Anxieties and Doubts about DPT route

[c_quacker]

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I have been thinking about entering DPT and went through waves of doubts and hopes, only to be depressed again. I am back in CC to retake Chemistry 1 and 2, Bio and other non-science pre-reqs to raise my GPA. I am also opting to put my hopes on schools that either have low GRE standards, or do not look at GRE at all. I am currently retaking Chemistry 2.... and I feel that I won't be able to get an A in the class because I am actually going in a reversed sequence... I could not petition into Chem 1 so I thought I'll rely on the basic concepts I remembered from Chem 1 from several years back... but I don't know if I'll get an A anymore.... so I feel that I just will not be able to cut it for DPT schools.

My stats:
Major: Public Health Sciences and Minor is Psychology (Messed up horribly with this minor)
Undergrad cGPA: 2.98
Post-Bac cGPA: 3.82
A &P: A in each
Physics 1 &2: A, B
Bio II: A
Overall cGPA: 3.02
sGPA: 2.82
PT Aide exp: 2.5 years in OP setting
Volunteer exp in OP, IP and SNF: over 300 hours each for OP and IP, and around 200 hours in SNF
GRE: 148/145 WR: 4 (planning on retaking GRE after completing my pre-reqs as this is not even worth looking at)

Schools I am applying to next July:
Loma Linda University-
they take the highest grade of my classes. If I get all A's in my Chem and Bio and the other non-science classes), my GPA will be bumped up to around the 3.6~3.7 zone. I am unsure if the sGPA will be adjusted as well. My fear is that I may not get an A in Chem 2 and my shot at even hoping of a chance of admittance will be done. I know that I will be able to get strong recommendation letters from my previous work but I don't know how much the letter will help.

Western University- I have heard that Western U average out retakes... so I am unsure but will still apply.
Touro U of Nevada
Chapman University
Univeristy of St. Agustine

I do want to apply to more schools out there but I have family reasons that sets me back to apply too far from home. (I live in California)

I am really lost at this point. I also think about my age.. I will be 28 this year. When I apply, given that I will be done with the pre-reqs on time, I will be 29.... and finish DPT program around 34-35. I just don't know if I should go through with the DPT route. I think I am going through somewhat of a "midlife crisis" because of so much uncertainties in my path, and knowing the reality of PT world post-graduation (especially OP). I was thinking about PTA but I'm not too fond of the idea that I won't be autonomous in creating POC. I have interest in BS RN/ Entry-level NP and Oriental Medicine aside from PT and have done volunteer hours and shadowed under PA, Nurses, and Acupuncturists in the past as well. My real passion still lies with DPT even though the amount of debt I'll come out with is daunting and ridiculous, but I am just now unsure with my path to DPT. The future of my Chemistry 2 grade is really stressing me out. The Chem 2 materials are not difficult to understand but the Chem 1 concepts that pop up are really biting me hard in the butt. I am losing my hope for an A in this class even though I am putting triple the effort to study the Chem 1 materials on my own. I apologize for all this ranting and negativity! Any advice will be appreciated. Thank You.

 

[Highlife.himalayas]

I have been thinking about entering DPT and went through waves of doubts and hopes, only to be depressed again. I am back in CC to retake Chemistry 1 and 2, Bio and other non-science pre-reqs to raise my GPA. I am also opting to put my hopes on schools that either have low GRE standards, or do not look at GRE at all. I am currently retaking Chemistry 2.... and I feel that I won't be able to get an A in the class because I am actually going in a reversed sequence... I could not petition into Chem 1 so I thought I'll rely on the basic concepts I remembered from Chem 1 from several years back... but I don't know if I'll get an A anymore.... so I feel that I just will not be able to cut it for DPT schools.

My stats:
Major: Public Health Sciences and Minor is Psychology (Messed up horribly with this minor)
Undergrad cGPA: 2.98
Post-Bac cGPA: 3.82
A &P: A in each
Physics 1 &2: A, B
Bio II: A
Overall cGPA: 3.02
sGPA: 2.82
PT Aide exp: 2.5 years in OP setting
Volunteer exp in OP, IP and SNF: over 300 hours each for OP and IP, and around 200 hours in SNF
GRE: 148/145 WR: 4 (planning on retaking GRE after completing my pre-reqs as this is not even worth looking at)

Schools I am applying to next July:
Loma Linda University-
they take the highest grade of my classes. If I get all A's in my Chem and Bio and the other non-science classes), my GPA will be bumped up to around the 3.6~3.7 zone. I am unsure if the sGPA will be adjusted as well. My fear is that I may not get an A in Chem 2 and my shot at even hoping of a chance of admittance will be done. I know that I will be able to get strong recommendation letters from my previous work but I don't know how much the letter will help.

