Hey guys! I'm wrapping up my first semester at the University of Florida. Feel free to ask away about the application process and transitioning into DPT school.
First Year DPT AMA
- Thread starter madj1322
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How's the workload transition from undergrad to a doctorate?
The workload will likely be more demanding mainly because there's just a lot more volume, especially in the first 2 semesters. Count on your schedule being more full than it was in undergrad due to the amount of study time it takes to keep up with the material. What I recommend is to start developing a studying/time management strategy that works for you individually as soon as the semester starts. This will require some trial and error. Begin with whatever worked for you in undergrad (although this may need to be tweaked or thrown out altogether) and check out what your classmates are doing for ideas. Once you get this down, it smooths out a lot.
I was not amazing at Physics, however, I'm lucky enough to have a full semester off prior to starting school. Is this something I should try to work on to become better before starting school or are physics concepts on the easier side in DPT?
I can't say for certain, as I'm not a student yet, but I was always told by physics professors that the reason schools require physics as pre-reqs is to test/learn problem solving skills - not necessarily the physics information.
If you're already accepted, then I personally wouldn't bother worrying about it.
Physics comes up a LOT in DPT school. I'm about to finish my first year. Physics 1 comes up repeatedly in biomechanics (which will always be a recurring theme) but after awhile it's more conceptual than anything. Nothing to mathy other than a basic quick review. Physics 2 came back in an absolute fury in our clin skills 2 course - electro-everything - waveforms, current, Ohm's Law, circuits.....because it is all what ultrasound, TENS, stim, etc etc etc are based on.
That all being said, I do not think it is worth it to review on your own before you start school. They obviously expect that you've seen these things before, but they review the basics before applying it to whatever topic. Honestly....just enjoy your semester off. DPT is such a flood of information that trying to review or prep for anything would just be futile.
Actually, you would be surprised at how often we have to draw on physics principles - both 1 AND 2. Chemistry too. I also would not worry about brushing up prior to attending DPT school - just letting you know that you will actively be using physics principles. Forces, torques, moment arms, kinetics/kinematics in general, Ohm's law, pressure, density, current, electricity.....it ALL comes up in direct relation to various topics in class.
Of course. I'm sure the concepts are good to know. I was thinking more along the lines though of: you probably don't need to know the exact Newton of force needed to perform this action. Like you said, there isn't much math involved, which at least for me was the difficult part of physics. Thanks for the info and replies to everyone in this thread, and good luck with the rest of school.
GraceFutureDPT
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Hello! Can you tell us how you prepped for DPT program interviews? Specifically, how much time you spent prepping and the kinds of things you did? Thank you so much!
You shouldn't have to worry about anything like that. Like other people on the thread already mentioned, you will need to use general concepts quite often in a biomechanics context but you shouldn't need to brush up on anything for now because you'll be walked through how to apply them in your program. If you want to be extra prepared, just keep your physics and chem notes/textbooks/resources organized in case you need to reference them in the future.
I generally liked to come up with good answers to typical questions such as: "Why do you want to be a PT?" and practice saying them out loud. I also made a list of good anecdotes from my work, school, and observation experiences to prepare me for any "Tell me about a time when you...." type questions. Finally, I looked into the programs I was interviewing for well in advance. They will most likely ask you why you want to attend that program in particular so you need to be prepared to give specific reasons.
It also helps to practice your answers in front of someone who will give you honest feedback. Good luck!
goldaline.my.dear
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I was just accepted to my top choice for PT school and it starts in May. Is there anything you would recommend doing to prepare? I'm planning on brushing up on my A&P because I've heard gross anatomy the first semester can be tough. Is there anything you wish someone had told you prior to starting at your DPT program?
PhysicalTherapyDP
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What did you end up wearing to your interviews? I’ve heard mixed things. As a female, what shoes are recommended? Is a heel okay? I’ve heard some wear a tailored suit while others dress pants, flats and a top without a jacket. What did you notice was the trend on interview days? Thank you for your help!
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Hi, I've had three interviews so far and have been accepted to one school! From my personal experiences, I would say you should for sure wear a tailored suit. All of the females at every interview I went to were wearing one, except for a few. And the few ones who did not wear one stood out a lot. I can't say if it matters to schools admission decisions or not though, but almost everyone wears one. You want to feel confident at your interview, and if you are feeling underdressed that could affect that. So if you are worried about being overdressed, you for sure won't be in a suit. I think heels are okay as long as they are not too tall, strappy, or unprofessional looking. I would say about half of the girls wore a type of heel while the other half wore flats. Just keep in mind that you will be doing a lot of walking as most schools do tours and interview days are almost all day.
PhysicalTherapyDP
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I didn't wear a suit to any of my interviews and was accepted to every school I interviewed at! I just didn't think it was worth the investment for an expensive outfit I will likely never wear again. For one interview, I wore a long skirt and dress shirt, and for the others I wore dress pants and a nice top. As for shoes, I wore short heels at one interview and flats at others. I didn't really follow any sort of dress code to be honest. As long as you are comfortable and look presentable, you will be great!
Honestly, any of those options work as long as they fit you well and you look neat. I went with a tailored skirt/suit jacket set that I already had for most of my interviews. Some girls that got into my program wore dress pants/dress shirt combos with a cardigan or suit jacket. Heels should be fine. When in doubt, dress up rather than down so you're safe. Also, pay attention to any instructions given in the invitation email regarding the actual dress code (business/professional vs. business casual). If they tell you to wear comfortable shoes to tour the department, no one will mind you wearing nice flats or oxford shoes.
Congrats! Anatomy and biomechanics can certainly be tough in the first semester. Like I mentioned in a previous post on this thread, the most important thing will be how quickly you organize yourself and your time. I would focus on making sure you have a good laptop and get familiar with using One Note if you're not already. Also, get some kind of planner that you can use to plan out daily tasks. Get things like checkups, dental appointments, securing housing, and financial aid out of the way as soon as possible. Enjoy the time off and spend lots of time with friends and family, you won't be able to see much of them in the first semester. I wouldn't recommend drilling A&P right now because you will likely be taught everything in much greater detail than in undergrad so you'll have to relearn it anyway. If you absolutely must, reviewing OINAs can't hurt but, like I said, it really isn't necessary. Good luck!
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deleted421268
How many hours a day you study? How difficult is it to meet the min gpa requirement at your school to be on track for DPT degree you personally? How did you prepare for exams?
I’m about to start interviewing with multiple schools and just bought a suit. As a female, I am having a hard time figuring out if certain things are too casual. Is there a heel height that you should aim for if you wear heels? Mine are about 3-4 inches but are comfortable to walk around in for touring. Also, my suit jacket is a jacket that has no buttons, would this be too casual/trendy or is it still as professional? Should I bring a purse or portfolio or both?
