In need of encouraging advice

[jmaile]

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Hi all! This is my first time posting after months of following this forum! So I have a lot on my mind about next year's round of applications because I'm pretty sure I won't be getting in this year seeing as how I'm waiting on one more school that's had me on the waitlist for 4 months now.

I was hoping some kind people would be willing to give me some encouraging advice to make me feel like I'm not wasting a bunch of time and money into making it to PT school.

So about myself:

According to PTCAS, I have a 3.0 science GPA, but that's due to them calculating an F I received in Chem and a D I got in Orgo (was previously a bio major and then switched to ex sci). I retook Chem and got a B+ and Orgo I never bothered to retake because it's not a prereq and the only sense in putting myself through that again would be to boost my grade up (this is where I need advice). Is it worth taking Orgo again? I have a C in Physiology (A&P were separate) and I'm currently retaking an integrated A&P course. The only other bad grades I have were in sciences courses that I consider irrelevant to PT (darn biology requirements).

I can't remember my GRE scores but I know my verbal was below average, math was above average and writing was a 4.0. Currently have a Magoosh subscription and plan on taking it at least once before the new cycle.

I have at least 1000 hours as an outpatient clinic aide, 31 hours at a nursing home, 26 hours at a traveling PT practice, and 126 hours at a different iutpatient clinic. I recently applied to do observation hours at a children's hospital. To those who have done observation at a hospital and went through the whole application process, should I freak out about not having a response for two days now? Should I call them and see what the deal is? the reason why I feel I need to know now is so I can move on and find other observational opportunities if they're not interested. I don't want to apply to too many places and get accepted in more than one and place myself in a complicated situation.

Sorry this is long. I'm feeling a little discouraged and even after planning as much as I can to improve my application for next year, I feel as though I won't get in again.

My ultimate dream school would be NYU so if anyone knows anything about getting into their program, advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[StarryNightSky]

It's great that you are thinking about how to improve for the next cycle! To me, it shows that you are determined to get into PT school.

You could boost your science GPA by retaking Orgo or other science classes.

As for observation hours at the children's hospital, it takes a while to get your application processed. I don't think volunteer coordinators will get back to people within a short time frame (unless the website indicates that you should call them first, then you get an immediate response). I personally would wait a week before calling the volunteer office (so the coordinators would have a chance to look at your application). I know that PT volunteering at many hospitals is hard to get in since there are many people who want to get inpatient patient experience (I heard of waiting lists for PT volunteering!).

I know that NYU is a great program. Plus it's in a great area! You can definitely improve your application!

 

[jmaile]

It's great that you are thinking about how to improve for the next cycle! To me, it shows that you are determined to get into PT school.

You could boost your science GPA by retaking Orgo or other science classes.

As for observation hours at the children's hospital, it takes a while to get your application processed. I don't think volunteer coordinators will get back to people within a short time frame (unless the website indicates that you should call them first, then you get an immediate response). I personally would wait a week before calling the volunteer office (so the coordinators would have a chance to look at your application). I know that PT volunteering at many hospitals is hard to get in since there are many people who want to get inpatient patient experience (I heard of waiting lists for PT volunteering!).

I know that NYU is a great program. Plus it's in a great area! You can definitely improve your application!

Thanks for your response!! 🙂. I definitely feel calmer about the volunteer application. I realize hospitals are very busy but I can be a very paranoid thinker! Its one of my weaknesses haha

 

[starrsgirl]

I had the identical situation. (C- in Chem 1, F in Orgo). I retook the chem just like you did. Then I just took a ton of math/science classes to boost my GPA. I did not take Orgo again....mostly because I needed to take as many classes at a time as possible for the grade boost (and I was worried about loading up with Orgo). Honestly, that C in A&P was probably a ding on your application. But you are retaking that! Do you have any other pre req Cs? If so, retake those too. Then squeeze in as many classes as you can! (I did all online classes for the GPA boost....you may be able to find some that start soon. Community colleges often have quarter systems. You could get two quarters in before the next cycle even opens).

