Apply a year early or wait to better my transcript?

[Aero SSX]

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Hello. So here's the deal. I've been in college for a while. Spent 5 years off and on at a community college to get my feet wet. Got an AA, and now I'm at a University getting a BS in Exercise Science. No issues there.

It will be a bit before I graduate, however, having to meet the college goals (40 upper division credits, certain classes). I have two options: 1)Load up on classes (16-17 credits/semester), graduate Spring 2017, and be able to start applying in July 2016, 2) or wait it out (~13 credits/semester), graduate a semester later in Fall 2017, and apply a year later starting July 2017.

Here's the thing. I would love to apply next year and get in, but I don't have much going for me yet. My GPA is 3.44, I don't have much for EC's, and I have roughly 90 shadowing hours. I can up my shadowing hours by a couple hundred by then, improve my EC's a bit, and certainly up the GPA to at least upper 3.5's.

I'm taking the GRE this summer, and I'm going to study hard for it everyday, but if I want to retake, I'm not sure if I'd have the time to study for it next summer prior to applying. I'm not sure if I will have the opportunity to lead in the clubs I'm interested in (Tennis Club and Movement Science Club) within the next few semesters, and I will have a lower GPA and less shadowing hours than if I'd apply the year after.

So what do you guys think? Also, if I apply a year early and don't get in, I don't know how the class load would work. I may end up running out of credits or something and not be able to stay a full time student.

This certainly isn't urgent and I have time to think it over, but I'm not sure my stats will be high enough come next July, so I was leaning towards keeping the credits lower and giving myself time to improve my transcript more. Statistically I could apply with up to a 3.61 next July, or a 3.69 the year after. And I'm sure I could have worked my way up the totem pole to be president or vice president if I wait an extra year, I'm sure.

My long-term plan was to get involved in a couple clubs of interest and gain leadership positions and of course do well in classes. And then during summer, work my tail off, study for and take the GRE, and volunteer somewhere different this and next summer, as well as observe at a few places per summer, aiming for several hundred hours each summer.

 

[ptlover]

Your long term plan is one like I did. If it gives you time and a chance for a better app and stronger GPA i would do that. This process is too expensive, time consuming, and important to not turn in your best application. You want to get the best grades you can in classes and score well on your GRE. Be strategic and you can definitely get in. PT school is very competitive you want to stand out so give yourself the chance to do so

 

[DesertPT]

It'll be easier to make a decision once you see your GRE scores. But what you need to decide first is if it works for you to take 17 credits per semester or if that is going to kill your GPA.

 

[Aero SSX]

Thanks for the responses guys. Right now I'm taking 14 credits with three lab classes and working 15-20 hours a week, and I'm not even sure if the work thing will pan out.

I think I could handle 17 credits, so long as I'm not working. However, if I want to wait a year, then it would be to my advantage to drop that load down. Maybe you're right about the GRE thing though.

I plan to study about 3 hours a day in the summer before taking it soon before I leave late August. I'm planning on doing very well on it, so if it isn't great this time, I'll probably take it again, even if I have to dish out another $250 or so.

My gut tells me to wait an extra year, but I'll sit on it and think it through.

 

[starrsgirl]

Consider the application deadlines for your top choice schools.....if many of them have 1 October 2016 deadlines and you are still taking full course loads that fall and the next spring, you may have a ton of outstanding pre reqs and your chances would not be good (because they will make an interview decision before you even receive fall grades). The exception is if you have completed most of your pre reqs by July 2016....in which case, I would probably go ahead and take a stab at the earlier application cycle. (or if your schools have March 2017 deadlines, then you would probably be fine to apply in the 2016 cycle too.)

 

[Aero SSX]

Hey guys. I came up with another idea that I never thought of. These are my choices that I've considered now:

1) Take 16 credits/semester, graduate in Spring 2017, and start applying July 2016.

2) Take 13 credits/semester, graduate in Fall 2017, and start applying July 2017.

Here's my newest idea:

3) Take 16 credits/semester, graduate in Spring 2017, and start applying July 2017. Here's my thoughts behind it. So right now I'm at 14 credits with three labs, working 20 hours a week. I'm fairly sure the work isn't gonna cut it, and that I'll be dropping it soon. I wanted to see how I would handle work, but I feel like I should be studying a lot each day to get the optimal grades.

