19, 2007 1:12:16 PM)
David... do you hear yourself? You are actually contemplating paying the $60,000+ for a degree and THEN if need be taking a 5 day dissection course???? Come on now, I would hope that after paying the $60,000 that more course work would not be required immediately. AND, you'll do more work after graduation? So, now, you have dissection tossed in with clinical hands-on technique labs on the weekends? We work with people every day in PT... our hands are our most valuable asset.... so, you'll assume that the book smarts will transfer to manual skills? Oh, if they have their "labs" and the whole thing is the "same amount of hours" that's great, but you're going to have so much crap thrown at you that you'll be spinning and won't master entry level skills. If we were working online and making decisions online, that'd be a different story.... I'd be curious as to what you found out about the statistics of those graduating from the Flex program...

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 19, 2007 3:47:10 PM)
SJBird55, I have not investigated the grad rate for Flex yet since I'm on overload with final exams, not to mention that I currently work 7 days a week full-time. If I went to school full time I would lose about $90,000 in salary for each year in school, not to mention getting foreclosed on 2 properties for which I'm paying &, perhaps, a divorce after all that [image]http://physicaltherapy.rehabedge.com/image/s10.gif[/image]

SJBird55 -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 19, 2007 8:06:15 PM)
David, David, David... okay, you you'd lose $90,000/year if you chose to go full time. So, you're going to work an earn $90,000/year and pay out over the years the $60,000 it cost you to obtain the degree. After that, you'll take on a position as a recent, entry level grad (with the assumption that you'll pass the program AND you'll pass the licensure exam the first time around AND you'll have the skills an employer would value and would be willing to hire you)... to then work a position that might pay $50-60,000/year??? And you're thinking you'll be able to pay off your 2 mortgages? You're thinking that a career change that is going to cost you $60,000 and pay less than you currently earn is going to solve your financial concerns AND allow you to have a marriage that won't end in divorce? Ummm... I've played a game called "LIFE" with my kids and nieces and nephews - it really isn't looking like the decisions you are making ARE going to put you very further ahead... See, if you are currently living outside your means while making $90,000/year, I think you're going to have issues changing to a career that only makes $50-60,000/year. Unless you have some game plan where you will be employed doing more than just using your clinical skills, I think you might want to consider the lifestyle that you would like to have and determine if being a physical therapist is going to meet all your needs.

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 19, 2007 9:06:52 PM)
Certainly a lot to think about. Thanks.

orthotherapist -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 20, 2007 10:52:53 AM)
SJ - In David's defense in no post does he state that he is doing this to improve his his financial situation - he does not state that he is living outside of his means. He is a grown man and can make financial decisions for himself. Maybe he is making a career change for reasons other than monetary gain. I appplaud him for looking at making a career change - many people in his situation would keep plodding along in their current job just looking for the next paycheck/retirement etc. Good luck David you will do well.

SJBird55 -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 20, 2007 1:23:33 PM)
Nope, he didn't state any of that stuff, ortho. But, mathematically, there will be a definite change financially and if no one has discussed a salary range, if David wasn't aware of it, he is now.

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (November 20, 2007 3:08:27 PM)
To all, I didn't want to reveal so much personal info. Yes, this will be a career change away from computers and to helping people heal. Back to the personal, some bad real estate decisions have me working way too much but I'll remedy that soon. The good side is that doing massage on the weekends has put me in touch (pun/no pun) with an old desire. I was a PT major at NYU in 1969. I dropped out and now I'm coming full circle. SJ, thanks for the perspective. orthotherapist, good insight and thanks for the encouragement Regards, David

shalaka -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (December 10, 2007 1:00:29 PM)
Hey David, I am another student interested in the FLEX program. I was wondering if you got my email sent a couple of weeks back. I recently changed my email stored on rehabedge account. even if u have replied on my previous email ID, i can not access it now. please let me know. Thanks Shalaka

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (December 10, 2007 1:20:24 PM)
Shalaka, I have not received anything. Please re-try.

shalaka -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (December 11, 2007 2:41:06 PM)
Hey David, I just sent you an email, hope you receive it. please let me know. Regards, Shalaka

A20RepSquat -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (December 11, 2007 3:40:43 PM)
Shalaka, Nothing yet as of 2:45 PM, Florida time. Are you sending to: david@PopsHouse.com ???

SJBird55 -> RE: Older new student, St Aug Flex (December 12, 2007 12:04:35 AM)
You guys, I really don't think the "email" feature on this site works. I've emailed a few therapists that ALWAYS respond to my emails if I send them from my email program, but none of them have ever responded since this new forum was redesigned or reworked if I use this site as my mode for communication... if you want to email anything, you can't use the convenience of the little "email" button on this site - use your email program on your computer and I'm pretty sure you'll have better results with communication. :)

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