For those of you pursuing PT as a second career...

Started by markelmarcel
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markelmarcel

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I am also seeking PT as a second career, as after my first degree I decided I didn't really want to be what I went to school for in the first place.

I went back to school, really got into the groove of things, but have to wait to start PT school until this Fall. I've been out of school since Aug 2010 and have had a ton of time to start to doubt myself and going back...

I was so excited about school, but now I find myself spending my time worrying if I'm about to make the same mistake again. I went to school the first time for something I was totally "in love" with and for sure wanted to do and it ended up being wrong... What if this happens again?

Has anyone else had similar feelings? I guess I'm just letting the nervousness get the best of me...
 
Hey there,

I'm in a similar boat. I've been out of undergrad since '05 and taking pre-reqs while working full-time has been really productive - it gave me purpose and made me feel like things were moving in the right track. Then I applied to schools in the fall and there was that period of waiting. I had finished all my classes so there was nothing else to occupy my mind. I also start wondering, is this what I really want to do? Once I'm done, I am going to be in debt so I have to be super-sure, right?

I went into a similar period of doubt, before and even when I received some early acceptances in December. I think for me, what really changed my mind back again is going to those open-houses and interviews and meeting all the different kinds of PTs. I saw what they were doing, getting to know the people, and I realized that yes, this is still what I want to do. These are wonderful people and I want to be a part of this community.

I have to say, one of the things my mom said really stuck with me. She knew this was a big decision, to go to school again and we come from a fairly low-middle class family, so it's not like we have money to burn. She told me, you go and do this but if after you're done you realize that this isn't for you, it's ok. Don't think about the money that you spent or feel like this is something you 'have' to do if you're unhappy with it. You can do something else. It's important that you're happy with what you're doing in life.

Thinking about what she said really moved me. I am pretty sure this is what I want to do and by the time I'm done with school, I'll already be 31 just starting out. It's taken me time, but I accept that that's where I'll be. It's taken me awhile to get to where I am and I don't regret any 'wasted' years that I thought I might have had because I didn't pursue this to begin with. I'm OK with the journey and I hope you are, too. Hope that helps.
 
I totally thought I was the only one thinking this. I didn't want to say anything to my family because I finally got accepted and now I'm thinking about the what ifs too. I surely thought I was the only one thinking this on here.
 
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I totally feel you on this one. I was a Kinesiology major, so I knew that I wanted to do something related to the human body. That said, there are so many paths one could take. I figured I would be a star trainer and/or strength and conditioning specialists. These areas still interest me but the scope of practice for PT can be quite different than the aforementioned fields(although there is much cross over as well).

I was so "gung ho" that this would my future was set, but that turned out not to be the case. So I went back to school to get my M.S.(after working for 2+years full time) to get some semblence of what I could see myself doing for the rest of my career. At times I have mentally wavered between going the MD/DO rout or the DPT rout. Ultimately, I have decided to commit to becoming the best DPT I can possibly be and hopefully becoming a leader/advocate/voice for physical therapy as I move forward in my career.

You never know some of the curve balls life will bring your way. It doesn't matter what field you are in, because there are pros and cons to all of them. I had to ask myself, do you envision doing this for the next 20-30yrs, will it be a secure job over that time span, does it allow enough compensation to provide a comfortable middle class lifestyle, can I have a balanced work/family life, do I see myself making tangible change with patients/clients. Even though I am almost certain that the answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes, I never feel totally confident because life can be a trip sometimes.

What do you feel is ultimately holding you back from feeling like this is the unequivocal right decision? What do you value? What do you want out of your career and life? What are you passionate about, if anything? The answers to some of these questions are sometimes "deep seeded". It takes a great deal of honesty to answer them. It makes it even tougher because when you are a career changer, non-traditional, or older student you want to ensure that your choice is almost FLAWLESS! The reality of it is that nothing ever truly lines up in this way, so answer some of these questions and then you can get a sense of which direction to go.
 
So I may not be as crazy as I think?

Honestly, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I am sure that PT is for me... I absolutely loved my shadowing, I loved my anatomy class, I was actually happy for once (after being depressed about not wanting to be a teacher for like 3 years).

I am a person of habit and I guess it's just the sheer amount of change that is about to happen all that once- I am moving away from all of my friends/family (granted not that far... But I come from the back woods where people are scared of "the city"... in fact I once lived an hour away from "the city" but all of my friends deemed my locale to be too close to "the city" and never came to visit... so I am basically preparing to lose all of my friend) and also finally moving in with my boyfriend (a huge relationship step) as well as letting him support me financially in this endevour. He has also recently decided he would like to buy a house and I guess I feel guilty that I'm unable to contribute.

