Brutally honest answers please :(

[Snugglyjeff]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello everyone, long time forum reader here, first time poster. So basically, I live in New York and it is my dream to be a physical therapist. I applied to many schools this time around and the applications are all submitted and done but the wait is killing me. I am so absolutely terrified I might not be accepted to any schools. The problem is my undergrad GPA is...less than great. So if anyone with experience or knows anything can just tell me flat out how I'm looking I'd really appreciate it. So my numbers are:

Undergrad GPA: 3.07

Pre-req GPA: 3.34

GRE: Verb 153 Quant 151 Analytical 4

volunteer hours: just over 100, 60 from inpatient, 40ish from outpatient

The truth is, I've graduated in 2011 and have finished some pre-requisite courses but haven't really done much since. I feel so scared because all of my eggs are in this basket. I have no backup plan, no idea what to do if I do not get in this year. My girlfriend and I of 2 and a half years just broke up as well. So much is going wrong for me and I'm just in a bad place right now. I know my numbers are less than par and unimpressive... Any feedback or help from anyone will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!

 

[okramango]

Do you have any extracurriculars? Which schools did you apply to? Some schools that seem to look at the "whole person" and not just the numbers are U of St Augustine and Touro, so you might want to look into those schools. If you don't get accepted this year, retake classes to bring up your GPA and do a lot more shadowing hours, to show programs that you are really making an effort to improve and that this is really what you want. You might also want to do some volunteering in your community (a great way to get extracurriculars and to help yourself out of that bad place that you say you are in). If you reapply next year, programs will want to see the efforts you have made for improvement. If this is something that you really want, then you can make it happen.

 

[Snugglyjeff]

thank you so much for the reply, I really do appreciate it. I applied to a lot of schools in NY (mostly NY) and some in PA. I do have some extra curricular activities, I'd say about 4-5 things. I did apply to touro but they sent me this e-mail saying if I have anything I havent submitted, to submit them now to improve my chances and they put me on "hold" for later review. Its not waitlist but something like that they are going to review me again later on. Basically it was like them saying I am less than ideal... Also, the only reason why I didn't do more hours is because my back. It has been messed up for a while now. I have an l5-s1 moderate-severe herniation and it just hurt so much to stand for a long time. But I'm focusing on recovering now. And also, which classes do you advise me to take to boost my GPA? Any classes? Or specific ones like science based. Also, I know that the more credits you have, the harder it is to recover the GPA because it ends up averaging in. So just load up on the classes? thanks!

 

[Litlwarrior08]

I think you have a decent shot, dependent on where you apply, extracurriculars, LORs. My GPA /SGPA were lower and I had interviews (AT STILL and NAU-waitlisted) and an acceptance (Touro NV) as well as rejections out of 9 applications. Did you do your homework, research the schools? . Maybe do a bit more observation, you can continue to add that info. skilled nursing facility, geriatric, acute, etc. Go to orientations - or ask for a tour if you can, ( i took the time to visit 6 of 9 of my schools) make contact via phone, email etc IMO it helps if they recognize your name a bit and know you are interested and didn't just apply a bunch of schools to CYA, keep up w/ the web sites as to what is happening in the program or locally - this may stimulate some questions for you to ask when you call that aren't the standard---"what's my status" visit the staff/prof profiles and background (google them as well)...oh and when you get an interview, be positive....dump the emotional baggage and move on. Start having those talks with yourself now.....uplifting!! demonstarte confidence.Good luck

 

[Snugglyjeff]

Thanks for the advice bro. You know even just hearing these things from strangers is very helpful. I did a lot of research on the schools I applied to. All in all, pretty similar requirements and stuff. I think I will try to do more observation hours. And yeah, the breakup was....really hard on me. I was the one that got my heart obliterated. But anyway, tryin to move on now, and believe me, if I can just get an interview I'm gonna nail it! Just need that chance gimmie that chance! But once again, thanks for everything, really.

 

[okramango]

And also, which classes do you advise me to take to boost my GPA? Any classes? Or specific ones like science based. Also, I know that the more credits you have, the harder it is to recover the GPA because it ends up averaging in. So just load up on the classes? thanks!

Well, any classes you take and get an A in will help your GPA, but it will look better if you take science classes. Just make sure that you are able to do well in whatever classes you take. Especially look at prereq classes that you didn't do well in previously, and retake those to get an A. You can research which schools will replace the grade when you retake the class, versus schools that average the two grades. Also, some schools only look at your last 60 units GPA, rather than cumulative, so it is easier to raise your GPA for those schools.

 

[LOADWOAD]

Man OH Man. I hope you get in because my numbers/stats are pretty much the same; im just older than you by the looks. Good luck. just split from my girl of 5 years too, Things can and will get better. 🙂

 

[djb051]

Snugglyjeff,
In response to "I dont know what to do with my time if I don't get in", I suggest trying to find a PT tech/aide position if you don't get in, and that can keep you busy until next years cycle (if you dont get in this cycle), and it is really great experience for pt grad school.

 

[Snugglyjeff]

Snugglyjeff,
In response to "I dont know what to do with my time if I don't get in", I suggest trying to find a PT tech/aide position if you don't get in, and that can keep you busy until next years cycle (if you dont get in this cycle), and it is really great experience for pt grad school.

but dont I need some kind of certification for those positions?

 

[Myosin]

but dont I need some kind of certification for those positions?

PT Tech/aide are basically the glorified janitors of the clinic. Your job is to keep the equipment clean, fetch goniometers/inclinometers/hot pads/ice packs, wash/fold towels and pillow cases, keep up with charts and papers while the therapists are working with patients, help the PSR with paper work, and so on.

Some clinics will allow you to take patients through their Ther Ex after you have been trained. Since you're not licensed, you can't legally operate certain modalities without the DPT supervising, and some you're not allowed to legally operate at all, such as IFT.

I made it sound a lot worse than it actually is. It looks good on an application, helps you make a little money, and you will get a slightly different experience dealing with people in a health care setting than what you get just shadowing the DPT.

There is no shame on not getting accepted your first time trying. You get a whole year to develop and enact a new game plan. Retake some classes at the CC, save up some more money from working, retake the GRE, get more hours, and try again with a stronger portfolio next year.

 

[Snugglyjeff]

Okay, I will look in to that. Thank you for the advice guys! But damn I really wanna get in this year

 

[DPTHopeful921]

What schools are you applying to in PA? I applied to quite a few, and got into most of them, so I might be able to let you know how you stand, as far as PA schools.

 

[Snugglyjeff]

What schools are you applying to in PA? I applied to quite a few, and got into most of them, so I might be able to let you know how you stand, as far as PA schools.

Oh I only applied to a few schools in PA and they are Arcadia, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Scranton. Yeah...I havent heard anything from any of them so...not lookin good 🙁. Thank you for your help though! 🙂

 

[DPTHopeful921]

check your message box, i sent you a PM