Hello, I am interested in becoming a Physical Therapist in my near future. I just need some advice on how I should approach this. Many people keep stressing the idea that a guaranteed seat program is the way to go. In my case the only college I might get into, along with the program as a freshman, is somewhere I do not want to attend. If i decide to go to another school and major in Health Science, will my chances of getting into a program after I graduate be less likely? I am just scared of not being accepted to a program after graduating with a bachelor's degree, where as I could've had a guaranteed seat somewhere else, but I would have not been happy at that school. Any advice would help me tremendously, thank you! If there is any Physical Therapists on here that have taken the route that took 7 years, rather than a traditonal 6 year program, I would love to hear your advice!
Questions regarding PT programs
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There isn't a traditional 6 year program anymore since the transition from MPT to DPT over the past few years. The standard is now 4 years BS/BA and 3 year DPT.
The vast majority of people who get into PT school each year do not go to a 4+3 program. If you want to go to school somewhere else that is totally fine. Get straight A's, observe PTs in numerous settings, build relationships with a couple of professors and a couple of PTs so you can get strong LORs and study hard and get a good GRE score and you will get into PT school no problem. The fact that you know entering college that you want to be pre-PT is extremely helpful and will give you lots of time to work a good plan and put together a strong application.
You can major in what interest you too, by the way. It doesn't have to be a formalize pre-health degree. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. There have been lots of threads that have discussed this topic, you will find them if you search the forum.
I don't know a lot about 4+3 programs personally, maybe some others who know more can comment.
Also as a note: there is no need to post the same question in more than one place at the same time.
Don't expect a response to the sticky you posted this is in. That isn't really an active thread, just FYI.
Don't expect a response to the sticky you posted this is in. That isn't really an active thread, just FYI.
I'm interested in becoming a Physical Therapist. I jus don't know how I should approach this. Many people have told me a traditional 6 year program with a guaranteed seat is the way to go. However, I think I am leaning towards getting a bachelors degree in Health Science and applying to PT schools after graduation. I am looking for some advice to which is the better option. Is it harder to get into pt schools without being in a guaranteed seat program? Or as long as I meet the pre-reqs and GPA requirement, I can get into grad school easily? My main concern is meeting all the requirements while earning a bachelors degree and not getting into PT school because of the competitiveness. I would appreciate if anyone can give me advice on this, especially Physicial Therapists!
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Have you done any observation hours with a physical therapist? You should be 100% sure if you're looking into 6 year programs. There aren't very many programs either, so are you interested in any of the schools?
Yes I have observed in an outpatient setting. My only issue is that out of all of the schools I applied to I didn't get accepted to their 6 year programs, except for one I'm waiting on. However, I may not even get into that program, so that's why I'm concerned on the likelihood of getting into a PT school if I decide to go a different college to earn my bachelors degree. I assume many people do it in 7 years instead of going through a 6 year guaranteed seat program. My main concern is if I choose to pursue a bachelors degree and eventually apply to PT schools, is that I won't get accepted. I just need to know if my odds are likely to get into a program after graduating.
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6 years programs are more difficult to get into initially, and your spot may not be guaranteed necessarily. There's a certain minimum GPA you need to hold and there are other requirements too. I would look into the 6 year programs you would apply to to see how difficult it is to get in and stay in. I know that Marquette sometimes accepts too many students into their program initially and then not all of the students are able to be a part of the graduate program because less students dropped than expected.
I am a health and human sciences with an emphasis of pre-physical therapy at my university. I'll give you my stats! I had a lot of AP credit going into college. I also took both physics courses over the summer of 2014, so I graduated in 3 years total.