Ultimately, it's hard for me because all of my friends are married and have steady jobs and yet, I haven't even begun my life. I had pictured my life to be different and sometimes I'm in shock of how it has been completely UNLIKE anything I thought. Sometimes, ok all the time, that's hard to deal with.

So, it's not necessarily PT- it's everything that goes along with going to school that has me the most stressed out, concerned, etc.
 
Although PT isn't a second career for me, I was always heading for PT school since I was a sophmore in college I just couldnt get accepted until I tried a second time. The things that worry me are the scary post i've read on here about how some current PTs are already burned out after 5 years of working in the field.

It's just the "what ifs"
 
Maybe it's just where I'm at right now but PT is way tougher than I imagined. I'm still in my second semester of PT school though so maybe that's why. I've been second guessing myself recently and actually thought about doing the PTA route because I really just don't want to deal with the PT diagnosis and a lot of the paperwork. I was stressing a crap load at the beginning of this semester but now I've calmed down and I'm still making insanely good grades. I'm going to stick it out until the end of the semester and then decide; a lot of graduates I've talked to struggled a good amount in PT school but are doing extremely well with their respective PT jobs. I wish I just knew what the future entailed.

I don't see myself getting burned out that quickly. If I don't like a certain setting I'll just go to another. It's all pretty cool stuff though.
 
seminolefish said:
Maybe it's just where I'm at right now but PT is way tougher than I imagined. I'm still in my second semester of PT school though so maybe that's why. I've been second guessing myself recently...
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Just to give you hope, one of my close friends just started her 3rd semester and she said, although it is still hard it seems to be much more manageable and she feels that they are finally done "testing" them and "weeding out the bad seeds". So, chin up!
 
You are definitely not alone and not crazy for feeling that way. I'm 25 and have been working for 3 1/2 years or so in the industry (equine) I went to school for, however I found that it as a career is not for me. PT has been something that I've been thinking about since my senior year in college and I'm really excited about it. BUT and there always is...I'm totally concerned about the financing and the 'will I be good at this' etc. I think your mom totally hit it on the head. Life will go on and your path can change, but you've put a lot of time into this and I would think you'd have a strong feeling if you weren't suited to it. Ox brings up some good questions I think everyone should ask themselves. This forum has been so helpful for me!
 
The doubts are normal when there are uncertainties of the future; especially when you had a career and wanting to change now. However, it's not realistic to have the "what if this doesn't work" or "what if...". The only thing you can do is prepare yourself in making a sound decision by answering any doubts (through observing other PTs, asking questions to a mentor, taking classes related to the physical therapy, etc.).

What if going back to school and becoming a PT was the best decision of your life?

I have a background in business. When I decided to change my career, I initially regretted that I didn't make this decision earlier... that I wasted 7 years of my life. But after really thinking about it... I ask myself, "what if I use my background in business to open a PT clinic one day?"
In addition, the 7 years in the work environment has allow me to appreciate the value of an education more than I did before. I guess I'm more mature....I'm more focus and I'm excelling in my classes.

We all want control over our lives... we want to control our future... but in reality, we just don't have that.
 
Appreciate the great insights and feedback in this thread. I am in a similar situation to most ya'll. I have been an accountant for the last 6 years and have decided a career change is necessary because at my current job I will never reach my full potential. I have been researching and observing the physical therapy field for the past 2 years and am now ready to get in on the action. Ox is right, what you value in life should play a big role in your career choice. I value people and health/fitness and PT seems like a great way to combine these 2. …..Life is all about the relationships you build and the field of physical therapy would allow me to build up and impact people on a daily basis. Yea I could make well over 100K continuing in my accounting career but life to me is more than money. And yea I know there is some uncertainty when entering a new challenge in life but one thing I am certain of is I don't want to look back 30 years from now and say "I should have pursued physical therpy". I think most of us have a gut feeling that we should pursue PT so it is time for us all to step out in faith and do what we know we were built to do. To be honest I'm stoked for this new challenge and yea it will be a grind for the next 3-4 years but ti will be a grind worth while my friends. Again thanks for all the input from ya'll.

-Eric
 
PTbound said:
Appreciate the great insights and feedback in this thread. I am in a similar situation to most ya’ll. I have been an accountant for the last 6 years and have decided a career change is necessary because at my current job I will never reach my full potential.
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Eric- I have to say this hit home with me! Since I've been waiting a year to start school, I currently have a job as a secretary at a university... I absolutely love my job, but one of the driving forces sending me back to school was that I always thought that I was smarter than what people thought, that I'd never been challenged enough/struggled in classes; I never had great "A-HA" moments where I finally figured out something that was complex with education-- many people have told me I'm a natural, that I hold myself as a teacher who has been doing it for 20+ years, even though I'm only 25 😉 -- When I did my prereqs and was in anatomy, it was like- YES- This is harder than what I'm used to, it's not impossible, but I want to excel.

