I worried that a low GRE would mean that I would struggle in PT school. I shouldn't have. I freak out on timed test. For those of you who might be thinking the same thing, I scored below 900 on the GRE, got waitlisted at my first choice school and was accepted last April. I just finished my first year with a 3.7 GPA!
Low GRE = Bad Grad Student, not
- Thread starter myzougrad
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Congrats, myzougrad! I think many ADCOMS know that the GRE is not, should not, nor will ever be the best indicator for success in graduate/professional programs. Only in extreme circumstances would a score on the GRE indicate that this student is exceptionally unprepared or exceptionally gifted(i.e. a 500 or a 1500+). As you stated, test anxiety is very real ,and it can adversely effect an individual who would otherwise be considered a good or excellent student
Did you find the coursework extremely challenging? Granted each program is structured differently, but how did you personally manage the coursework requirements during first year?
Did you find the coursework extremely challenging? Granted each program is structured differently, but how did you personally manage the coursework requirements during first year?
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Thanks for posting this, myzou! I feel that the GRE should merely be a component of an application, not a make or break choice.
However, sometimes I feel as though schools take one over the other (GPA vs. GRE) Example: if you have a low(er) GRE, have a high GPA to back it up and vice versa and then a middle ground. Just my line of thought, personally. Not sure how valid it is in the real world.
However, sometimes I feel as though schools take one over the other (GPA vs. GRE) Example: if you have a low(er) GRE, have a high GPA to back it up and vice versa and then a middle ground. Just my line of thought, personally. Not sure how valid it is in the real world.
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Thanks for the hope for those of us applying for 2012. Took the GRE today, had extended time accommodation. Took forever. Hard to sit that long. Think I did a fair job. Somehow I screwed up how to get the V/Q score while I was there. Now I have to wait. Thought they would print out my score for me. Also they said they are no longer doing school codes. I had to fill out forms for two that were not on their list. Confusing. Hope all 4 freebies get the score. Plan to retake the revised one in Aug. WTheck.
The OX,
My first year flew by. Eight hours last summer, 15 hours in the fall (I had taken one course as an undergrad so my load was 3 hours lighter) and 16 in the spring. I find that since I have always loved courses like Anaotmy I love the PT courses. My class size is 40, everyone is eager to learn and to help classmates. I am in my first clinical now and finally, I get to use some of my education to do what I was meant to do! This fall I'm scheduled for 18 credit hours. That could be a real challenge but my advice to anyone headed to a PT program is to study everyday, don't fall behind and enjoy it.
My first year flew by. Eight hours last summer, 15 hours in the fall (I had taken one course as an undergrad so my load was 3 hours lighter) and 16 in the spring. I find that since I have always loved courses like Anaotmy I love the PT courses. My class size is 40, everyone is eager to learn and to help classmates. I am in my first clinical now and finally, I get to use some of my education to do what I was meant to do! This fall I'm scheduled for 18 credit hours. That could be a real challenge but my advice to anyone headed to a PT program is to study everyday, don't fall behind and enjoy it.
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What program is that? (that doesn't require the GRE)
I agree that the GRE is not a good indicator of how well you do in PT school, but schools do want to see your aptitude during this time in your life and you should try to impress the admissions committee with your overall knowledge. Here is a little advice since I get nervous on timed tests too. The best solution for this problem is to take as many practice tests as you can. I took around twenty, and I was nervous for all of them (even at home). The GRE is a big part of the application process so try to practice as much as you can.
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I was thinking about this, and it would be interesting if DPT programs had a subject-based test like the LSAT, MCAT, DAT, or PCAT? As it stands, it seems that we are the only professional doctorate degree students that require at least a year of Anatomy and Physiology before you are accepted. Maybe something with a lot of A&P, along with the other basic sciences required for entry might be a better indicator. The test would also include some type of verbal section, because being able to write and communicate in an efficacious manner is underutilized and undervalued in academia.
My schools were in the Midwest and not highly ranked but still very competitive because there are only a few. I will have to mention my GPA was a 3.77 so that helped. As far as taking lots of practice tests, I did. But as soon as one question takes longer than I think it should I start worrying about time and pretty soon, all I can think of is how much time is left. I work hard for my grades and the GRE can't factor that into the score so I'm not a fan. Or maybe they could adopt a test that includes your aptitude for biological sciences instead of focusing on things that may or may not help you get through PT school. Doesn't that make more sense than the GRE?
University of Utah
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This topic comes up about once a year, and actually, there is some research behind the use of the GRE (as well as your undergrad GPA) as part of the selection process.
http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/87/9/1164.full
I would tend to agree with Ox in that the majority of ADCOMs understand the the GRE should be taken into consideration along with the rest of your application, rather than in isolation. They likely want you to succeed as much as you want to do well. They use the GRE score as a way to help them determine who may be less likely to struggle in PT school, not as a set in stone indicator that a good score means you will be an academic rock star and a poor one means you're doomed to be Kevin Federline...
By the way, there is also some data which shows the GRE to predictive of your performance on the NPTE...
http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/87/9/1181.full?sid=29f392b7-5455-43e1-ae64-cd042efe7c89
