Please help I'm lost with process of DPT!

[IceLotus24]

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Hello!
So my situation is a mess and I was wondering for ANY help and advice, tips, insight! I'll keep it short!
Woo! I recently graduated! So, I spent 5 years in college because I switched major to Kinesiology late in Senior year but I was a Bio major before so some classes transfer. My overall GPA is 2.8 and I know a lot of DPT programs require a minimum of 3.0. My problem is how is the process of retaking classes at community college?? I have no more money saved up and currently have no job to pay for classes.. I have no clue if I should complete my Fafsa because doesnt it stop after you graduate? I want to know whats the cheapest and most reliable way to do this?
And most important of all, what steps should I take from here on? I believe I can do DPT but the road is soooo heavy that I'm always thinking of giving up 🙁
I'm currently seeking volunteer hours because I have none 🙁
And I'm putting a hold in studying for GRE for now to get things situated first.
Please HELP guys 🙁 I dont want to give up my dreams! I realized what i wanna do so late that it's making me so depressed
I would love to hear your individual stories in overcoming this for it will give me motivation to work hard! Much appreciatedd!!

 

[Abudara]

Costs of community college depends on where you live, in California, for example, it's around 40 dollars per unit without any financial aid. Much cheaper than universities. I would retake any prerequisite classes you got a C in and try to get an A in them. You can also take extra classes (try some online classes) that you think you can get A's in to boost your gpa. For example, after completing Chem 1A and Chem 1B, I took a 4 unit introductory chemistry class at my local community college and got an A in it. I also took an online health class and got an A in it. That was 7 easy units that I scored As in.

Getting observation hours is not hard. Walk into physical therapy clinics and ask if they allow people to observe. Last year I had 0 observation hours. After walking into 3 clinics and asking to observe, one clinic allowed me to observe for a few days and I eventually got hired as a PT aide at that same clinic. I now have over 1000 hours in that environment. Months later, the first inpatient clinic I walked into allowed me to observe for a total of 20 hours. It's not hard, you just have to put an effort in going to places and asking them to observe, nothing is gonna happen by itself.

There's no reason to be depressed, you're still early in the process. With no volunteer hours, needing to retake classes, and no Gre score yet, I'm assuming you will wait at least a year before applying to schools. Just try your hardest in retaking classes and making your application as well rounded as you can in regards to observation hours, letters of rec, extracurriculars, Gre score, etc.

 

[Dinked]

remember, diversity of hours in many different settings is better than hundreds in 1

 

[IceLotus24]

Costs of community college depends on where you live, in California, for example, it's around 40 dollars per unit without any financial aid. Much cheaper than universities. I would retake any prerequisite classes you got a C in and try to get an A in them. You can also take extra classes (try some online classes) that you think you can get A's in to boost your gpa. For example, after completing Chem 1A and Chem 1B, I took a 4 unit introductory chemistry class at my local community college and got an A in it. I also took an online health class and got an A in it. That was 7 easy units that I scored As in.

Getting observation hours is not hard. Walk into physical therapy clinics and ask if they allow people to observe. Last year I had 0 observation hours. After walking into 3 clinics and asking to observe, one clinic allowed me to observe for a few days and I eventually got hired as a PT aide at that same clinic. I now have over 1000 hours in that environment. Months later, the first inpatient clinic I walked into allowed me to observe for a total of 20 hours. It's not hard, you just have to put an effort in going to places and asking them to observe, nothing is gonna happen by itself.

There's no reason to be depressed, you're still early in the process. With no volunteer hours, needing to retake classes, and no Gre score yet, I'm assuming you will wait at least a year before applying to schools. Just try your hardest in retaking classes and making your application as well rounded as you can in regards to observation hours, letters of rec, extracurriculars, Gre score, etc.

Any recommendation of what online class websites that are good out there for post bac programs?? Do they accept financial aid? I have no money saved up so I dont know what to do to retake classes.. Loans maybe? im not sure what are some good loans service out there like what company. Will community college know that I graduated and are retaking classes?
Also, I just have this sense of FEAR and DOUBT in my head that what if I dont get an A for the prereqs that I have a C on? Will my chance of gettin in still there? Any hope from there? Cos looks like I only have one shot at this..

 

[IceLotus24]

remember, diversity of hours in many different settings is better than hundreds in 1

Where should I look for these hours, Dinked? can you please clarify "diversity"? I do believe I have to rack up many volunteer hours in a chance for me to get into DPT school. Since I'm not so great at taking standardized tests..

 

[Dinked]

Where should I look for these hours, Dinked? can you please clarify "diversity"? I do believe I have to rack up many volunteer hours in a chance for me to get into DPT school. Since I'm not so great at taking standardized tests..

outpatient facilities, acute care hospital settings, pediatric clinics and skilled nursing facilities.

