Advice on preparing to apply to PT school for the first time

[Dudeguyy]

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Hi all,

This website is great! Looks like a TON of useful information on here for those both getting ready to apply the first time as well as those already going through school! So glad I stumbled upon it.

Anyway, I guess I'll give you my vitals. I could've posted this in the application/acceptance thread but I didn't want to get lost in the shuffle...

University: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Degree: Neuroscience
Undergraduate GPA: 3.54
Prereq GPA: 3.29 (Not sure if I calculated this right-- is this prereqs required for degree or prereqs related to program admittance at PT school I'm applying to?)
GRE (Unofficial, just took Tuesday): 165 V, 160 Q, ???? AW

Extra Curics: Need to strengthen. Really have none to speak of yet. Spent most of my undergrad free time working and working out. Very well versed in all things exercise-related, including PT routines and methods, due to a few nagging injuries I've been seen for. Self-studied protocols for many different injuries.

Planning to get involved in volunteering at some after-school programs, food banks, and possibly Big Brothers/Big Sisters soon.

Volunteering: 4 hours shadowing, currently work as a patient attendant at UNMC (the largest hospital in Nebraska), which is a job very similar to a patient care technician.

Planning to apply to: UNMC, Creighton, University of Iowa

Sorry if that is a bit jumbled... trying to make sure I included everything. I did have a few questions about preparation to apply, however:

* When it comes to volunteering, how much is ideal? I know more is generally better, and I know each programs requirements vary, but is there such a thing as an absolute bare minimum for any applicant? Obviously I'm going to get more, just want to wrap my head around the concept. Also, what is the best way to get them? It seems like most people volunteer regularly, but does anyone know what would be the ideal number of shadow vs. straight-up volunteer hours?

* Any recommendations for any other good programs worth looking at in the Omaha/midwest area? I'm hoping to not travel too far, but if there's a reputable program not too far from here that I'm overlooking, I would definitely like to know!

*Finally, what are your general recommendations to best strengthen my resume as it is now?

Many thanks to anyone who takes time to read and reply. I'm very new to the PT world... It's been less than 6 months since I changed my aspirations from Med School to PT and I'm doing my best to get ready for the next application cycle!

 

[Dudeguyy]

I saw 100 hrs listed as a good minimum for volunteering hours in another thread. Is that a good baseline to use for volunteering hours?

Also, I spoke to an instructor who was in charge of admissions at my top school (UNMC) at an informational workshop lately and she said ideally only 16 shadowing hours would be sufficient for applicants. Does that mean most people spend a ton of other hours just volunteering at places and not actually shadowing, or do you all truly spend 100+ hours shadowing?

 

[natmasc86]

100 hours is a good starting point. The ideal number of hours is relative to each program. I'm starting UNM's program this fall and they did not have a required amount of hours. But on average each applicant had 200+ hours. I came in at around 250. Obviously more is definitely better. Although at an advisement session, it was mentioned that they had a cap at 400 hours. They also look at the diversity of of your volunteer experiences.

Good luck on your application!

 

[lovepixie]

Apply early

 

[Dudeguyy]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Nat, that was 250 hours volunteering right? Not strictly shadowing? How did you break that up-- how many per week?

I'm coming to the conclusion that it is very important to have a very diverse volunteer history. Quality, not just quantity, matters.

 

[Kuhdaytee]

I think that most schools do have shadowing minimums, which is generally around 100 hours (as in, volunteering/shadowing with a physical therapist present.) Each school is different though, so make sure that you research before you apply. The average is around 200/250 of shadowing with a physical therapist. Getting more hours than the minimum might not help your application much, but do more if you're interested in it! Diversity is important for shadowing, so that you can see many different areas of physical therapy.

For general extracurriculars/volunteering, quality>quantity. Look for one or two things that you can really commit to, and possibly have some sort of leadership role.

 

[jdaniels360]

Diversify yours hours, 25-30 hrs per setting is ideal.

 

[ajcp13]

I would definitely recommend at least 100 hours shadowing. Try to do both inpatient and outpatient. I personally did outpatient sports PT for 40 hours, pediatric outpatient for 30 hours, and geriatric inpatient (nursing home) for 60 hours. I was told that of you can't work as an aid, it is very important to get breadth since you can't get depth. I did about 3-6 hours a week, but I know people who did a lot more.

 

[natmasc86]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Nat, that was 250 hours volunteering right? Not strictly shadowing? How did you break that up-- how many per week?

I'm coming to the conclusion that it is very important to have a very diverse volunteer history. Quality, not just quantity, matters.

I was referring to shadowing. I shadowed in various settings including outpatient, inpatient, and a skilled nursing facility. UNM did not have a minimum requirement but recommended 200.

I was averaging 4 - 6 hours a week. But also did a job shadow with a therapist where I shadowed 5 consecutive days for 40 hours.

 

[aroszko]

When it comes to the PTCAS application, shadowing and volunteering are the same thing, if you are in a clinic working with a PT, PT aid, PT tech, athletic trainer (in a PT clinic), whoever, it counts (as long as there is a licensed PT watching over you as they are they ones who need to sign off on your hours but you don't need to be directly 'shadowing' the PT all the time). You learn a lot but interactions from other members of the PT team....a lot also depends on what you are allowed to do during your volunteer time as every clinic is different.

 

[pianokeys]

I need some advice in applying this first time around. I'm about to graduate from a four year university after coming from a community college. However, I still need to finish my physics and chemistry after I graduate. My question is whether anyone knows how University of Maryland Baltimore, GWU, or Howard feel about pre-reqs taken at a community college.

 

[NewTestament]

My question is whether anyone knows how University of Maryland Baltimore, GWU, or Howard feel about pre-reqs taken at a community college.

UM-Bal and GWU will accept pre-reqs taken at CC's but Howard will not.