Career change to PT

[Kat2021]

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I'm turning 34 in a few weeks, and I've just made the decision to pursue a career in PT after thinking about it for the past couple of years. I've got a BA with a good GPA, but I was a history major so I don't have the science classes. Wanted to know if there's anyone else on the forum in the same situation. I'd really like to keep working at my full-time job while doing my prereqs over the next year or two.

I live in Chicago, so I'm looking into post-bacc programs at Loyola and Northwestern - doesn't seem like there's a lot of other options besides community college, or quitting my job to take classes as a non-degree student because most universities in the area don't have anything nights or weekends.

Any other career changers out there? Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Kate

 

[Lasombra]

I think this is what community colleges are for.

I'm also 33 with an unrelated degree, and have been taking my prereqs one or two at a time at various CCs after work. It's taken three years for me, but I am finally applying this next cycle (assuming I can get a decent number of observation hours in over the summer).

Many of my classmates are in similar situations (work and family obligations, looking to switch fields, etc), and many professors teach the same classes at four-year schools. I feel very well prepared for PT -- the rigor at the CCs has been far higher than anything I experienced while getting my bachelors (mine was a hybrid computer science/design degree). I'm sure some of that is the nature of the content.

The cost of the DPT makes this whole career-switching enterprise pretty intimidating to begin with. A full time postbacc on top of it would (for me) make this a bad decision for my family's future. If you don't have significant savings that you don't mind putting toward this rather than retirement, I'd really recommend the CC.

If all goes well, I'll be 37 when I finish. But that leaves 20 or 25 working years. The slow pace has been frustrating for me, and five-hour-long lab classes after work can be brutal. But I need to take the long view here.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[pubicsymphysis]

I'm turning 34 in a few weeks, and I've just made the decision to pursue a career in PT after thinking about it for the past couple of years. I've got a BA with a good GPA, but I was a history major so I don't have the science classes. Wanted to know if there's anyone else on the forum in the same situation. I'd really like to keep working at my full-time job while doing my prereqs over the next year or two.

I live in Chicago, so I'm looking into post-bacc programs at Loyola and Northwestern - doesn't seem like there's a lot of other options besides community college, or quitting my job to take classes as a non-degree student because most universities in the area don't have anything nights or weekends.

Any other career changers out there? Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Kate

Double majored here in art photography and art history. In the beginning studying very hard, but after the first semester I got into a nice groove and understood how to study "science materials". PT school dont care what you major in. They look for solid GPAs/GREs and diverse observation. Write a killer personal statement and get to know the people who will write your LoR. Age also doesnt matter.

Take a look at http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=816165

Best of Luck!

 

[Bk124]

33-year old attorney in NY and starting DPT program in two weeks. Took me about two years to do my prereqs at a community college in NYC while working part-time and volunteering. I still managed to find time for fun here and there. I absolutely hated practicing law so continuing down that road was just not an option for me...

 

[Kat2021]

Thanks for all the thoughts! Glad to know I'm not the only career changer out there... I've been in non-profit admin/fundraising for 8-9 years now - I like helping people, but I just can't take the thought of spending the next 30 years in a cubicle.

I've been in touch with some of the PT programs around Chicago, and a few said they like prereqs to be done at 4-year schools, if possible - but I can't see how I could do that without giving up my job or paying for an expensive program at a private school. Good to hear plenty of people have success going the community college route.

 

[Bk124]

I think if you can show you're dedicated and mature (which is what you are if you are working while taking classes), where you take prereqs is not as important as doing them and doing well in them. I was fortunate to have a great admissions cycle and did not hear anything disparaging about the fact I did my prereqs at a CC.

 

[somehowmadeit]

33 and about to start in a few weeks. It takes a lot of work and persistence, but very possible. And, I think having a different and unique background (that only 10 years of living life can give) is an asset in the application process.

Good luck!

 

[okramango]

I was 35 when I decided to go the PT route. I'm 37 now, and will be starting my DPT program in just a few months! I also researched post-bacc programs in the beginning, but decided to take my science prereqs at a community college instead and am SO glad I did. I saved a ton of money, and met a lot of other people who were also doing the same thing, so we were able to build a support network through our application and interview process. I ended up being accepted into every program I applied to. There are very few programs that won't accept community college credits, but definitely double-check this with the programs you plan on applying to. Good luck!

This was another great thread about nontrad PT students:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=972920

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

I did a mix of community college and university post-bacc courses when I decided to go the PT route initially. I would highly discourage having all your prereqs at community college, if for no other reason than PT school admissions are becoming more competitive every year, and you want at least some courses to be at a 4 year university. I'm a pre-med/pre-health adviser now, and I tell students that if they need to do some community college courses, do the optional prereqs there (e.g. calculus, stats, psych, etc), and do the bio, chem, physics, A&P at a 4-year institution so you're on a level playing field with the other students who are also trying to gain admission.

Generally, if a school tells you that they suggest you do your prereqs at a 4-year institution, you probably should. Some schools won't accept CC classes at all, and others highly discourage it. Yes, students have other things going on and money to think about and schools will look over the whole application, but you want to give yourself the best chance of getting in.

 

[Carder]

I'm in the same boat...31 year old law school grad in NYC with no interest in pursuing the law...Trying to figure out how to get my prereqs done without taking 2 years. It's really hard to get into science classes here in the city if you are a non-degree student. Plus I'm working so it's hard to fit into the tradition semester schedule.

Did anyone take their prereqs online through UNE?? I've emailed a couple of the schools I'm interested to get their policy on online courses, but only one has responded. Just curious if anyone else has taken this route...online classes are expensive, but ideal for me in terms of convenience and efficiency.

So glad to see I'm not the only one in my 30's heading down this path! 🙂

 

[clos]

Same boat I will be turning 34 at the end of this year but after the summer course I will only have two more pre-reqs left!!!

I quit a decent job to take a job as a rehab aide, I figured I would get paid while racking up the observation hours. My goal is to take the GRE at the end of the summer. It can be done. Im doing my classes at a CC because of conveinance and cost. The classes are twice a week at night usually from 6-9pm. I live in the Northern Burbs of Illinois. depending on you're location you can always look at Northeastern on the northside of the city.

For volunteering I would look at OP clinics with weekend hours usually open from 8am-12pm. with an occasional couple of hours during the week. I would buddy up with a PT, ask questions about the plan of care etc.

I'm not going to lie to you, its going to be a long road especially doing it one class at a time, which I'm doing. I would recommend doing one class to get your groove especially if you've been out of school for a long time. then after that you can decided how many classes to take. The easiest classes I've taken so far have been A&P I and A&P II, just because its applicable to PT.

Great thread