Opinions

[Sirwolf17]

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Currently I am a graduate student getting a masters in physical education after receiving a B.S. In mathematics. I want to apply to DPT schools but I don't really know where I stack up.
Undergraduate GPA 3.26 (3.49 last 60 hrs)
Graduate GPA 4.0
Pre-req GPA 3.37 ( had to bring up a physics II C- from freshman year)
GRE 780Q 540V 4.0AW
I plan to have roughly 300 observation hours at about 4 or 5 places by application time

I live in NC so I would love to go to UNC, or Duke (not sure I could afford Duke though.) Am I setting my sights to high? Is there something I can do to improve my chances? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, I'm not scared to travel out of state for a good school but price could be an issue.

 

[jchen707]

Hey,

you have a great GRE score and while your undergrad GPA is a little lower than the PTCAS average, your 4.0 in grad school will definitely pull up your over all GPA. It also shows that you can handle graduate level work, so another plus. you asked what you can do to bring up your GPA, I would say maybe retake some classes if possible? Most places take community college credit, so that might be a cheap alternative (might want to make sure, the PTCAS website for each program has that information, or you can call the programs directly).

As for applying to UNC or Duke, well the whole app process can sometimes be a crap shoot to be honest. If you check out the pre-PT forum, under the GPA sticky, you will see that there are plenty of applicants who had good stats being turned down, but those with not so good stats were accepted to top programs. therefore, my best advice is, if you want to go to a program, apply. You will never know if you will get in unless you try.

Best of luck to you!

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

like the other poster said, your stats are fine (if you can bring up your C-).

If a lot of your prereqs are from your first year or two of college, check into the programs you're looking at - some have a 5 year limit on pre-req work (although I think most may be 10 years), so you may have to retake some classes even if your grades were fine.

 

[Sirwolf17]

Thanks I appreciate your help. I noticed some inconsistencies in the stats board too that had me confused. Most of my pre reqs actually come from grad school so I'm fine in the time restraint issue. Do u guys think more shadowing or a higher verbal GRE would help? I am just looking for ways to make myself look as good as I can for when I apply.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

I wouldn't worry about your verbal GRE...your quantitative is solid and should compensate for a slightly lower verbal (although I don't think yours is low...I had a 560V and had no issues getting interviews and/or acceptances, and my Q was much lower than yours at 630.)

300 hours should be fine as well. That's more than enough for what schools require. The people on the forum (like me) with thousands of hours is most likely due to working as an aide/tech at a PT clinic, not actual volunteer/shadowing time. If anyone has 1000 hours of pure observation experience, I think that would be severe overkill haha. On the application it also asks you to list if it was observation/volunteer or paid work, so schools realize when people have those hours due to a job.

Most schools require 45-60 hours, so you're definitely fine. I know you said that you would shadow at 4-5 places, but try to make sure they are different settings, not just all outpatient ortho. Also make sure that you have at least 15 hours at a few of the places, because some schools (UIC off the top of my head) require 15 hours in 3 settings regardless - 200 hours at one facility would not qualify in place of the 15x3 rule.

 

[jchen707]

Your GRE is fine. look at me, I had a 480 on V and got invited to interview at every place I applied that conducted interviews (albeit I turned down most of them for my top choice). If possible, again, I would recommend maybe retaking that C- and see if you can bump up your GPA a bit more. Like Dancer said, make sure you shadow in some outpatient, inpatient, acute w/e and not just one setting. I only had a little over 100 hours by the time I applied, but I had three settings (school was one of them, plus outpatient, and acute care). You can try googling the types of settings that are considered different/separate by PTCAS. It was helpful for me when I was applying so I knew that I had at least 3 different settings. Other than that, I think if you put together a strong Personal Statement, get some great LORs you should be fine.

Good luck