How does my application look and how can I improve it?

[PtHopeful_2016]

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Hi everyone! I am wondering how my application looks and what else I can do to improve my chances. I also was wondering if I had a chance at a top 10 PT school. Please review my "application" and let me know what else I could do to improve my chances of getting into PT school! 🙂

I am currently a Junior majoring in Exercise Science at a 4-year institution. My overall undergraduate GPA is 3.92. My Pre-Rec GPA so far is a 4.0. The only pre-rec's I still need to take is my second semester of Chemistry and a full year of Physics, and a second Biology course (also potentially Calculus). I can definitely see myself getting A-'s in Physics and B+ or A- in a second Bio course.

I am a student-athlete participating at the Division III level. I work as a personal trainer during the school year as well. I have 100 hours of shadowing. I have shadowed at a nursing home, hospital, and outpatient setting.


I have not taken the GRE and fear that I will not do that well on it. I have always been subpar at standardized testing (ex. ACT and SAT). Does it help to study for the test?

Thanks everyone for taking your time to read this forum and please give me feedback!

 

[starrsgirl]

Sign up for a GRE course ASAP if you think you might have trouble. Take the test soonish so you know where you stand and you leave plenty of time for retakes (I'm assuming you are applying in the 2015 cycle). Your GPA is obviously fine but you still have a lot of outstanding pre reqs, so it's an incomplete picture. But sounds like you have already taken A&P, right? (A&P and physics are pretty important in my mind)

As for "top 10", PT school applications work very differently than applying to a "top 10" undergrad program. In undergrad, you literally have to be #1 across the board to get to a Harvard or whatever. It would completely depend on which PT schools you are applying to and what they look at for application requirements. (For instance, one might have a minimum GRE....or one might require more hours). So choose your desired schools first, and then go after their specific requirements. They vary greatly. Also, cost is a big factor here....some of the "top 10" PT schools are very expensive. There are plenty of posts out there on PT school cost. (One more point, PT school ratings are known to be fairly arbitrary....one faculty member told me it's just an opinion poll they send around every year. It's not a rigorous rack and stack like the undergrad school rankings. I wouldn't put too much into that. You just need to pass your boards.)

 

[PtHopeful_2016]

Sign up for a GRE course ASAP if you think you might have trouble. Take the test soonish so you know where you stand and you leave plenty of time for retakes (I'm assuming you are applying in the 2015 cycle). Your GPA is obviously fine but you still have a lot of outstanding pre reqs, so it's an incomplete picture. But sounds like you have already taken A&P, right? (A&P and physics are pretty important in my mind)

As for "top 10", PT school applications work very differently than applying to a "top 10" undergrad program. In undergrad, you literally have to be #1 across the board to get to a Harvard or whatever. It would completely depend on which PT schools you are applying to and what they look at for application requirements. (For instance, one might have a minimum GRE....or one might require more hours). So choose your desired schools first, and then go after their specific requirements. They vary greatly. Also, cost is a big factor here....some of the "top 10" PT schools are very expensive. There are plenty of posts out there on PT school cost. (One more point, PT school ratings are known to be fairly arbitrary....one faculty member told me it's just an opinion poll they send around every year. It's not a rigorous rack and stack like the undergrad school rankings. I wouldn't put too much into that. You just need to pass your boards.)

Thanks for your response. I guess my question would by why would I spend all of the money to go to a "Top" or expensive physical therapy program??

 

[CalvinPT]

Doesn't this seem a bit premature? Its hard to evaluate your chances without having taken all of these courses. I would put the GRE out of my mind and focus on doing well on the pre-requisites. Its more important anyway and the GRE can easily be retaken. I also wouldn't go for top 10. Look for top affordable schools. I don't think PTs can realistically afford Top 10, and you'll find a job anyway. I have a 3.9 GPA (pre-req and total), my GRE is nothing amazing, and my top choice is Hunter College. A good reputation and super cheap.

 

[starrsgirl]

Thanks for your response. I guess my question would by why would I spend all of the money to go to a "Top" or expensive physical therapy program??

??? I'm not sure what you are asking. In your original post, you wanted to know if you had a chance to get in a top 10 school. My point was that the top 10 rating isn't worth much and you SHOULD look at cost saving options. I don't know why some people get crazy over them.

CalvinPT, I recommended the OP take the GRE very soon as he/she is a junior in school. That means there is only 1 real school semester left before they could apply (assuming you are sending your application to PTCAS in July of 2015). So, if you know you might have trouble with the GRE, sign up now so you can at least do 1-2 retakes before the summer. And if you sign up now, you could get in a Spring semester GRE course.

