Gap year?

[PrePT850]

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I'm a third year Nutritional Sciences major. I'm a transfer student (My AA GPA was around a 3.3 and my current UF GPA is a 3.73). I only have about 60 ortho/sports hours (I plan on getting more hours throughout this semester and the summer). I'm taking the GRE this summer before the cycle opens.

Extra Curricular's: Worked for a State Representative for 2 years, Pre-PT club, Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-health society, Food Science and Human Nutrition Club, Powerlifting club

I'm trying to figure out if I should work hard and accomplish a lot over the next 4 months or take a gap year where I will work in a PT setting and acquire more hours?

Any advice would be helpful! Thanks!

 

[Phyline]

Depends on how many hours you plan on getting before you apply. You can also have "planned" hours in PTCAS.

If you've acquired the necessary number of hours (depends on school) in a variety of settings, you don't need more.
If you need more time to get the hours, then take more time. But if you've reached the minimum, hundreds and hundreds of hours won't help your application much.

 

[DesertPT]

I'm trying to figure out if I should work hard and accomplish a lot over the next 4 months or take a gap year where I will work in a PT setting and acquire more hours?

I can't make personal life decisions for you, but I would personally do the former. Provided you meet all the application requirements the school has, that you can get observations hours in the inpatient setting before you apply, that you aren't planning on retaking classes and that you don't have more than one or two outstanding pre-regs, I don't think your chances will be greatly improved by waiting a year. If you can get a solid application put together in the next four months, why wait a year?

 

[starrsgirl]

How's your pre req GPA?

I would go ahead and apply as well...why not? Have a plan that works to apply this year or next year. Choose your schools carefully and go for it!

 

[dancerdpt17]

In my opinion, you should just go ahead and apply this cycle. Your GPA is high. Aim for at least a 300 combined on the GRE plus a solid writing score and you'll be good. Definitely get some more observation hours under your belt in a couple different settings. I had about 90 observation hours plus a decent GPA and GRE score and several schools expressed interest in my application. Personally, I don't think it's worth taking a full year off just to get observation hours and work in a PT setting. The sooner you can get into school then get out and start your career, the better.