Anxious about starting DPT school

[DPT2023Grad]

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• #1

I start PT school in a little over a month and I am super excited because I have waited for this moment for a long time! My excitement has been accompanied by some anxiety about the difficulty of PT school and my ability to succeed. I have always done exceedingly well in school and have never worried about any particular class so I do not understand where this anxiety is coming from.
I know PT school will be much more challenging than anything I have ever done academically, but for some reason, in my head, I feel like it will be even harder than I am imagining. I know this is an overreaction, but I was wondering if anybody else has dealt/dealing with the same feeling and if people can give some insight as to how they overcame some of the similar anxieties that I am having! Thanks in advance!

 

[dobsonek]

Hey! So I’m due to report to my programs campus 8/18 for orientation and honestly the closer it gets the more anxious I get. I excelled in high school without having to try so college was a huge culture shock and I struggled through my classes, mostly because I didn’t know how to study (I never needed to learn) and because I don’t test well (college didn’t have all the busy work I was used to). I made mostly Bs, with a few As and a few Cs. I’m honestly terrified of failing out of my program because I know it’s going to be more intense than anything I’ve done before and because I’ve spent so long trying to get into school (this was my 3rd cycle applying). Just know you’re not alone, I'm pretty sure everyone who’s about to start is about to **** a brick lol

 

[Arico]

Utilize your resources (talking to faculty, classmates, etc.). Don't be afraid to ask questions and figure out which study method(s) works best for YOU. Prioritization is key in PT school, knowing when and where to put your study efforts will make the process easier. Don't let stress and anxiety control your life while you're in school, have the confidence in your abilities to get through whatever is thrown at you.

 

[stemaba]

I think anxiousness is totally common when starting a program like this! It will be hard, but it will be so rewarding and you will learn so much. My suggestion -- ask as many questions as you have. Don't feel like a question you have is stupid. For sure someone else has the same one, or didn't even know they had the same question. Also, really utilize your cohort! At this point, y'all have made it, it's more of a team effort than a competition! Sometimes it feels like you're dragging each other to the finish line. I think a good thing to let go of too: the worry about getting straight As. Legit sometimes you may just barely pass an exam (I definitely have) but you pass, and you continue forward. It's hard to un-program the worries for good grades, but you'll get there 😉

Organization I think will help reduce anxiety too. Because when you're in the middle of it, organization can crumble very quickly. Keep self care as daily as possible, too. You are starting a very rigorous program (congrats!) but you've also made it this far -- you can 100% do it.

 

[Fix.Your.Gait]

Finishing up my first semester of DPT and one thing that has really eased a lot of my anxiety and stress is the cohort groupchat. The shared jokes, suffering, complaints makes it a bit more bearable. Everyone is so helpful and supportive, we share study guides and notes. Best humans around. Definitely get a cohort group chat going right away.