 

[CalvinPT]

I guess it depends on the deadline you're working on. If you until October or November the summer is a perfect time to study for and take the GRE... 1 or 2 retakes *shiver*

 

[DesertPT]

why would I spend all of the money to go to a "Top" or expensive physical therapy program??

Because you didn't get in to a cheaper school.

 

[DesertPT]

And your application looks just fine by the way. Just keep doing what you are doing and you will be all set. Maybe try to set up one more observation experience and pick up a few more hours next semester. And kill that GRE. 🙂

Everything @starrsgirl has said is excellent and I totally agree. You're clearly someone who is an A student, so I doubt that is going to change.

 

[PtHopeful_2016]

??? I'm not sure what you are asking. In your original post, you wanted to know if you had a chance to get in a top 10 school. My point was that the top 10 rating isn't worth much and you SHOULD look at cost saving options. I don't know why some people get crazy over them.

CalvinPT, I recommended the OP take the GRE very soon as he/she is a junior in school. That means there is only 1 real school semester left before they could apply (assuming you are sending your application to PTCAS in July of 2015). So, if you know you might have trouble with the GRE, sign up now so you can at least do 1-2 retakes before the summer. And if you sign up now, you could get in a Spring semester GRE course.

Thanks for the response. I first wanted to know if I had a chance of getting into a top 10 PT school and then wanted to know why I would even go to one. Sorry for the confusion (I am new to this site).

So I am a junior and going apply to PT schools this summer. Do PT schools look at Senior year fall and senior year spring grades? I will take Physics I in fall and Physics II in the Spring. I will also take my second bio senior Spring. Do you know how that all works?

 

[starrsgirl]

It depends when you apply and when the school application deadlines are (they vary). The schools I applied to did not look at either fall or spring grades before making interview decisions. That can be a big deal if you are short on pre reqs or need the gpa boost. (Some schools might not review until jan/feb though so fall grades would be in). Research the schools!

 

[PtHopeful_2016]

It depends when you apply and when the school application deadlines are (they vary). The schools I applied to did not look at either fall or spring grades before making interview decisions. That can be a big deal if you are short on pre reqs or need the gpa boost. (Some schools might not review until jan/feb though so fall grades would be in). Research the schools!

When you said "That can be a big deal if you are short on pre reqs", does that mean since I have not taken my 8 credits of Physics and my Gen. Biology 2, that that will hurt me? Like will they not even accept my application for the cycle? Or could it help me since I have a 4.0 in all of my other pre-reqs and can can only go downhill with Physics 🙂. Sorry for asking all these questions. My advisor knows/does nothing for Pre-PT students.

 

[CBAforPT]

PT schools usually review your application BEFORE your senior fall and spring grades are out. Almost all schools just require you to have the majority of your pre reqs done by the time you apply (usually about 70-75% of them) and will allow you to have 2 or 3 outstanding classes. However a few schools will only let you have certain pre-reqs outstanding when you apply (for example the University of Utah requires you to finish physics, chemistry, and A&P before applying, but will allow you to apply before you finish statistics and psychology). That being said, pre-req grades are often an important part of the admission process so it is best to finish as many as possible before applying.

I would recommend that you at least finish Chem II and Physics I before applying so that you only have 2 outstanding pre-reqs. Try and take them this spring or summer. If that is not possible you probably can apply, but you should make sure and look at the pre-req requirements of the schools you are interested in. Your grades are good enough that schools are likely to not care as much about whether you have finished all the pre reqs.

 

[starrsgirl]

Agree, it depends on the school but I recommend having at least 1 physics done and all of A&P done before applying. You should be ok applying without Gen Bio 2 complete.

 

[Carson Ranger]

FWIW I received 3 acceptances (NU, UIC, Jefferson) without any A&P grades.
(I chose to complete A&P last so it would be freshest in my mind going into PT school.)
UTah was the only school I saw that required ALL pre-reqs to be complete before applying.
I'm going to ask them to re-review my app in April just to see what happens.

 

[DesertPT]

FWIW I received 3 acceptances (NU, UIC, Jefferson) without any A&P grades.
(I chose to complete A&P last so it would be freshest in my mind going into PT school.)
UTah was the only school I saw that required ALL pre-reqs to be complete before applying.
I'm going to ask them to re-review my app in April just to see what happens.

Utah is just an annoying school to apply to in pretty much every way. I was going to apply there but am not as brave as you and I chickened out...