Please help...I could use some advice

[pineapple1517]

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So I am in a bit of a predicament. I finished my undergraduate degree last May 2007 and took the year off to apply to DPT programs. Unfortunately, I was either denied from some schools or put on the wait list. The most disapointing part of all this is I busted my butt over the last 2 years (even this last year) taking extra courses I needed and didn't need to meet pre-reqs. I got good grades in all these courses and my overall GPA is around 3.5 and my science GPA is about 3.3 or so. I also have over 200 ovbservation hours in almost all the different PT settings and have been working as a Rehab Assistant for 10 months. So obviously I was very disapointed and felt sick to my stomach that I didn't get accepted, when so many schools said I was more than qualified. So I applied to PTA and got accepted, but am having second thoughts on this. I want to get into PT because I love helping people and everyday I work in this field, I am reminded how great it feels to make people feel better. I worked so hard at getting into PT school and I feel that if I obtained only my PTA degree (2 year associates degree) I will always be thinking that I could have had my doctorate with one more year.

So now that you have heard my sob story, the question I have is this: Will PTA be a benefit down the line to get into PT school or should I just look into another career choice? PT school is only going to get harded to get into and if I didn't get in this year, then I wonder if anything will really change in the following years. I don't want to continue to take classes and get better grades with only a minor chance that it will help me get in. Would it be beneficial to start a new job in a different field for the next year, just to see if PT is the right choice? Will reapplying actually help me next year when the admissions counsel sees my application again. Should I go meet with the admissions people at each school and let them know who I am and how much it means to me to get into school (woudl this help). SORRRY for the long thread, but its hard to get real help and advice right now. Thank you.

 

[teamusaepee]

If PT is what you really want, pineapple, PLEASE don't give up. You didn't mention what your GRE was - could that have been a factor? I had a similar overall/science GPA and I was accepted to a school... it just depends on the stats of the application pool for that particular school in that particular year. One thing you might consider doing during the next year is to take (and do well in) some graduate-level courses in related subjects (physiology, etc.) to show that you can handle that level of work. The school I applied to made it a point to say that having a PTA degree did not increase your chances of getting in, that it was a different career path. IMHO, you should not do the PTA program... it will take 2 more years.. I think you would be much better served either continuing as a tech or in some other job you have interest in and taking one or two graduate courses in related subjects.

Do something to enhance your application and apply again. You might ask the schools if someone is willing to meet with you and discuss how you can improve your application. The applicant pool can definitely be different - and your stats are competitive with a good GRE score. Apply to a range of schools - in state (if you have them) and out of state/private. Good luck pineapple!

 

[AlaskanPT2b]

I think you should try again next year for PT school. I'm not sure if being a PTA will help you get into a PT school next year, maybe you should ask the admissions from some of the schools you would like to attend, I've found that they are really helpful in questions like this. To me, going to school for an extra two years is... a waste of your time and money.

One thing you might consider is enrolling in some interview coaching classes. It sounds like you got that far in the acceptance process? Maybe there was something they didn't like about the way the interviews went, and that's why you weren't accepted even though you were more than qualified to go to PT school.

Also, consider applying to different schools.

From my research of PT schools, I don't think that the fact that you didn't get in the first time will hurt your chances of getting in the second time you try, you should just make sure that you make use of your time in a way that would reflect well on you, such as volunteering with disadvantaged or disabled individuals.

Good luck!🙂

 

[es888w]

Pineapple, don't lose heart.

You only need one school to accept you.

I agree with the commenters above, don't do the PTA, it's not getting you any closer to being accepted into a DPT.

What you need is to improve your GRE (if it's low- no info here) and take some advanced courses in anatomy and physiology to show your ability in handling hard science courses. My stats were lower than yours (3.3 overall GPA, 3.1 prereqs GPA, GRE 1320) and I was accepted by one school. But then, I applied to 8 schools (2 are still deciding) You might need to apply to more schools next year (don't know how many you did this year) , both in-state and out-of-state. If you are concerned about high out-of-state tuition, try to apply to all the Cal State schools (there are 8), their non-resident tuition is capped at $10K per year. Granted, they only give an MPT degree but you will make the same money as a DPT and you can work on a transitional DPT degree later on, after you start your PT career.

If you really want to be a PT, you can do it, just keep the dream alive.

Did you apply to Old Dominion U in VA? It's a real good school (DPT program ranked #44). Virginia Commonwealth U (VCU) in VA is another good one (DPT program ranked #25). I would say to stay away from U Maryland Baltimore, though its DPT program is ranked #16, because it requires a min of 3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.5 prereqs GPA (and that means its applicants have around 3.7-3.8). U Maryland Eastern Shore is a good school too but it requires Microbiology on top of the usual pre-reqs. VCU also requires a Philosophy course on top the usual pre-reqs.

In my opinion, you should make a list of all the schools that you want to apply to next year (try at least 8-10) and make sure you have all the pre-reqs done for them (because some schools require an extra course, this could throw you off at the last minute -- for example, I found out Ohio U requires an exercise physiology course as a pre-req at the last minute, so I had to drop OU from my list).