 

[futuredpt01]

Hi Jmaile, if you don't end up getting in this cycle a great way to get feedback is to follow up with the program's you applied to and ask what your weaknesses were or areas that they felt there was room to improve. It's encouraging to see that your already looking for ways to better your app, that will be key during your interviews next cycle. As for the hospital volunteering yeah I remember the hospital didn't get back to me for a good 2 weeks I had to follow up numerous times, a lot of the volunteer coordinators are very unorganized. I would definitely consider retaking any pre req courses you scored below a B in which it seems like you already are doing. If ADCOMs claim that they feel your science GPA was too low then you may want to consider taking some upper level science courses to prove to them that you can handle the academic work load. I would also be sure that you've reached the "minimum" GRE score for the schools you apply to, some programs will not even look at your application if you score below it. It's clear that your passionate about becoming a PT so don't hold back on that personal statement, best of luck going forward!

 

[jmaile]

@starrsgirl, I will definitely consider taking online classes! I'm trying to do this hospital thing in the summer as that's the only extended period of time I can fit in volunteering at a hospital since they make you commit several weeks. I'm glad you can relate with the courses we took! Thanks for your help 🙂

@futuredpt01 I was actually thinking of contacting someone on admissions from different schools to explain my situation and see what they think! I'm glad many of you see my dedication but I have to get that across to the people on the admissions committee as well D:. Could you please elaborate on how looking to improve my application would be key to the interview process? :O

 

[TheDarkKnight14]

Could you please elaborate on how looking to improve my application would be key to the interview process? :O

Well...I'd guess that during interviews, they'd ask about how you improved from this cycle to the next. Although I suppose you do have to answer that question anyway with most, if not all, of the school supps on PTCAS.

 

[DesertPT]

I'd recommend reading the 3 or 4 other threads on this subject that have been posted in the last few weeks...this question is coming up a lot due to the time of year. Then search the forums and read all the advice that has been given in the past, there is quite a bit out there.

Getting into observe in hospitals can take a long time and involve jumping through a lot of hoops. Don't freak out.

What is your pre-req GPA? that is the more important number than science GPA generally.

The fact that you don't know your GRE score is a little concerning...if you truly just "forgot" it should be on your PTCAS, you can just go look at what it was. If you let us know we can advise you on whether it is really worth the effort for a re-take or not.

Generally poor pre-req GPA is the number 1 factor that will cause you to fail to be accepted to PT school. There are many factors that play in obviously, and you can read many opinions about all of them in the many threads on this subject, but the grades you receive in your pre-reqs are the most important of all of them. I often recommend that people calculate what they would have to do to get their PTCAS pre-req GPA to >3.6 (and target your applications to schools that use direct grade replacement for retakes, rather than averaging the two grades or some other method).

Finding out the best schools to apply to based on the strengths and weaknesses of your app is going to take a lot of research and is something you should plan to devote significant time to - once again, this has been addressed in other threads, including this most excellent one here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...plying-to-dpt-programs.1115591/#post-16061976).

Seriously read that thread. It will help you.

 

[SwampPT]

The only thing I would add would be to call NYU and set up a tour. Also try to schedule an appointment with the director or someone on the ADCOM and tell them your situation and ask them what you can do to become a strong candidate for them next cycle. Then DO everything they suggest and then some. When you get an interview next cycle you can report to them that you did everything they suggested and more. That will make you look good to them and show them how important THEIR program is to you.

 

[dancing_DPT]

I think the important thing to remember is even though the classes you did poorly in seem irrelevant to you, the schools you apply for look at the big picture and consider those classes with equal weight. Especially anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics. They look at it as an indicator of how you'll do in grad school.

It often seems like schools see incoming and prospective students as just dollar signs, but the school invests in the training of each of the students they accept, so they are careful to let in people who they are confident will succeed. So in short, a multifaceted approach will be the best way to improve your application for next cycle. Take replacement classes for all the Cs and below, study for the GRE and retake it and improve your score. And also, get into an in-patient setting for some observation hours. Lastly, be in close contact with the admissions people at the schools you really hope to get into next year, and follow any application or class advice they give you.