Now, we wait! How do my stats look?

[hoopchicksw]

I finally finished my application for Early Decision to Western Carolina yesterday! I've had it done since about July 20th, but one of my references (who had previously agreed to be one) kept "being too busy" to fill out the reference! One of my other professors saved my behind at the last minute, though. Thank goodness.

I'm here to ask, how do I look?

Major: Exercise Science (minor in Psychology) at Appalachian State University

GPA: 3.74

Pre Req GPA: 3.73

GRE: 1120 combined V: 470 Q: 650 A: 4.5

Observation Hours: 135 hours at 4 different loctions including orthopedic, inpatient, med psyche, gero psyche (at a hospital), neuro

Extra Curricular: Marching Band, ASU Grandparent's Club, Club Ultimate Frisbee, Bible Study, Intramural Basketball, Indoor Soccer and Volleyball

I really hope I get accepted, it's so hard to play the waiting game!

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[rangardrum]

I finally finished my application for Early Decision to Western Carolina yesterday! I've had it done since about July 20th, but one of my references (who had previously agreed to be one) kept "being too busy" to fill out the reference! One of my other professors saved my behind at the last minute, though. Thank goodness.

I'm here to ask, how do I look?

Major: Exercise Science (minor in Psychology) at Appalachian State University

GPA: 3.74

Pre Req GPA: 3.73

GRE: 1120 combined V: 470 Q: 650 A: 4.5

Observation Hours: 135 hours at 4 different loctions including orthopedic, inpatient, med psyche, gero psyche (at a hospital), neuro

Extra Curricular: Marching Band, ASU Grandparent's Club, Club Ultimate Frisbee, Bible Study, Intramural Basketball, Indoor Soccer and Volleyball

I really hope I get accepted, it's so hard to play the waiting game!

Looks very good! Congrats on being done too!

 

[puppypaws]

Hey, congrats on applying. I also applied to western early decision. Have you heard anything back from them yet? I haven't.

 

[CherokeeWahine]

Your stats look lovely! Good luck on all your future endeavors!

 

[RizDPT]

I envy your stats. You'll be just fine.....

 

[optionpaloma]

I finally finished my application for Early Decision to Western Carolina yesterday! I've had it done since about July 20th, but one of my references (who had previously agreed to be one) kept "being too busy" to fill out the reference! One of my other professors saved my behind at the last minute, though. Thank goodness.

I'm here to ask, how do I look?

Major: Exercise Science (minor in Psychology) at Appalachian State University

GPA: 3.74

Pre Req GPA: 3.73

GRE: 1120 combined V: 470 Q: 650 A: 4.5

Observation Hours: 135 hours at 4 different loctions including orthopedic, inpatient, med psyche, gero psyche (at a hospital), neuro

Extra Curricular: Marching Band, ASU Grandparent's Club, Club Ultimate Frisbee, Bible Study, Intramural Basketball, Indoor Soccer and Volleyball

I really hope I get accepted, it's so hard to play the waiting game!

Hey, congrats on applying. I also applied to western early decision. Have you heard anything back from them yet? I haven't.

With its beautiful location, inexpensive tuition, high pass rate and brand new facilities, I'm very intrigued by Western Carolina... I'm wondering if you both are from around that area? Have you visited? It's very far from my family and home (California), and I don't know if being so far away will work for me, but their low tuition is very compelling.

Awesome stats, hoopchicksw, and congrats to you both for getting your apps done already!

 

[markelmarcel]

You will be a great asset to any program you apply to!

 

[okramango]

With its beautiful location, inexpensive tuition, high pass rate and brand new facilities, I'm very intrigued by Western Carolina... I'm wondering if you both are from around that area? Have you visited? It's very far from my family and home (California), and I don't know if being so far away will work for me, but their low tuition is very compelling.

I checked their website, and only see their tuition for a two-year program, which I am assuming was their MPT program. I downloaded it from the link titled "Expenses of the Physical Therapy Program" at the bottom of this website:
http://www.wcu.edu/6008.asp

They are just starting their first DPT program this year, so I'm sure tuition will be higher for that. I think it might be comparable to the CA state schools for DPT (which I heard will be around 60k total). Does anyone know Western Carolina's tuition for their new DPT program?