If I cut work, that leaves me with enough time to study, even with 16-17 credits and a couple labs. Doing this would allow me to graduate a semester early, saving me quite a bit of money, also considering that I'd be working full time during summers and between graduating and starting PT school. I could take an extra stab at the GRE then if needed, and I can get in more shadowing hours and volunteer.

Basically, it's combining ideas. It takes the first approach by saving myself a semester worth of work and money, but it takes the second approach in that it allows me an extra year to improve my stats. If I apply after graduating, my total GPA will show up, as will all of my EC's.

What do you guys think of this idea? This is my favorite one yet. Because I'm sure I can handle that work load, considering I'm finishing the Chem and A&P sequences now. I think it's the best mix. It isn't like the year or so wait for grad school would be wasted time either. I would be working my tail off, and it would probably be a great break from studying all the time too.

PLUS, having extra credits means more grant money. It just seems like the right thing for me. But I'd appreciate a few opinions on it.

 

[uncwpt2018]

It really depends on the difficulty of the classes you would be loading up on while taking 16 credits. Taking that many credits can hurt your GPA if you're taking 2-3 really hard/time consuming classes at once. But if money is an issue then it might make more sense to not work during school, graduate a semester early and then work/volunteer.

As long as you are sure you can handle the workload, I don't see why your third option won't work (unless you have to spend a lot on living expenses that extra year off.) You'll have a stronger resume and more money, which will make PT school less stressful.

 

[Aero SSX]

To be honest, I can't say for sure the third option would work. It's impossible to know that the course load would be fine. I'd have four semesters left with six labs. Not only that, it could be hard to get all my classes done in four semesters just based on what needs to get done and when.

I don't know. Honestly, the money situation is something to ponder I guess. How would I be able to afford graduate school if I'm broke anyway? How could I pay for rent/food, etc? Since most don't work during PT school, that is.

My top priority is grades, which is why I'm almost certain that I will be quitting my job in the next couple weeks. But I must say that it would be nice to have extra cash, especially if I could start paying off the loans a little. Having said that, everyone's different and I know that. Some people can work full time and go to school full time. But I think I need to stop diluting my work and focus on school.

Honestly, maybe I'm just too insecure about the whole thing. It's easy to compare to others who work or graduate quickly. For some reason, I care so much about being like others and loading up with so much. Maybe I should stick to my initial gut feeling, which was to spread the credits out (~13/semester), stay the extra semester, and apply in 2017, all while not working during the school year and working full time in the summer.

I can always spend the extra time I'd have applying for scholarships. Not like that could hurt. Hmmph. Sounds more realistic for me. Graduating early assumes I could take those classes as needed, and do well. I can't let the money thing control me. I think if I do it's going to cause a lot of problems.

I'll have to think on this further, but upon inspection, my gut says to spread out the credits over an extra semester and apply in '17, while being active in clubs and without work. And then during summer, work full time, study for the GRE, volunteer, and shadow as much as possible. I think I was considering other options based on what other people tend to do, but I can't really play the comparison game now can I?

 

[Romazicon]

Here are my two cents.

It seems that you have things planned out well with what you want to do. That in itself is great. I had less of a plan when I applied.

If you would go with the larger course load, I would agree to drop the job. Focus on school. I took BIO, Chem, and A&P all in 1 semester with 3 other classes. It was difficult, but it is possible. I know that many other people have done it as well. Just as long as you know you can handle it.

I went with a larger course load during my undergrad BUT graduated in the Fall of 2014. So by Spring 2014, I had 2 classes left to complete my degree... EASY! I took one during the summer and meanwhile I put in observation hours, worked to pay for the class and took the GRE, then I had my last class during the Fall and had an easy semester while I got my applications in (and continued to work to pay for the class). Granted, I had a stressful undergrad with the large amount of studying I had to do to make up for switching majors, but the application process was less stressful than if I would've applied the year before (July 2013) and graduate Spring 2014.

Take 16-17 credits/semester, graduate in Fall 2017, and start applying July 2017. Leave your last summer/fall semester with no outstanding pre-reqs and spend the summer observing, getting letters of reference/experience and such. Retake GRE if needed.

-start my experience
That's essentially what I did. Applied July 2014, Graduated Fall 2014.
Ended summer classes late July. Took GRE after 4 days of studying early AUGUST. Racked up 200 hrs in peds/inpatient the same month, submitted apps last day of August after GRE scores were available.
Was accepted to 3/3 schools.
-end my experience