My stats after the academic update(according to PTCAS):
Total GPA: 3.82
Science GPA (I've taken everything but physiology): 3.62
PT Prereqs: 3.75
At my university (Northern Illinois University) my GPA is a 3.856
GRE: 152V, 157Q, 4.5 writing
Observation Hours:
Early intervention pediatrics: 25
Nursing Home: 28
Outpatient Ortho:44
Women's health: 60
I have been accepted to Concordia University Wisconsin, Rosalind Franklin, Northern Illinois University, and Midwestern Downers Grove. Getting into grad schools is competitive but if you get above a 3.75 and have more than 100 observation hours and good experiences, you should have no problem. I don't have the highest GPA, GRE, or most observation hours but I've been accepted to 4 schools, waitlisted at 2 (University Illinois Chicago and UW Milwaukee) and I'm waiting on 1 (Carroll in Waukesha, WI). Don't doubt yourself 🙂
I am a health and human sciences with an emphasis of pre-physical therapy at my university. I'll give you my stats! I had a lot of AP credit going into college. I also took both physics courses over the summer of 2014, so I graduated in 3 years total.
My stats after the academic update(according to PTCAS):
Total GPA: 3.82
Science GPA (I've taken everything but physiology): 3.62
PT Prereqs: 3.75
At my university (Northern Illinois University) my GPA is a 3.856
GRE: 152V, 157Q, 4.5 writing
Observation Hours:
Early intervention pediatrics: 25
Nursing Home: 28
Outpatient Ortho:44
Women's health: 60
I have been accepted to Concordia University Wisconsin, Rosalind Franklin, Northern Illinois University, and Midwestern Downers Grove. Getting into grad schools is competitive but if you get above a 3.75 and have more than 100 observation hours and good experiences, you should have no problem. I don't have the highest GPA, GRE, or most observation hours but I've been accepted to 4 schools, waitlisted at 2 (University Illinois Chicago and UW Milwaukee) and I'm waiting on 1 (Carroll in Waukesha, WI). Don't doubt yourself 🙂
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An additional 2 cents-- doing a 4 year degree and figuring things out will help you know what you want to do and where you want to be when you graduate. With a goal ahead of you like PT and being assertive enough to check out forums like these you'll have no problem succeeding in college
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Also-- don't rush it. I'm meeting more people at interviews/on this forum that took some time off after undergrad and before PT school to figure out life. especially if you're that worried about getting in..... Go volunteer abroad in a clinic (highly recommend this), work for a year and save money to be financially stable, do something to make your application stand out!
Don't stress if you don't get into a 6 year program! The fact that you're already worried about getting in means you care enough about doing well in college to get there! 🙂
Good luck
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Also-- don't rush it. I'm meeting more people at interviews/on this forum that took some time off after undergrad and before PT school to figure out life. especially if you're that worried about getting in..... Go volunteer abroad in a clinic (highly recommend this), work for a year and save money to be financially stable, do something to make your application stand out!
Don't stress if you don't get into a 6 year program! The fact that you're already worried about getting in means you care enough about doing well in college to get there! 🙂
Good luck
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I am currently a junior in a 4+3 program. Most combined programs are 3+3 programs, but there are some out there, like mine, where you complete your bachelors in 4 years. I was in a similar situation to yours. I applied to a few BS/DPT programs and two schools with exercise science as my backup (both of which I got accepted to). I got into 3 combined programs, one my parents could not afford (didn't go there), another, which I would have gone to, but the PT school that they had their articulation with changed the program from "guaranteed admission" to "space available basis", so I didn't go there because PT school was not a sure thing. The third program was my last choice for schools with combined programs, which I ultimately decided to attend. I don't love my school, but I am still happy enough here. I have made friends and I'm involved in clubs and activities. For me, knowing that as long as I maintained my GPA, I would at the end of the day be a PT was the most important thing to me. The way I looked at it, was four years of being at a school that I didn't love was a sacrifice that I was/am willing to make to go into the profession that I love.
I think that the main difference between a 3+3 and 4+3 program is the sequence of courses. 3+3 programs might be a little more demanding than 4+3. At the 3+3 programs that I applied to, you started taking DPT classes as a senior, and completed your BS at the end of that year. This might make it a little more demanding because you have to finish your pre-reqs in 3 years instead of 4. The benefit to this type of program vs a 4+3 is that your scholarship/financial aid would probably continue for your senior year/1st DPT year, leaving you with only 2 years of grad school tuition instead of 3. I would have preferred to go to a 3+3 program.
