New student to pre-physical therapy...advice please?

[Lacey203]

I have recently started volunteering with a local PT and I have decided that I most likely want to eventually get a DPT. I am going into my spring semester of freshman year, and I'm sort of confused about some of the requirements for some DPT programs (I know it is a little early to be thinking about it, but I don't want to play catch up later!)

1) Most of the programs I'm interested in do not require Organic Chemistry. However, will it be a negative on my application if I don't take this class? I feel like it is essential for a lot of medical professions. I plan on taking some biochemistry classes in the place of it.

2) A lot of the pre-reqs listed are very unclear. For example, NYU simply lists "Biology I and Biology II" but doesn't state what level biology classes or from what category. Any advice for this?

3) During the application process, do you list your pre-req classes for each school? For example, I'm going to take multiple biology and psychology classes but do I choose which one's go towards the pre-req GPA?

I know these questions are probably very basic, but I've been doing research and can't seem to find the answers to these. I really appreciate any input!

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[johncronejr]

1) If the program/s you are applying to don't require a certain class, you have little to gain by taking such a class. The only reason you may want to do such later is if you wish to raise your science GPA in the event that it is low. The schools set their pre-req's for the program and that is what they expect, no more and no less. Don't overthink this.

2) Biology I and II are clearly marked in course catalogs for most universities. These are generally freshman level classes such as BIOL 1410 and 1420. Again, don't overthink this. If the school wanted you to take Invertebrate Biology I and II, that is what they would have listed.

3) When you fill out your PTCAS application, you will have to list EVERY class you have taken. This includes any classes you may retake for grade forgiveness, academic clemency, etc.... It would behoove you to do your best the first time you take the class because a bad grade will bring your GPA average down for that class even if you make an "A" the second time.

The process is fairly simple. Meet with your Pre-PT advisor and get a check sheet for the degree. At my university, the advisor goes over the check sheet before you register for the upcoming semester. It is important to ask questions and stay abreast of your requirements as well in the event that the advisor makes a mistake. Aside from classes, I would suggest that you meet you work on your observation hours requirements a bit at a time rather than trying to squeeze them all in at the end. Also, study for the GRE and score as well as you can.Don't over-think or overanalyze things, just follow the plan that is laid forth by the department.They are not looking to trip you up. Relax, do your best in your classes, and enjoy college.

 

[Lacey203]

I actually placed out of the 2nd introductory course in Biology with my AP scores because it was an ecology class. Should I take the other introductory course or will a replacement suffice?

I don't think my college has a pre-PT advisor because there is no pre-PT program so I may be on my own for the process. Thank you for the advice though, and I will try not to over think everything!

 

[dizzy88]

You will need to check with each individual program you want to apply to and see if they accept AP credit. I was going to apply to UNLV but they didn't accept my AP bio credit and I would have had to take 2 additional bio courses.

I may be understanding you incorrectly, but just to double check: does your school have an actual PT program? Yes, most schools don't have a pre-PT programs, but the PT program in itself has an advisor. They meet with undergrads and organize interviews and such. If you don't, it's okay...you can email the advisors of schools you are interested in.

 

[johncronejr]

Ahhhhh, I was assuming since you said "Pre-PT student" that you were at a school with a pre-PT program. I can understand that making it a little more confusing.

As Dizzy pointed out, call your school/s of choice and ask if they have a check sheet. This will give you a "map" to follow.

 

[Lacey203]

No unfortunately there is no PT program at my school 🙁 Sorry for the confusion, I just meant I was doing the pre-PT track haha.

I will try and find a checklist for each school. I'm not sure if it is too late to take my second introductory biology class because it is full, but I could always take it sophomore year while I'm taking anatomy. I figured it made sense to place out because it was an ecology class and had nothing to do with cells or physiology.

I'm still a little confused as to how you calculate your pre-req GPA, but I won't worry about it yet. I'm assuming each school is then going to receive a different pre-req GPA right? Since there are different pre-reqs for each school.

EDIT: Also, I don't know if this is unusual but my school's introduction biology classes do not have labs attached to them. There is a separate biology lab, but the only other biology lab offered (besides anatomy and physiology) is a plant biology lab. Even though it is technically an ecology lab, does this go towards the 2 lab requirement?

 

[TheOx777]

No unfortunately there is no PT program at my school 🙁 Sorry for the confusion, I just meant I was doing the pre-PT track haha.

