How do I improve my GPA?

[situational]

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Hi there pre-DPT students and perhaps any admissions committee members that frequent these forums,

I want to throw in the towel. I was ultimately rejected to all the programs I have applied to this application cycle. Words can't describe how disappointed I am right now. Before I begin, my numbers:

3.15 prerequisite, 3.11 overall, as reported by PTCAS
162Q, 161V, 5.0AW
300+ hours in a hospital setting, 150 hours in an outpatient clinic. However, only the outpatient clinic was supervised by a PT, so I only included the latter under PT observation hours.

The weakness in my application is pretty glaring. The only problem is that I don't know how to fix it. I didn't do too hot in my undergraduate school (UCSD), getting a 3.04 overall. It was about a year and a half after graduation that I discovered the DPT field and really wanted to pursue it. The problem was that because I was a biology major, many of the prerequisite courses had already been taken. In addition to that, I have so many units completed as well it's hard to budge the numbers around. There weren't many courses left to take to fulfill the requirements for the programs that I needed - maybe about four total. Granted, I received As in all of those classes, which brought up my numbers a little bit. However, it was not nearly enough. I'm just stumped on how to approach solving this problem. I have considered three options (retake at CCs, Master's, post-bac), all which seem pretty infeasible in terms of the time taken and the financial cost.

I would appreciate any advice others may have that have been in the same situation as me. I probably won't be able to reapply this coming cycle because my GPA wouldn't have changed by then, but there's always the distant future.

Thanks a bunch!

-situ

 

[nicolej5]

honestly retakes wont really help you. not much difference in terms of a b or an a. sure you could get a masters or what not but, correct me if i'm wrong, that isn't calculated into your total GPA. I think it is recorded as a separate GPA. Look at other aspects of your application. Did others read your essay? How were your LORs? Extra curriculars? It would also help to get more varying observation experiences. I've seen people get accepted with a lower GPA, so don't automatically blame that. Did you get any feedback from schools that rejected you?

 

[situational]

honestly retakes wont really help you. not much difference in terms of a b or an a. sure you could get a masters or what not but, correct me if i'm wrong, that isn't calculated into your total GPA. I think it is recorded as a separate GPA. Look at other aspects of your application. Did others read your essay? How were your LORs? Extra curriculars? It would also help to get more varying observation experiences. I've seen people get accepted with a lower GPA, so don't automatically blame that. Did you get any feedback from schools that rejected you?

I had others read my essay. It has been awhile and I can perhaps dig it up for you to read as well just so you can gauge its strength.

I had three LoRs. One came from my PT, which was questionable because he immigrated from Taiwan and his English isn't the best. One should have been amazing, coming from my anatomy professor (received an A in that class). My third came from the hospital volunteer program. I honestly cannot tell you for sure. I did not read any of the LoRs as agreed, as they are confidential.

For outside activities, I participate in events such as Tough Mudder. I also volunteered to teach English to immigrants as an ESL teacher for about a year, and later did private tutoring for high school subjects as well as tests such as the GRE and SAT for a bit of side money.

I didn't get feedback from any of the schools. One I received a pdf on how to improve your application, but it was how to improve everything in general, not necessarily focusing on my own application in particular.

 

[DPTHopeful2012]

I don't think your GPA is that low, to be honest. How were your essay and LOR?

 

[situational]

I don't think your GPA is that low, to be honest. How were your essay and LOR?

I don't know the actual strengths of my letters of reference. I know one was going to be good, and one was iffy because of the DPT's English capabilities. I did not read any of the letters.

I thought my essay wasn't bad. I had to go out of my way and jump a hurdle to explain why my undergraduate performance wasn't the greatest, which affected the way I had initially wanted to write it. However, overall, I was satisfied with the way I laid out my thoughts in the essay.

 

[pubicsymphysis]

Where did you apply to? That could be the issue. I know a lot of applicants that applied to schools that were out of their reach. You have an awesome GRE score but maybe you were sending to schools who accepted applicants with a higher GPA on average? I know for me I lacked the GRE score and my overall GPA was quiet low so I applied to some schools who did not look at GREs and emphasis prereqs GPA. I really think the DPT process is about applying smart and highlighting your strength. You have a solid application. If this is your dream, you will make it. Good luck!

 

[nicolej5]

i would definitely work towards getting another pt to write you a lor. If the last one's english wasn't sufficient, why have him write a very important lor for you??