To get into a DPT program, you have to maintain a high cumulative and science GPA (I would say around a 3.5 to be safe), do well on the GRE's, do volunteer hours (each school has its own requirements regarding number of hours, how many settings, etc), and get good letters of rec. Usually for a combined program you have to maintain a 3.0-3.2. I'm not saying this to discourage you, just to give you some insight. I would say (just from my own research) that it is more difficult to get into a DPT program than a BS/DPT program. I think less people apply to combined programs, and they accept more people than DPT programs because they know kids will change their major, transfer, not have the GPA, etc. The programs that I applied to got about 500-700 applications and accepted between 70 and 100 applicants. DPT programs usually get at least 1,000 applications, and accept 40-65ish depending on the school.
I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions, just ask! 🙂
I think that the main difference between a 3+3 and 4+3 program is the sequence of courses. 3+3 programs might be a little more demanding than 4+3. At the 3+3 programs that I applied to, you started taking DPT classes as a senior, and completed your BS at the end of that year. This might make it a little more demanding because you have to finish your pre-reqs in 3 years instead of 4. The benefit to this type of program vs a 4+3 is that your scholarship/financial aid would probably continue for your senior year/1st DPT year, leaving you with only 2 years of grad school tuition instead of 3. I would have preferred to go to a 3+3 program.
To get into a DPT program, you have to maintain a high cumulative and science GPA (I would say around a 3.5 to be safe), do well on the GRE's, do volunteer hours (each school has its own requirements regarding number of hours, how many settings, etc), and get good letters of rec. Usually for a combined program you have to maintain a 3.0-3.2. I'm not saying this to discourage you, just to give you some insight. I would say (just from my own research) that it is more difficult to get into a DPT program than a BS/DPT program. I think less people apply to combined programs, and they accept more people than DPT programs because they know kids will change their major, transfer, not have the GPA, etc. The programs that I applied to got about 500-700 applications and accepted between 70 and 100 applicants. DPT programs usually get at least 1,000 applications, and accept 40-65ish depending on the school.
I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions, just ask! 🙂
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I wish my parents had been able to afford any college at all...
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If I had been a) focused on a legitimate career path when I entered college and b) had known they existed, I would have definitely applied for a freshmen entry program, rather than go through the stress, cost and uncertainty of the application process to a DPT program, especially given how competitive it is.
I absolutely think a 3+3 simplifies the process. If I had known as a high schooler that I wanted to be a PT, I would have pursued freshman entry programs. Reasons why:
Fewer applicants
Relatively easy requirements (certain high school GPA, fewer observation hours, a couple letters of rec)
Easy requirements to remain in program (maintain certain GPA, take the GRE and hit certain scores)
Worst case scenario: you don't freshman entry, or if you do - you change your mind, or your GPA drops below requirement.
You can always apply to other programs to see what is out there, even if you are in a 3+3.
I have friends and know PTs that did it. They completely bypassed the very stressful admissions process.
So is it worth attending a school that you don't want to go to? It depends on why that school is not your first choice. If you really do not want to attend it, why did you apply in the first place? Because it has a 3+3. So at the time you applied, that was obviously the most important factor. My advice: if you are accepted to this final school, go. If you really hate it after the first semester or year, you can transfer. (I know people will say transferring is horrible and will hurt your application, but I did it twice and have been accepted to 5 programs.)
Of the schools you have been accepted to as a traditional student:
Do they have an early admissions option for juniors?
Do they give preference to their own students in the DPT admissions process?
These are things you can look for that make being admitted much easier.
