Chances of getting accepted anywhere??

[Tlew20]

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Hi all,

I'm 29 years old and I'm currently in the midst of a career change. I have been in hospital administration for 2 years and plan on entering a DPT program in 2013. I have a b.s. in exercise science but I lack the Chemistry and Physic courses for PT. I will be taking these online from a community college with lab and the test will be proctored. The community college is accredited so that is not a problem. (Ocean County Community College) I work full time and there aren't any colleges around that offer these classes at night and I can not quit my job since that is the only form of income I have. Does anyone think this will be a problem? Also would my work experience and diverse background help me get accepted? I have a list of about 10 schools that I will apply to. I am trying hard to not retake the GRE as well but should I? I'm just wondering if my profile is substantial enough. Any thoughts would be so welcome!

Employment: Health care strategic planner for a hospital system
Undergrad: 3.4
Prerequisites: 3.1-3.4 (after I finish these online classes)
Masters in Sport management: 3.7
MBA: 3.6
Gre: 1000
Activities: 4 year college athlete, former collegiate basketball and strength coach, college instructor, board member of a sports performance center

 

[NewTestament]

Tlew20:

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I think you definitely have a chance. I got accepted and so can you. Let me enumerate the weaknesses and strengths of your application.

Weaknesses:

Your overall GPA isn't impressive, but it's adequate. I've met people who got into great programs with a 3.0. However, their pre-requisite GPA was high (3.7 or 3.8).

Your GRE isn't impressive but it meets the minimum. Don't waste your time retaking it.

You're taking key prerequisites online. Obviously it's best to take these classes in
a physical setting. I don't know how you can take Chemistry or Physics online. Don't you need materials? However, if you can show that if that's the only way you could take the course, then I don't think schools will mind. If you do well, schools will be impressed with your drive and determination.

Strengths:

Age. Your age and maturity will be welcomed. Most students are between 22-26, so 29 will seem old (you're not). At the interviews, emphasize that age, and tell them you're willing to take the lead and be a mentor to younger students. I'm only 26, but they asked me how I felt about being one of the older students. When you're 29, you definitely know what you want to do with your life (or what remains).

Work experience. You're currently working full time, which looks good because you're being productive and you're acquiring work experience. I had a gap in my resume, so I had to "wiggle in my seat", so to speak, when they asked about my work experience. You don't have to do that, and I think your resume will help you.

You already have a graduate degree. Clearly you've proved yourself. You've shown you can meet the demands of graduate-level courses. You also did pretty well. Even if you got a few Bs in your pre-requisites, you already have experience in graduate school

Extra curriculars. You know how to have a balanced life. You were an instructor, an athlete, and a student. That might help explain your lower GPA. I had great grades but hardly any extra-curriculars. Schools are looking for dynamic applicants, and not just academic, scholarly students. They want to know you know how to work and play, not just work.

Overall I think your chances are good. Stay in state (where is Ocean County?) for cheaper tuition rates, keep working, and do well in these final prerequisites. I can't say I have many of the advantages you have, but I still got into two programs.

Kevin B

 

[Tlew20]

Kevin I surely appreciate the response. I have found a few versions of online chemistry and online physics where they use either a virtual lab with proctors for test or you have to buy the lab kits. A few schools I have found lately are going to this model since it is convenient. I was hoping my other experiences would help me. Ocean County is in New Jersey but I am currently in Alabama. The tuition isn't bad at all and it was one of the few places that had all my prerequisites online. I wish I could take them at night here but they aren't offered at any schools locally at a decent time that fits my work schedule. I"m looking to go to the cheapest PT school possible. Which program did you decide to attend?

 

[Kismet426]

I lack the Chemistry and Physic courses for PT. I will be taking these online from a community college with lab and the test will be proctored.

I am trying hard to not retake the GRE as well but should I?

Gre: 1000

(1) almost every school I've looked at won't take an online lab. I'd be very careful about this/look up some specific schools you're interested in and email them to see if they will take it before you waste the time/money. I've only seen one school even consider an online lab (Arcadia in Philadelphia) and they couldn't even guarantee they would take it.

(2) Yes I would take the GRE again. 1000 is too low, to be blunt. I think Barron's book is the best. Work through it, especially in the math section as that's the easiest section to increase scores in.

(3) Have you been doing shadowing hours with PTs? Not sure if you just didn't list it, but you need some shadowing hours to be competitive.

 

[Azimuthal]

Hmmm... I checked out the classes. They offer both online and brick and mortar. As long as the transcript doesn't say "online" on it, I wouldn't worry about it. However, I don't trust online labs - not yet anyways.

 

[Tlew20]

Thanks for the input! It is so helpful. I actually called yesterday and they told me that I would purchase a lab kit for each and every class. I would do the labs at home following along with the lab lecture and I would have a test/quiz after each lab. I have no other choice but to pursue this avenue with my situation. I just need that one school to let me in...I will talk to more schools real soon to see how they feel about this. Thanks for input and thoughts it is really helpful. Yes I'm about to start shadowing my best friend who is a PT.

 

[Tlew20]

UAB was a school I met with and they told me they would take the online prerequisites with the labs. So i'm assuming it is probably a school by school situation. Thanks again..this forum is really helpful about a lot of different things..wish I would have joined earlier

 

[jblil]

So i'm assuming it is probably a school by school situation.

Exactly, don't assume anything and always check with the school before you take an "iffy" class. A friend of mine made the mistake of not calling up the school he wanted to apply to about a chemistry class he signed up for, and that screwed up his schedule by one entire year.

I don't know how willing you are to relocate, but East Carolina Univ. in Greenville, NC has a tuition of $6K/yr for its DPT program.

 

[jdaniels360]

Anyone know anything about East Carolina's DPT program? Surely it has to be $6k a year for a reason? Location maybe? No idea.

 

[mccomasg09]

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[jblil]

ECU and UNC Chapel Hill both belong to the UNC system. I think the state wants to steer more development towards the eastern part of the state (where ECU is located), so it may subsidize ECU more than it does UNC C-H, hence the lower tuition for in-state residents:
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/financial_serv/customcf/fees_main_campus_fall_2012.pdf
Scroll down to "Graduate and Professional Level": $6,120K/year, full-time.

I interviewed and was accepted at ECU, but for family reasons I will attend UNC C-H. Facilities-wise, ECU's medical campus is top-notch. The students I met were all very friendly, and so was the faculty.

OP - If your heart is really set on PT, it may be worth relocating to Greenville and spend a year there to obtain in-state status. I am pretty sure there is no other DPT school in the US with such affordable tuition.

 

[jdaniels360]

jblil are you a Carolina resident?

 

[jblil]

jblil are you a Carolina resident?

Yes I am.

 

[mccomasg09]

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