Is it worth it? Desperately need advice!!

[HopefulFuturePT]

---

Members do not see this ad.

.

 

[nicolej5]

the topic of "i will have so much debt is it worth it" has been discussed over and over and over on here. Do a search at the top. Even go to the physical therapy board they have a few threads. ultimately you're the one who has to decide if the debt is worth it to you. it sounds to me like you've already decided, you just want people to say what you've been thinking. one thing to consider...if you don't want to work under someone for the rest of your life, don't choose pa. With pt, you have the option of being your own boss via owning a clinic.

 

[HopefulFuturePT]

.

 

[qtran]

some things are just meant to be Hopefulfuturept. i'd say if u didnt get accepted this year by all 12 schools and you only have 1-2 classes to take and u already have ur observation hrs for PA(idk if observation hrs are required to apply?) then make the transition bc it wasn't in ur hands that the schools didnt accept u. but now that usp accepted u (and it is similar to drexel in location and tuition) then i'd say u already put alot of eggs in one basket to become a pt (i.e. application, gre, lor, prereq,observation) then backing out now would be a waste of alot of time and money. i can understand the idea that u might regret it later...but in reality we are adults now and life isnt going slowly like it did in hs and undergrad. i for one was willing to pay high $ to go to a pt school bc i wasnt going to waste a year of my life. hope it helps, just my opinion.

 

[HopefulFuturePT]

.

 

[nicolej5]

Or is it worth it to attend this school when maybe I can retake classes and hopefully get a better scholarship. I am also wondering if being a PA is better option because if you do get bored in one area you can switch. I know I threw a lot into my post so it's a lot to respond to. I just wonder if anyone else worries about the repetitiveness of being a therapist or maybe it doesn't seem that way when you're actually treating and not just watching.

I know PAs are essentially a first year resident for the rest of their careers but I'm not sure if this bothers me. I know some PAs can work without a physician on hand as long as they just are able to call and check in. However, if I want to work with an orthopedic surgeon I know that wouldn't be the case for me.



.

and if you don't get a scholarship?? Waiting a year to retake classes in hopes of getting a scholarship may set you up for failure. There aren't a terrible amount of scholarships for dpt students so don't just bank on that. As far as repetitiveness goes, it's not like you will get 10 people with a frozen shoulder come in in a row. There are variations in patient issues, etc. so I don't really buy the repetitiveness route. Each patient is so different so the same program won't work for everyone. Also, don't you think pa will get boring (just using the same logic...trying to be devils advocate)? Please correct me if i'm wrong, but a lot of the pa's that I've seen are in charge of taking blood pressure, temperature, patient history. Is that not repetitive? With dpt, there is room for salary advancement and continuing education and like I mentioned, a chance to own/co-own a clinic which = more $. Working under someone forever might not seem bad right now, but when you are 45 and an ornery old fart 😉 you ain't takin orders from no one!

 

[rockstudy]

How about going with your acceptance at USP for now ( paying the deposit etc) and in the meantime see if you can get some shadowing/volunteer hours for PA. This way you can compare the two professions first hand.

 

[111589]

I am a big advocate of pursuing things that you are passionate about and you do have a few options available to you, as you mentioned. However, it is very possible that your volunteer experience did not provide you with an accurate representation of the PT field that you may have experienced as a patient 7 years ago. It's normal to not be certain regarding your career, I mean it really is a big deal. And who's to say you will like being a PA more than a PT, what if the same thing happens? PT schools are becoming more sought after and competitive each year ( so congrats on your acceptance), though what happens for some odd reason in the event that you do not get in at all next cycle? For me, the key is being efficient with time and money while also being happy with your chosen profession. Of course that's easier said than done but I'm sure you'll make the right decision!