I always felt that if I didn't go back to school for something else, and in this case PT (because of my passion for health/fitness, being a people person, etc), I'd be selling myself short. That I had so much MORE potential. I was worth more than a desk job.

bhatiaa1 said:
I have a background in business. When I decided to change my career, I initially regretted that I didn't make this decision earlier... that I wasted 7 years of my life. But after really thinking about it... I ask myself, "what if I use my background in business to open a PT clinic one day?"
In addition, the 7 years in the work environment has allow me to appreciate the value of an education more than I did before. I guess I'm more mature....I'm more focus and I'm excelling in my classes.
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I totally have thought this as well, wishing I had figured out what I appreciated/valued in life sooner. It's not that I don't want to be a teacher- I just found that a teacher in a public education setting is not for me... And one of the things that I thought about was-- Hey... Not only can I use my teaching background/experience in patient communication/treatment... "what if" I could use my elementary and early childhood degrees as a great background for pediatric PT? (At this point I am keeping my options wide open as I see what begins to interest me when I start school, but man-- I can't help but think- what hospital/rehab center/etc WOULDN'T want a peds PT with a background in early childhood/elementary education? It's a win-win!)
 
markelmarcel said:
Hey... Not only can I use my teaching background/experience in patient communication/treatment... "what if" I could use my elementary and early childhood degrees as a great background for pediatric PT? (At this point I am keeping my options wide open as I see what begins to interest me when I start school, but man-- I can't help but think- what hospital/rehab center/etc WOULDN'T want a peds PT with a background in early childhood/elementary education? It's a win-win!)
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👍 - totally agree. you have an edge with you background.
 
I am in the same boat too. I graduated with a marketing degree and worked in the field for 7 years; I hated it with a fiery passion and couldn't see myself doing it as a career. I just turned 30 and I'm starting my prereqs full time this semester; I won't be done with PT school until I'm 34/35 years old. Sometimes I look at it and I do feel bad when I see my friends getting married and starting families and stuff and I'm starting all over again, but when I really look at it, a lot of them are miserable with their careers. I'll be working for the next 30+ years of my life, I don't want to be miserable! Better yet, it would be unfair to deflect that misery onto my future husband and kids, so while it is late in the game, it will all be worth it.

Also like you guys said, I was so not challenged at any of my post-bacc jobs; people with 10+ years experience looked to me for answers that only took common sense and a little brainpower! I guess that goes with every field but still...I digress. Learning new things and best of all being challenged this year with school is SO rewarding for me. Sure, I am working my butt off but I am also having fun doing it.

I am excited that I found a field I'm passionate about and can see myself in for a really long time. It's gonna be a lot of work, but in the end I believe it's worth it all. And the journey will make you stronger as a person. Do I wish I'd have figured this out years ago? For the sake of time yeah, but at the same time the last thing I wanted to do at 22 was go through 4 more years of school so I know I wouldn't have done it. Having the life experiences I've had within the last 7 years really helped me pinpoint my passions and what I want in a career, so I think I value it a lot more than I would have fresh out of undergrad!
 
I am 30 now as well and hope to start PT school next year so Ill be 34ish as well.
I used to get mad at myself and wish I started sooner and wish I figured out what I wanted sooner, but Im done doing that now. There is no point in doing that. Not everyone is going to have the same pace in life. Do what makes YOU happy and dont worry about what everyone else is doing.

I still have thoughts about just going the PTA route that enter my mind every now and then, but I know that if I did the PTA route, I'd have more regrets than doing the PT route because I would be limiting myself and I'd feel that it is taking the easy way out.

I considered soo many other jobs in healthcare, did job shadowing with nurses and occupational therapists, dietitians, respiratory therapists and PT is the most interesting to me and most rewarding and they dont have shtty schedules and all the drama of nursing. I considered PT a while back but wasnt really serious about it cause hearing that it is a doctorate now, scared me. But now I am ready to do it! 😀
 
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This thread has been immensely helpful. Being an older student, it's hard to find peers that I can relate with on my career transition to PT. I'm 28, and I'll be starting a program in September. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to be thankful and appreciative of the opportunity, regardless of the timing. I thank you all for sharing and being supportive. Best of luck.
 
Yeah it definitely helps knowing you are not alone!

I mean, I know there are alot of older students out there changing their careers, but to actually see and hear from them helps sooo much!
 
Agreed-- I was really hesitant to post about this because I thought I would receive a lot of "If you aren't 100% sure then give up your spot to someone who is!" responses.