Fewer applicants
Relatively easy requirements (certain high school GPA, fewer observation hours, a couple letters of rec)
Easy requirements to remain in program (maintain certain GPA, take the GRE and hit certain scores)
Worst case scenario: you don't freshman entry, or if you do - you change your mind, or your GPA drops below requirement.
You can always apply to other programs to see what is out there, even if you are in a 3+3.
I have friends and know PTs that did it. They completely bypassed the very stressful admissions process.
So is it worth attending a school that you don't want to go to? It depends on why that school is not your first choice. If you really do not want to attend it, why did you apply in the first place? Because it has a 3+3. So at the time you applied, that was obviously the most important factor. My advice: if you are accepted to this final school, go. If you really hate it after the first semester or year, you can transfer. (I know people will say transferring is horrible and will hurt your application, but I did it twice and have been accepted to 5 programs.)
Of the schools you have been accepted to as a traditional student:
Do they have an early admissions option for juniors?
Do they give preference to their own students in the DPT admissions process?
These are things you can look for that make being admitted much easier.
I like this logic. Even if you decide you don't want a PT it's not like you've signed your life away in blood to the PT profession or something. You can always drop out.
The PT admissions process really is ridiculous, and is getting more and more ridiculous each cycle. The average GPA (cGPA and pre-req) for accepted students at my top choice state school went from about a 3.54 two cycles ago to a 3.71 last cycle. In another 3 or 4 years when the OP is actually ready to apply to PT school, I have every reason to suspect that getting accepted will not be any easier than getting into an MD program (other than the fact that you don't need 2 semesters of O-chem for PT, and the GRE is significantly easier than the MCAT). At least for programs that are at all desirable and cost <$100k.
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Another option to consider is that many schools (mostly the private ones) offer some sort of preference for their DPT programs. So you can choose to attend their undergrad programs a "regular student" and then IF you are still interested in DPT 4 years down the road, you have an easier time getting into their programs. The details may vary....some waive the GRE, others say you can get in as long as you have a certain GPA, some waive the interviews. Start by making a list of all the undergrad programs you are considering, then, if they have DPT programs, go the DPT admission page and see if you can find information about preference factors. This isn't a 4 + 3 program or anything, but it can make things a lot easier.
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Why am I the only person who doesn't really see tremendous value in the 3+3 programs?
Here's my two cents: at 18 I had a firm desire to become an MD. There was nothing stopping me... that was until I began figuring out who I was. It wasn't that college was too hard, I got pretty much all A's up until the point that I decided to change career paths. (After I changed career paths I got some B's... I didn't suddenly stop caring) What happened was that I was taking many different types of classes, talking to so many different people with different perspectives leading fascinating lives. So, I somehow stumbled my way into PT.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're a conventional 18 year old college student you may find yourself applying as a graduate to be less limiting and safer in the long run. However, if you are truly passionate about PT then a 3+3 program is the most fiscally responsible decision.
Here's my two cents: at 18 I had a firm desire to become an MD. There was nothing stopping me... that was until I began figuring out who I was. It wasn't that college was too hard, I got pretty much all A's up until the point that I decided to change career paths. (After I changed career paths I got some B's... I didn't suddenly stop caring) What happened was that I was taking many different types of classes, talking to so many different people with different perspectives leading fascinating lives. So, I somehow stumbled my way into PT.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're a conventional 18 year old college student you may find yourself applying as a graduate to be less limiting and safer in the long run. However, if you are truly passionate about PT then a 3+3 program is the most fiscally responsible decision.
CD,
I started looking at this forum exactly 4 years ago when I was a senior in high school and asked the same questions that you just did. I am currently in my last semester of college and have had interviews at multiple schools and also acceptances from a few. That probably would not have happened if it had not been for this amazing forum. So, I just want to start off by saying that you're on the right path for being interested this early in the process. However, like Melanie726 said, perspectives on life will always change daily. The way I viewed the world when I was a senior in high school was completely different than it is today.. Luckily for me, I have been able to keep my interest in PT, but I cannot say the same for some of my other peers who had the same vision of pursuing this field when they entered college.
