Chances of Applying to Top DPT Programs

[DPT2019newb]

Hey everyone - PT applicant newb here hence my name. I will be applying to PT programs this July after graduating in May, so I will be taking a gap year. I was just wondering if anybody had some insight into whether or not some of the schools I am thinking of applying to are good choices based on my credentials and experiences.

School: Large state school in Virginia
Major: Biological Sciences
Cumulative GPA: 3.84
Science GPA: 3.74
GRE: Verbal - 152, Math - 161, Writing - 5.0 (I will be retaking in May to boost my verbal)

PT Hours: 100, but will be getting almost 150 more before I apply. I have hours in general outpatient, acute care, geriatrics, and pediatrics

Extracurriculars:
- Traveled down to Nicaragua over the past three spring breaks and have served as the trip leader and president of the organization I go down with
- Leadership fraternity focused around service: have served as Pledge Parent and Historian
- Honors Program with multiple experiences within it
- Undergraduate Research for the past four semester. Will be complete an Honors Thesis from this
- Summer Camp Counselor for the past three summers
- Student Athletic Trainer for school's swim team
- Tour Guide
- Tons of volunteering with hospice, after-school programs, etc.

During my gap year, I will be traveling down to Nicaragua to work with a non-profit for five months (July-December). Following that, I will be trying to get a job at a PT clinic working as a Rehab Tech or just getting more hours at the clinic.

Possible Schools I am Applying to:
Duke
Delaware
Iowa
Pittsburgh
Emory
Florida (probably my top choice)
Boston
Miami
UWashington
Colorado
Cincinnati
Illinois - Chicago
Arcadia

Thanks in advance for any input you have!

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[SwampPT]

Hey everyone - PT applicant newb here hence my name. I will be applying to PT programs this July after graduating in May, so I will be taking a gap year. I was just wondering if anybody had some insight into whether or not some of the schools I am thinking of applying to are good choices based on my credentials and experiences.

School: Large state school in Virginia
Major: Biological Sciences
Cumulative GPA: 3.84
Science GPA: 3.74
GRE: Verbal - 152, Math - 161, Writing - 5.0 (I will be retaking in May to boost my verbal)

PT Hours: 100, but will be getting almost 150 more before I apply. I have hours in general outpatient, acute care, geriatrics, and pediatrics

Extracurriculars:
- Traveled down to Nicaragua over the past three spring breaks and have served as the trip leader and president of the organization I go down with
- Leadership fraternity focused around service: have served as Pledge Parent and Historian
- Honors Program with multiple experiences within it
- Undergraduate Research for the past four semester. Will be complete an Honors Thesis from this
- Summer Camp Counselor for the past three summers
- Student Athletic Trainer for school's swim team
- Tour Guide
- Tons of volunteering with hospice, after-school programs, etc.

During my gap year, I will be traveling down to Nicaragua to work with a non-profit for five months (July-December). Following that, I will be trying to get a job at a PT clinic working as a Rehab Tech or just getting more hours at the clinic.

Possible Schools I am Applying to:
Duke
Delaware
Iowa
Pittsburgh
Emory
Florida (probably my top choice)
Boston
Miami
UWashington
Colorado
Cincinnati
Illinois - Chicago
Arcadia

Thanks in advance for any input you have!

You're stats are great. I would shadow in one or two more settings. The hours don't matter nearly as much as the variety of settings. I do think you're wasting your money if you apply to all the schools you listed. You should research each program carefully and narrow your list down to about 5 schools. If you apply to a school that is out of state, make sure to see how many out of state applicants are accepted. I missed that tid bit of information and applied to, for example, University of Central Florida. A truly wonderful school, but if you're an out of state student you darn near have to be a Rhodes Scholar. They accept less than 5%.

 

[89bogues]

If you spend much time on this forum you will find that most members here will highly recommend heavily factoring tuition.

Are you that set on attending school out of state, and are you willing to pay thousands to do it? Your stats indicate that you would probably gain acceptance to an in-state public school, but you have none on your list assuming you are a Virginia resident. I'm just curious if cost just isn't a factor or what.

IMHO I would save myself or whomever is paying for my education $50,000 +/- and check out some in-state schools, but to each their own.

 

[jblil]

OP - you have pretty good stats so you have an excellent chance of being admitted to an in-state DPT program, whatever your state is. Don't waste your money going to a "top DPT" school. In this field, school pedigree is completely unimportant - unlike in medicine or law.
And if your current "large state school in Va" happens to be Va Tech, greetings from a fellow Hokie!

 

[somo47]

I would absolutely suggest applying to in state schools. As stated before, rankings are not the end all be all as they are for medical or law school - choose programs that would fit you (clinical time, faculty specialties, research opportunities, etc.) and above all choose ones with reasonable tuition! As long as they are accredited and have decent NPTE pass rates, they're solid. Your stats are above average, and with an in state preference I would be shocked if you weren't accepted. Basically, numbers on a ranking list do not justify an extra 50k/year in tuition.

Also, I feel like it should be noted that since you're going to be out of the country from July to December it'd be a good idea to see when interview dates are for schools you're interested in. You state that you'll be working for a nonprofit, so if you are offered an interview before you get back, will you have access to a reliable internet connection in order to Skype in for the interview?

 

[Carson Ranger]

keep in mind "top" programs per USNews are often less competitive than state schools.

 

[DPT2019newb]

Thanks for the input everyone! I didn't include in-state schools, just because I was more focused on knowing my chances for out of state. I will be applying to VCU, ODU, and Shenandoah and then probably like 5 OOS schools.

 

[DPT2019newb]

Also, I feel like it should be noted that since you're going to be out of the country from July to December it'd be a good idea to see when interview dates are for schools you're interested in. You state that you'll be working for a nonprofit, so if you are offered an interview before you get back, will you have access to a reliable internet connection in order to Skype in for the interview?

I have contacted a lot of the schools and they either have interviews once I get back, don't have interviews at all, or would be willing to have my interview over Skype. If necessary, then I will be able to get reliable connection!

 

[DesertPT]

Prioritize any future efforts towards strengthening your app on the cheapest schools you are applying to and what they like to see...call them up and search the forums to learn about what they prioritize most when they select applicants.

I'm just saying this for the record, your app looks pretty solid other than maybe so so verbal score but you are planning on working on that.

 

[89bogues]

Thanks for the input everyone! I didn't include in-state schools, just because I was more focused on knowing my chances for out of state. I will be applying to VCU, ODU, and Shenandoah and then probably like 5 OOS schools.

You had me worried there for a sec, but it sounds like you have it under control👍. I would also put in some time researching residency policies at some of the OOS schools you want to apply to. Some schools and states have more lenient policies in regards to granting in-state tuition.

Along with your interview situation. I would make sure you have all materials ready to go when PTCAS opens in June, so you have everything done before you leave. And of course, ensure you have the ability to remain in contact with the schools to respond to interview invites, update your app, fill out secondaries, etc.
Good Luck!