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I originally posted this in another forum. Created a thread to get some feedback.
I have not applied at this time to a program – hoping to apply in September/October.
Undergraduate University: Eastern Oregon University
Major: Exercise Science, Community Health (separate degrees)
Institutional GPA: 3.956
Undergraduate GPA: 3.18
Graduate University: Liberty
Master Major: Public Health
Master GPA: 3.57
Overall cGPA: 3.3
Pre-Req GPA: 3.7
GRE: 158v/150q
Other: Phi Kappa Alpha National Honor Society, Dean's List 6 semesters, Honorary member - National Society of Leadership & Success.
Extra-Curricular:
- Regional chapter representative for the American College of Sports Medicine
- Founder at local University for the National Society of Leadership & Success (now largest volunteer organization in the State)
- Work remotely to promote physical activity in rural Alaska to improve health.
- Physical activity spokesperson for the Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Division within the Department of Health & Social Services.
- University Adjunct Professor of Health Science (Pre-Professional Program) (Ironically Pre-PT, Pre-Med, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-PA students)
- Division 1 athlete, national champion
I'm sure my curriculum vitae will detail most of this - $100,000 in charitable donations through fundraising for local school districts and other accomplishments. I have been blessed in my endeavors but now I want to focus on PT in particular. All of these experiences have truly humbled me more than anything and I will carefully consider what I include in my curriculum vitae. However, I am most concerned with what I am about to lead into.
Volunteer hours:
360 out-patient, 20 pediatric, 20 in-patient
I haven’t shadowed with a clinic in about a year and a half since I decided to forego the PTA route after being accepted into two programs. The PT’s I shadowed in order to gain entry into the PTA program advised me against it – warning that I was already knowledgeable enough that the PTA learning curve wouldn’t be steep enough to remain stimulating after a few years and I would apply for PT school regardless. I guess they were right.
I really enjoy my public health career but I am constantly reminded of my time in physical therapy. I had a partner who was in chronic pain recently and she reignited the passion for this type of work. I've watched my friends apply and get into programs and some even graduate. I continued to think about PT consistently. It seems to be such a natural step in my development as a person, educationally and professionally. It envelops who I am as a person with my compassion and personality. It really was a kick in the butt for me because it has opportunities that I couldn't find as an exercise specialist. However, it wasn’t until a few days ago I seriously started considering again to apply after considering my life ten years from now and talking with someone who goes to USA, who re-encouraged me that I still could accomplish this goal.
I originally took on graduate coursework in order to become more competitive for the PT application and then I kept moving forward with my career. It made sense for me to have a career to fall back on while applying for school as I have heard it may take several tries and I didn’t want to wait around without hopes for decent employment. However, my graduate work complimented my PT and exercise background and reinforced my desire for finally taking the PT dive.
I am still taking a biology course, physics course, and both chemistries. I expect these might impact my 3.7-8 pre-req GPA. I am substituting exercise physiology and Biomechanics for two pre-reqs which I received an A in both (unfortunately they were quarter credits so I may have to take at least Physics 2). My first two years of schooling were plagued with depression and being home sick. I was an athlete for a college. I accomplished great things athletically but I was lost. When I returned home I flip-flopped majors without much direction. It was when I finally began working in a physical therapy clinic I snapped out of my depressed funk. I was looking at my transcripts today and it went from C & B and occasional A, with withdrawals sporadically back in 2011-2014 to essentially all A’s. Since then I have taken 94 credits (undergraduate and graduate) with an average 3.8 GPA. I believe that the trend might be considered when applying. My first few years were poor, around a 2.8 GPA. My last three to four have been strong. I just applied for a physical therapy technician position, will set up observation rotations in other settings, get my letters of recommendations together and make sure my pre-requisite courses go as well as planned.
Any thoughts on my general competitiveness? I see a lot of impressive work here. I am 28 going on 29 and have a lot of “experience” beyond school in the form of professional development but I think they are equally concerned with whether I can make it through PT school. I think I can and I believe that my positive grade trend reflects a departure from my early years of apathy.
I believe that if I had applied already and taken the pre-requisites immediately, I might have already started a program. To see so many success stories with GPA’s/GRE's/etc. such as mine is very reassuring.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I have not applied at this time to a program – hoping to apply in September/October.