Western University- I have heard that Western U average out retakes... so I am unsure but will still apply.
Touro U of Nevada
Chapman University
Univeristy of St. Agustine

I do want to apply to more schools out there but I have family reasons that sets me back to apply too far from home. (I live in California)

I am really lost at this point. I also think about my age.. I will be 28 this year. When I apply, given that I will be done with the pre-reqs on time, I will be 29.... and finish DPT program around 34-35. I just don't know if I should go through with the DPT route. I think I am going through somewhat of a "midlife crisis" because of so much uncertainties in my path, and knowing the reality of PT world post-graduation (especially OP). I was thinking about PTA but I'm not too fond of the idea that I won't be autonomous in creating POC. I have interest in BS RN/ Entry-level NP and Oriental Medicine aside from PT and have done volunteer hours and shadowed under PA, Nurses, and Acupuncturists in the past as well. My real passion still lies with DPT even though the amount of debt I'll come out with is daunting and ridiculous, but I am just now unsure with my path to DPT. The future of my Chemistry 2 grade is really stressing me out. The Chem 2 materials are not difficult to understand but the Chem 1 concepts that pop up are really biting me hard in the butt. I am losing my hope for an A in this class even though I am putting triple the effort to study the Chem 1 materials on my own. I apologize for all this ranting and negativity! Any advice will be appreciated. Thank You.

Chin up! Just focus on what you can do now which is try your hardest to get that A in chem. I'm that annoying student who crawls up my professor's ass and parks there for the entire 16.6 weeks, especially if it's a subject I find particularly challenging. I also write little post its with questions when I review lecture/homework problems that way during office hours I know exactly what to ask. Does your school offer tutoring? If not, would it be possible to seek out a private tutor? Thing is, gen chem really reminded me of learning a new language. There are just certain things you have to commit to memory, and everything else kind of builds off that. Feel free to PM me if you have any chem questions. I just finished chem 1a/b and got solid As in both. I would love to help where I can.

As for trying to figure out your future, now is probably not the time. I bet you're tremendously overwhelmed with just making the grades you need. I suggest you focus on what you can do now, and don't let the "what ifs" and hypotheticals get to you. Trust me, I'm the same way. I just have to tell myself to slow down, and revisit life's big questions when things are calmer and I have a clearer head. I'm sure it'll help you refocus more energy on what's really important right now anyway, which is getting the A in chem.

Your postbac stats are great. Institutions like USA only look at the last 45 units anyway so don't lose hope. You're getting there 🙂

 

[c_quacker]

Chin up! Just focus on what you can do now which is try your hardest to get that A in chem. I'm that annoying student who crawls up my professor's ass and parks there for the entire 16.6 weeks, especially if it's a subject I find particularly challenging. I also write little post its with questions when I review lecture/homework problems that way during office hours I know exactly what to ask. Does your school offer tutoring? If not, would it be possible to seek out a private tutor? Thing is, gen chem really reminded me of learning a new language. There are just certain things you have to commit to memory, and everything else kind of builds off that. Feel free to PM me if you have any chem questions. I just finished chem 1a/b and got solid As in both. I would love to help where I can.

As for trying to figure out your future, now is probably not the time. I bet you're tremendously overwhelmed with just making the grades you need. I suggest you focus on what you can do now, and don't let the "what ifs" and hypotheticals get to you. Trust me, I'm the same way. I just have to tell myself to slow down, and revisit life's big questions when things are calmer and I have a clearer head. I'm sure it'll help you refocus more energy on what's really important right now anyway, which is getting the A in chem.

Your postbac stats are great. Institutions like USA only look at the last 45 units anyway so don't lose hope. You're getting there 🙂

Thank you for your input 🙂!!
Yes, I have also been that annoying student parked in front the professor's office to bombard him with questions, haha. I am hoping he'll see my effort and offer me some brownie points out of sympathy. He knows that I am taking his class without prior Chem 1, too, and he is on the super strict side... especially during labs. He now tends to emphasize what the Chem 1 topics are loudly during lab lecture and kind of stares at me... as if hinting I should petition to move down a level.... but I'm sure his intentions are not ill-natured...
My biggest problem in Chem 2 is knowing the Chem 1 concepts of acid/bases/buffers, solubility and complex ions and amphoteric ions. I'm also seeing a possibility that types of chemical reactions will soon slap me in the face as the labs are becoming more intense with writing out chemical equations. I have been watching Khan Academy youtube videos to really get a crash course for the Chem 1 topics..., though, I feel that it is not enough. If there are any other resources out there to bring me up to speed with Chem 1 topic, I'd appreciate any help. I tried to see if there was any tutoring available at my CC but they do not at this time 🙁.

