Anyone have an opinion on the exercise science/health science programs at Indiana/northeastern/syracuse/elonTrying to make some decisions!
Are you planning on grad school? Are all of these schools affordable?
Are you a senior who has applied to these schools? If you’re an Indiana resident it’s hard to beat IU for bang for your buck. What’s your budget?
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All within budget- not an Indiana resident. Nj resident- applied and accepted (waiting on Syracuse)
Have you visited these schools? Is there a career goal/further schooling in mind?
As each department for career outcomes.
You can tell who delivers!!
All fine schools.
Congrats.
Goal would be to gain admittance to a great grad school for PT or possibly other health related field. Looking at rankings for this specific program and it’s hard to know which one is best.
Here is my next question/comment:
I think these are all good schools, and getting into a DPT or other program will be on you- grades, volunteering, letters of rec, etc.
People get accepted to PT and other programs from all kinds of schools. Can you do some research on acceptances?
Is there a big difference in cost, and would you be able to take the difference and put it toward grad school?
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Rankings don’t necessarily mean anything and there are so many directions.
Don’t forget grad school is added expense - so you need to plan.
All this said - get the outcomes from the school - they’ll tell you who is working and where and who is in grad school and where.
They have all this info - you simply need to ask - either the department or the career center.
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Elon has an accelerated D.PT program if that is of interest, for incoming frosh.
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My son is a junior exercise science major at Syracuse, and I can’t say enough good things about the program. Honestly, before college, when he was weighing all of his acceptances, he initially thought he wanted smaller. He then went to SU’s accepted student’s day and the head of Falk College and the experience sold him. It’s a relatively small college/program within SU with tons of opportunities. He’s currently interning with one of the SU sport teams. There is a lot of social/partying opportunities for those who want that, but honestly, there is a lot of rigor, and very serious students. He and his friends work extremely hard and are all driven, successful students. His freshman year he chose a STEM dorm, and that also made a big difference; exercise science is a difficult major (essentially same as pre-health/med). He is networking big time right now and just landed a summer internship as well.
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Great feedback thank you! Sold me- she just needs to get into that one! It really sounds like a great balance.
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Yes just wondering what kind of reputation Elon has for this program?
I just read that 100% of Elon grads (2021 and 2022 school years) are employed within 1 year of passing their licensure exam.
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SU (I’m an alum) may be fantastic.
But that doesn’t mean the other three aren’t.
It’s why - you find career outcomes.
You might also ask to speak with a student ambassador from the program at each school - and ask your questions to get feedback.
The other thing is- you have different environments. All four are very different.
Which fits you?
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If you calculate
(tuition fees room board) - (grants scholarship) r net price?
This will help us estimate value too 
NEU is going to be preprofessional, with most students interested in the co-ops.
Elon will provide the most personalized education and has excellent placement/outcomes. Plus wins on weather!
Syracuse is going to have the rah-rah d1 spirit of a larger school but with private school amenities. Worst for weather.
Indiana has sports-related “school spirit”, a classical collegiate experience (did he get into Hutton Honors?) Not as distinctive as the others but could be happy medium in terms of value.
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I would look at fit. Which of these schools does the student prefer? A happy student will do better.
Acceptance to a DPT program depends on gpa, letters of recommendation, any necessary work/volunteering experience etc.
It is really less about the school (all are good) and more about what you do while there. I know students in DPT programs from all kinds of schools. Take a look at the specifics and decide which is the best fit.
Tbh I don’t really see a bad choice!
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I have kids at NU and Elon and we went to an Admitted Students (Orange Preview day) at Syracuse where they really made the school sound appealing. I know some IU moms whose kids are happy there. So, all are good choices and I think it’s a matter of fit.
NU is right in the city and requires co-ops. The co-ops are good experience and give parents a break from paying tuition while the students earn money. It’s not a hand holding school and is best for independent, motivated students. Elon is a smaller school with more relationships with professors. Elon communicates more with parents than NU. It’s very well-run, but a more suburban area. Both Elon and NU offer many ways to study abroad - short term and longer term.
Syracuse has a lot of school spirit. It snowed and had gray skies in April, which was not appealing to my D. Parents love IU’s beautiful campus and it has the fun of Big 10 sports. Good luck to your D.
PT school requires a 4 year post graduate degree to practice. I can’t imagine NEU at 90K or so a year is a good investment when graduate school required. Similar thoughts on Syracuse and Elon. All great schools but is the money worth it when you need 4 years post undergraduate education.
Oh and all to make about 90 to 100k a year. Not chump change but need to consider the debt incurring.
Too late in the cycle now but, and I know folks don’t like to hear this, schools like slippery rock, and 17 other schools in Pennsylvania alone offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in PT. Not sexy but economical.
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Similar issues with PA degrees
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