Applying for a 3rd Time

[Madness202]

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I applied for PT school in the Fall of 2010 and was not admitted into any of the schools I applied to. I re-applied this past Summer of 2011 and got 2 interviews and 2 waitlist offers. One of those waitlist offers is still a possibility because classes doesn't start until late August. However, I am nervous about what to do if I don't get admitted. The money that I spend applying is a bit much, but I see it as nothing compared to the price of a semester in PT school. But it has been mentally draining. Constant rejection does get to you; especially after getting 2 interviews and being one of the handful of people that still don't get in. I still want to be a PT, but this whole process is killing me. Should I apply for a 3rd time?

 

[djb051]

Yes, you should apply for the 3rd time if PT is really what you want to do because you may regret it later if you don't. If I were in the same situation, I would ask the schools I applied to specifically what parts of my application could use the most improvement and then try to improve those same areas if time allows. I would probably also increase the number of schools I apply to the 3rd time to increase my chances of acceptance. Good luck!

 

[ez1023dpt]

hey there... I am also applying to PT school for next year and although I have pretty good stats (minus the GRE which I'm going to retake), I am also very nervous. Maybe you need to employ a strategic method to get in. How are you're stats? If you do not have pretty good stats and you do not have other experiences that would make you stand out, try to avoid applying to schools whose standards are quite high. Don't lose hope, if it's what you really want to do.

 

[NewTestament]

Yes you should. You've committed too much at this point. If you don't apply, you'll regret it later. What are your stats?

Here are my recommendations:

-Retake a couple classes to boost your pre-req GPA.
-Consider retaking the GRE if it barely meets the minimum
-Volunteer more. Acute care hours are hard to get, but you should be able to find opportunities in SNFs, assisted care facilities, or independent living home. Even volunteering in another outpatient clinic might help.

You need to apply to more schools. Unless you are an uber-candidate (years of experience in the field, perfect grades, great GREs, extra-cirruculars, etc.), you need to apply to more than four.

Kevin

 

[shark11289]

if you dont mind me asking what are your stats?

 

[Cooperylee]

Yea I am also interested in which school you applied to and what your stats are. Sometimes you have to send it to the right places that fits ur stats and also sending it to multiple schools. I really don't have the best stats but I'm hoping my volunteering/experience/tenacity will make it up. I'm applying to 15 schools.

 

[Madness202]

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

My stats are

Cumulative 3.2
Pre-Req 3.0
100+ hours of observation (all outpatient), but my mother is having knee surgery this summer and I will be getting more hours going to her PT sessions
GRE: 450 Verbal, 560 Math, 4.0 Writing
I had my CPR certificate when I applied last year. I recently got certified in personal training.

This past year I applied to

Drexel (interview, no admission)
George Washington (interview, still on the waitlist)
Marymount (rejection)
Temple (my alma mater; rejection)
University of Michigan, Flint (rejection; not enough hours)
UNC Chapel Hill (rejection)
University of Pittsburgh (waitlist but no admission)
USC (rejection; knew it was a long shot but applied for the heck of it)

I logged onto PTCAS today and realized that they kept a lot of my application on file from last year, as opposed to the last time I applied when I had to fill out the entire thing again.

 

[Madness202]

Also, if I do apply again, I only have about 3 schools to choose from based on my history of applying. Does anybody have any recommendations for schools that would fit my stats?

 

[djb051]

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

My stats are

Cumulative 3.2
Pre-Req 3.0
100+ hours of observation (all outpatient), but my mother is having knee surgery this summer and I will be getting more hours going to her PT sessions
GRE: 450 Verbal, 560 Math, 4.0 Writing
I had my CPR certificate when I applied last year. I recently got certified in personal training.