 

[puppypaws]

okramango: go here: http://www.wcu.edu/6010.asp
the second link will open a document with the DPT tuition

You're right. If you're out of state and going here it seems like it is about 60k

 

[okramango]

okramango: go here: http://www.wcu.edu/6010.asp
the second link will open a document with the DPT tuition

You're right. If you're out of state and going here it seems like it is about 60k

Thanks for the link, puppypaws!
It's great tuition for out of state, but very similar to CA's in-state tuition (where I live), so I don't know if it would be worth the move.

 

[puppypaws]

CA's in-state tuition is a lot comparatively. Are all the CA schools that expensive? Western would be in-state for me.

 

[optionpaloma]

For Western Carolina, if you go to this page:
http://www.wcu.edu/6008.asp

and scroll down to the bottom and click on the link titled "Resources for Financial Assistance," you get a document that states that out-of-state students can get a tuition waiver:

In-state and Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
A very limited number of tuition waivers are available. Students who receive a tuition waiver are required to accept a graduate assistantship. Out-of-state tuition waivers are only available for one year because the expectation is that the recipient will apply for (and receive) residency status in North Carolina after the first year.

Not sure if they mean that a select number of out-of-state students can get a waiver to pay in-state tuition or if they're talking about free tuition with a graduate assistantship. Granted this document is dated 2009, and their policy may have changed, but it's on their current website.

CA's in-state tuition is a lot comparatively. Are all the CA schools that expensive? Western would be in-state for me.

For students applying this cycle, $72K total tuition is the least you can pay for PT school! The lucky Cal State MPT students who start this year (applied last year) will pay less than half that, around the current WC price, I believe.

Private school total tuition is around $mid-90K (Chapman, Loma Linda, Mt. St. Mary's) to $135K (USC).

 

[okramango]

For Western Carolina, if you go to this page:
http://www.wcu.edu/6008.asp

and scroll down to the bottom and click on the link titled "Resources for Financial Assistance," you get a document that states that out-of-state students can get a tuition waiver:

In-state and Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
A very limited number of tuition waivers are available. Students who receive a tuition waiver are required to accept a graduate assistantship. Out-of-state tuition waivers are only available for one year because the expectation is that the recipient will apply for (and receive) residency status in North Carolina after the first year.

Wow, that would be a really great deal! This school is definitely on my radar now. In researching schools, I've hardly found any that offer tuition waivers or graduate assistantships. Thanks for the info, optionpaloma!

I wish schools in my own state were not so expensive! I'd love to continue living in CA, but it seems to have some of the most expensive DPT programs in the country.

 

[hoopchicksw]

I have not heard back from them, yet! The suspense is killing me! I really want to go to Western.

 

[hoopchicksw]

With its beautiful location, inexpensive tuition, high pass rate and brand new facilities, I'm very intrigued by Western Carolina... I'm wondering if you both are from around that area? Have you visited? It's very far from my family and home (California), and I don't know if being so far away will work for me, but their low tuition is very compelling.

Awesome stats, hoopchicksw, and congrats to you both for getting your apps done already!

I'm from Asheville, NC so I'm about 45 minutes away from Western. There isn't a whole lot to do in the town...but I prefer somewhat quiet life myself anyway! There is hiking and ski resorts in the area and of course Cherokee (with a casino) not terribly far away. It's beautiful.

 

[hoopchicksw]

You will be a great asset to any program you apply to!

Thank you! Your stats look fantastic as well. Good luck to you!

 

[okramango]

I have not heard back from them, yet! The suspense is killing me! I really want to go to Western.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

 

[hoopchicksw]

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

I got my acceptance email yesterday morning!!!! I will be attending WCU Fall 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[optionpaloma]

I got my acceptance email yesterday morning!!!! I will be attending WCU Fall 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is soo awesome!!!

Must feel soooo good to be done and know where you'll be going next year!

 

[CherokeeWahine]

I got my acceptance email yesterday morning!!!! I will be attending WCU Fall 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WONDERFUL! Congratulations!!

