For in-house clinics, an accepted ratio of student to clinician exists: roughly 8/10 to 1. No such ratio exists for field placement programs, even though setting the ratio has significant practical consequences. Field placements increasingly occupy the intersection of a school’s pedagogical, reputational and post-graduate placement goals. Yet, as the number of students per program changes, clinicians face trade-offs in the goals they can and cannot satisfy. With this presentation, we model the pedagogical choices most affected by altering the ratio. We will propose a method for resolving the complex question of determining ratios in field placement programs. Using this method, we will present survey-based data, engage participants in several design exercises, and encourage a focused debate on the desirability of limits on ratios, and on the consequences of small, medium and large ratios. We expect to provide useful information for clinicians engaged in designing and redesigning programs, and especially for those experiencing enrollment pressure.