This past year I applied to

Drexel (interview, no admission)
George Washington (interview, still on the waitlist)
Marymount (rejection)
Temple (my alma mater; rejection)
University of Michigan, Flint (rejection; not enough hours)
UNC Chapel Hill (rejection)
University of Pittsburgh (waitlist but no admission)
USC (rejection; knew it was a long shot but applied for the heck of it)

I logged onto PTCAS today and realized that they kept a lot of my application on file from last year, as opposed to the last time I applied when I had to fill out the entire thing again.

I know quite a few of those schools that you applied to (on your list above) are very competitive and would be difficult to get into with a gpa less than 3.5. I have no idea what schools would be easier to get into, but I do think you should apply for others not on the list as I know some of the ones you listed are more difficult to get into. You should check on the apta website. You can search PT programs on there, and many of the programs will list the average GPA and GRE of accepted applicants on there.

 

[Cooperylee]

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

My stats are

Cumulative 3.2
Pre-Req 3.0
100+ hours of observation (all outpatient), but my mother is having knee surgery this summer and I will be getting more hours going to her PT sessions
GRE: 450 Verbal, 560 Math, 4.0 Writing
I had my CPR certificate when I applied last year. I recently got certified in personal training.

This past year I applied to

Drexel (interview, no admission)
George Washington (interview, still on the waitlist)
Marymount (rejection)
Temple (my alma mater; rejection)
University of Michigan, Flint (rejection; not enough hours)
UNC Chapel Hill (rejection)
University of Pittsburgh (waitlist but no admission)
USC (rejection; knew it was a long shot but applied for the heck of it)

I logged onto PTCAS today and realized that they kept a lot of my application on file from last year, as opposed to the last time I applied when I had to fill out the entire thing again.

I hope you hear from the wait-listed schools. But those school look really competitive. 6/8 of those places are averaging 3.5 acceptance. You should look through the ptcas and call up schools to find out information.

 

[yuns554]

Some schools that would fit your stats would be like the Touro's both Nevada and the NY ones. Maybe LIU and St. Augustine?

 

[ez1023dpt]

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

My stats are

Cumulative 3.2
Pre-Req 3.0
100+ hours of observation (all outpatient), but my mother is having knee surgery this summer and I will be getting more hours going to her PT sessions
GRE: 450 Verbal, 560 Math, 4.0 Writing
I had my CPR certificate when I applied last year. I recently got certified in personal training.

This past year I applied to

Drexel (interview, no admission)
George Washington (interview, still on the waitlist)
Marymount (rejection)
Temple (my alma mater; rejection)
University of Michigan, Flint (rejection; not enough hours)
UNC Chapel Hill (rejection)
University of Pittsburgh (waitlist but no admission)
USC (rejection; knew it was a long shot but applied for the heck of it)

I logged onto PTCAS today and realized that they kept a lot of my application on file from last year, as opposed to the last time I applied when I had to fill out the entire thing again.

Ok, MOST of the schools you applied to are very competitive. With your stats (comparatively low GPA and average GRE score), and a little above the required observation hours, you should honestly try applying to schools that have lower requirement. I'm sure you still have a shot. But honestly don't beat yourself up about your grades because at the end of the day, it's all in the books. Your job now is to determine which schools to apply to that will give you the highest probability of getting accepted. As mentioned above, go to PTCAS and check for average GPA and GRE scores. If the GPA is more than 3.6, don't sweat. If it's <3.5, you have a shot... if it's less than 3.25(if there is such), hell apply to that one!!! 🙂 🙂 Good luck to you and I hope you get in. 🙂

 

[jlconner2]

I would check out Marshall University (they just admitted their first class this year. They're a new program but I think it's going to be an awesome program! Definitely worth looking into!), Radford University, Nova Southeastern, College of Mt. Saint Joseph, Youngstown State University, AT Still University, Midwestern University, and Armstrong Atlantic State. Those are just a few that I think you should consider looking into!! Best of luck to you. I don't have the best stats in the world and I was able to get in. If PT is your passion then keep on pushing until you get in. Like someone else said if you need to redo some classes, get some additional observation hours, retake the GRE, do it!! It will all be worth it in the end!!