From BFA to DPT

[KaylaRuth]

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hey everyone, new to these boards!
For those of you who applied / are applying to DPT programs and didn't take any science courses undergrad, how did you go about taking prerequisites? At the moment I am enrolled in NYU's Postbacc program taking chemistry and biology but I feel way over my head in a class of 600 with the majority of students being science majors who already took AP bio or chemistry in high school.

I did my undergrad at NYU, BFA in theater and did pretty well academically in both theater classes and academics. I decided to go the postbacc at NYU route because I still live in the neighborhood and loved the idea of being in a program with other people in a similar position. I now realize that the program is mainly geared towards pre-med students.

I'm planning on leaving the post-bacc program at NYU to take courses at other colleges in Manhattan such as CUNY Baruch, CUNY Hunter and Touro to ease up on the financial burden and work load. I haven't been too impressed with NYU's 600 people lecture courses for complicated science courses and feel like they are nothing more than freshmen weed-out courses for the pre-med kids.
I was wondering if any other New Yorkers have taken their prereqs at various college vs. being in a postbacc program, Do you think it will make a huge different when I end up applying to graduate schools in the future? I feel it's better to have a stronger science GPA from a less rigorous college than poor grades from NYU.

Thanks for any help and advice!

Kayla

 

[Pinesfootball]

You are absolutely right in wanting to build as strong of a science GPA as you can. Although I don't know much about schools in NY, I know MOST schools do not care where you take your prereqs. With that said, some do..so I would definitely make sure to look at each specific school you are applying to before you make any major school changes. The majority of grad schools look at 3 things to invite for an interview (if they have one): Upper level GPA, Prereq GPA, and GRE. Good luck!

 

[HughLee]

Most schools will not care where you took your prerequisite courses as long as it is at an accredited college/university. Most will not differentiate between a community college and a 4-year college. Do what you can to have the highest GPA that you can. That will be more important than the particular school or schools that you took the classes at.

It has been a long time since I have lived/worked/gone to school in the city so I can't comment on specific schools. My thesis advisor is now a psychology faculty member at Hunter College, and I think it is a good place.

Good luck with your prerequisite courses and application. When you apply and interview, be sure to bring up your BFA, both to explain your decision to change fields but also to emphasize your unique qualities and be why you will be a better than average PT.

 

[KaylaRuth]

Thanks for the responses, it's been a real shocker not only going back to school but taking science courses for the first time in 8 years (my sophomore year of high school). I'm hoping that having my undergraduate degree from NYU where I had to be accepted both academically and based on my audition is more important than where I take my prerequisites now.

 

[okramango]

I took all of my science prerequisites at a community college and was accepted to all the PT programs I applied to. Most PT programs mainly look at the numbers (GPA/GRE), and don't care where you did your prerequisites or undergrad. It's definitely worth it to save money (and be in smaller classes) by going to a CC. Good luck!

 

[KaylaRuth]

@okramango if you don't mind answering, where did you apply to?

 

[okramango]

I applied to TWU (where I attend), NAU, and CSUN. My stats are on the GPA thread here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/gpas-gres-xtras-acceptances.427018/page-30#post-13762260

Most PT schools accept prerequisites from community colleges, though. They are generally a lot more interested in your GPA, so make sure to get high grades in order to be competitive.

 

[KaylaRuth]

thanks for the info!

 

[starrsgirl]

I have bad grades from Columbia and it is not working out for me, lol. I wish I had just stopped taking those classes instead of pushing through with sorry grades. Stop while you are ahead and find some smaller classes with more support.