Degrees/coursework leading to DPT

[NeurologicalPT]

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Hey all,

I'm a post-bacclaureate student highly interested in becoming a Physical Therapist focusing on Neurological Rehabilitation. I've started my journey to become a DPT back in January by taking a few prerequisite courses that I didn't get a chance to during my undergrad. My volunteer hours specific to PT started in January as well, and currently I'm studying for my first GRE. My ultimate goal is to do a Neurological Residency to be specialized after the DPT.

Some info about me:

Major: B.S. Psychology, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(all my electives in Molecular/Cellular Biology)
I transferred there after two years of gen. Eds. At a local community college.

Cuml. GPA: 3.2-3.3
Prereq. GPA: 3.0-3.5 (not sure on PTCAS calculations)

GRE: to be determined

Volunteer Experience: (by this app cycle)

100 hrs Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (research floor, mostly inpatient) Hospital A
50 hrs Day Rehab (stroke, MS, …) Hospital B
40 hrs Outpatient (ortho, some neuro) Hospital B

Healthcare Experience: (past)

1.5 years as a patient transporter at a Medical Hospital (27hrs/wk avg.)

I plan to apply to the following programs:
Northwestern
Boston
Duke
UIC
UWashington
UFlorida

Now to get to my question, with my background/stats if I don't earn acceptance into one of the above programs do you think I should:

Option A: Take more post-bacc. Coursework in kinesiology and reapply next cycle

Option B: Go for a M.S. in Kinesiology and then reapply

Option C: Get a secondary B.S. in Kinesiology and reapply

In addition to choosing one of these paths, I plan to get a job as a rehab tech to build more hours. Also, if any of you ladies or gentlemen know of DPT programs with a "Neuro emphasis" please share. I heard Northwestern is somewhat Neuro, otherwise I was looking into DPT schools that offer Neurological Residencies as possibly having a Neurologically biased curriculum. Your advice and experiences are appreciated. I'm extremely glad to have found this forum.

Thanks

 

[Azimuthal]

You should consider applying to a few more schools... With your current stats, you're not very competitive at UW and Duke (unless prereq GPA>3.4 and high GREs). Plan on a few backups.

 

[jesspt]

Unless money is no object, I'd apply to schools that are much more reasonably priced. You should search the site for threads on how to best choose a school. Also, you're certainly no lock with that pre-req GPA, and if you don't get in this time around, retaking your pre-req classes is likely the place to start making your application look more robust.

 

[PTMattI]

Mercer University in Atlanta has a neuro residency.