And it's not that I'm not sure, I just have had a lot of time to think about life/my plans/etc.

Now, after posting and seeing all the replies (plus a couple PMs) I feel 100x better knowing that I am not the only one!

Life is a funny thing and never goes as planned. Change is a scary thing and with all us being "older" (be it 25 or 45!) I'm sure we are a little bit more nervous about the transition.

Yes, it would've been nice to figure it out sooner, but we've got great real world experience!
 
If we figured it out sooner, we would not have had the life experiences that make us who we are today!!

Cheesy but true! ;p
 
markel....I am 45 and have been in several different ventures in life. It would be almost prophetic to be able to know, on this present day, how you will feel 2-5-10 years from now. We throw ourselves into present dreams with the intentions of making them work, but as we all know things don't always stay the same.

Don't feel bad about feeling this way, just accept that it is how life is and it is not a bad thing. As one poster said above "it is the life experiences that make use who we are today"...and you will have many more experiences that make you who you are 10 years from now.
 
I'll be just over 36 when I graduate, and am over halfway through the 3-yr program. PT school can definitely be challenging depending on the individual. Some find the pathology/anatomy/neuro/research more challenging, some find the clinical performance aspect more challenging...it's all relative to the individual's strengths. But any moderately intelligent person who is dedicated to the field should be able to do fine.

I chose this field because PTs seem to be a genuinely happy bunch, and they get to help people get better and get their lives back on track. Imagine waking up in the morning feeling better about your job than someone who is working in a call center. Also, it's one of the mid/higher-level healthcare jobs that don't require you to work insanely long shifts. You get a decent job, but not at the sacrifice of your life. You can have your cake and eat it too.

I think PTA would be great as well, but I have a feeling that after doing it for a couple of yrs I'd have a nagging desire to be one level higher and have more autonomy.

So as a career-changer: no regrets! 🙂
 
PTtoBe said:
I'll be just over 36 when I graduate, and am over halfway through the 3-yr program. PT school can definitely be challenging depending on the individual. Some find the pathology/anatomy/neuro/research more challenging, some find the clinical performance aspect more challenging...it's all relative to the individual's strengths. But any moderately intelligent person who is dedicated to the field should be able to do fine.

I chose this field because PTs seem to be a genuinely happy bunch, and they get to help people get better and get their lives back on track. Imagine waking up in the morning feeling better about your job than someone who is working in a call center. Also, it's one of the mid/higher-level healthcare jobs that don't require you to work insanely long shifts. You get a decent job, but not at the sacrifice of your life. You can have your cake and eat it too.

I think PTA would be great as well, but I have a feeling that after doing it for a couple of yrs I'd have a nagging desire to be one level higher and have more autonomy.

So as a career-changer: no regrets! 🙂
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Amazing post, thank you!!!!
 
this. thread. thank you. i just turned 25 (yesterday! yay!) and i've been working as a marketing consultant for a corporate/residential housing firm since graduating college in 2007. I. just. couldn't. take. it. anymore. I always wanted to be a pt but I decided that playing soccer in college and having fun was WAY more important than my education (I was stupid). Now I'm paying for it, but at the same time, if I had majored in Biology in college I don't think I would have done as well because I didn't give a crap back then. I got good grades because business is the easiest major ever at the school I went to.

I'm glad I've been through what I've been through because I think I'm doing better in school now than I ever did back then even though I got A's. Now I'm actually learning something and I'm confident in my abilities as I start the application process. And working in business has given me a chance to learn how to communicate with people on an intellectual as well as a personal level that I didn't get immediatley after college. I think that waiting and then switching careers could probably be the best idea I ever had, even if I am a little bit older than most PT students. I don't care because I'm doing what's best for me and what makes me happy!

Don't fret...things will happen the way they happen and all you can do is enjoy the ride!
 
Fantastic thread... and you can add this 34-year-old to the list. 😉

I've held a variety of jobs since graduating college. I've been a medic in the USAF Reserves; an assistant librarian for a small, public library; and an office manager, where I pretty much ran the entire business.

Sometime back in the summer of 2001, I actually considered PT school. The transition to a Master's program was taking place at the time and the GRE scared the PANTS off of me! I also thought that I was "too old" (I was 24/25) and obsessively focused on the fact that I would be 27 before I graduated. So, I put PT on the back burner. Looking back on that now, I have to laugh. Too old? At 24? Scared of a test? C'mon!

Now at 34, I still have those, "what if I'm too old," moments; however, the difference that a decade has made for me is that I'm able to pretty much ignore those negative thoughts. I know that I want to make a major change and I'm not going to let a number prohibit me from doing so.

