help a struggling pre-pt out

[dobsonek]

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While I’m still waiting to hear from a few schools, I’m going to assume I’m not getting into a program this year, which is very discouraging considering this was my second cycle applying (and I applied to 15 programs). This means that I either need to a) apply for a third cycle and risk being humiliated again or b) figure out a new career path.

I’m torn on what to do. I want nothing more to be a DPT but it seems like the world just doesn’t want me to be. Between rejections and being waitlisted (bottom 1/3 of waitlist) for one program (that has a full cohort) this time around it’s embarrassing. If I apply for a third time I’m also not sure how to go about getting a recommendation from a professor considering that I graduated from my undergrad in May 2019 (so assuming I ask for a rec this summer I’d be a year out of school), and I don’t feel as if I got to know any of the professors at the community college where I retook a few prereqs enough to ask them for a recommendation. And aside from retaking the GRE (which I have plans to do), I’m not sure how to further improve my application to make myself stand out. Part of me wants to stick it out and try one more time, but the other part of me is telling me not to bother because I’ll just get rejected again. If I were to get in, I’d be starting courses the same time people I graduated with are finishing theirs and I can’t help but be embarrassed by that. I also can’t help but feel as if I should quit my job as a tech and get a “real” job so I can support myself financially and move out of my parents house.

This entire post is basically just word vomit but is/has anyone else gone through this? What did you do? What would you do if you were in my situation?

 

[KorbinL]

DM me

 

[Zimbabwe9]

Feel free to DM me! I’m a current PT student and would love to offer any help if possible!

 

[Kweenkza]

Hey I know how you feel I graduated in 2018 and had to ask a professor and have told him that I will most likely be asking again. Just email them the worst they could say is no.

I’m at tech too and fell the same way but I stay because of the encouragement I get from the therapist and how they know what I’m going through in the process of trying to get in. But also if your parents don’t have a problem with you staying I would just stay. If that were my case I definitely would. I understand wanting to be independent and having your own space. Not sure where you live but Cali is expensive and I’d rather stay with my parents if I could and suffer for a bit longer rather than getting a new job while about to start the app process over again. But also that’s just me take it with a grain of salt.

Not if you have heard of pre-ptgrind but they specialize in helping pre-pt get into school. I feel from the people I’ve talked to who have used their system have all gotten in and the other students in it are also great supper and help.
have videos on YouTube and also a website I think you should definitely check it out.

acceptance navigator series
Or just go to preptgrind.com
Hope this is helpful but just stick in there. You have the passion and drive obviously so keep your head up!!! You will get to where you want to be !!!

Sorryyyyy this was so long. But I definitely feel where you are coming from and just wanting to say something.

 

[gailmarie95]

I understand how you are feeling! This was my second cycle applying and while I did get accepted into PT programs my first cycle I was rejected from 15-20 schools (I can't remember exactly how many I applied to) with no interview invites either. My GPA, about 3.4-3.6 depending the school, was decent but I really struggled with my GRE until I was able to achieve a decent minimum score (298). I decided to join Pre-PT grind's Accepted System and it completely changed how I looked at the application and I had so much guidance along the way. It helped me stand out when asking questions, program tours, interviews, ect. and I gained so many different experiences through opportunities that really helped my application. If you want to learn more feel free to DM me, I would love to speak to you. 🙂

 

[Durantula23]

Feel free to DM as well, I experienced some of the same thoughts and feelings you are currently experiencing.
Just know that you are not alone and that this process is extremely exhausting mentally, physically and emotionally.

 

[deleted797640]

DM me. I'm finishing up my second year. I got in with a 2.9cGPA made a pretty solid post on reddit on things you can do to get it.

 

[ya1]

While I’m still waiting to hear from a few schools, I’m going to assume I’m not getting into a program this year, which is very discouraging considering this was my second cycle applying (and I applied to 15 programs). This means that I either need to a) apply for a third cycle and risk being humiliated again or b) figure out a new career path.

I’m torn on what to do. I want nothing more to be a DPT but it seems like the world just doesn’t want me to be. Between rejections and being waitlisted (bottom 1/3 of waitlist) for one program (that has a full cohort) this time around it’s embarrassing. If I apply for a third time I’m also not sure how to go about getting a recommendation from a professor considering that I graduated from my undergrad in May 2019 (so assuming I ask for a rec this summer I’d be a year out of school), and I don’t feel as if I got to know any of the professors at the community college where I retook a few prereqs enough to ask them for a recommendation. And aside from retaking the GRE (which I have plans to do), I’m not sure how to further improve my application to make myself stand out. Part of me wants to stick it out and try one more time, but the other part of me is telling me not to bother because I’ll just get rejected again. If I were to get in, I’d be starting courses the same time people I graduated with are finishing theirs and I can’t help but be embarrassed by that. I also can’t help but feel as if I should quit my job as a tech and get a “real” job so I can support myself financially and move out of my parents house.

This entire post is basically just word vomit but is/has anyone else gone through this? What did you do? What would you do if you were in my situation?

Depends on your stats. Pick schools that do not require GRE if you cannot make a decent score (I couldn/t). Pick schools that consider the last 60 units for GPA if your latest GPA is the best. Consider schools that are the least competitive (accept more people, have less applicants since number of applicants vary 500-1300 in school I considered).
Just email the same professors again (if their recommendation letters were good) and see if they can submit them again. They may still do that.
Do quit aide job. Sounds like you got enough observation. You will find a higher paid job elsewhere even if you have no skills.
There is nothing embarrassing about not getting into the program from the 1st or 2nd trial! If you are improving your application and applying to schools whose requirements you meet, it's worth trying since that is what you want. 20 years from now, it will not matter if you have graduated 20 years ago or 17 years ago.

