Observation Hours

[amlope03]

How many hours should I have to be competitive? Or should the question be how many settings should I have to be competitive?

I understand each school has a minimum requirement, but I'm sure accepted applicants have well over that.

My stats as of now:
80 hours at a nursing home (job shadowing inpatient)
80 hours at an orthopedic/sports therapy setting (job shadowing outpatient)
140 hours at an orthopedic setting (interning outpatient w/ hands-on experience)
Possibly hours in a neuroscience/spinal rehab setting (working inpatient/outpatient- as a technician)

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[nd_dpt]

How many hours should I have to be competitive? Or should the question be how many settings should I have to be competitive?

I understand each school has a minimum requirement, but I'm sure accepted applicants have well over that.

My stats as of now:
80 hours at a nursing home (job shadowing inpatient)
80 hours at an orthopedic/sports therapy setting (job shadowing outpatient)
140 hours at an orthopedic setting (interning outpatient w/ hands-on experience)
Possibly hours in a neuroscience/spinal rehab setting (working inpatient/outpatient- as a technician)

You'll be in really good shape if you get ~40 hours in a neuro setting. Shouldn't need much more than that.

 

[ptstudent408]

I had 80 observation hours (30 inpatient/50 outpatient) and was accepted to my top two schools. My feeling is that fewer hours in more settings is better.

(other stats 4.0GPA and 157V 159Q 4.5AW)

 

[Flexion500]

Diversity is better than quantity. Yes, make sure you have a good amount of hours in inpatient and outpatient because most programs require that. But if you want to set yourself apart, get another setting like neuro/spinal cord as you mentioned. Your stats look pretty solid though. In the end it depends on the school. I know some value what you've learned while shadowing and don't care much for hours while others only look at the number of hours.
Personally, I have 98 hours combined in two outpatient settings and 300 in inpatient pediatric neuro.