Undergraduate University: Eastern Oregon University
Major: Exercise Science, Community Health (separate degrees)
Institutional GPA: 3.956
Undergraduate GPA: 3.18
Graduate University: Liberty
Master Major: Public Health
Master GPA: 3.57
Overall cGPA: 3.3
Pre-Req GPA: 3.7
GRE: 158v/150q
Other: Phi Kappa Alpha National Honor Society, Dean's List 6 semesters, Honorary member - National Society of Leadership & Success.
Extra-Curricular:
- Regional chapter representative for the American College of Sports Medicine
- Founder at local University for the National Society of Leadership & Success (now largest volunteer organization in the State)
- Work remotely to promote physical activity in rural Alaska to improve health.
- Physical activity spokesperson for the Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Division within the Department of Health & Social Services.
- University Adjunct Professor of Health Science (Pre-Professional Program) (Ironically Pre-PT, Pre-Med, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-PA students)
- Division 1 athlete, national champion
I'm sure my curriculum vitae will detail most of this - $100,000 in charitable donations through fundraising for local school districts and other accomplishments. I have been blessed in my endeavors but now I want to focus on PT in particular. All of these experiences have truly humbled me more than anything and I will carefully consider what I include in my curriculum vitae. However, I am most concerned with what I am about to lead into.
Volunteer hours:
360 out-patient, 20 pediatric, 20 in-patient
I haven’t shadowed with a clinic in about a year and a half since I decided to forego the PTA route after being accepted into two programs. The PT’s I shadowed in order to gain entry into the PTA program advised me against it – warning that I was already knowledgeable enough that the PTA learning curve wouldn’t be steep enough to remain stimulating after a few years and I would apply for PT school regardless. I guess they were right.
I really enjoy my public health career but I am constantly reminded of my time in physical therapy. I had a partner who was in chronic pain recently and she reignited the passion for this type of work. I've watched my friends apply and get into programs and some even graduate. I continued to think about PT consistently. It seems to be such a natural step in my development as a person, educationally and professionally. It envelops who I am as a person with my compassion and personality. It really was a kick in the butt for me because it has opportunities that I couldn't find as an exercise specialist. However, it wasn’t until a few days ago I seriously started considering again to apply after considering my life ten years from now and talking with someone who goes to USA, who re-encouraged me that I still could accomplish this goal.
I originally took on graduate coursework in order to become more competitive for the PT application and then I kept moving forward with my career. It made sense for me to have a career to fall back on while applying for school as I have heard it may take several tries and I didn’t want to wait around without hopes for decent employment. However, my graduate work complimented my PT and exercise background and reinforced my desire for finally taking the PT dive.
I am still taking a biology course, physics course, and both chemistries. I expect these might impact my 3.7-8 pre-req GPA. I am substituting exercise physiology and Biomechanics for two pre-reqs which I received an A in both (unfortunately they were quarter credits so I may have to take at least Physics 2). My first two years of schooling were plagued with depression and being home sick. I was an athlete for a college. I accomplished great things athletically but I was lost. When I returned home I flip-flopped majors without much direction. It was when I finally began working in a physical therapy clinic I snapped out of my depressed funk. I was looking at my transcripts today and it went from C & B and occasional A, with withdrawals sporadically back in 2011-2014 to essentially all A’s. Since then I have taken 94 credits (undergraduate and graduate) with an average 3.8 GPA. I believe that the trend might be considered when applying. My first few years were poor, around a 2.8 GPA. My last three to four have been strong. I just applied for a physical therapy technician position, will set up observation rotations in other settings, get my letters of recommendations together and make sure my pre-requisite courses go as well as planned.
Any thoughts on my general competitiveness? I see a lot of impressive work here. I am 28 going on 29 and have a lot of “experience” beyond school in the form of professional development but I think they are equally concerned with whether I can make it through PT school. I think I can and I believe that my positive grade trend reflects a departure from my early years of apathy.
I believe that if I had applied already and taken the pre-requisites immediately, I might have already started a program. To see so many success stories with GPA’s/GRE's/etc. such as mine is very reassuring.
Thanks for your thoughts!