 

[hawkesome]

Where should I look for these hours, Dinked? can you please clarify "diversity"? I do believe I have to rack up many volunteer hours in a chance for me to get into DPT school. Since I'm not so great at taking standardized tests..

Most schools are going to mainly look at your GRE and GPA before they ever look at the rest of your application, so if those are bad, no amount of observation hours will make up for that.


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[ptstudent408]

Where should I look for these hours, Dinked? can you please clarify "diversity"? I do believe I have to rack up many volunteer hours in a chance for me to get into DPT school. Since I'm not so great at taking standardized tests..

I only had 80 observation hours (50 outpatient and 30 inpatient) and was accepted into my top choice school. My stats were a bit better, but I don't think having 100s of observations is necessarily key to an acceptance. Doing well on the GRE definitely seems to be a larger factor in my opinion.

 

[futurePT2017]

Where should I look for these hours, Dinked? can you please clarify "diversity"? I do believe I have to rack up many volunteer hours in a chance for me to get into DPT school. Since I'm not so great at taking standardized tests..

I was non trad and applied after being in the workforce for about 3 years. Since I was working full time, I got hours in a wide variety of settings to make up for the fact that I couldn't do more than like 120 hrs. I shadowed school PTs, 2 outpatient clinics (one freestanding, one hospital based), and hospital (acute care and rehab unit). I got into all 3 schools I applied to.

For the GRE I would recommend taking the practice test on the ETS website and then making a study plan based on those scores. I found my actual GRE results were within 5 or points of the practice results.

Unless you're going to get help from your parents, I would highly recommend getting a job. I know a girl who worked as an AT at a facility that did PT as well, so she got observation hours while she was working. Could be a possibility at some sports medicine clinics. And you absolutely need to take any prereqs that you did poorly in at a community college. I did all of my prereqs at a community college. It's way cheaper and they usually cater more to a working schedule.

You really need to get your GPA up and do well on the GRE. I've seen people get in with your type of stats. But, if you do the volunteer hours and you just can't get your GRE or GPA there, you could consider PTA as well. Still a great career and arguably better in some regards (cost vs. payoff, etc).

 

[IceLotus24]

I was non trad and applied after being in the workforce for about 3 years. Since I was working full time, I got hours in a wide variety of settings to make up for the fact that I couldn't do more than like 120 hrs. I shadowed school PTs, 2 outpatient clinics (one freestanding, one hospital based), and hospital (acute care and rehab unit). I got into all 3 schools I applied to.

For the GRE I would recommend taking the practice test on the ETS website and then making a study plan based on those scores. I found my actual GRE results were within 5 or points of the practice results.

Unless you're going to get help from your parents, I would highly recommend getting a job. I know a girl who worked as an AT at a facility that did PT as well, so she got observation hours while she was working. Could be a possibility at some sports medicine clinics. And you absolutely need to take any prereqs that you did poorly in at a community college. I did all of my prereqs at a community college. It's way cheaper and they usually cater more to a working schedule.

You really need to get your GPA up and do well on the GRE. I've seen people get in with your type of stats. But, if you do the volunteer hours and you just can't get your GRE or GPA there, you could consider PTA as well. Still a great career and arguably better in some regards (cost vs. payoff, etc).

Futurept2017, yeah I get really anxious and stressed over retaking classes because what if I don't get all A's in my prereqs that I have C's on.. like I'm so heavily pressured in myself. I had thoughts of just forggetin to do PT and just go straight to PTA but idk if that's a good choice long-term wise.. and its just weird to go from a bachelor to associate. Not really sure still

 

[NJ DPT HOPEFUL]

Futurept2017, yeah I get really anxious and stressed over retaking classes because what if I don't get all A's in my prereqs that I have C's on.. like I'm so heavily pressured in myself. I had thoughts of just forggetin to do PT and just go straight to PTA but idk if that's a good choice long-term wise.. and its just weird to go from a bachelor to associate. Not really sure still

I'm not sure what you are looking to here. Everyone else applying is going to have the grades so if you don't and can't get them on retakes you probably won't be competitive with them. As for paying for retakes, you graduated and have a long time ahead of you before pt school if you do get it so you should probably go get a job.

You're not just going to get into pt school because you want to, you need to earn your spot. So you should either do the work or decide on another path

Good luck

 

[starrsgirl]

I recommend getting a full time job. Most community colleges offer plenty of courses on the nights and weekends so in this way, you can work and pay for classes. My community college courses were CHEAP. I think about $60/credit hour. PT school is a ton of debt so the last thing you need to do is take on more debt in the prep process.