Newbie seeking some guidance

[KGee]

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HI everybody, I just transfered to a Cal State with a Poli Sci major as a junior from a JC. However, I have decided that I want to switch lanes and put my effort in to becoming a DPT. The CSU I am attending does offer Kenesiology. I have not taken any pre-req classes. So what major should I switch to? Kenesiology: pre-PT/Kenisiotherapy? Or a totally different one? I have done minor research in this field. I just want to make sure I start out on the right foot and have a plan before the fall. Any guidance/advice/suggestion is appreciated.

 

[PREMEDWOAHS]

It doesn't matter what major you are, as long as you apply you finish 2/3's of the pre-requisites which are most commonly:

Biology 1&2 (2 semesters)
Anatomy and Physiology 1&2 (2 semesters)
Inorganic Chemistry 1&2 (2 semesters)
Physics 1&2 (2 semesters)
Statistics
Developmental Psychology

It varies by what school you apply for, so just research admissions requirements.


You are starting really late for not having any pre-requisites so look into taking summer and winter courses or staying at your school an extra year or semester.

To apply, you should also have some significant shadowing/volunteering work in a PT outpatient or inpatient atmosphere, the better varied it is (orthopedic, pediatric, neurological) the better it will look.

 

[Grue1some]

I would recommend reading most of the posts.
The knowledge you seek is there. Just grab that shovel and dig .

 

[KGee]

Thanks for the advice but, how do I know what classes/guidlines to follow if I don't know what major to follow? Yes I am starting late. I just couldn't imagine myself in a suit and tie everyday working in the city council lol or something of that nature.

 

[PREMEDWOAHS]

As I told you, there is no major that simply satisfies physical therapy pre-reqs for DPT unless you do pre-physical therapy. I am a psychology major, I am doing PT pre-reqs on top of my major requirements. Do what you have to. Go see a school adviser, no one can give you any better advice on here then anyone else. And as someone else said, just look through the forums, every question possible has been answered.

 

[Grue1some]

You could be General Studies or Art. You need a BACHELORS IN SOMETHING or find a program that has a 6 year thing where you start as a freshman and finish as a physical therapist. All they care is a good science GPA, overall GPA, GRE scores, observation/volunteer experiance, and pre-req courses. Also do extra "Recommended" courses for bonus points. It varies from school to school. I suggest you scroll down and look at some of the school links.

Plus I would recommend working as a tech and see if you LIKE IT. Observing/volunteering is good but working gets you more hands on experiance.

If you want to pick a major just do Biology/Exercise Science/Kinesiology and follow the Freshman to Senior worksheet plan. Then take extra courses as electives. The reason for Biology is that this major satifies most of the pre-reqs in Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Chiro, Podiatry, and Physical Therapy. ETC...

Advisors can help you with scheduling classes.

There are a lot of people that want to do physical therapy yet a good number of them dont have a FN clue about the field. They are drawn in it~think ok I will just help so and so out and make some money. The field requires good science skills and decent business skills (opening up your own clinic and marketing yourself or traveling ) or just work in a hospital setting or under someone. You need a good reason why you want to become a PT so google, check apta.org out, look at PT article journals, and speak with other physical therapist. Most PT's are down to earth cool as shi* people. Some of them who are fresh out of school may be a little bit cocky or arrogant b/c they think they know it all but they dont know shi* kinda reminds me of that one setting where a couple individuals had less than 2 year experiance~lol~what a trip. One of them was like grrr I should of went to PA school.

Good reads on this board are:
DPT by student 30
Stages in Physical Therapy
Links to all the schools.
Doctor
Salary
PT to MD
Oversaturation
Or just message truthseeker, DrJAY, DUBPT, DocWagner , Buckeye4life---They are Physical Therapists and can answer any specific question on PT or making a transition from PT to Medicine
Cyrus-- I think he is a current PT student.
As for me, I did the work, got accepted, but decided to persue other interests but I decided to stick around and help some people. There are other Physical Therapy fourms out there, but this one seems to be very active.

Another issue is education for being a PT. Pick cheap~Less Debt. There are schools out there which cost over 70k+ worth of loans. That is just bullshi*. It would seem good to go there but what happens after you graduate and start working~lol (Check salary). You would die still in debt.

Read this forum on salary. Even though it discusses another profession, pathognomic is to the point on debt and salary

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=406175