I will try and find a checklist for each school. I'm not sure if it is too late to take my second introductory biology class because it is full, but I could always take it sophomore year while I'm taking anatomy. I figured it made sense to place out because it was an ecology class and had nothing to do with cells or physiology.

I'm still a little confused as to how you calculate your pre-req GPA, but I won't worry about it yet. I'm assuming each school is then going to receive a different pre-req GPA right? Since there are different pre-reqs for each school.

EDIT: Also, I don't know if this is unusual but my school's introduction biology classes do not have labs attached to them. There is a separate biology lab, but the only other biology lab offered (besides anatomy and physiology) is a plant biology lab. Even though it is technically an ecology lab, does this go towards the 2 lab requirement?

You are right in thinking that each school has its own prerequisite determinations. So if you apply to 5 different DPT programs, you could very well have 5 different prerequisite gpas. PTCAS will display a core PT prerequisite GPA that includes (Bio1&2, A/P 1&2, Chem 1&2, Physics 1&2, Behavioral Science 1&2, Statistics, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology). It is not unusual to have the labs and lectures separated from one another. It depends on how each science department is structured and the teachers/lab instructors who are available to teach the lecture and/or lab portion of the course in which you are enrolled. Finally, I would not advise that you take a ecology or botany lab just to do it. Many DPT programs will not accept that as an "adequate" lab for the prerequisite requirements. You would have to research specific programs who accepted that lab as an acceptable prereq before you decided to take it. And even once you took it, it would only be acceptable for those specific programs.

 

[hefe]

No unfortunately there is no PT program at my school 🙁 Sorry for the confusion, I just meant I was doing the pre-PT track haha.

I will try and find a checklist for each school. I'm not sure if it is too late to take my second introductory biology class because it is full, but I could always take it sophomore year while I'm taking anatomy. I figured it made sense to place out because it was an ecology class and had nothing to do with cells or physiology.

I'm still a little confused as to how you calculate your pre-req GPA, but I won't worry about it yet. I'm assuming each school is then going to receive a different pre-req GPA right? Since there are different pre-reqs for each school.

EDIT: Also, I don't know if this is unusual but my school's introduction biology classes do not have labs attached to them. There is a separate biology lab, but the only other biology lab offered (besides anatomy and physiology) is a plant biology lab. Even though it is technically an ecology lab, does this go towards the 2 lab requirement?

Pre-req GPA will be combined from all of the schools you attend. Get mostly A's and some B's no C's you should have a decent GPA.

If you don't have a pre-PT advisor (my mid-sized school doesn't, but we have a wonderful club), talk to pre-med students who the schools pre-med advisor. Find him/her then ask them which Biology courses pre-meds take that is both lecture lab for the same course. Take it.

Some courses have a combined lecture and lab and are listed as just a single course that has both, you'll need to read course descriptions carefully. The first biology should cover on a micro scale talking about cellular level elements, the second biology should be macro and cover various kingdoms from bacteria to animals. Don't take ecology if you want most any school across the country to accept it, some may, others won't.

 

[Lacey203]

It is not unusual to have the labs and lectures separated from one another. It depends on how each science department is structured and the teachers/lab instructors who are available to teach the lecture and/or lab portion of the course in which you are enrolled. Finally, I would not advise that you take a ecology or botany lab just to do it. Many DPT programs will not accept that as an "adequate" lab for the prerequisite requirements. You would have to research specific programs who accepted that lab as an acceptable prereq before you decided to take it. And even once you took it, it would only be acceptable for those specific programs.

I understand what you are saying, and I don't plan on taking an ecology course for the pre-reqs. However, some programs that I am looking at require 2 biology courses with labs. My school doesn't have a small science department at all, but it appears as if there is only one non-ecology laboratory available. As hefe has recommended to look at the descriptions, it is evident that the course descriptions do not list a laboratory component and the lab co-requisite would be listed in bold (so I'm pretty sure I'm not missing anything). What do you do in this case for programs that want two labs? This is definitly a main source of confusion for me 🙁 Sorry for the trouble.

The first biology should cover on a micro scale talking about cellular level elements, the second biology should be macro and cover various kingdoms from bacteria to animals. Don't take ecology if you want most any school across the country to accept it, some may, others won't.

So are you saying its best to place out of the secondary biology course because it focuses on plants and ecology? I'm taking cell biology in place of it.

 

[TheOx777]

@Lacey, there is no problem at all. I would talk to an adviser in the science department to decipher what labs are available for biology. This may help allay any confusion. As others have said, the course descriptions may clarify things as well. I am sure you will get it sorted out. Best wishes to you!