International Student Applying for DPT - GPA Situation

[BeefyLilTank]

I'm an international student looking to apply for a DPT program. I did my education in Canada, but recently moved to the States to work.

I have a strong background in physical therapy. I worked in a clinic for a year as an admin. I also logged over 500 hours of volunteer experience. I'm dead set on PT as my career choice. I'm somewhat concerned about my GPA, however.

My first couple years of school were horrible, I wasn't dedicated at all so my marks are low. But as I became more committed, my marks jumped upwards of 20 - 30%. Sadly, all my pre-reqs were in the first year, so my pre-req average is going to be low. But my last 60 credit units are much higher.

I'm hoping someone can offer me some insight into my situation. Will schools immediately put my application in the "no" pile cause of my low GPA? Even though there is a question on the PTCAS that asks about your academic history, and if it reflects your potential.

I believe I have a strong application with my GRE (160 Qual 155 Quan, 4.0 Analytical), lots of volunteer experience. Worked in the health industry as a exercise physiologist and corrective exercise specialist. Just not the GPA

Blah, I'm just rambling now. Hoping someone can offer me some insight

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[okramango]

If your overall GPA meets the minimum requirements (usually 3.0 but sometimes 2.8 for some schools), then it doesn't hurt to just try applying. However, retaking any prereqs that you received a C or lower in, and getting As in them, would really help your application. Many schools consider the prereq GPA to be more important than the overall GPA. Schools also tend to notice if people put this kind of effort to raising the GPA, as it shows dedication. Besides your GPA, your stats look pretty good. If you are really set on becoming a PT, it will be worth your time to retake classes and boost your application.

 

[BeefyLilTank]

If your overall GPA meets the minimum requirements (usually 3.0 but sometimes 2.8 for some schools), then it doesn't hurt to just try applying. However, retaking any prereqs that you received a C or lower in, and getting As in them, would really help your application. Many schools consider the prereq GPA to be more important than the overall GPA. Schools also tend to notice if people put this kind of effort to raising the GPA, as it shows dedication. Besides your GPA, your stats look pretty good. If you are really set on becoming a PT, it will be worth your time to retake classes and boost your application.

Thanks for the advice, bud. Really appreciate it. I'm currently living in the States (working on a H1B visa) and not sure what the best way to retake classes is. Should I look into a continuing education program, or something that offers "adult" classes?

 

[Junta87]

I would apply, and if you're not accepted consider re-taking the prereq's at a community college. It is also worth mentioning that PTCAS does not factor Canadian transcripts in your GPA. I went to a canadian university for two years (before transferring to a school in the US), and my canadian grades were not factored in.

 

[BeefyLilTank]

I would apply, and if you're not accepted consider re-taking the prereq's at a community college. It is also worth mentioning that PTCAS does not factor Canadian transcripts in your GPA. I went to a canadian university for two years (before transferring to a school in the US), and my canadian grades were not factored in.

Interesting. So does each school look at my grads and decide that way?

And I'm already exploring the idea of redoing my pre-reqs.

 

[okramango]

Thanks for the advice, bud. Really appreciate it. I'm currently living in the States (working on a H1B visa) and not sure what the best way to retake classes is. Should I look into a continuing education program, or something that offers "adult" classes?

A community college is a good place to retake your prereqs. Since I didn't decide to go into PT until after getting my Bachelor's, I did almost all of my prereqs at a community college.

 

[Outdoors]

Gonna chime in as I did my undergrad at UBC....many of the canadian pre-reqs are not equivalent, I have spent COUNTLESS hours on the phone/through email/etc explaining to schools why a 3 credit canadian anatomy course(4 cred doesnt exist) is more rigorous than a 4 credit anatomy course at a CC. Also the grading scale difference doesnt really help, they dont really consider that the average grade in a math course is 56%....yeah how can that compare to a 91% in a CC math?

Its unfair, but its a much different system, Im from the states and just took all my pre-reqs at a local CC, a year later and a couple thousand dollars later I now "look" competitive...