Have Bachelors, want to go back..

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I recently graduated in May of 2013 with my bachelors in Biochemistry..(GPA: 3.43 @ Uni and 3.78 @community) However, at the time, I wanted to go into medical school. However, my MCATs scores weren't good enough (24, >_<), so I didn't even apply. During the summer, though, I went through several experiences that turned me away from the medical field. I found I don't have what it takes mentally to deal with death and dying of patients, families, etc.

I know I want to go into a science-based field, but wasn't sure what. Thought about grad school, pharm school, etc. But eventually came to PT. I love motivation and the human body, so I find this to be a perfect fit..

Problem is, I don't know where to start - if I need to go back to school for certain classes, what I need to make my application strong and even if I need a certain type of degree to get in PT. Is PT an undergrad program and then from there you go into higher education? Or.. I don't know.

Any help would be great. 😉

 

[situational]

DPT is a graduate program, you have to have your undergraduate degree. Doesn't matter what your degree was, as long as you have finished the pre-reqs for applying. These pre-reqs differ from program to program, so do some research on the schools you'd like to attend and look up what courses you need to take. Most likely you would have completed a lot of them already since you were Biochem. I imagine you'd have to take psychology courses, maybe statistics, maybe anatomy, and that's it.

DPT programs don't look at MCAT scores, they look at GRE scores, so you might want to brush off your old SAT skills to take the test.

Volunteering is great. In fact, it's necessary. Many programs require a minimum amount of hours, paid or unpaid, under the supervision of a PT.

Make sure you continue to do whatever you do in the community, whether it's working or community service.

 

[situational]

Also, do well in the pre-preqs. This is coming from someone who most likely will be failing to receive acceptance into DPT programs for the second cycle in a row because his GPA is not competitive enough.

GPA is king.

 

[sabino3]

I would look at the schools in your area and schools you like to attend. Their websites should have of list Prereqs, GRE needed and observation hours needed. Based on your degree, you should have taken most of the classes. Just make sure your Prereq GPA looks good.
I attended an info session at CSU Long Beach. The graduate advisor stated that they look at Cum GPA & Prereq GPA primarily. These schools have too many applicants for interview. GPA seems to be nearly everything. On this forum, I read of another school that didn't look at people that had below a 3.5 GPA.

 

[NewTestament]

I attended an info session at CSU Long Beach. The graduate advisor stated that they look at Cum GPA & Prereq GPA primarily. These schools have too many applicants for interview. GPA seems to be nearly everything. On this forum, I read of another school that didn't look at people that had below a 3.5 GPA.

It is about the numbers. When you have several people looking at hundreds of applications, there isn't much time anymore to take a holistic approach. GPA is the most parsimonious way of determining if an applicant is qualified.

 

[Dreambig23]

PTCAS is definitely a good place to start when researching schools you are interested in. It will give you a list of all of the programs that use the centralized application service (which most do).