 

[situational]

i would definitely work towards getting another pt to write you a lor. If the last one's english wasn't sufficient, why have him write a very important lor for you??

Many, if not all the programs, require a letter from a DPT. He was honestly the only option I had. The PTs at the hospital were native English speakers, but because I wasn't directly under them, they declined to write me a LoR.

I applied to several in-state, and several out of state. Instate included UCSF (bit hard) Western University and Chapman. Out of state I applied to Arcadia, URI, Uni of Washington, Drexel, Delaware, and Uni of Illinois. I felt the instate ones may have been easier to get in. Imagine the "oh crap" alarm going off in my head when they were the first ones to reject me.

 

[DPTHopeful2012]

I'd definitely make sure whoever writes your LOR will give you outstanding remarks. Unfortunate that a language barrier possibly might have possibly been 1 reason to a less than outstanding LOR, but I'd be sure to establish a positive working relationship w/PT's for next cycle. I didn't see the actual LOR that were written for me either, but all you can do is be as sure as possible that they will put the best marks for you.

The LOR are the most stressful part of the app, in my opinion, just because those are out of your control. But all you can do is be attentive, ask questions, be proactive during observational hours and hope they'll write good recs.

Also look into schools who have low GPA requirements.

For your essay, did you have it read by a professor or someone who is good at formal English? I'm not good at writing, but I had mine edited several times by other people. Biggest change was making it very specific and detailed yet succinct. I had a low GPA (2.99) in undergrad also, so I had to explain myself in my essay also. I spent 1 paragraph out of 6 explaining myself, but it didn't take away from the rest of my essay. I saw the essay as the 1 thing I could use to convince admissions committees I was a good candidate despite my low GPA.

 

[DPTHopeful2012]

Also, I remember reading that the state of CA is the most competitive state in which to apply just because of the # of applications received. I forget how to find the spreadsheet that shows exactly how many apps each school receives, it's probably on PTCAS somewhere. But maybe keep out of state schools as your best option.

 

[nicolej5]

Many, if not all the programs, require a letter from a DPT. He was honestly the only option I had. The PTs at the hospital were native English speakers, but because I wasn't directly under them, they declined to write me a LoR.

It isn't like it crept up on you, though. You probably could tell from the get go that his english was terrible and he was directly supervising you. I'm not trying to be nasty at all, please forgive me if that is the tone I am giving off. PT school is getting ultra competitive and we really need to find people who will write us awesome letters without a shadow of a doubt. Perhaps get a job as an aide, get a great pt lor and have people read your essay. You will be good to go next cycle.

 

[situational]

It isn't like it crept up on you, though. You probably could tell from the get go that his english was terrible and he was directly supervising you. I'm not trying to be nasty at all, please forgive me if that is the tone I am giving off. PT school is getting ultra competitive and we really need to find people who will write us awesome letters without a shadow of a doubt. Perhaps get a job as an aide, get a great pt lor and have people read your essay. You will be good to go next cycle.

No, I know you're not trying to be nasty. I came here for advice for improvement on my next application cycle and I'm receiving it.

It was my fault for having to get one from him in the end. In all honesty I was expecting to perhaps get one from one of the PTs working at the hospital; I had made friends with them, chatted with them during their breaks, and was allowed to watch what they did in the gym with the patients, and even was allowed to play a Wii game with one of the patients. However, because I was assigned mostly to the nurses on the floor and wasn't directly under the PTs, they felt it would be best if they didn't write me one. I talked to two DPTs, a bit too late in hindsight, for letters. When they declined, I had no choice but to ask the DPT I volunteered directly under.

 

[okramango]

I think you could really improve your application by retaking prereq courses at a cc and getting A's. You might also look into schools that only consider the last 60 units taken, if that helps your GPA. You could also try observing in some other settings. If your inpatient experience didn't make it to your application, then it looks on your application like you've only observed in one setting. Most schools want to see a variety of settings, especially inpatient, so you could do some more of that at a different location, such as an SNF or another hospital. You might also try a third setting in a unique place, such as aquatic, peds, cardio, sports, etc. That would also be a good opportunity to form more relationships with PTs, who may be future letter writers for you. Reapplicants often get into schools when they demonstrate the efforts they have made to improve their applications. These types of efforts show schools that the applicant is serious about pursuing PT. Good luck!