Settling on a subject to study has not been quite as easy as ignoring that fact that I'm solidly non-traditional. When I first became interested in rehab, I was looking only at PT. As a competitive athlete with a circle of friends and training partners who are also athletes, I tend to talk about injury, recovery and injury prevention A LOT! All of this recently changed when while shadowing a PT at an in-patient facility, I met up with an OT and we began to chat. I found myself more interested in what she was doing than what the PT was doing. If I had my way that day, I would have ditched the PT to go with the OT! As a former social science major (with a lot of anthro and psych courses), the role of OT appeals to me. However, I'm not so sure about toileting just yet.😱

So yep... I know that I want to make a change, I've gotten over the age thing, but it's been a challenge trying to 'nail down' the exact path that I'm going to take. I'm scheduling some OT obs hours now and hopefully those will help me to decide. I did apply to PT school this year (as a late applicant and a long shot), but in re-reading my essay, I noticed that I talked way too much about, activity influencing one's quality of life, etc... which is more OT than PT. Maybe the PT dept. will pass my app on to the OT dept! Ha! Anyway, I have no doubts that I will eventually make a wise, informed decision about which field I ultimately want to pursue.

Do any of you visit the med student non-traditional forum? I lurk on that board quite a bit... it's fantastic and most of the non-trads are "truly" non-trad (very late 20s-50s). A lot of inspirational stories, a lot of low GPAs (and high ones too), a lot of folks having to redo science classes that they took eons ago. The med student boards can get a bit snarky, but the non-trad board has a softer tone. Maybe the sprouting of gray hairs and appearance of wrinkles helps one to get over the typical "med school" ego.

Good luck to everyone!!!
 
Shellabie-- good luck in figuring out with rehab career suits you more! I've heard time and time again-- PT gets you moving again, but OT gets you living again! 😉

I think either way you will make an excellent choice!
 
Yea nice thread.. I'm 28 and in my first year of school after being in Business Management for 5 years. VERY happy with the decision.. although school is TOUGH!! Be prepared to not have a life for a little while.. 🙁

I keep telling myself it'll be worth it in a couple years..
 
I had to chime in and congratulate you all on a big decision that I'm confident you won't regret. That being said, I was in your shoes last year. It's completely natural have second thoughts about things. I was 35 when I started PT school last June. My decision to change careers came after a seven plus year tenure working as an analyst in the capital markets and investment banking sector. The money was fantastic but the stress and self-destructive lifestyle just wasn't worth it anymore, especially since I despised my job. Obviously, with a big decision like that, I second guessed myself a lot. Scary to think that I'm 2/3 done with PT1. Despite being in Wisconsin and away from my friend, I'm enjoying the curriculum and more excited than ever about my career choice. Good luck you to all!

Almost said:
This thread has been immensely helpful. Being an older student, it's hard to find peers that I can relate with on my career transition to PT. I'm 28, and I'll be starting a program in September. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to be thankful and appreciative of the opportunity, regardless of the timing. I thank you all for sharing and being supportive. Best of luck.
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The biggest challenge for me, as an older student who's lived in a different part of the country for 17 years, was meeting others that can relate to me. Think my brashness and my type AA personality shocked people at first! But once people get to know you they become fascinated by the differences and uniqueness of others. You already seem to have a great attitude, so the three years should be easy!
 
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bhatiaa1 said:
What if going back to school and becoming a PT was the best decision of your life?
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This quote right here says it all for me. This is my first semester back in school (c/o 2006) and also have weighed the risk. According to my time line, if all goes well I could have a DPT by the time I'm 33. Do I wish I would have done this earlier? Of course. But it is what it is. I'm seeing this thing through to the end.
 
It's really nice to see this thread and realize that there are many people out there in this similar position. Add me to the list.

I am currently 26 years old, and will turn 27 in August when I plan to begin by DPT Program.

I graduated college in 2007 with a Finance degree, and worked for a year and a half as a consultant. The money was good, and the hours weren't too bad either, but I just found myself not enjoying the work and not being able to imagine 5-10 years down the road advancing in the profession or other areas of the business world. I began taking pre-requisite courses while working in an outpatient physical therapy clinic beginning in June of 2009.

From June 2009 to August 2010, I finished the majority of my pre-requisites. I was very tight on money, which was difficult coming from a well paying job, but I felt I was happier and had more direction. I applied to PT schools in September 2010 and have been accepted to a couple to begin in August 2011 (Just have to make the final decision!).

My question for all of you who are pursuing PT as a second career is.....

How do you feel about the amount of debt that you are going to take on as a result of obtaining the DPT degree? During the hiatus between when I applied and when I will begin (August 2011), I have been working again as a consultant, and I make decent money (55,000/yr). It is difficult for me to imagine 3 years from now having a starting salary of around the same, with about 100,000 of debt. I will be 29 going on 30 when I graduate with my DPT degree.

