Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Physical Therapists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Central Florida, Florida International, University of Florida, and University of South Florida-Main Campus.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Florida International, Nova Southeastern, University of North Florida, and University of Miami.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Florida A&M, Florida International, Nova Southeastern, and University of Miami.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Nova Southeastern.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Miami, Nova Southeastern, Florida A&M, and Florida International.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Miami, University of North Florida, and Florida A&M.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami, University of Florida, Central Florida, and University of South Florida-Main Campus.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Florida International, University of South Florida-Main Campus, University of Florida, and University of Miami.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at University of Miami, Florida A&M, University of Florida, and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of St Augustine • St Augustine, FL
Studying Physical Therapy (completion in 2010)
• 5/6/2011
"Besides tuition costs, I am very satisfied with my school. I enjoyed my time there and the new friends I gained. I also gained a lot of experience and knowledge."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe in our school's principles. Even though it is a tough program, I believe we got the best education. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Many people like our school because of the manual therapy experience we get. There is also the dual program for those wanting to get their PT and OT degrees. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My program was heavily based on manual therapy techniques. I think we learned a great deal about topics that other schools do not focus on. For that reason I am grateful I went to this school. |
| Instruction | 9 | Many of our instructors went to the school and were still working in the field at our school's clinic. Due to our school being small and private, I felt we got more attention and time with instructors. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I think our program was very challenging. Our second semester was >18 credits. We had a greater workload in a short period of time. We were constantly studying, but it paid off. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say we have a good mix of hands on and book learning. We had a lot of labs and there were practicals in certain classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Our class schedule is not flexible. Each semester is planned a certain way. If you were to fail a class, it might prevent you from taking classes next semester. Our school goes by trimesters. They admit 3 times a year, so in that way they are flexible. We go to school all year round. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I think our library has gotten better over the years. Tutors are available if you sign up for one. Usually it's upper semester students that act as tutors. Professors are very accessible and make time for students. |
| Social Life | 7 | It is a small private school so there weren't any athletics. We did have class parties and school events. Our class did a lot of things outside of school and hung out often. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Our school had job fairs twice per year. We didn't exactly have any job placement services. Some of our teachers did help with jobs. They kept us posted about jobs available in the area and connected us with alumni working in the field. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I am not sure how good (or not good) it is yet. I'm a new alumnus so this question is hard for me to answer. I do know we get a newsletter every now and then. |
UCF • Orlando, FL
Studying Physical Therapy (completion in 2005)
• 6/25/2011
"The program was geared toward preparing its graduates for clinical practice using practical applications & critical thinking. The staff was clearly engaged, not only with the profession but with teaching as well."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program is well respected throughout the community. The staff & curriculum are second to none. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Enrollment in the program has increased significantly since I've graduated. Graduates of the program are well respected in various clinical settings throughout Central Florida. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My professors, for the most part, were very engaged/passionate about the profession. We were encouraged to use our skills to give back to the community through volunteering. |
| Instruction | 10 | Professors had advanced degrees and extensive experience in clinical practice. They often provided 'real-world' examples to highlight various concepts. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work-load left little to no time to work outside of class. Clinicals often required increased travel time or living away from home. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a great deal of emphasis on applying concepts learned to 'real-world' scenarios. Case studies were a large part of the curriculum. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | The program is 'lock-step.' There are no alternate schedules offered that would allow you to remain in the same graduating class you began with. At the time I was enrolled, I do not recall taking on-line classes, however, I did attend during the summers. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had excellent, up to date equipment for labs. The UCF library has a wide variety of resources including computer technology & staff assistance. |
| Social Life | 9 | My graduating class was very close-knit. We often attended sporting events together. We were very proud of our institution. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I do not have personal experience with this aspect because I was hired for my first position while I was still in school. Several of my classmates did use it & had no complaints. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not had experience with the alumni association personally. I have worked with several physical therapists who have also graduated from my program. |
University Of St. Augustine • St. Augustine, FL
Studying Physical Therapy (completion in 2005)
• 8/4/2011