 

[puppypaws]

I got my acceptance email yesterday morning!!!! I will be attending WCU Fall 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also got into WCU I'll see you there

 

[rangardrum]

Wow, congrats to you both! I hate this "waiting game," and there's still a lot of waiting to do since I didn't do the ED option.

 

[okramango]

Congrats to both of you! How exciting! This whole ED thing seems great for getting the application process finished super quickly!

 

[hoopchicksw]

I also got into WCU I'll see you there

Congratuations!!!

 

[kcrat21]

Congratulations to both of you!!! Duke just had the ED interviews yesterday so I'm still waiting! Good work guys!

 

[optionpaloma]

Duke just had the ED interviews yesterday

How did the Duke interview go?

 

[kcrat21]

How did the Duke interview go?

It was a really long day! ha! We had a short meet and greet where we met the new chair (who seemed really cool by the way). Then we had an info session, followed by the interview, lunch with some 2nd year students and a tour, then a mock team-based learning class, a financial aid info session, and then a wrap-up. We were there from 8am until about 3pm.

The interview part was really short--or at least I feel like my interview was short. My interviewer only asked me three q's:

1) Why PT? -- I've spent like half my life in PT having had 5 knee surgeries (and I'm in therapy AGAIN to try to work through this chondromalacia) and my therapist was amazing!

2) Why Duke? -- I mostly talked about TBL and how the students I met when I came down for the info session were so in love with the program and spoke so highly of it and the family atmosphere that is fostered there that I really feel at home

3) How have your observational experiences gone? -- I gave him some anecdotes about some of the patients I have worked with--how I thought I wanted to work with athletes having been an athlete myself but that I surprisingly really love working with the elderly population

He didn't really react to anything that I said so I have no idea if he thought my answers were cliche or what...but mostly we talked about soccer because I coach/play and his daughter used to. He asked if I had any questions and I said that the students had answered pretty much all of them. So he explained their research project/capstone course and then I asked about clinical affiliations and that was it. I felt like I was in there for 5 minutes....

So, I have no idea how it went! Hopefully they were as impressed with me as I am with them--but, I guess I'll find out next week!

 

[puppypaws]

It was a really long day! ha! We had a short meet and greet where we met the new chair (who seemed really cool by the way). Then we had an info session, followed by the interview, lunch with some 2nd year students and a tour, then a mock team-based learning class, a financial aid info session, and then a wrap-up. We were there from 8am until about 3pm.

The interview part was really short--or at least I feel like my interview was short. My interviewer only asked me three q's:

1) Why PT? -- I've spent like half my life in PT having had 5 knee surgeries (and I'm in therapy AGAIN to try to work through this chondromalacia) and my therapist was amazing!

2) Why Duke? -- I mostly talked about TBL and how the students I met when I came down for the info session were so in love with the program and spoke so highly of it and the family atmosphere that is fostered there that I really feel at home

3) How have your observational experiences gone? -- I gave him some anecdotes about some of the patients I have worked with--how I thought I wanted to work with athletes having been an athlete myself but that I surprisingly really love working with the elderly population

He didn't really react to anything that I said so I have no idea if he thought my answers were cliche or what...but mostly we talked about soccer because I coach/play and his daughter used to. He asked if I had any questions and I said that the students had answered pretty much all of them. So he explained their research project/capstone course and then I asked about clinical affiliations and that was it. I felt like I was in there for 5 minutes....

So, I have no idea how it went! Hopefully they were as impressed with me as I am with them--but, I guess I'll find out next week!

It sounds like you did fine, especially if you were talking and found out that his daughter played soccer. Good luck!

 

[optionpaloma]

The interview part was really short--or at least I feel like my interview was short. My interviewer only asked me three q's:

So, I have no idea how it went! Hopefully they were as impressed with me as I am with them--but, I guess I'll find out next week!

That's cool it wasn't like this stress-test interview! I agree with puppypaws, sounds like you did fine, and it's good you connected with the interviewer on a personal level. Your answers to the questions don't sound generic to me at all.

As far as the interviewer reacting to your answers goes, had he already interviewed a bunch a peeps before he got to you? Perhaps he was tired asking the same questions over and over?

In any case, you probably did better than you think you did. Good luck!