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Factors Influencing Professional Master of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Program Selection

Background and Purpose. In the mid 1990s, the number of applicants to physical therapist education programs began declining just as the first professional (entry‐level) Doctor of Physical Therapy programs began. The decline in numbers of applicants prompted interest from physical therapy faculty regarding the factors applicants used to select programs. However, there is little data on what influences physical therapy applicants to choose a particular program. The purpose of this study was to determine if the factors students consider when selecting physical therapist education programs differs between Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. Subjects. Participants were 919 professional physical therapist students in 34 physical therapist education programs. Methods. Faculty members at 34 physical therapist education programs distributed questionnaires to 1,172 professional physical therapist students within the first 2 weeks of matriculation into programs in 2002. Faculty members returned 919 questionnaires, generating a response rate of 78.4 %. The data were statistically analyzed using chi‐square analysis, independent t tests, and logistic regression to determine differences in the importance of program selection factors based on degree level. Results. Length of the program, matriculation date, size of the physical therapy class, and marketability of a degree from the institution were more important selection factors for MPT students than DPT students. Degree conferred, reputation of the program, reputation of the faculty, and the curriculum were more important selection factors for DPT students than MPT students. Discussion and Conclusion. There were differences between master's degree and doctoral degree physical therapy students in the factors deemed important for selection of physical therapist education programs, especially among factors related to specific program characteristics. Regardless of degree level, the majority of students appeared to select programs on the bases of degree conferred and cost prior to the application process.