PTCAS essay approach

[redrose424]

So the prompt this year is:

"APTA's vision for physical therapy is 'transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience'. How will you embody this vision as a future physical therapist?”

I've already written my essay and had some people look over it. I got mostly positive reviews, but one person said my essay wasn't personal enough and suggested I add in some background information about myself (specific observations I've had, therapy I've had, previous work), but I feel like this question is more about tenets you think are important to physical therapy and how they will allow you to be the envisioned physical therapist. So I basically have 3 main points I've made (quality of care, patient centered, working as a team) to tie back to the prompt, but its not like I have much information about my past or anything. Should I change this? Is this the proper approach to the question?

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[DjT3kN]

I would highly suggest to entail some type of personal experience that ties in with your embodiment as a future physical therapist. Yes, the question directs you to speak about the tenets that you believe are important to PT and how will you use those to embody APTA's vision as a future PT. However, keep in mind that by including your personal experience about quality care, patient centered approach, or working as a team will allow the reader to truly see that you understand these tenets and are able to apply them into your own life to further APTA's vision to transform society. So what makes these tenets important to you? What have you seen in your work, therapy, or volunteer experience that made you choose these tenets? And a powerful way to answer these questions is through your own personal experience. Hopefully this helps and good luck with the essay.

 

[starrsgirl]

Agree with above poster and your reviwer's thoughts....I think this is a really common mistake applicants make (not making the essay personal). The admissions committee doesn't really want to read hundreds of essays on the APTA vision. They are interested in the "how will YOU embody this" part. Because they don't know you, the only way to demonstrate that you will embody those things is by presenting past evidence about you. Your reviewers should be able to read the essay and KNOW you wrote it versus someone else. You have to sell the admissions committee on you in the essay. Tell a story about an experience, or relate a life event or tap into what gets you fired up about physical therapy.

 

[redrose424]

I would highly suggest to entail some type of personal experience that ties in with your embodiment as a future physical therapist. Yes, the question directs you to speak about the tenets that you believe are important to PT and how will you use those to embody APTA's vision as a future PT. However, keep in mind that by including your personal experience about quality care, patient centered approach, or working as a team will allow the reader to truly see that you understand these tenets and are able to apply them into your own life to further APTA's vision to transform society. So what makes these tenets important to you? What have you seen in your work, therapy, or volunteer experience that made you choose these tenets? And a powerful way to answer these questions is through your own personal experience. Hopefully this helps and good luck with the essay.

Thank you, I think that is a bit more understandable than what was suggested to me previously. Since I have 3 tenets, I talked about a different specific experience in a different setting I observed for each. But they seem awfully brief (about 1 or 2 sentences), but at the same time I need to cut down more (400 characters over the limit). Also if anyone is willing to actually read and critique I won't say no... 😉

 

[SnowyDPT]

I agree, state an experience. HOWEVER, do not use the "when I (insert injury here)" story. A lot of applicants use this approach and the ACs get sick of reading these essays. Instead, talk about an experience with a patient you had while observing and how it impacted how you want to practice

 

[redrose424]

Agree with above poster and your reviwer's thoughts....I think this is a really common mistake applicants make (not making the essay personal). The admissions committee doesn't really want to read hundreds of essays on the APTA vision. They are interested in the "how will YOU embody this" part. Because they don't know you, the only way to demonstrate that you will embody those things is by presenting past evidence about you. Your reviewers should be able to read the essay and KNOW you wrote it versus someone else. You have to sell the admissions committee on you in the essay. Tell a story about an experience, or relate a life event or tap into what gets you fired up about physical therapy.

I'm not really sure I know how to "sell me" to the admissions committee, I basically just pointed out a specific story from when I observed, like "When I observed therapist X they did this and this happened and that is I guess my "evidence" as to why I've chosen these three aspects to be pretty important.

I agree, state an experience. HOWEVER, do not use the "when I (insert injury here)" story. A lot of applicants use this approach and the ACs get sick of reading these essays. Instead, talk about an experience with a patient you had while observing and how it impacted how you want to practice

Not a problem here, I've never been injured or gone through PT myself 🙂

 

[starrsgirl]

Watching someone do something isn't evidence. What did that observation make you think about? Feel? For example, on working as a team, when have you been part of a team? What role did you play? Why was the team approach better than you on your own? If you feel like you don't have great reasons for your points besides that's what you think you should do when you are a PT, then I encourage you to change them to capture what makes you tick right now.

 

[redrose424]

Watching someone do something isn't evidence. What did that observation make you think about? Feel? For example, on working as a team, when have you been part of a team? What role did you play? Why was the team approach better than you on your own? If you feel like you don't have great reasons for your points besides that's what you think you should do when you are a PT, then I encourage you to change them to capture what makes you tick right now.

Well for a more specific example in regards to the team I basically added how I volunteered in an inpatient rehab facility and it was useful to see how the PTs worked with the other staff (OTs, nurses, doctors) to gain a more comprehensive view of the patient's issues. Basically, say if a patient had a surgery and went to an outpatient clinic instead of the PT asking the patient about the surgery etc the PTs where I observed went directly to the doctor and asked for clarity/information.

 

[starrsgirl]

I think you can still get more personal. Watching a team isn't the same as being part of a team. Anyone can watch a team, but you can't understand the value until you've worked on a team. Have you experienced a team? How did your experience make you value it as a future pt? Does that make sense? This essay is about you, not about other people you watched. I think you can keep digging a little deeper. I recommend starting with some brainstorming...think about the most important things that drew you to PT....think about the most important things about you that you want someone to know. Why do you believe in PT versus other health career paths? What are some of the formative events of your life? Sit down and work on a lot of those and see if anything jumps out. You may find one thing that can direct your essay well. Don't get too caught up in what you think the essay is asking for. It's an incredibly broad topic. You can basically take it anywhere.

 

[jblil]

^ I agree with what starrsgirl said above.

OTOH, am I the only one to think that APTA's vision ("Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience") sounds like it was written by someone who was paid by the word?

 

[Futurept30]

I agree the admissions committee will want to look at a various types of essay. I wrote a rough draft and included some personal stories, but I was told to steer away from it since it should focus more on the individual applying to pt school. How much personal information about observing a pt experience should be included in the essay? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Kuhdaytee]

I agree the admissions committee will want to look at a various types of essay. I wrote a rough draft and included some personal stories, but I was told to steer away from it since it should focus more on the individual applying to pt school. How much personal information about observing a pt experience should be included in the essay? Any help is appreciated.

I suppose that's up for you to decide? When I wrote my essay, I think I wrote one paragraph about observing (where I was directly involved with a patient, it was aquatics/pediatrics so I was able to actually help), and then I referenced it later in the essay I think. One or two stories is enough, because it should be focused on your qualities, not how "this one particular PT was really good at their job and you want to be like them" sort of thing. Reflection on your observation experiences is useful, but it shouldn't be your entire essay.