Palmer Vs. Other schools

Can't believe it's been a month since my last post!

I recently received a comment from a fellow reader that inspired this post:

"... I was wondering if you ever communicate with other Chiropractic students at other institutions and could give me any of their insight as well. Just as an FYI other than Palmer (and West) I am considering Life University of Georgia Logan College and Life West. I appreciate any info that you can give. And yes of course I know you will be a bit biased but I'm still curious..."

First of all- Thanks for the comment! It's great to see that people are actually reading my blogs :)

To answer your question, YES- I do have the opportunity to talk to students/alum from other schools, and usually there is one general theme: "WOW, I didn't realize Palmer had so much to offer!"

Everyone thinks I am biased toward Palmer Davenport simply because I go here, but that is far from the truth. Over the past 3 years, I've had a lot of ups and downs with the school. There are some things that have really frustrated me with this institution. But, I think that is normal. The things that I have been frustrated about (tuition increases, parking, administration) have been things that every school/student has to deal with. I just have to keep in mind that they aren't just Palmer specific problems. I'm sure if I were to go to Palmer West or Life West, I wouldn't be able to find a parking spot either (not to mention the cost of living is SIGNIFICANTLY higher in CA versus Iowa)! The economy is experiencing a tough time throughout the country- and I'll guarantee you that Palmer Davenport wasn't the only school to increase tuition this year! And, every organization on the planet has growing pains with "the people on top!"

BUT---- I'm usually brought back down to Earth quickly and realize Palmer was the right choice for me. And, ironically enough- it's usually the students/alum I talk to from other schools that make me realize how lucky I am to go to Palmer Davenport.

When other students (even from Palmer West and Florida) come to visit Palmer and tour our campus, talk to our faculty, and chat with current students the resounding response is "I wish OUR school had that!" They might be referring to our state-of-the-art radiology suite, our brand new out patient clinic, our top of the line physiotherapy department, or simply the one-on-one interaction the students have with their faculty. Whatever it is, there's always something that they wish their school had that Palmer Davenport does!

OK-So now I know I'm sounding biased again, but that's the actual truth from other people- people that DON'T go to Palmer Davenport. People with the insight and perspective of two different locations. Now, I'm sure there are some school that offer things that Palmer does not- but the question to ask yourself is, "does that out weight what Palmer has?"

If you're really having difficulty making the decision I recommend going to see all the schools you're interested in. I know that the cost might be a factor in visiting many schools, but it's so important to go there and see for yourself. Usually you will know if it's the right fit for you as soon as you arrive. It's really important that you visit the campus and get a feel for the environment. Talk to the current students, chat with a faculty member, read the school news paper. Before you just decide to come to campus- make sure to talk to your admissions rep. They usually offer some form of reimbursement for your visit if you set it up through them. Plus, your admissions rep will help you find a hotel and explain how to get around town. I can't speak for every school on this, but I know at Palmer Davenport, they offer compensation for your hotel if you come to a campus visit.

If you still can't decide try doing these to narrow it down:
---Make a list of what's important to you (ie- techniques, teacher to student ratio, cost of living, tuition) and make sure to get the info for each school so you can compare.
---Get a hold of some alumni from the school and ask their opinion of the school
---I know there are plenty of more exciting locations than Davenport, IA to live; but I don't recommend choosing a school based on location. You're going to be super busy with class/clinic anyway, and being a student should be your main focus, not sitting on the beach! Choose a good school and then you can decide to go wherever you want with your great education!

I know it's not an easy decision, and should not be taken lightly so think about it carefully. I'll just leave you with this one last thought about Palmer that could just be YOUR deciding factor---

There will always be one thing that Palmer has over every other school in the entire world...

PALMER DAVENPORT IS WHERE CHIROPRACTIC STARTED!
DD Palmer gave the first chiropractic adjustment just blocks away from campus. The history and enthusiasm of the profession is just as strong now as it was in 1897! The founders of our profession walked the same halls I walk through every day- and that kind of inspiration and energy is contagious!