GPA in PT School

[MuscleHead]

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Im sure this topic has been beaten to death but can a practicing PT weigh in on this? I'm a first year student in my second semester and am concerned about the importance of a GPA in terms of job placement. I'm getting predominately B's with some A's mixed in. GPA was 3.37 last semester, but this semester is supposed to be harder.

If this is my graduating GPA, am I going to have problems getting the job I want?

I appreciate any constructive input. Thank you!!

 

[FitnessDoc2012]

I'm a prospective PT student but I have researched this issue and it seems that as long as you stay above a 3.0 you are fine. It is almost more important that you have a high prereq gpa so you can get into PT school but then once your in, your gonna graduate and have a degree and will get hired. Do well on clinicals and I doubt a GPA at 3.0 or higher would really matter when applying for jobs. Noone is going to care what your gpa was, as long as you get the degree from a school that people in your area are familiar with, then it should not matter. Like I said, GPA in prereqs is more important, once in grad school, grad schools want to make sure you graduate and understand how to perform the job.

On another note, I see that you are a current PT student. The one main thing that is holding up my decision to attend PT school is the 1:2 salary to debt ratio. The debt for PT school is totally not justified by the salary and is the only reason I am debating if I should attend or not. I was wondering, does yourself or any other current PT students, PT professors, etc, express concerns about the immense amount of debt that you are going into to get this degree? Do you have any advice to someone that finds this debt issue to be a main concern? I just don't see what the alternatives really are, economy is terrible, there are no other jobs in healthcare that I am interested in, etc.....Thanks for the advice and input!

 

[jesspt]

Im sure this topic has been beaten to death but can a practicing PT weigh in on this? I'm a first year student in my second semester and am concerned about the importance of a GPA in terms of job placement. I'm getting predominately B's with some A's mixed in. GPA was 3.37 last semester, but this semester is supposed to be harder.

If this is my graduating GPA, am I going to have problems getting the job I want?

I appreciate any constructive input. Thank you!!

Stay off of academic probation and you'll be fine. Not many employers will care what your GPA is.

 

[USP45]

Stay off of academic probation and you'll be fine. Not many employers will care what your GPA is.

Most employers wont care what your GPA was. I'm in the bottom 1/3 of my 20-person DPT class, and I dont doubt that I will likely end up making a better PT than the majority of them, because I have a better bedside manner and communicative abilities than some of the higher ranked ones.

Which person is a clinic more likely to hire, the guy who made it through PT schooling and is well spoken and confident, or the guy who graduated at the top of his class but couldn't talk his way out of a paper bag?

Don't worry too much, just get through it and get a job.

 

[callmecrazy]

There is no way or reason that your potential employer would even know your GPA unless you chose to tell them. Get your license, nail your interview, and you will be just fine.

 

[MuscleHead]

Most employers wont care what your GPA was. I'm in the bottom 1/3 of my 20-person DPT class, and I dont doubt that I will likely end up making a better PT than the majority of them, because I have a better bedside manner and communicative abilities than some of the higher ranked ones.

Which person is a clinic more likely to hire, the guy who made it through PT schooling and is well spoken and confident, or the guy who graduated at the top of his class but couldn't talk his way out of a paper bag?

Don't worry too much, just get through it and get a job.

thats exactly my attitude. some girl in my class (obviously clueless), told everyone that unless their GPA is a 3.8 or higher, dont bother putting it on your resume because no one will hire them.

i just wanted to make sure she was talking out of her as*.

thanks!!!

 

[callmecrazy]

thats exactly my attitude. some girl in my class (obviously clueless), told everyone that unless their GPA is a 3.8 or higher, dont bother putting it on your resume because no one will hire them.

i just wanted to make sure she was talking out of her as*.

thanks!!!

Actually, I would partially agree with her. If you have a really stellar GPA, then put it on your resume. If you don't, then leave it off. It may not prevent you from being hired, but it's not doing anything to help you get the job either. There are a million and one different right ways to do a resume, but many people follow the "rule" of not including anything below 3.8, or a similar cutoff. It's a waste of space to be put anything on your resume that doesn't make you sound like the best thing out there.

 

[WSUPT]

There were a few students that I graduated with who had very high GPAs but failed to excel in the clinical setting. GPA doesn't translate to how good of a PT you are/will be.

 

[MuscleHead]

Actually, I would partially agree with her. If you have a really stellar GPA, then put it on your resume. If you don't, then leave it off. It may not prevent you from being hired, but it's not doing anything to help you get the job either. There are a million and one different right ways to do a resume, but many people follow the "rule" of not including anything below 3.8, or a similar cutoff. It's a waste of space to be put anything on your resume that doesn't make you sound like the best thing out there.

3.8??? 3.8 is a ridiculously high GPA. i cant see how that can be a cutoff. but i get your point

 

[hefe]

Yeah 3.8 kinda high, but a 3.0-3.5 on a resume or even CV is generally not worth posting. I'd post a GPA if it were 3.7-3.8, anything much lower is 'meh' and cleaner if left without. They'll care more about your professional accomplishments and educational achievements.

Also, I resent the stereotyping in this thread that those with high UG/Grad GPA's are unable to relate to patients and make poor clinicians. That's just poor deduction all around. For everyone of your anecdote saying one thing, I have one that says just the opposite.

Strive to excel both academically and in practice as a clinician, it's not like they're mutually exclusive.

 

[MuscleHead]

Yeah 3.8 kinda high, but a 3.0-3.5 on a resume or even CV is generally not worth posting. I'd post a GPA if it were 3.7-3.8, anything much lower is 'meh' and cleaner if left without. They'll care more about your professional accomplishments and educational achievements.

Also, I resent the stereotyping in this thread that those with high UG/Grad GPA's are unable to relate to patients and make poor clinicians. That's just poor deduction all around. For everyone of your anecdote saying one thing, I have one that says just the opposite.

Strive to excel both academically and in practice as a clinician, it's not like they're mutually exclusive.

i dont think anyone was stereotyping...just saying that often you will find hardcore bookwarms who kill it in school but are clueless in the real world (more common than you would think).

 

[MinnDasota]

GPA doesn't matter. It may be a plus to graduate with honors. However, it won't make much difference on job placement (although saying you graduated with honors may look good on your bio).

Let's face it, some are just smarter, some are better clinicians, and then there's those that are both.

What matters is that you pass the boards, had solid clinicals, have good references, and are a good fit to their practice.

CV's should focus on your experiences, strengths, and professional accomplishments. If you feel your grades are a "strength", then fine. Put it on your CV. But remember, we all have to graduate with a 3.0 or better.