Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I have posted before about my D's search for a program in Occupational Therapy. She was excited to find out that Puget Sound does have a 3-2 year program leading to a masters. Does anyone know much about finaid for the school, how academics are. There was not a lot under the individual school section. It would be great for her to get into a school on this side of the country!!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:14 pm: Edit

UPS has a strong academic reputation. My hubby works at a top research university and knows a grad student from UPS who is quite strong and loved the school. As far as financial aid goes, I think it really varies from student to student. My son was accepted there but didn't get as much financial aid as he did from other schools. However, when we took our tour someone asked the tour guide why he chose to go there and one of the things he mentioned was that they gave him the best FA package of all the schools he attended. I think it is definitely a school worth looking into.

By Blaineko (Blaineko) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:46 pm: Edit

I agree with Shennie...

UPS has a great reputation, and is very good liberal arts college. The area is beautiful and you are close to mountains, the oceans and lakes.

You might also want to check out The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, also. Diverse and liberal. Feels like Reed and Hampshire College. It is also inexpensive. And, although bigger than UPS, still has a small school feel thanks to it's size, about 4,700 students.

Hope this helps.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 03:11 pm: Edit

Evergreen wouldn't have an Occupational therapy program however, and I don't think its science resources are strong enough to prepare someone for clinical work. environmental science yes, but medical type work no.
Evergreen is considerably less expensive though than UPS even for out of state. I don't think UPS gives much aid compared to some schools,at least the two kids we know who are attending didn't get much, and the average debt of students is almost a years worth of tuition.
However average just means that, you may get a very good offer.

By Blaineko (Blaineko) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 04:50 pm: Edit

Your D could do pre-occupational work at TESC. Most OP's go to grad school.

A friend of mind did just that and is working with elderly paitents, mostly. She did her undergrad at TESC, making sure to take the required courses that would get her to a post-undergrad OP program.

As for medical type training, another friend majored in Biology at TESC and is now at the University of Washington Med-school. What she liked about Evergreen was that her classes were small, teachers were supportive, and classes in Biology were interdisciplinary in nature. She did, however, have a few traditional science classes with lab that were not interdisciplinary but 'straight' science.

As for grad-school, she did not have a problem getting into Washington U in St. Louis, USC, and UWashington. But, because she was a resident of WA, she could not escape the pull of UW.

Just my 2 cents.

By Arizonamom (Arizonamom) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 04:55 pm: Edit

Our EFC should be about 20,000. If they don't give good aid we'll have to seriously weigh having 1 1/2 extra years of grad school vs going to a less expensive school. We could use the Western exchange for a grad school program and get a good deal as well so we shall see how it plays out. We are now spoiled as Pomona and both CMC offered good aid packages for my S and we are hoping to find a school that equals them. Having 2 in college really limits our options. Thanks for the input. My D works with a girl who is starting at Evergreen next year with lots of other acceptances throughout the southwest.She is pretty excited about it. It was her 1st choice but I agree, it wouldn't give my D the prerequisites she needs. Thanks so much for all the input although I was sure hoping that you would all tell me how great their aid was! lol