 

[bc0167]

While I’m still waiting to hear from a few schools, I’m going to assume I’m not getting into a program this year, which is very discouraging considering this was my second cycle applying (and I applied to 15 programs). This means that I either need to a) apply for a third cycle and risk being humiliated again or b) figure out a new career path.

I’m torn on what to do. I want nothing more to be a DPT but it seems like the world just doesn’t want me to be. Between rejections and being waitlisted (bottom 1/3 of waitlist) for one program (that has a full cohort) this time around it’s embarrassing. If I apply for a third time I’m also not sure how to go about getting a recommendation from a professor considering that I graduated from my undergrad in May 2019 (so assuming I ask for a rec this summer I’d be a year out of school), and I don’t feel as if I got to know any of the professors at the community college where I retook a few prereqs enough to ask them for a recommendation. And aside from retaking the GRE (which I have plans to do), I’m not sure how to further improve my application to make myself stand out. Part of me wants to stick it out and try one more time, but the other part of me is telling me not to bother because I’ll just get rejected again. If I were to get in, I’d be starting courses the same time people I graduated with are finishing theirs and I can’t help but be embarrassed by that. I also can’t help but feel as if I should quit my job as a tech and get a “real” job so I can support myself financially and move out of my parents house.

This entire post is basically just word vomit but is/has anyone else gone through this? What did you do? What would you do if you were in my situation?

I'm confused on the GRE thing? So you are on 2nd cycle, with low GRE, and have not studied for like 3-months and retaken? I took the GRE cold, just to see what it is about and get a baseline. Scored similar to you. Knowing I needed at least 150 average, I studied my xxx off and scored 151/151, and got in the second round with similar scores to you. Why haven't you retaken the GRE already?

 

[dobsonek]

I'm confused on the GRE thing? So you are on 2nd cycle, with low GRE, and have not studied for like 3-months and retaken? I took the GRE cold, just to see what it is about and get a baseline. Scored similar to you. Knowing I needed at least 150 average, I studied my xxx off and scored 151/151, and got in the second round with similar scores to you. Why haven't you retaken the GRE already?

I haven’t retaken the GRE because I scored 149/151 3.5 and figured I’d try to apply with that since I met the minimum for many schools. Also because it’s about $250 or so and I don’t have that kind of money to throw around on a test if I didn’t need to. I’m not sure if you meant for your post to come off as rude as it did, but congrats on getting into a school.

 

[FutureNYSPT]

If you got good grades and had a good demeanor, your professors will remember you. I think it would be better, however, to have strong letters of recommendation from PTs that were able to observe your demeanor, work ethic, and interactions with patients.

My cumulative GPA was 2.98, and I got into a few schools, including one in the "top 10," but you are more than your GPA. Take an honest look at the strengths of your essays, letters of recommendation, and seriously rethink taking the GRE. Sure, you could get in with the minimum, but when schools are accepting 3%-15% of applicants, would you really want to just try to sneak in with the minimum?

Don't be dejected. The majority of my friends are lawyers, directors, or are super successful, and here I am at 34 going back to school to become a PT. You're going to let others' journeys dictate your own?

What is more important to you: moving out or following your dream? If I were you in your situation, I would get that better job, and spend every ounce of free time studying for the GRE and improving my application every way possible.

 

[bmxpt2]

While I’m still waiting to hear from a few schools, I’m going to assume I’m not getting into a program this year, which is very discouraging considering this was my second cycle applying (and I applied to 15 programs). This means that I either need to a) apply for a third cycle and risk being humiliated again or b) figure out a new career path.

I’m torn on what to do. I want nothing more to be a DPT but it seems like the world just doesn’t want me to be. Between rejections and being waitlisted (bottom 1/3 of waitlist) for one program (that has a full cohort) this time around it’s embarrassing. If I apply for a third time I’m also not sure how to go about getting a recommendation from a professor considering that I graduated from my undergrad in May 2019 (so assuming I ask for a rec this summer I’d be a year out of school), and I don’t feel as if I got to know any of the professors at the community college where I retook a few prereqs enough to ask them for a recommendation. And aside from retaking the GRE (which I have plans to do), I’m not sure how to further improve my application to make myself stand out. Part of me wants to stick it out and try one more time, but the other part of me is telling me not to bother because I’ll just get rejected again. If I were to get in, I’d be starting courses the same time people I graduated with are finishing theirs and I can’t help but be embarrassed by that. I also can’t help but feel as if I should quit my job as a tech and get a “real” job so I can support myself financially and move out of my parents house.

This entire post is basically just word vomit but is/has anyone else gone through this? What did you do? What would you do if you were in my situation?

Took me 3 tries to get into PT school. There’s nothing to be ashamed of for taking multiple attempts to get in. I got 2 acceptances, 2 waitlists and 6 interview invites this time around. I’ll answer your bottom questions.

1. Yes, I was in your shoes at around this time last year. It’s a tough program to get into that requires more than just “meeting minimums” to get into. If I’m being honest here, it’s a mentally frustrating game that you need to know how to play.

2. I was on 4 waitlists last year with 0 hope of getting pulled off of any of them. I only had 1 prereq that was a lower than a B (B- to be exact) and I decided to retake it as a 6 week Summer course before I applied for a third time (this current cycle). I actually did not get pulled off of any of the waitlists I was on, so having 2 acceptances this cycle made me really happy that I retook the class when I did.

3. If I was you, if you’re giving the GRE another shot, focus on getting a 4.0 on the writing section. ETS has a service that lets you practice with their types of prompts with a timer, and it gives you a score with feedback. It’s like $20 but I found it really beneficial in getting the writing score I needed. Additionally, if you have prereqs that can still be improved, give yourself time to retake them before the start of the next cycle. Same thing for your letters of rec, essays, etc.

Good luck.