Curious about the PT field

[Salkha]

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I'm currently a junior and became really interest in the Physical therapy field. What Physical Therapists do is amazing and I hope to be one in the near future. I know that I will need a BS in a field and a Doctoral Degree as well.

I just have a few questions that could halt this decision, like I said I am interested in this field. Here's few of my problems and questions:

My GPA is decent it's a 4.3 on a 5 point. Would this all affect how undergrads will determine my acceptence?


My high school history I know will only matter to my undergraduate school which I intend on majoring in Exercise Science. Do Physical Therapy schools rather have their students do Pre-Physical therapy since that has all the requirements or will the discriminate against those who have an Exercise Science BS? (I will probably have to take classes at a junior college to meet the requirements of a PT school) Also do they offer scholarships in PT schools ($30,000 a year )

In PT school's is that when you specialize in a deeper field? (Sports injuries, basic PT, ect)

And lastly, how is the career going to look like within coming years? I know Physical Therapy is one of those medical fields that you do not need to go to med school for and the pay is good. Just wondering if there is any professionals in this field or students still working their ways towards their degree can help! Thanks

Sorry the questions were so unorganized just my junior year is ticking down I would like to know if Physical Therapy is a good field

 

[jdaniels360]

Physical therapy is a fantastic and growing field. I guess I'll be the first to educate you, but first of all, welcome to SDN.

It doesn't matter where you go to undergrad or what you major in. You can study whatever it is that you're interested in. Having said that, there are definitely some perks to studying exercise science, which is what i'm currently doing. This degree will fill most of the pre requisite classes needed to apply to physical therapy school.

My advice would be (if you don't plan on playing collegiate volleyball and getting a scholarship) to attend the cheapest college possible. Save yourself some money because PT school can be extremely pricey as you mentioned.

If I were you though, I'd go to a 4 year school to get the full "college experience" rather than your local community college. Not only is it about the experience (because after all you only do this once in your life and trust me you're going to want to enjoy it), but there's a few schools out there that don't accept, or frown upon CC classes, as well as AP courses that you plan on taking. It all depends on the school, so you're going to want to do your research early.

Lastly, it is my understanding that PT school is the same as an MD degree in the sense you earn a general practice degree. If you want to specialize then I believe further education is required and you have to pass specialty exams to gain further certification. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. We're all here to learn 😀

 

[NewTestament]

If I were you though, I'd go to a 4 year school to get the full "college experience" rather than your local community college. Not only is it about the experience (because after all you only do this once in your life and trust me you're going to want to enjoy it), but there's a few schools out there that don't accept, or frown upon CC classes.

The "college experience" might be nice, but it's not worth tens of thousands of dollars of extra debt. If your parents are willing to pay for it, though, then go ahead.

Stay at a community college for the first two years, take as many classes there as you can, and then transfer to a four-year school. Almost all schools will accept credits from a community college. There are a few that don't, but enough to justify obtaining all your credits at a university.

Kevin

 

[Salkha]

If I were you though, I'd go to a 4 year school to get the full "college experience" rather than your local community college. Not only is it about the experience (because after all you only do this once in your life and trust me you're going to want to enjoy it), but there's a few schools out there that don't accept, or frown upon CC classes, as well as AP courses that you plan on taking. It all depends on the school, so you're going to want to do your research early.

Stay at a community college for the first two years, take as many classes there as you can, and then transfer to a four-year school. Almost all schools will accept credits from a community college. There are a few that don't, but enough to justify obtaining all your credits at a university.

I know my local university does accept my local CC credits which is good. My parents have mentioned to start out with a 2 year then transfer but it would seem tough since I would be doing 2 years of classes at a CC school to fill up what I needed for my major (ES) at the university. And on top of that I'll be having to meet the requirements of PT School, stressful!

Just curious. If all goes wrong and I decided that PT is not the field I want to go onto to (let's hope not) and I already have my ES degree what do I do with that? I've read many threads on here that say DON'T GET AN ES DEGREE!! MAJOR IN BIOLODY AND GET THE EXTRA CREDITS ELSEWHERE yada yada. I just don't want to waste my time and my parents money if the major will help me very little

I'm literally making a compromise with my local university and my parents. I don't think I'm ready to leave home (I was going to commute to my university anyways, 10,000 to room with another individual in a tiny room, no thanks) But my univeristy only has Exercise Science. Why do that when I can go to a university (like up in Chicago) that has many opportunities and has majors that will meet the pre reqs and have the graduate degree at the same school. I know this is something I should discuss with my parents but I'm just stumped!