Just wanted to get an opinion on how everyone else is approaching this monetary issue. Money isn't everything but it also is something that shouldn't be ignored in my opinion.

Great to see people in a similar position out there!
 
hawks811 said:
How do you feel about the amount of debt that you are going to take on as a result of obtaining the DPT degree? During the hiatus between when I applied and when I will begin (August 2011), I have been working again as a consultant, and I make decent money (55,000/yr). It is difficult for me to imagine 3 years from now having a starting salary of around the same, with about 100,000 of debt. I will be 29 going on 30 when I graduate with my DPT degree.
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I teeter from not thinking about it to freaking out about it. Haha. Lucky for me, I have no debt from my undergrad/pre-reqs because of my wonderfully amazing parents, but this journey, this is all me. I picked a slightly less expensive program and I'm hoping to only walk out with about 75k in debt; hoping it'll be managable with two incomes from my boyfriend (hopefully eventually fiance/husband) haha.
 
markelmarcel said:
I teeter from not thinking about it to freaking out about it. Haha. Lucky for me, I have no debt from my undergrad/pre-reqs because of my wonderfully amazing parents, but this journey, this is all me. I picked a slightly less expensive program and I'm hoping to only walk out with about 75k in debt; hoping it'll be managable with two incomes from my boyfriend (hopefully eventually fiance/husband) haha.
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I hear ya. I'm the same way.

Unfortunately I have about 15,000 of undergrad debt outstanding. My DPT program debt I hope to have in the range of 75-90 K.

The hard part for me is realizing that I am going to be making $1,000 monthly payments for 10-15 years, which basically equates to earning $12,000 less than your actual salary per year. That is very, very difficult for me to ignore.
 
One of the trade-offs of going back to school as an older student is that we generally don't have the same amount of student loans at that point as the younger students. I had already paid off my undergrad tuition, and targeted a cheaper school (state school), and will probably have @50k in loans when I graduate, which is pretty different from having $100-150k.
 
Going from no debt (with the exception of my mortgage) into getting into a lot of debt by my late 30s does not rest well with me...especially for a career that, although would emotionally satisfy me, will not allow me to live comfortably at my current location.

I was doing some open source research this weekend and found an article that interviewed a PT manager for Body Works (http://body-works.com/). An entry level PT working at this place located in Arlington, VA, will start out at 62K. That may sound like a lot to folks that live outside of the DC metro area, but it's peanuts in my opinion for living in the DC area.

With all that in mind, I'm only applying to VCU, ODU, and Hampton because they are all relatively low in the cost of tuition as well as being in-state schools. If I don't make it into any of these schools, then I'll just wait it out for another year.

If I was in my early 20s again, then I wouldn't be so concerned about debt (partially because I would be ignorant about it). However, time and some wisdom (and mostly fear) tells me that it's just not "smart" for me to take such a big risk at this point in my life for a career that pays not so much compared to other healthcare careers.
 
what is the alternative though? The debt to salary ratio of a PT has been one of my biggest concerns for the last 3 years in which I have been constantly swaying back and forth on deciding to pursue this. I don't see what other options we have if we are concerned about grad school debt, this is b/c the economy is terrible, the types of jobs out there are mindless desk jobs that pay 35k max. It seems like the only way to begin making a salary that is decent in a field where there are jobs is to go in educational debt.....any thoughts? any other alternatives?
 
FitnessDoc2012 said:
what is the alternative though? The debt to salary ratio of a PT has been one of my biggest concerns for the last 3 years in which I have been constantly swaying back and forth on deciding to pursue this. I don't see what other options we have if we are concerned about grad school debt, this is b/c the economy is terrible, the types of jobs out there are mindless desk jobs that pay 35k max. It seems like the only way to begin making a salary that is decent in a field where there are jobs is to go in educational debt.....any thoughts? any other alternatives?
Click to expand...

I definitely see where you are coming from FitnessDoc.

Personally, I currently have a Finance degree and have several years experience in the Business Consulting field. I currently make 55,000 a year, and live very comfortably.

However, I really do not enjoy my work and can't really see myself doing this 5-10 years down the road, and I really like the idea of becoming a PT.

What worries me though, is that with the amount of debt I am going to take on, in 4-5 years I am basically going to be making the same money I am now (with very high loan payments).

I guess I could always slave away and work for 2-3 more years and put every penny in the bank to pay for PT school, but then again, that would mean me starting my PT career at 33-34 years of age instead of 29-30 years of age.

