Any experiences as a re-applicant?

[hmmmatt]

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Hello all,

I have been browsing around here for awhile and finally created an account. I'm wondering if anyone has any experiences as a re-applicant? I didn't do so well on my first round of applications (didn't have many pre-requisites completed, didn't have all my hours completed, etc) but now I have ALL my pre-requisites completed and have done very well in them. I also have a ton of observation/volunteer hours completed and plan on doing more and more. Along with other community outreach programs and the like.

I guess my question is, do you think there is any advantage or disadvantage to being a re-applicant? Does this possibly show dedication and drive to become a PT?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, and good luck to everyone in the process of applying this round!

 

[be67]

I too am in the exact same position and would love to know if anyone knows more about this subject? Please let us know, I plan to submit my application in by the 15th of august (this month)

 

[NewTestament]

I was a re-applicant last year. I was in the exact same situation. I had too many outstanding pre-requisites, so needless to say I got rejected everywhere. I also applied to schools based simply on cost.

I spent the extra year re-taking classes, finishing other pre-requisites, volunteering more, and working. I also retook AP 1 to learn muscles, bones, and major nerves again. I obtained two extra references, honed my academic skills, and improved my grades. I chose more carefully the schools I applied to. I considered cost, locatoin, method of teaching, length of program, start date, and pass rate (most important).

I had a great time visiting schools and interviewing with the faculty. Every day was exciting. I never knew when I would receive the next invitation, or word about my status, or ultimately, an acceptance letter (I received an acceptance phone call). If you're competitive, it's going to be a tense and uncertain year as you wait to see which schools will accept and reject you. Don't be surprised to get rejected much more than accepted.

I don't think schools give more weight to re-applicants vs. first-time applicants. I imagine many applicants are re-applicants (can't give you a percentage). Most applicants aren't coming straight from undergrad, so many of them went back to school to make their application more competitive.

I think PTCAS asks you to say what you are doing differently this time, and why your application is stronger this year. Take time to write this essay. It gives you a chance to explain what went wrong last year, and to claify uncertainty on your application (withdrawals, poor GRE scores, etc.) Schools will definitely ask you this during interviews, so practice your response.

Kevin

 

[wjs010]

I never thought I'd be a reapp, but after being accepted in may for a school, I had to turn it down. So I went back and am still retaking classes, observing, etc. if you keep Doing these things, you will get in. I applied to 18 schools today lol

 

[jasonc]

Hey! I was just wondering about how many pre-requisites were unfinished at the time of your application. How many were in process and how many did you plan to take during the winter and summer after your application?

I'm hoping to apply next year but I just started taking my pre-requisites this last summer. It is really difficult to enroll in classes at community colleges near my area so im hoping i'll get enough done so I can apply.

 

[hmmmatt]

Hey! I was just wondering about how many pre-requisites were unfinished at the time of your application. How many were in process and how many did you plan to take during the winter and summer after your application?

I'm hoping to apply next year but I just started taking my pre-requisites this last summer. It is really difficult to enroll in classes at community colleges near my area so im hoping i'll get enough done so I can apply.

Hello! At this time last year, pretty much all of my basic prerequisites were incomplete. Last summer I upped my math skills to get into physics classes and took an anatomy & physiology with a lab. When the fall semester came around, I started with my chemistry/lab, physics/lab, another biology class and then another class I needed for my major that was not a prerequisite. I was not able to apply to many schools with very early application deadlines because of this, so I feel like I missed out on some decent opportunities there.

The next semester came around and I continued with chemistry 2/lab, physics 2/lab, upper division anatomy & physiology and the writing intensive course I needed to graduate.

As you can probably tell, I didn't have many courses completed at the time of submitting my application last summer, and I think this ultimately hurt me a lot. I don't have the best GRE score, but it's above the cut-off for every school I've looked at.

I think the largest bump you're going to have to get over with not having many prerequisites is that schools just don't know how you're going to do in those essential classes until those final grades are submitted. Just be sure to do very well in all of them and get your transcripts sent for the academic update in December as early as possible.

Good luck!