- Joined
- Aug 21, 2017
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 9
Hey Guys/ Gals! I wanted to share my story for those who are nervous about getting into PT school. Heres my background:
State School
Non-Science Degree (Easy compared to most)
Cum. GPA - 2.97
Highly involved on campus
After university I found a job that paid the bills. I hated my life and I turned into a robot. I worked for a year and decided to travel the world. I purchased a 1 way ticket and didnt look back. I spent a year vagabonding and ended up getting a job teaching English. After another year, I was ready to move and continued my travels for another 4 months. When I came home, I knew I wanted to pursue physical therapy and signed up for classes right away. I knew I wanted a fulfilling career that fit my lifestyle. I took 200 level physics and 100 level chemistry (pre-req for 200 level) and absolutely hated my physics professor. I ended up getting A's in both but wasnt sure I wanted to keep pursuing this direction if it was going to be like this. You have to remember, I had no experience with any science courses and the ones I did, I always had terrible teachers.
After that summer, I found out I wasnt eligible for financial aid because of my bachelors degree. I had no money, I was living at home (At 26), and was jobless. I was devastated and wasnt sure where to turn in my life. I took 4 months off and cant tell you today what I did during that time. I worked a number of odd jobs that formed a foundation of who I am today. It wasn't until I stumbled across 2 job openings that my life changed. One was for a guide at an adventure company across the US and the other was for a local pt aide position. I applied to both and guess what? I was offered both positions on the same day. This crossroad is something Ill never forget but I decided that the PT route was what I truly wanted. I began work as an aide and absolutely loved it. I gained enough money to start classes at a local CC and chipped away working almost full time and taking a couple of science courses each quarter.
After 1.5 years of all post-bacc science pre-reqs, I had researched enough to send my applications out last summer and the waiting game began. At the time of my application my stats looked something like this:
Cum GPA: 3.15 (Includes Post-bacc)
Science GPA: 3.7+
Last 60 GPA: 3.9
GRE: 305, Writing 4.5 (2 attempts!)
Shadow hours: 2000+, 5-6 settings
Volunteer at multiple places, very involved in my community, clubs, etc.
It was a long shot, but I knew I had a chance somewhere. I spent my winter break studying each school to fit my criteria. I still needed to finish my physics courses but I would end up getting all A's in those as well. The last 12 months were very difficult. I received rejection after rejection and really no advice to improve besides my GRE. I felt like my undergrad had been my worst nightmare and still following me nearly a decade after I graduated. Finally, while abroad, I received an interview invite to my #1 school and arguably one of the most competitive schools in the country. I was ecstatic and began brushing up on my interview skills. I thought I killed the interview but would find out I was wait listed. Again, I was disheartened and I began to research how I could improve my application for the next cycle. I received another interview invite and flew out to see the other school. I loved the campus and was ultimately accepted to the school. While I was happy, it wasnt what I had wanted from the beginning. Then, one day while browsing my emails, I received a notice I had been offered an acceptance and taken off the waitlist for my #1 school. I was thrilled, speechless, and utterly dismayed .How could a guy with my background get into a school like this surrounded by brilliant individuals? The answer is perseverance. I am so grateful to have gotten into my #1 choice 1st round and I wanted to share my story with others.
I worked my butt off to get to this point and the hard work certainly hasnt even begun. All I know is that if I can do this, anyone is capable. Dont ever, ever give up. I also wasnt to thank this forum, it was a life saver! Good luck everyone!
State School
Non-Science Degree (Easy compared to most)
Cum. GPA - 2.97
Highly involved on campus
After university I found a job that paid the bills. I hated my life and I turned into a robot. I worked for a year and decided to travel the world. I purchased a 1 way ticket and didnt look back. I spent a year vagabonding and ended up getting a job teaching English. After another year, I was ready to move and continued my travels for another 4 months. When I came home, I knew I wanted to pursue physical therapy and signed up for classes right away. I knew I wanted a fulfilling career that fit my lifestyle. I took 200 level physics and 100 level chemistry (pre-req for 200 level) and absolutely hated my physics professor. I ended up getting A's in both but wasnt sure I wanted to keep pursuing this direction if it was going to be like this. You have to remember, I had no experience with any science courses and the ones I did, I always had terrible teachers.
After that summer, I found out I wasnt eligible for financial aid because of my bachelors degree. I had no money, I was living at home (At 26), and was jobless. I was devastated and wasnt sure where to turn in my life. I took 4 months off and cant tell you today what I did during that time. I worked a number of odd jobs that formed a foundation of who I am today. It wasn't until I stumbled across 2 job openings that my life changed. One was for a guide at an adventure company across the US and the other was for a local pt aide position. I applied to both and guess what? I was offered both positions on the same day. This crossroad is something Ill never forget but I decided that the PT route was what I truly wanted. I began work as an aide and absolutely loved it. I gained enough money to start classes at a local CC and chipped away working almost full time and taking a couple of science courses each quarter.
After 1.5 years of all post-bacc science pre-reqs, I had researched enough to send my applications out last summer and the waiting game began. At the time of my application my stats looked something like this:
Cum GPA: 3.15 (Includes Post-bacc)
Science GPA: 3.7+
Last 60 GPA: 3.9
GRE: 305, Writing 4.5 (2 attempts!)
Shadow hours: 2000+, 5-6 settings
Volunteer at multiple places, very involved in my community, clubs, etc.
It was a long shot, but I knew I had a chance somewhere. I spent my winter break studying each school to fit my criteria. I still needed to finish my physics courses but I would end up getting all A's in those as well. The last 12 months were very difficult. I received rejection after rejection and really no advice to improve besides my GRE. I felt like my undergrad had been my worst nightmare and still following me nearly a decade after I graduated. Finally, while abroad, I received an interview invite to my #1 school and arguably one of the most competitive schools in the country. I was ecstatic and began brushing up on my interview skills. I thought I killed the interview but would find out I was wait listed. Again, I was disheartened and I began to research how I could improve my application for the next cycle. I received another interview invite and flew out to see the other school. I loved the campus and was ultimately accepted to the school. While I was happy, it wasnt what I had wanted from the beginning. Then, one day while browsing my emails, I received a notice I had been offered an acceptance and taken off the waitlist for my #1 school. I was thrilled, speechless, and utterly dismayed .How could a guy with my background get into a school like this surrounded by brilliant individuals? The answer is perseverance. I am so grateful to have gotten into my #1 choice 1st round and I wanted to share my story with others.
I worked my butt off to get to this point and the hard work certainly hasnt even begun. All I know is that if I can do this, anyone is capable. Dont ever, ever give up. I also wasnt to thank this forum, it was a life saver! Good luck everyone!
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