I'm having a hard time deciding if this is really the right decision for me. (If the amount of my loans were cut in half, it wouldn't even be a question at all, I would pursue the DPT degree).
 
you and I are definitely on the same page. I have a degree in business as well, I ran an analysis to see what my debt would be, it does totally seem out of line. the problem is, if you dont go into debt, then we'll just continue working jobs that are not satisfying and fulfilling. i worked a desk job and got paid a lame salary, seemed pointless b/c pay was terrible and it was not satisfying (i kept asking myself, what is the point of this job?)....the job of a PT seems extremely rewarding and satisfying but the cost to get the degree is completely out of line. i have thought about this for 3 years but now more than ever i am leaning towards getting the dpt b/c the alternative options are not rewarding or good paying
 
FitnessDoc2012 said:
you and I are definitely on the same page. I have a degree in business as well, I ran an analysis to see what my debt would be, it does totally seem out of line. the problem is, if you dont go into debt, then we'll just continue working jobs that are not satisfying and fulfilling. i worked a desk job and got paid a lame salary, seemed pointless b/c pay was terrible and it was not satisfying (i kept asking myself, what is the point of this job?)....the job of a PT seems extremely rewarding and satisfying but the cost to get the degree is completely out of line. i have thought about this for 3 years but now more than ever i am leaning towards getting the dpt b/c the alternative options are not rewarding or good paying
Click to expand...

I hear ya.

Having a business background and working in accounting/finance definitely makes you more "numbers aware."

The problem for me is, I cannot in my right mind warrant having a 1:2 income to debt ratio.

However, if I decide to stay in my current job/field, or even explore other career options in business, I have a feeling that 5 years from now I'll be in the same spot that I am right now, only 5 years older.
 
"However, if I decide to stay in my current job/field, or even explore other career options in business, I have a feeling that 5 years from now I'll be in the same spot that I am right now, only 5 years older." ------- THIS IS EXACTLY MY THOUGHT AS WELL..........its like there is no other option, a move has to be made to get away from continually doing something that is not fulfilling, but at the same time, if an unrealistic amount of debt is going to be accrued and hinder the quality of life after pursuing the degree, then is it worth it? From my experience, many people going into PT do not consider this money issue at all, why is that and what does it mean for the people who are considering this cost to be an issue?
 
FitnessDoc2012 said:
From my experience, many people going into PT do not consider this money issue at all, why is that and what does it mean for the people who are considering this cost to be an issue?
Click to expand...

I think that most people, especially those who go straight from their bachelor into a DPT program don't realize the consequences.

We're all "older" and have had life experiences-- we know that we have to pay for car insurance, rent/mortgage, groceries, gas, etc. Our biggest worry is not whether we are going to be able to afford $1 drafts at the bar uptown on Thirsty Thursday!

I, myself, have times where I feel very uncomfortable about the money situation- I am going to be depending on my SO 100%-- sure, I have no fears that he can pay the mortgage himself, he can pay his bills/our bills- but I do worry about grocery money, about gas money, simple day to day things... My parents have agreed to help me out "slightly" by offering a couple hundred here or there if I/we need it, but they have put their foot down about being able to spend thousands to help me through this.

Right now I'm comfortable at the job I'm at... And by comfortable I mean, I am not challenged by my daily routines/duties, I have moved back home with my parents/have no bills and make a little lower than $14 an hour. I cannot live on this. Even if I were to say, "Forget it!" and stay at my current job, I couldn't move out. I wouldn't be able to pay my bills!!

So, as much as I love my current job (actually it's definitely the people I work with) it is not realistic for me to stay here because I am making pennies.

So, although I do worry about the debt I'm going into, I worry how I'm going to pay for it, I worry about where the profession is going, etc, etc (all my worries that led me to start this thread)- sometimes I have to sit back and think--

At the end of my life, it's not going to matter how much money I have, it's going to matter what I did with my life. And, if I stay at a mediocre job that doesn't pay well/doesn't challenge my intellect I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself.
 
I'm in the same boat as most you cats. I have been working finance for about 5 years making around 60K, but the work itself is not satisfying in the slightest. What really pushed me over the edge about seriously pursuing PT is I began to look at the people above me in the company and all I saw was additional stress and the same boring work. Your job impacts not only your life at work but also your life at home, think about that a bit. So for me why would I keep riding out this career when I can already see the forecast 5-10 years out by just simply looking and talking to my co-workers. Most people I work with are there because there life circumstances wouldn't allow them to make a career change. Heck I'm fortunate at 28 that my current life position will allow me to pursue a career I will be pumped to study and practice. It's a grind for sure, but when you think about the alternative it seems like an easy decision for me.