"I am very pleased with the education. In retrospect, I am frustrated by the high cost and modified admissions standards."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I always recommend they go somewhere else that is less expensive. I always tell them be at the top of your class and it doesn't matter where you go. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | There is definitely a reputation associated with "Parasites" from USA, but for the most part people are very complimentary of my education. The quality of their continuing ed is also improving their reputation. |
| Program Quality | 6 | USA was very difficult to get into when I applied for PT school. After I got there they increased the number of students per class considerably and I feel they had to lower academic standards to do so. I feel like the cost of the education there is too expensive, especially since it's a private school requiring private student loans. |
| Instruction | 10 | I consistently have other therapists seek me out with questions. I feel like my education has led me to be one of the better PTs in my area. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The school prides itself on making it very difficult to graduate. Speaking to other PTs about their education, it is apparent that USA is very difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes had a large practical component. Most of the DPT courses were similar to the con ed versions. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | When I was there it was totally inflexible. Now there are two campus locations and many opportunities for online learning, including the flex DPT. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities are less than 5 years old. The professors are required to keep office hours. I never had a hard time meeting with my professors. |
| Social Life | 10 | There wasn't much time for socializing, but that forced us to be friends with each other. When we finished a test or practical, the instructors encouraged us to celebrate and unwind. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They had a small job fair for local businesses. They offered some ideas in how to find job placement. It's hard to judge since I already had a job when I graduated. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I am attending a CE class next month and one of my professors is presenting there. I am still in contact with most of my classmates and several of my instructors. I have been able to refer people to former classmates in other states. |
Florida Institute Of Technology • Melbourne, FL
Studying Sports Management (completion in 2011)
• 9/3/2011
"I'm very satisfied with the 4 years I spent at FIT. Great college experience overall."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Of course, I am a big supporter of my school and for what it stands for. I would encourage a lot of students to apply for a lot of scholarships at the same time. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Most students usually land a great job or internship six months after graduating. Because the school has been around for almost 53 years, it has also built a large alumni base. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I studied Sports Management at the Florida Institute of Technology. While the instruction was much more oriented to the business aspect of things like managing a physical therapy business, I would say that it has definitely prepared me for the real world. |
| Instruction | 9 | Good instructors and a great learning environment makes FIT an excellent place to study. Being a small school, there is a lot of personal attention between teachers and students. |
| How Difficult | 4 | It was a fairly easy program compared to other majors and programs being offered at the school. Sports Management was considered among the easiest majors at Florida Tech but hard work was still required to excel. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A mix of hands on learning and books. The curriculum required every student to go through a practicum training program in order to graduate. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | As a freshman and sophomore, we were usually fixed to a steady schedule, but it was much more flexible come junior and senior year. I had time to work 20 hours a week while still going to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Great campus, high tech internet facilities, and an excellent faculty made FIT a fantastic learning environment. |
| Social Life | 5 | The social aspect was pretty average. Parties were usually hit or miss and downtown gets old real fast. School spirit was limited, but at the end of the day it all came down to the people you associated with. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school's career center had excellent workshops for building resumes and cover letters, and they even scheduled mock interviews. Additionally, the career center also funded many student organizations and allowed students to go to professional conferences and technical training outside of the school. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Every year for homecoming, students have had the opportunity to network and interact with alumni in in the field. Networking opportunities hosted by the school's career center help too. |
University Of Florida • Gainsville, FL
Studying (completion in 2009)
• 1/28/2012
"Overall I would rate this as average. It is still a great school. Perhaps it was the timing of my graduation during the great recession."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I'd definitely recommend. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | There are some friends who graduated later who I am in touch with who have been able to provide better feedback. |
| Program Quality | 4 | Better career counseling is needed. The school could have done better, along with contacts with alumni. |
| Instruction | 7 | The school is great at providing the necessary background and training. Great peer groups too. |
| How Difficult | 8 | There's excessive focus on anatomy. Practical aspects of the course are not fully whetted out. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's too book oriented for me. I wished it could have been more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | A reasonable amount of flexibility existed. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Facilities are great at UFL. No complaints here. |
| Social Life | 9 | Spirits run high during football season. |
| Placement Services | 7 | It could be the recession affecting them, but I struggled a bit during that time frame. This is a high demand industry. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | While some of the alumni network is useful, it isn't as much as I would have expected. |
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