Good luck. But in the meantime, all are still very much in play. You are on the waiting list which means you still have a chance with that school. The 4 schools that rejected me only sent me a rejection letter with all the usual flowery language. I knew these schools were a bit of a long shot when I applied, but I applied anyway, because one never knows the kind of applicant pool they receive this year. One last thing, one school told me that the reference letters from the PTs that you volunteer with count for a lot, so make sure that you can have good, not just average, references. Another school told me although it states that it requires no more than a 3.0 science/prereqs GPA, it weighs this GPA very high, and its applicants usually have a 3.5 prereqs GPA.

 

[bigdan]

One more voice to say "Hang in there" and another vote "Don't do PTA". A PTA is an extremely valuable assest, but if you've been planning on the work it takes to get a DPT - and the responsibility/reward that comes with one - the PTA will leave you unsatisfied. And resource-wise, a PTA --> DPT is, like you said, lengthy and arguably unwise.

I hope a waitlist school comes thru for you.

dc

 

[ang.fox.oh]

So I am in a bit of a predicament. I finished my undergraduate degree last May 2007 and took the year off to apply to DPT programs. Unfortunately, I was either denied from some schools or put on the wait list. The most disapointing part of all this is I busted my butt over the last 2 years (even this last year) taking extra courses I needed and didn't need to meet pre-reqs. I got good grades in all these courses and my overall GPA is around 3.5 and my science GPA is about 3.3 or so. I also have over 200 ovbservation hours in almost all the different PT settings and have been working as a Rehab Assistant for 10 months. So obviously I was very disapointed and felt sick to my stomach that I didn't get accepted, when so many schools said I was more than qualified. So I applied to PTA and got accepted, but am having second thoughts on this. I want to get into PT because I love helping people and everyday I work in this field, I am reminded how great it feels to make people feel better. I worked so hard at getting into PT school and I feel that if I obtained only my PTA degree (2 year associates degree) I will always be thinking that I could have had my doctorate with one more year.

So now that you have heard my sob story, the question I have is this: Will PTA be a benefit down the line to get into PT school or should I just look into another career choice? PT school is only going to get harded to get into and if I didn't get in this year, then I wonder if anything will really change in the following years. I don't want to continue to take classes and get better grades with only a minor chance that it will help me get in. Would it be beneficial to start a new job in a different field for the next year, just to see if PT is the right choice? Will reapplying actually help me next year when the admissions counsel sees my application again. Should I go meet with the admissions people at each school and let them know who I am and how much it means to me to get into school (woudl this help). SORRRY for the long thread, but its hard to get real help and advice right now. Thank you.

THANK YOU For this thread. I understand the struggle with wondering if I should settle for PTA instead of going for DPT!

 

[ang.fox.oh]

Pineapple, don't lose heart.

You only need one school to accept you.

I agree with the commenters above, don't do the PTA, it's not getting you any closer to being accepted into a DPT.

What you need is to improve your GRE (if it's low- no info here) and take some advanced courses in anatomy and physiology to show your ability in handling hard science courses. My stats were lower than yours (3.3 overall GPA, 3.1 prereqs GPA, GRE 1320) and I was accepted by one school. But then, I applied to 8 schools (2 are still deciding) You might need to apply to more schools next year (don't know how many you did this year) , both in-state and out-of-state. If you are concerned about high out-of-state tuition, try to apply to all the Cal State schools (there are 8), their non-resident tuition is capped at $10K per year. Granted, they only give an MPT degree but you will make the same money as a DPT and you can work on a transitional DPT degree later on, after you start your PT career.

If you really want to be a PT, you can do it, just keep the dream alive.

Did you apply to Old Dominion U in VA? It's a real good school (DPT program ranked #44). Virginia Commonwealth U (VCU) in VA is another good one (DPT program ranked #25). I would say to stay away from U Maryland Baltimore, though its DPT program is ranked #16, because it requires a min of 3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.5 prereqs GPA (and that means its applicants have around 3.7-3.8). U Maryland Eastern Shore is a good school too but it requires Microbiology on top of the usual pre-reqs. VCU also requires a Philosophy course on top the usual pre-reqs.

In my opinion, you should make a list of all the schools that you want to apply to next year (try at least 8-10) and make sure you have all the pre-reqs done for them (because some schools require an extra course, this could throw you off at the last minute -- for example, I found out Ohio U requires an exercise physiology course as a pre-req at the last minute, so I had to drop OU from my list).

Good luck. But in the meantime, all are still very much in play. You are on the waiting list which means you still have a chance with that school. The 4 schools that rejected me only sent me a rejection letter with all the usual flowery language. I knew these schools were a bit of a long shot when I applied, but I applied anyway, because one never knows the kind of applicant pool they receive this year. One last thing, one school told me that the reference letters from the PTs that you volunteer with count for a lot, so make sure that you can have good, not just average, references. Another school told me although it states that it requires no more than a 3.0 science/prereqs GPA, it weighs this GPA very high, and its applicants usually have a 3.5 prereqs GPA.

Great Advice, Thanks! After reading this I'm going to do more volunteer hours and get a really good reference letter from the PT. Applying is a Tough Process!