And for all those who are nervous about the the debt you will have to carry, then I encourage you to explore the PTA route which is faster and cheaper. I have been researching both fields and and the pay disparity is not significant and the work is just as rewarding. For me what it comes down to is if I chose the PTA route I'll have to put my pride aside and be cool with being an assistant, and this is still something I'm conflicted about. But the bottom line is I will still be impacting people no matter which route I choose, and when it comes down to it that's what life's about in the end.

One last thing I can say is I've been debating about PT the last 2 years and it does no good to continuously debate because no progress is made. We all know the facts and the evidence as to why we want to pursue PT, so why are we letting a few potential challenges throw us off track? If we keep pushing it off, time and life circumstances will decide our fate, so take action now while the opportunity is still out there. I guarantee there are a lot of people who wish they were in our shoes. take it easy ya'll
 
FitnessDoc2012 said:
what is the alternative though?
Click to expand...

If you got the medical experience, then PA school would be the alternative IMO. Unfortunately, most PA schools are geared towards people already working in the healthcare field who have hundereds of hours of direct patient care. I would be able to justify going into debt if I was accepted into PA school because they start out at 80K. My uncle is a medical doctor who owns several clincs and hires PAs. He starts them out at 90K in the Tampa region.

I found the current Best Careers 2011. PT was on there of course, but I read all the comments and it gave me a lot more to think about. Some current PTs posted on there. Feel free to take a look. I'm simply not a young/impressionable person that believes that it will all be "worth it" if I'm happy with what I do for a living. Life simply isn't that simple folks.

http://money.usnews.com/money/caree...ers-2011-physical-therapist/comments?PageNr=1
 
I explored PA school but decided that it is not for me. This is b/c PAs can never be full autonomous members of the healthcare team. They can never have the potential to become a director or private owner of a clinic. These two things in particular drive me away from the PA profession. In terms of salary, I have thought this over for years. Something occured to me though....it is true that a PA will generally make around 10-30k (depending on specialty) more per yr than the average PT. Where the problem with this lies is that this will remain the same even if a PA has been practicing for 20 years. With PT, you do start much less (around 68k), however, there are opportunities to go into the 6 figures by pursuing clinic director roles and additional responsibilities. This aspect of PT is risky, but the return can be great. As a PA, you could never have the opportunity to pursue something like this. The main concern though is that if I am 100k in debt and only making 68k when I start, this will take out over $1,000 per month over minimum 10 years just to pay it back....seems kind of crazy to bust your butt in school for 3 straight years to then have to live extremely frugal....i've researched just about every career out there and cannot seem to find a career that is interesting to me more than working in an outpatient PT clinic where I see a variety of disabilities and ages. I have taken the last 3 yrs to try and find an alternative but I cannot seem to come up with anything that will be satisfying to me and interests me....but the PT debt seems so crazy that its hard to make a firm decision whether or not to pursue it.
 
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Just wanted to bring this thread back up... How's everyone feelin' these days??

I, for one, am starting to get excited about school!! I can't believe it's June and I'll be starting in August! My SO and I got our house on May 3rd and it's been a whirlwind of house work weekends since and I'm loving getting used to my new "neighborhood"!
 
markelmarcel said:
Just wanted to bring this thread back up... How's everyone feelin' these days??

I, for one, am starting to get excited about school!! I can't believe it's June and I'll be starting in August! My SO and I got our house on May 3rd and it's been a whirlwind of house work weekends since and I'm loving getting used to my new "neighborhood"!
Click to expand...

M&M,

I am getting excited, but I don't know if I ever stopped. Me and the gf got an apartment in downtown Rochester, MN(it's only second to Vegas as it relates to night life😎). Moving there in 2 weeks. School starts in August, and the closer I get, the more ppl I talk to tell me how "brutal" the first 2 years at this program can be. So that part of it has me ruminating about how much time and energy it will take to excel. What can I say, I am a glutton for punishment. Lol! I want to stay mentally active, because I know how it can get when you get out of school mode, so I have a few books to keep me company throughout the summer months.
 
I am getting fired up for school! I feel a bit nervous since my school has not sent out financial aid awards yet. They are having issues with their system, so I feel like I am in a state of limbo, not knowing my COA or how much I will have to pay for expenses. Other than that, though, I am thrilled to be leaving my full-time job and getting a new apartment with my SO. Lots of changes coming my way in a short period of time, but I am ready for it!

Good luck to all of you!
 
Reading this thread reminded me of my decision process when I decided to make the leap to becoming a PT. I was scared (all that math! how would I pay my mortgage?) but also exhilarated when I committed myself to the process.

As an older student (I turned 40 two months after I graduated) I realized quickly that I had beaucoup skills to compensate for my lost ability to pull all-nighters.

Fifteen years after graduation, here I am. It was absolutely one of the best decisions of my life.

Best of luck to all of you!
 
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