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Yes Faith is the answer!
Post-Acceptance Thoughts
- Thread starter brooklynyc
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Like many of you, I'm so glad I found this post. I was personally very competitive with my undergrad classmates, as I felt we were all fighting for graduate spots (looking back, this was a bit ridiculous, but you get the point). So I'm very excited to have a cohort of only 40 or so students to work with for the next through years. I've heard the relationships you form in PT school last a lifetime!
Also someone mentioned the "Imposter Syndrome", and this really hits home for me. I'm in the group of "most traditional students", graduating high school in 2013, graduating college this spring, and attending grad school this May, but I somehow feel like I'm below the baseline for my cohort? It's a weird feeling, and I'm sure it's not true, but I'm pleased to see that other people are feeling the same things!
Good luck everyone!
Edit: typos galore.
Also someone mentioned the "Imposter Syndrome", and this really hits home for me. I'm in the group of "most traditional students", graduating high school in 2013, graduating college this spring, and attending grad school this May, but I somehow feel like I'm below the baseline for my cohort? It's a weird feeling, and I'm sure it's not true, but I'm pleased to see that other people are feeling the same things!
Good luck everyone!
Edit: typos galore.
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Uhhh, that is my exact though process... "I will be happy when I finish my PT applications, ok, I will really be happy when I get into a school, just kidding, I will be happy after PT school when I am practicing, actually, actually, actually..." I ALWAYS delay my happiness, I need to stop that mindset already.
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Current first year DPT student here. About a year ago I was accepted to my current school and know exactly how you guys feel right now. Hopefully I can provide some insight as somebody who just went through that transition into PT school.
- Imposter syndrome is a very real thing and they actually formally addressed that during one of our orientation lectures. It's not uncommon to feel like you don't belong in a professional degree program. As somebody with a low undergrad GPA and a very low combined science/math GPA I went into PT school feeling like an underdog. I remember meeting some of my classmates in the fall and beginning to hear all kinds of stories about how people studied abroad, TA'd anatomy classes, were the president of 15 organizations, were published in research articles, and had a 3.9 GPA. Meanwhile I did absolutely none of that. I felt like I was behind and we hadn't even started classes yet. Please hear this... You do deserve your spot in your program. The admissions committee wouldn't have accepted you if they didn't think you could make it through the program. You're there for a reason.
- You're going to have some times when you feel like everybody else understands a concept and you're stuck in the weeds and can't find your way out. You'll also have times when you almost effortlessly grasp a concept right away and get a 100% on a quiz that the previously mentioned 3.9 GPA students failed. Hard work and self confidence will do more for you than all of your undergrad experiences combined.
- PT is unlike almost every other professional program in that once you get accepted the competition is essentially over. The person who graduates with an A+ will get the same piece of paper as somebody who got a C+. Unless your program offers some type of merit based scholarship that you're competing for, your GPA doesn't really matter that much as long as you're getting a passing grade. Learning the material, honing your skills, building a network, and enjoying yourself is what matters. In our PT class (~60 students) everybody has each others' backs. We often study together, compare notes, provide constructive feedback, and even have a Dropbox where we share helpful material with the entire class. Everybody wants you to succeed. You're all in it together.
- Don't beat yourself up over not getting straight A's. I knew going into PT school that it was going to be difficult, but I didn't realize how tough it was actually going to be. There were a few tests where me and my classmates walked out of the room thinking we would be lucky to get a 50% and we were high-fiving and celebrating getting a 76%. Some of these same classmates would have been devastated to get a 76% on a test in undergrad. The fact is you likely won't have enough time to study all the material for an exam (specifically thinking about gross anatomy here). You'll have to choose which hill you're going to die on and focus your efforts on the topics emphasized by your professors. Just remember: you are not your GPA.
- Don't forget to have fun. If you try and study 24/7 you'll get burnt out incredibly fast. Take time for yourself and do things you enjoy. Whether that's exercising, reading, video games, biking, etc. just make sure you have something you can use as a release from school.
PT school will be a big adjustment but you'll make it. You'll make great friends and have some incredible experiences that you'll remember for the rest of your life. It will be stressful. At times you'll feel like you're in way over your head. At times you won't be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and wonder if it's all worth it. Just keep chugging along because it WILL get better and it is worth it.
Good luck!
- Imposter syndrome is a very real thing and they actually formally addressed that during one of our orientation lectures. It's not uncommon to feel like you don't belong in a professional degree program. As somebody with a low undergrad GPA and a very low combined science/math GPA I went into PT school feeling like an underdog. I remember meeting some of my classmates in the fall and beginning to hear all kinds of stories about how people studied abroad, TA'd anatomy classes, were the president of 15 organizations, were published in research articles, and had a 3.9 GPA. Meanwhile I did absolutely none of that. I felt like I was behind and we hadn't even started classes yet. Please hear this... You do deserve your spot in your program. The admissions committee wouldn't have accepted you if they didn't think you could make it through the program. You're there for a reason.
- You're going to have some times when you feel like everybody else understands a concept and you're stuck in the weeds and can't find your way out. You'll also have times when you almost effortlessly grasp a concept right away and get a 100% on a quiz that the previously mentioned 3.9 GPA students failed. Hard work and self confidence will do more for you than all of your undergrad experiences combined.
- PT is unlike almost every other professional program in that once you get accepted the competition is essentially over. The person who graduates with an A+ will get the same piece of paper as somebody who got a C+. Unless your program offers some type of merit based scholarship that you're competing for, your GPA doesn't really matter that much as long as you're getting a passing grade. Learning the material, honing your skills, building a network, and enjoying yourself is what matters. In our PT class (~60 students) everybody has each others' backs. We often study together, compare notes, provide constructive feedback, and even have a Dropbox where we share helpful material with the entire class. Everybody wants you to succeed. You're all in it together.
- Don't beat yourself up over not getting straight A's. I knew going into PT school that it was going to be difficult, but I didn't realize how tough it was actually going to be. There were a few tests where me and my classmates walked out of the room thinking we would be lucky to get a 50% and we were high-fiving and celebrating getting a 76%. Some of these same classmates would have been devastated to get a 76% on a test in undergrad. The fact is you likely won't have enough time to study all the material for an exam (specifically thinking about gross anatomy here). You'll have to choose which hill you're going to die on and focus your efforts on the topics emphasized by your professors. Just remember: you are not your GPA.
- Don't forget to have fun. If you try and study 24/7 you'll get burnt out incredibly fast. Take time for yourself and do things you enjoy. Whether that's exercising, reading, video games, biking, etc. just make sure you have something you can use as a release from school.
PT school will be a big adjustment but you'll make it. You'll make great friends and have some incredible experiences that you'll remember for the rest of your life. It will be stressful. At times you'll feel like you're in way over your head. At times you won't be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and wonder if it's all worth it. Just keep chugging along because it WILL get better and it is worth it.
Good luck!
