High GRE, Low GPA Advice

[Yonbikes]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have seen countless threads on this site discussing low gre scores. There is little to no information on applicants such as myself with a low GPA and high (relative) GRE scores. I also completed my last 3 semesters of undergrad with 3.6+
Stats:
CU Boulder Environmental Studies
cGPA 3.01
PrereqGPA 3.4-3.5
GRE: 162V 160Q 5.0AW
Solid letters, essays, etc..
I was just hoping to hear some advice about what schools to target, and how to increase my chances of getting into a DPT program. I keep seeing over and over from posters on this forum that schools don't care as much about the GRE as they do GPA (which makes sense). But how do you demonstrate/explain that once I got my academics together (balancing with a career as a professional athlete for 5 years) I was a good student. Also my GREs should indicate I have potential.
Thanks to any and all advice!!!!!!!

 

[hem226]

I have seen countless threads on this site discussing low gre scores. There is little to no information on applicants such as myself with a low GPA and high (relative) GRE scores. I also completed my last 3 semesters of undergrad with 3.6+
Stats:
CU Boulder Environmental Studies
cGPA 3.01
PrereqGPA 3.4-3.5
GRE: 162V 160Q 4.5AW
Solid letters, essays, etc..
I was just hoping to hear some advice about what schools to target, and how to increase my chances of getting into a DPT program. I keep seeing over and over from posters on this forum that schools don't care as much about the GRE as they do GPA (which makes sense). But how do you demonstrate/explain that once I got my academics together (balancing with a career as a professional athlete for 5 years) I was a good student. Also my GREs should indicate I have potential.
Thanks to any and all advice!!!!!!!

The problem is that the GRE doesn't test any of the academic knowledge you need for PT school, just that you can study simple concepts and test well. A low GPA might mean lots of things to you (e.g. a tough season/low motivation/not "having your act together") but to a PT school it might look like you don't have the aptitude for studying key sciences. Whatever anatomy you learn in undergrad will only be harder in PT school for example, so if you got a C in prereq anatomy it doesn't bode well for you succeeding in the academic side of your program.

I personally think you would be better off retaking some classes to lift your GPA.

 

[deleted797640]

I disagree with the previous post. I had a 2.92cgpa and 3.4pre-req gpa with a 154V 158Q and 4.0W along with 6000 hrs of medical experience (3000 hrs lead PT aide, 1000 hrs ER scribe, 1000 hrs EMT, 1000 hrs Pharmacy tech). I now am on sit on the board for our schools student clinic and am in my second year as a graduate assistant for the program. I also got into two schools when I applied. On the flip side of things since I now do interviews and handle admissions data I can say both GRE and GPA are very important to schools. However, both have very little to do with sucess in a PT program for example many individuals may apply with a 3.8 from a top 300 university with a degree in business or psychology and have only taken the minimal required pre-req's. Compare the previous situation to someone with a 3.4 from a top 20 university who was a microbiology major. This individual has a much deeper understanding of the underlying principles involved in some DPT courses such as differential diagnosis, pathology and pharmacology. The rigor of the courses within their institute and degree was much higher (calc 2 vs. College level algebra or statistics). Now add in life factors on top of this situation and you can see why even gpa is not a good predictor of an individuals future performance in PT school. It is however the most effective way to weed through thousands of applicants. I am doing very well in my program despite holding two extracurricular positions and doing things I personally enjoy, while others who came in with 3.8+ gpa's are no longer with us.

Advice: apply to school not participating in PTCAS as these will look at applications more holistically due to decreased number of applicants, apply to schools which look at trends in gpa (ask around), apply to schools who look at pre-req gpa only, do not just apply to your in-state schools. Look for schools with high out of state acceptance rates.

Best of luck! it is doable, I was told to give up because my gpa would never cut it and I should find a new career path and now I am 1.5yrs away from a DPT.

 

[Yonbikes]

I disagree with the previous post. I had a 2.92cgpa and 3.4pre-req gpa with a 154V 158Q and 4.0W along with 6000 hrs of medical experience (3000 hrs lead PT aide, 1000 hrs ER scribe, 1000 hrs EMT, 1000 hrs Pharmacy tech). I now am on sit on the board for our schools student clinic and am in my second year as a graduate assistant for the program. I also got into two schools when I applied. On the flip side of things since I now do interviews and handle admissions data I can say both GRE and GPA are very important to schools. However, both have very little to do with sucess in a PT program for example many individuals may apply with a 3.8 from a top 300 university with a degree in business or psychology and have only taken the minimal required pre-req's. Compare the previous situation to someone with a 3.4 from a top 20 university who was a microbiology major. This individual has a much deeper understanding of the underlying principles involved in some DPT courses such as differential diagnosis, pathology and pharmacology. The rigor of the courses within their institute and degree was much higher (calc 2 vs. College level algebra or statistics). Now add in life factors on top of this situation and you can see why even gpa is not a good predictor of an individuals future performance in PT school. It is however the most effective way to weed through thousands of applicants. I am doing very well in my program despite holding two extracurricular positions and doing things I personally enjoy, while others who came in with 3.8+ gpa's are no longer with us.

Advice: apply to school not participating in PTCAS as these will look at applications more holistically due to decreased number of applicants, apply to schools which look at trends in gpa (ask around), apply to schools who look at pre-req gpa only, do not just apply to your in-state schools. Look for schools with high out of state acceptance rates.

Best of luck! it is doable, I was told to give up because my gpa would never cut it and I should find a new career path and now I am 1.5yrs away from a DPT.

Thanks for the advice! I have a pretty strong prerequisite gpa so retaking those courses doesn't make sense to me. Unfortunately with around 160 credit hours, moving my gpa would be tough and a waste if I'm retaking courses I did bad in that are non-prerequisites. Hopefully I can follow in your path and show that 2 bad semesters 8 years ago don't reflect my capabilities and determination now!

 

[Yonbikes]

The problem is that the GRE doesn't test any of the academic knowledge you need for PT school, just that you can study simple concepts and test well. A low GPA might mean lots of things to you (e.g. a tough season/low motivation/not "having your act together") but to a PT school it might look like you don't have the aptitude for studying key sciences. Whatever anatomy you learn in undergrad will only be harder in PT school for example, so if you got a C in prereq anatomy it doesn't bode well for you succeeding in the academic side of your program.

I personally think you would be better off retaking some classes to lift your GPA.

Thanks for the response, just wondering what you think. I have around 160 credit hours since I am a transfer and had major changes. I don't think I can shift my cumulative very much and retaking prerequisites when my pGPA is fairly strong doesn't seem worth it? What do you think. I suppose after this round of applications I should know what I need to do!