Pre-Reqs and Time Line for DPT Application

[jpierce12]

---

Members don't see this ad.

To preface all of this, I am an ATC with a CSCS, and I've recently finished a MS with a 2 year graduate assistantship at the DI level. I have had a recent change of heart, and I'm contemplating applying for a DPT program rather than going for a PhD (which has been my intention for quite some time).

In short, the only pre-req's that I have at this point (which have come through athletic training and my MS) are A&P and a couple stats classes. I've got Chem I credits from dual-credit in high school as well as from my junior year of my undergrad. I'm planning on retaking it in sequence because I've certainly forgotten a lot of what would be necessary to jump straight into Chem II. I intend on applying for programs in the Fall of 2015, but I'm worried that I'll have too many pre-reqs to finish after I've sent my application in. I'm certainly a greenhorn in the process, so if someone could shed a little more light on the process I'd be grateful.

Basically, I'll still need Physics I&II, Chem I&II (see above), Bio I&II, & maybe a different Psychology course (I have taken intro to psych).

Do I have a chance at getting enough of those classes in before I apply? Do people normally have all the pre-req's finished before applying? Am I totally off-base on my thinking. Again, any help would be awesome.

Edit: I'm not sure how much it would make a difference
BS GPA: 3.71
MS GPA: 3.95
GRE: 152V 152Q 5.5AW

 

[aroszko]

Ideally schools want pre-rep's done before you apply BUT it is not 100% necessary. I had three still not completed when I applied (Chem 2, and both Physics). Check out different schools because usually they only allow a few outstanding pre-recs that are not yet completed (most school are ~3). You have 7 classes to take I would try to get that down to at most 3 by next application cycle if you can.

Other than that your GPA/GRE are good. Have you done any observation hours?

Also just curious, why the change of heart, why do you want to be a PT (you'll get this question a lot for interviews and especially since you have switched from one thing to another)?

 

[jpierce12]

Observation Hours:
Yes. In getting my AT degree, you do a lot of observation hours in various settings. One of which, for me, was in an outpatient PT clinic. I had 125 in that setting alone. While I was getting my Master's, I worked with a PT constantly. I'd struggle to even calculate the total, but it was a 2 year assistantship so it's certainly over 500 hours. This was in a sports medicine facility, so I'm not sure what setting it would be considered because there was a combination of multiple (all with college-aged athletes though).

Change of Heart:
I always loved the rehabilitation aspect of athletic training (for the repetitive, corny reasons: watching people improve, changing outcomes, building relationships, etc.), but I don't enjoy the lifestyle that comes with athletic training. On top of that, I am not a fan of dealing with acute injuries. In all honesty, they're boring to me because it ends up being nothing but slap a modality on them and let the body heal. Obviously we do rehab in that period, but a majority of the time (at the DI level at least) they end up getting sent to PT for anything significant. I want to play a role in that portion of the rehabilitation, not just the babysitting beforehand.

This is certainly a more lay explanation than the one I would give in an interview/essay, but that's the gist.

 

[PT-Dancer]

I was a post-bac student so I can empathize! Try to complete as many of the pre-recs as possible before you apply. Will you be working part time while in school? Or going back full time? Take advantage of summer classes as well!

Schools will still consider you even if you have a couple of lingering pre recs to take, just try to minimize the amount as much as possible. Get the bios, chems, and physics out of the way first before the psych class. At the very least, have have at least one physics, chem, etc under your belt, that way schools have an idea regarding what they can expect from you.

Getting your application in early is a big help, aim to have it submitted before the fall semester of 2015. (There is a place to indicate classes you plan on taking and you are able to update this area once they are complete.)

Good luck!

 

[jpierce12]

Thanks for the advice @PT-Dancer
I'll be going to school full-time, most-likely, so facilitate getting as many classes out of the way as possible. That being said, I have somewhat of an "in" at a local outpatient PT clinic, where I may be able to use ATC/CSCS skills to work and get some clinical experience knocked out at the same time. Hopefully I can negotiate that into a paid position and help myself out a little bit along the way.

 

[hockeygoalie]

Check the requirements for the schools you want to apply to. Some schools only allow 2 outstanding prerequisites.

 

[DesertPT]

If you took BIO1, CHEM1, PHY1, and and upper level psyche class next semester (Spring 2015) and then try to take one or two more in the summer if possible you'd probably be alright. If you are currently enrolled in most of your remaining pre-reqs at the time you apply (so that you can submit those grades during academic update in December) then you should be fine. Schools generally want to see less than 2 outstanding pre-reqs so they can get a proper idea of what your pre-req GPA is going to be.

Also, you definitely need some inpatient PT observation hours and will most likely need to get those old outpatient hours verified by the PTs you worked with (done through PTCAS). I would start working on those things ASAP.

Theoretically if you took 15 credits in the spring and 8-ish in the summer you could maybe have only 1 outstanding pre-req when you apply. At most you'd have 2. You should be good to go, as long as you can handle getting those observation hours in at the same time (remember that breadth of observation experience is more important than depth...30 hours each in 5 different, highly varied settings will go further than 500 hours in one setting...although having a lot in one will put you in a good position to get a great PT LOR, which it sounds like you may already have).

 

[Rgvmed]

To preface all of this, I am an ATC with a CSCS, and I've recently finished a MS with a 2 year graduate assistantship at the DI level. I have had a recent change of heart, and I'm contemplating applying for a DPT program rather than going for a PhD (which has been my intention for quite some time).

In short, the only pre-req's that I have at this point (which have come through athletic training and my MS) are A&P and a couple stats classes. I've got Chem I credits from dual-credit in high school as well as from my junior year of my undergrad. I'm planning on retaking it in sequence because I've certainly forgotten a lot of what would be necessary to jump straight into Chem II. I intend on applying for programs in the Fall of 2015, but I'm worried that I'll have too many pre-reqs to finish after I've sent my application in. I'm certainly a greenhorn in the process, so if someone could shed a little more light on the process I'd be grateful.

Basically, I'll still need Physics I&II, Chem I&II (see above), Bio I&II, & maybe a different Psychology course (I have taken intro to psych).

Do I have a chance at getting enough of those classes in before I apply? Do people normally have all the pre-req's finished before applying? Am I totally off-base on my thinking. Again, any help would be awesome.

Edit: I'm not sure how much it would make a difference
BS GPA: 3.71
MS GPA: 3.95
GRE: 152V 152Q 5.5AW

Unless you did poorly in Chem 1, do not retake it just to catch yourself up for chem 2. Look over a chem 1 syllabus from your school and simply youtube the concepts to brush up. Pounding your head against the wall for a semester and paying money for a course is unnecessary. Half of these courses can be self taught if you put the effort it. Freelanceteacher and Khan Academy are the gold standard but there are many others that are great as well. Also, MIT open courseware is excellent and FREE.