 

[Ambspt]

I've often had the same thoughts as you as far as PT seeming to be repetitive. Also, after applying to PT school last year and not being accepted anywhere I questioned if PT was really what I wanted. I also researched being a PA. There were many things that helped me to decide which route to take. One thing that changed my mind about going the PA route was the number of classes I would have to take to satisfy their prereqs. I wasn't willing to complete that many courses. Another was speaking with a PT who gave me her reasons as to why PA wouldn't be a career choice for and I agreed with those reasons. After speaking with my family, they made me realize that I would never be doubting PT if it wasn't for my rejections. I ultimately decided to apply to PT school again for the simple feeling I get whenever I step into a PT office, which is a sense of home. I feel like that's where I should be. Also, I've never heard a PT say I regret going to PT school and choosing this as my career.

You also mentioned PA being an option because if you get bored in one field you could switch to another. I would like to point out you have that same option with PT. If you get bored with inpatient, you could switch to outpatient or acute care. There are various fields within PT as well. Ultimately you have to decide what's best for you. I would suggest talking with some PAs and shadowing them if possible to see if that's something you would like. And you also showed interest in participating in surgeries. Although she wasn't able to partcipate, I know a PT who was able to watch many of her patients surgeries before treating them. So although you can't participate, you can still be apart of the surgeries if you choose PT.

 

[HopefulFuturePT]

.

 

[PThopeful89]

This forum is awesome. I wish I had discovered it sooner in my application process. You all are very helpful and encouraging to the posters.

Here's my thoughts on applying to PA schools (and this comes from a friend/co-worker, who is a PT Tech I work with, who wants to be a PA):
-harder pre-reqs.
-more hours of patient contact (~1000)
-much more rigorous interview process
-overall more difficult to get into than PT schools

And for the repetitiveness I think as others have mentioned you can go from outpatient to sports medicine to pediatrics to geriatrics to etc. etc. Also, working as a tech I have a much greater appreciation for what a PT is presented with at an initial evaluation (multiple injuries/deficits which may complicate things or perhaps a direct access patient) and how the PT then approaches the rest of the treatment/rehabilitation process. In my opinion it is much more exciting to work as a PT than to observe a PT.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[HopefulFuturePT]

.

 

[NewTestament]

Ultimately it depends on what you really want to do. If you find PT boring and can't see yourself doing it, then take an extra two years and become a PA. Your decision depends on your situation now: work status, living arrangement, current level of income. Are you miserable in your job? Are you living at home? If you're ready to move on with your life, then go to USP and start this fall. If you're content with your lifestyle right now, take the time and pursue what you really want.

Keep in mind, as other posters have written here, that there are many varieties of PT: geriatrics, sports, pediatrics, acute care, etc. You can specialize wherever you want. There are even fellowships for PTs after they graduate and work for 1000 hours. It's a versatile field, and you'll only get bored if you allow yourself to get bored. Outpatient orthopedics isn't for everyone, and it's certainly not the only setting in PT. You don't have to do orthopedics, which personally, I find kind of dry myself.

The PA application cycle is definitely harder, but that's not to say PT school is easy to get into. It gets harder every year. If it were easy, then this forum wouldn't exist. Having said that, if you can get into a few PT schools, then you'd probably be able to get into or two PA schools if you retook a couple classes. But PA school requires at least 500 observation hours, the pre-requisites include biochemistry, microbiology, and sometimes even genetics. Fortunately for PA applicants, they don't need to take physics.

Every field and every profession is repetitive. That's how you build expertise, skill, and efficiency. If every day were completely different, you'd never be proficient. Every profession is also going to have monotonous moments, such as paperwork.

I doubt you would be much happier as a PA than as a PT, based on what you're telling me. Take your acceptance, and go to PT school. You earned it.

Kevin

 

[HopefulFuturePT]

.

 

[flyingsquirrel]

I am having a difficult time deciding what to do and I am hoping for some advice. I apologize if this is not the right place, but I am so beyond stressed and so lost. I also apologize for the lengthy message, but please bear with me!