 

[beyoutiful_sunshine]

Khan academy helped me tremendously!! I agree with what was previously said that you should focus on one problem at a time and it seems like Gen Chem is the main thing right now so focus on that.

Have you considered private tutoring?
You can send an email to everybody in your class telling them that you're struggling and that if someone is doing well and wouldn't mind helping you, you wouldn't mind paying them? (If money is not an issue of course). I think that would be great because that way you not only get a chemistry tutor, but one that is in your class.

Your post bac GPA is fantastic so you have a REALLY good shot at USA !!

 

[starrsgirl]

I agree with the above sentiments. Buckle down and get this done. You CAN become a chemistry master. There are so many online resources. I love Kahn academy too. There are also some free open courseware for Chemistry I. Get into those courses now....get those online tutorials. Pick up a Chemistry for Dummies type of short cram guide. Hire a tutor NOW. Doing well in this class is worth your time and is worth the additional tutor/book expense. Be willing to put in the hours that other students aren't willing to. I bet if you tried, you could find 3 hours a day to put to this class. Shocking? Maybe....but so worth it in the long run.

I was in this boat with physics. I took Physics 1 a long time ago and it was algebra based and from a community college (lots of hand holding at this particular school). Because of a lot of crazy things, I ended up having to take Physics 2 ONLINE, CALCULUS based (it had been about 12 years since I touched calculus) from a different school. It was a brutal course. Still one of the hardest things I ever did. The problem sets took me a crazy amount of time...something like 30 hours for a problem set. I ended up having to teach myself the Calculus along the way to even begin to the problem sets. I averaged 6 hours a day on this course (it was also a summer course, hence the very high workload). Yes, I was working at the time. I found not 1, but 2 private tutors (one was a friend and helped for free thankfully). I also worked to turn everything I could in early with questions and often the instructor would look at where I had questions and help me out so I could rework and re submit. If there was extra credit, I did it. If there was the ability to rework missed test problems even for scraps of a point, I did it. We had a discussion board with the class and I killed it there. Lots of time into my answers and I went above and beyond with responding to other classmates and such. I felt like I sold my soul to do well in this class, but in the end it was absolutely worth it. I earned my A, but more importantly, I tested myself and knew I was capable of hard work when things were stacked against me. The experience served me well my first year in PT school.

 

[samMin95]

Hey, I believe you can do it, don't give up yet! I recommend retaking the GRE, to really strengthen your application, don't just give up on this part of your application! 🙂 And when you do apply, don't focus too much on your weaknesses. Schools don't want to read about where you messed up, instead, they want to know what makes you capable of becoming a great physical therapist! Believe in yourself, put in the necessary work, and it'll work out. I told myself that I just need to buckle down for a few years, work my hardest, so that no matter the outcome I'd have no regrets. You can do it!

 

[astarblaze]

If you can afford it, private tutoring could help you with the Chem 1 materials you're struggling with. You could even find an online tutor (tho in person will probably be vastly superior). Or getting tutoring from someone who's doing well in your class, as beyoutiful_sunshine suggested. I've tutored, TAed, and graded for Chem 2 classes, and some of the material seems really challenging (especially if you don't have the Chem 1 foundation), but sometimes it's just a couple simple things that you need to know in order to go from utterly lost to totally understanding the material. If you're really struggling, get help!!! It will save you a lot of time and heartache.

My general suggestion is to look into schools that look at your last 60 credits in lieu of cum GPA, because your last 60 looks pretty competitive. If you're willing to move out of California, you'll have a lot more options for these types of schools. Rock the rest of your prereqs and play up your personal strengths (certainly you have experience and maturity being older than the traditional applicant!) Retake GRE after you've put in some serious studying. I'd recommend using Magoosh to study as well as using the official ETS GRE book and the free power prep software tests from ETS (exactly like the actual test).

Play it smart, put in the hard work, and you can make it into a DPT program.

 

[c_quacker]

Thank you everyone for really good advice! I definitely will be staying focused in Chem and seeking help in class and out of class.