I get some variation of the question “why did you choose Duke?” quite often, so this post is long overdue. I have had the best experience while in Duke’s DPT program, so it was hard to narrow these reasons down to just five (I may or may not have fit multiple reasons in each category, oops).
So…why Duke?
1. Location
As a Raleigh, NC native, Durham is very close to home (only about 40 minutes away my from parents’ house). My family means everything to me, so it was important for me to remain in North Carolina for PT school. I am also only about an hour away from Jon (my partner), so we are able to see each other on the weekends. I would love to remain in the area for a while after PT school, so it is nice that I am learning the ins and outs of the NC physical therapy “world” while in school.
2. Team-Based Learning Curriculum
Team-Based Learning is a huge part of Duke’s DPT program (and one of my favorite things). “Team-based learning, or TBL, is a method of teaching where students learn fact-based material before class, and then work together in the classroom to apply concepts and ideas to solve problems, with the instructor’s guidance”. TBL makes our learning more active, and forces us to participate in class. It also fosters collaboration instead of competition. I love working with my team, and hearing other viewpoints. I enjoy seeing how other people approach things. We take all of our quizzes and most of our exams with our team after we take them individually, so it is helpful to be able to talk concepts out and really understand why you got certain things wrong (and I can’t lie that grade boost is nice too). My teammates are honestly some of my closest friends (they’re practically family at this point), and I love having a built-in support system during these three years.
3. Extracurricular Activities
Duke Basketball. That’s it, that’s the reason. Okay I’m kidding hehe. Although basketball and sports are an essential part of the Duke “experience”, these weren’t the only extracurricular activities I was looking forward to. It was nice to de-stress at Cameron Indoor though. RIP sports, thanks COVID!
Duke DPT has many Student Interest Groups (SIGs) and clubs to get involved in as well. The program has four student government positions (I am currently my class’ Vice President), and many other leadership positions. Growing as a leader was a top priority for me, and Duke has definitely helped improve my leadership skills and confidence overall. Through my leadership positions, I have had the chance to form stronger relationships with faculty and professor. Social events are also planned periodically for students. Additionally, there are so many opportunities to volunteer in the community. Attending a program where I could get involved in a lot of different things was imperative. Yes studying is important, but so are other things!
4. Reputation
Duke is a prestigious university, and Duke’s DPT program is one of the top 10 in the country. Although “rankings” and numbers aren’t everything, this is still something I took into account when choosing the right school for me. I knew that I would be learning from some of the best in the field, and would have the opportunity to build relationships with incredible leaders. All of our professors and TAs are practicing clinicians, so they are still very active within the profession.
The Duke Health System is also known worldwide, and it is convenient to be connected to this large hospital system.
Lastly, Duke DPT has great graduation rates and NPTE (licensing exam) pass rates, which proved that the program would prepare me well for a career in physical therapy. The program has a large alumni network too, which has been very helpful when it comes to mentorship and networking.
5. Clinical Experiences
Getting into the clinic as early as possible was something I valued when looking at PT programs. During the first and second years of Duke’s program, we have 1-2 week clinical experiences every semester called STEPs. We have 5 total, with half in an inpatient setting and half in an outpatient setting (1 setting per year). STEPs stands for “Student Team Experience in Practice”. We are randomly assigned to a STEPs team (3-4 students per team), and this team is different than our Team-Based Learning (TBL) teams. Participating in STEPs gave me a chance to practice the skills I was learning in the classroom on real patients, prior to my terminal clinical experiences during our third year.
During our third year, we have a full 36 weeks of clinical experience (where you are one-on-one with a clinical instructor and patients). 36 weeks is a long time (the CAPTE requirement is 30), and not all program exceed this requirement. I also liked that Duke’s program was structured to complete all of the didactic coursework prior to beginning these long-term clinical experiences.
I have honestly wanted to attend Duke since I was a child, so I am extremely grateful that I was able to make this dream of mine into a reality. At the end of the day, remember that it is important to find the right fit for YOU. Try not to let other people influence your decision too much. Feel free to check out this post for the most important factors to consider when choosing a PT program! Wherever you end up, I know you’ll be great!
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