med student to DPT

[TheRookieYear]

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So I have done a pretty thorough search of the forums, but have not found anything relative. If you know of a post that I missed, I would love the direction.

I have just recently withdrawn from DO school, which I have attended just shy of a year. Going through the process, working with the docs and taking the courses, I have come to the conclusion that medicine is not my passion. I am choosing to apply to a DPT program instead, because I think it will be a fantastic fit for my skill set and passion for treating people with my hands and with exercise.
The problem is that I do not know how this will effect my PT applications. Before attending DO school, I would have had a fairly competitive application. I graduated in 2012 with a BS in athletic training, 3.5 GPA and 3.7 in my major. I have extensive clinical work in both PT and AT clinics. I take the GRE this june, so those scores are still up in the air.
In DO school my grades were pretty mediocre, nothing super fantastic. I did have a failure (in neuro, the hardest class of first year by far). I withdrew, was not kicked out.

I plan on addressing my decision making on changing careers and my whole medical school process, but my question is how will this effect my overall chances of admittance? I am very interested in the 2 Colorado schools (Regis and University of Colorado), but I will apply diversely as well.

 

[Azimuthal]

You could have just sailed by med school and went PM&R?

As long as you can explain your situation, I believe you have a good chance. Most schools only look at your undergrad and prerequisite grades. Be sure to have a good explanation during interviews. I think ATC's make great PTs.

Just an FYI, you'll be revisiting neuro science and then the neuro therapy series, which is 2 years of neuro combined at my school. The level of intensity and amount of information delivered are comparable to med schools.

 

[Myosin]

I have come to the conclusion that medicine is not my passion. I am choosing to apply to a DPT program instead, because I think it will be a fantastic fit for my skill set and passion for treating people with my hands and with exercise.

I'm not trying to be mean or sarcastic, but is this code for "It was too hard and I couldn't be bothered to study"

If so, then you're not gonna just magically click with PT. You have to work extremely hard in that program too, except you also get the added benefit of getting less starting pay a DO gets.



To answer your question, I doubt it will affect your PT application. Your med school grades won't be factored in and as long as you just say "It wasn't my passion", then people will understand and respect that and usually leave it at that in interviews.

 

[NewTestament]

Your story will help you get into DPT school. You tried DO school and found out you didn't like it, but at the same time realized that PT is your passion. That's a great story and schools are looking for students who are genuinely interested and passionate about PT.

Be honest about your experience at DO school. Tell them you didn't have enthusiasm for what you were studying. They won't care (and won't even know) what your grades were. You don't have to report that on PTCAS. Even if your grades were mediocre, that's okay because getting A's in med school or PT school is almost impossible. My classmates and I are happy with C+'s and B's.

If you can get into DO school, I'm sure you can get into PT school. All you need now is observation hours (in two or three different settings) and a couple LOR's from PT's.

Kevin

 

[NewTestament]

I'm not trying to be mean or sarcastic, but is this code for "It was too hard and I couldn't be bothered to study"
.

I think he's saying it was too hard because he wasn't interested in the material, not because it was too hard to learn. I'm sure I am perfectly capable of learning O-Chem, but I have absolutely no desire to learn it, so I would probably fail.

Kevin

 

[nomattic]

I can't comment on the transition between DO and PT school, however, I'm a CO resident who just completed the application and interview processes at Regis and CU. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. As you'll find, there are very few CO residents lurking on these boards.

 

[TheRookieYear]

You could have just sailed by med school and went PM&R?
Just an FYI, you'll be revisiting neuro science and then the neuro therapy series, which is 2 years of neuro combined at my school. The level of intensity and amount of information delivered are comparable to med schools.

PM&R was the original goal. Unfortunately as time goes on they are becoming more and more like pain management docs instead of true physiatrist. And also at the medical school I attended neuro was lumped together with head and neck anatomy. It was excessively too much information at once with the combo. The actual neuro information I felt fairly competent in.

I'm not trying to be mean or sarcastic, but is this code for "It was too hard and I couldn't be bothered to study" .

That is a valid question, because I think that exact situation occurs a lot more than it should. Truthfully I was pretty miserable the whole time in school. I worked extremely hard and studied the material, but I was consistently hating what I was doing. I know that PT is no walk in the roses, I am just looking forward actually enjoying my work, no matter how hard it is.

I think he's saying it was too hard because he wasn't interested in the material, not because it was too hard to learn. I'm sure I am perfectly capable of learning O-Chem, but I have absolutely no desire to learn it, so I would probably fail.

You hit the nail on the head. It is hard to excel in something your heart isnt in. Also "she" 🙂


I plan on speaking to my experience in medical school and my decision to make the career switch in my personal statement. Talk about my experiences working under PTs and my experiences working with physicians and how they shaped my decision. Any comments on this? I feel that it will speak to my personal awareness of my personal goals.

 

[ptisfun2]

So I have done a pretty thorough search of the forums, but have not found anything relative. If you know of a post that I missed, I would love the direction.

I have just recently withdrawn from DO school, which I have attended just shy of a year. Going through the process, working with the docs and taking the courses, I have come to the conclusion that medicine is not my passion. I am choosing to apply to a DPT program instead, because I think it will be a fantastic fit for my skill set and passion for treating people with my hands and with exercise.
The problem is that I do not know how this will effect my PT applications. Before attending DO school, I would have had a fairly competitive application. I graduated in 2012 with a BS in athletic training, 3.5 GPA and 3.7 in my major. I have extensive clinical work in both PT and AT clinics. I take the GRE this june, so those scores are still up in the air.
In DO school my grades were pretty mediocre, nothing super fantastic. I did have a failure (in neuro, the hardest class of first year by far). I withdrew, was not kicked out.

I plan on addressing my decision making on changing careers and my whole medical school process, but my question is how will this effect my overall chances of admittance? I am very interested in the 2 Colorado schools (Regis and University of Colorado), but I will apply diversely as well.

Your grades at your DO school will be calculated as part of your overall GPA...probably. Contact the schools you are interested in. I know we would, but I am not at a CO school.