I started physical therapy school back in May. Strictly looking at the FIRST YEAR, I would agree with the 60-hour week. Speaking with 2nd and 3rd year students in my program, the consensus is that the amount of time spent studying outside of class decreases as you progress through PT school. There are a number of variables that are going to alter each person's physical therapy school experience such as:
- Curriculum
- Time management
- Ability to absorb information
- Educational background
- Desired grade/level of understanding
The first two semesters of my school's curriculum has foundational classes such as gross anatomy, neuroscience, musculoskeletal physical therapy, and functional anatomy. There are several other classes taken in the first two semesters, but I consider these the most important classes and ones that require a greater degree of study time. In-class lecture/lab time averages about 25 hours per week and I spend about 4-5 hours per day of studying outside of class, this includes weekends. The majority of the folks in my cohort also average about the same amount of study time outside of class.
Beyond the type of classes taken in the first two semesters, I think the biggest determinant in how much time you are dedicating to PT school is the desired grade you want to achieve or your desired level of understanding. I mention level of understanding because some PT schools do not use a grading scale, but simply a pass/fail system. For myself, I demand mastery of concepts. I could spend 10-15 hours less time studying and still pass my courses, but I didn't go to PT school just to pass.
The original question was life of a FIRST YEAR. Speaking from my own experience and that of others in my program, to include 2nd and 3rd year students, you are going to spend a great deal of time studying in that first year. For most students, you are being exposed to new concepts that are going to challenge you to critically think and require you to use more than just rote memorization. The amount of studying required decreases as you progress through the program simply because the information presented is not as foreign as what it was when you first started. With all that being said, even spending 50-60 hours per week studying you still have time to do things outside of school. Personally, I still manage to find time to work out everyday, spend time with my girlfriend/family, relax, and occasionally write a novel of a response on this forum.
