Master's then DPT?

[turtlot]

Hey all!
I'm curious how many of y'all have/are in a master's program and then applied/got into PT school. I'd like to know if the experience was beneficial in shaping you and preparing you for PT school.

It's my first year applying to PT programs and I've been looking at my other options because getting into PT school is extremely competitive. I'm most interested in applying to a master's in kinesiology with an emphasis on motor neuroscience. Part of my goals after/while in PT school, I would like to research and possibly teach in the future. Unfortunately, I do not have any research experience, but I am a volunteer with the ALS Association and have loved every minute of it.

Do you think a master's program helps and would you recommend I do a master's then PT school?
Thanks so much! 🙂

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[Azimuthal]

Go straight to PT school.

 

[starrsgirl]

I got a masters before PT school. No, I personally don't think it helps at all in the admissions process EXCEPT maybe if you were neck and neck with someone for the last slot but equal in everything else then maybe they would consider that. If your grades are weak, you need to redo the pre reqs and get straight As. Maybe even take some upper level undergrad science courses. In my case, after getting the masters in kinesiology (4.0 GPA), I still had to go back to community college for a year to take pre reqs. That made all the difference and I got in the second time applying.

Now that I'm in PT school, yes, I do have a slight advantage in some of the classes because of my background. I can sit back and relax and not study too much for class here and there, but that's about it. If you are serious about PT school, just go after that. Don't waste your time and money. (To clarify, in my case I did my masters just for my own interest and finished it a few years before I even considered PT school....so I did not do it specifically for school. But it didn't help in my first round of admissions.)

One other option to consider is to go into the Masters program with the idea of going for a phd in research instead. That is an option at some schools and a somewhat different route that may be enjoyable.

 

[PTX2]

There are also dual degree programs that offer a DPT and PhD. For example, University of Delaware has a DPT/PhD in Biomechanics. Guaranteed financial aid for the latter end of the program.

If truly interested in teaching I believe a PhD is the way to go anyways. Plus, you can do independent research (as opposed to just having an M.S.)