Need help on improving my PTCAS app for 2025-2026 Cycle!

[YoungoldDPT]

Hey everyone,

I'm reaching out for some advice on beefing up my PTCAS application for the summer 2025 cycle. Here’s where I stand:

My stats:

• Cumulative GPA: 3.47
• Science Prerequisites GPA: 3.65 – 3.75
• GRE Score: 157/153/3.5 (Planning to retake for a better AW score)
• Observation Hours in various settings like skilled nursing, outpatient orthopedic clinic, inpatient and outpatient rehab at a VA hospital, and pediatric rehab clinic
• Diverse experiences including volunteering as a Karate Instructor with kids with different disabilities, with a Peds Dance Class with an OT, and extensive involvement in health science community outreach and international study on refugee health

What I'm working on to strengthen my application:

1. Retaking the GRE (To improve my AW score and my scores overall)
   1. Any tips on taking the GRE? I Hate this test.
2. Working part-time as a PT Tech
3. Becoming a Teaching assistant for Human Anatomy Lab
4. Planning to gain more observation hours in settings like aquatic PT and wellness programs
5. Need help with crafting a killer Personal Statement – any tips?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my application and any tips you might have for areas where I could improve. Thanks yall!

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[2024dpt]

1. Your GRE is already good enough. Don't bother spending money on it more.

2 and 3 will help you. I would recommend getting a pt tech job and doing a TA at the same time if you can so you can make some coins before the program start. That will help you.

4. You don't need that much variety. It seems like you already have a ton of it.

5. Use your school resource such as a writing center, etc. If I were you, I would start crafting an essay with the unique experiences you had such as a Karate instructor. You might want to relate your experience with "why do you wanted to become a physical therapist?"


You'll be okay. I had 4.0 GPA and no GRE score with one small research project and 100 hrs outpatient volunteer experience only. I applied 8 schools and only got into 2 schools. I was waitliste from other 6 schools. GPA is not everything and you're doing great.

 

[YoungoldDPT]

1. Your GRE is already good enough. Don't bother spending money on it more.

2 and 3 will help you. I would recommend getting a pt tech job and doing a TA at the same time if you can so you can make some coins before the program start. That will help you.

4. You don't need that much variety. It seems like you already have a ton of it.

5. Use your school resource such as a writing center, etc. If I were you, I would start crafting an essay with the unique experiences you had such as a Karate instructor. You might want to relate your experience with "why do you wanted to become a physical therapist?"


You'll be okay. I had 4.0 GPA and no GRE score with one small research project and 100 hrs outpatient volunteer experience only. I applied 8 schools and only got into 2 schools. I was waitliste from other 6 schools. GPA is not everything and you're doing great.

Thank you so much for your help! Like you I was thinking applying to 8 schools but that is veeeery expensive. Thanks again and congratulations on starting your dpt journey =)

 

[JMarcusDPT]

Your stats look good! Definitely focus your essay around experiences such as karate and the dance class and the study, but don't gear it towards, "Why do you want to become a PT?" because that is not what the prompt is asking. It's asking about how the traits you've gained from your unique experiences will help you be a great PT. It's important to make sure you're answering the prompt properly. I often work with people applying the second time around who have been told that part of why they weren't accepted the first time is that they didn't answer the prompt correctly.

 

[DSDPT2022]

You should get in, don't sweat your stats. Create a unique essay that sets you apart and highlights the why behind you wanting to become a physical therapist.