I have always thought that physical therapy is what I wanted to do. I broke my leg 7 years ago and after having to go through physical therapy, myself, I knew I wanted to be the person that helped and encouraged patients through the process.

Fast forward to this past summer when I volunteered at a physical therapy clinic. Being there everyday observing the therapist stretch patients, give an exercise, wait, stretch, massage, exercise, etc. I started wondering to myself, "Will I get bored of this?" It seemed so repetitive and I started worrying that what I had planned so long to do, maybe wasn't for me after all. I am still passionate about the field and I picture myself working with children or athletes if I do become a physical therapist, however, I know these are two sought after specialties of the career. I am not sure if it's realistic for me to believe I can get a job in either of these areas right away.

Fast forward again to the application process. Like a lot of people, I had a bad start my freshman year. I lost one of my best friends and my grades suffered. This impacted my gpa and I have been working to bring it up ever since. I applied to 13 schools because of my low gpa and Drexel was my top choice due to the program's length, their specialty in pediatrics, and its location. Not only did I get denied from Drexel, but I started getting rejection after rejection.

I realized I would probably need to apply again next year after retaking a few classes to improve my prereq gpa. I also started looking into other health care careers. I stumbled upon physician assistant and it piqued my interest. The idea of working with an orthopedic surgeon and helping out with surgeries excited me. When I discovered that PA's make quite a bit more than PT's and require less schooling it sounded even better.

I got the mindset that I would retake classes and apply to both programs next year. And then came an interview offer from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. I was shocked and excited and I ended up being accepted to the program. Ecstatic that I have the option of going, I am still wondering if it's worth it?

I am worried about the amount of debt attending this school would give me, and with a PT salary I am worried I won't be able to live comfortably paying back these loans on top of my undergraduate loans. I am also disappointed that I won't be at Drexel. I am stuck debating a number of things:

1) Should I be happy that even this program has accepted me and stick with PT and attend USP?
2) Should I wait and apply next year after improving my stats and attend the school that I've dream of going to?
3) Should I wait and take the necessary classes to go for PA, which I also think I'd really enjoy, and end up with a better salary?

I know, ultimately, I have to do whichever one I'm the most passionate about, but I'm just not sure. I am hoping for any opinions and advice.

If you have even taken the time to read this long drawn out story and thought process, thank you!

Being an aide also made be think twice about being a PT.

I see what PTs have to go through each day, and sometimes it is GRUELING...

I'm talking about you have patients every 30 mins, back to back. There is no time in between each. You have to do your paperwork at the same time of the appointment IF your lucky. You normally have hour evaluations but only for those with spinal disorders. A lot of the time the PTs are backed with patients and there is a 10-15 min push back throughout all the patients towards the end of the day.

Then of course there are those patients that are post-op WHICH you can't deny seeing but have weird schedules forcing you to come in early at 7 or 8, but your normal schedule doesn't come in until 9 and ends at 5. Your paid salary most likely, so you don't get OT for any of that. In peak times, you won't even have time to pee.

Then after your done with your 8-5pm of patients... you still have to go home and do perhaps an hour or hour and a half of paperwork or perhaps some paperwork you didn't get a chance to do from the previous day.

So its is very much, get you in...get you out. Of course if your a good therapist (you have great customer service) it all looks great from the patient's end of things. Which is why a lot of even our own patients wish to become therapist one day. However, they don't see the hardships that we have to endure.

Working as an aide, I see the main thing that motivates me to become a PT, is if your really interested in what your doing and who your doing it to.

When it comes to healthcare, everyone is selfish (like how people are to their own child), and they will eat up your goodwill until you have nothing left to give. That includes your boss, and your patients. It is no wonder that there are frequent protests in hospitals by healthcare workers.

Again, there are good things about being a PT. Do you have a odd combination of finding satisfaction in teaching about helping the physical human body and working with the human body? If you do, stay in PT. Otherwise, there are far more lucrative areas in the world for far less "work."

 

[HopefulFuturePT]

.