Know this CD, if you are really motivated to get into a DPT program just like I was after graduating high school, make it a priority to get A's in all of your classes, especially the science courses.
My 2 cents: I went to a university close by my house and met a PT who recommended that I majored in athletic training so that I can not only have additional credentials after my DPT, but also because that major would prepare me the best for PT school since we would constantly practice functional anatomy on the daily as we assisted in the treatment of the school's athletes. As as athletic training student at a 4 year school, I was given opportunities to work with some of the PT's on NFL teams that I still use as a connection today. (matter of fact, they wrote my letter of REC)
Point being is, Don't think you are "screwed" by not going to a 3+3. Sometimes you have to live in the moment while keeping your eyes on the prize. You want to make sure you enjoy your college experience as well. If you go to that school where you will feel unhappy , do you really feel that you can maintain the GPA that they require for you to have ? If the answer is no, you will most likely be asked to leave the program.
The last 4 years of my experience as an undergrad was superb and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I met great people, friends, and mentors that I'll always keep in touch with for the rest of my life.
With my experiences as an undergrad both in and our of the classroom I can say with pride that I truly feel that I am ready to face any challenge that PT school will throw at me.
Whatever you choose to do, just remember this quote, "when you want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe, you will be successful."
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If I was in your shoes, I would look into DPT programs and pick three or four that I really love. Then I would tour those schools and speak to as many people on the ADCOM as I could and ask them for their advice on what you should do to get into their program. I would then send follow up emails after each semester to keep them updated on your progress and keep your name fresh in their minds. When the time comes to apply you will probably get accepted in each school you apply to without any problem at all. From what I have seen, no one does the above. You will look extremely good to any ADCOM and you will certainly stand out from every other applicant. Also, make sure to keep your GPA at or above a 3.5. If you have a problem with a class make sure to take advantage of tutoring. Science classes are WAY harder and take WAY more effort than any other college courses (at least at my school because they think they're the best in the country in science) so make sure you have a laser focus and good study habits. Experiment with different methods of studying to find what's right for you. Speak with your science professors and ask them what it takes to be successful in their class. All of the above is what I would do if I could go back in time🙂. I can certainly see the advantage of going to a 4+3, but I would definitely not do that if I didn't feel comfortable with that particular program. The most important thing of all is finding the program that's right for YOU. Anyway, that's my two cents. Forty eight more cents and you can buy a can of Coke🙂
While in general I very much agree with what your saying, I don't know about this part. At most schools there is a staff member or administrative assistant of some kind that responds to most emails for the department. I don't think ADCOM members would really even see it. And if faculty members really were seeing emails from you just to "check up" every semester for 3.5 years, that could just be seen as really annoying.
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I admittedly don't have a lot to go on on the email part. The one interview I went to I got the interviewers email address and was told to email if and when I had any additional questions. I figured most schools did this as well.
I haven't gotten any contact information from anyone specific at the interviews I've gone to.
Every school does things differently so it's hard to totally know what to expect.
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One thing is for certain: Being on SDN arms you with a wealth of information! This site is extremely beneficial 🙂
D
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I did not read everyone's replies, but I would not worry about not getting into a school after you get your bachelor's. As long as you have a GPA around 3.5+, you do well in your prerequisites, and GRE 155+(especially quant), you will be fine. These are very doable. If time is a huge issue, you can always try to graduate undergrad in 3 years with an easier major, such as kinesiology or exercise science, which generally has a lot of prerequisites in them also.
But one thing I will say is that I would not worry too much about not getting into a really big name program. Similar to medical school, what differentiates the top schools nationally is their focus on research, so your main benefit from going to the #1 school vs #50 is that you will be one step ahead for PT research. However, if you are planning on just practicing as a normal PT, any accredited program within the top 100 is going to be completely fine. I do not think your job opportunities or salary out of school will really change. I go to Northwestern, which is ranked highly, and I have been realizing that a lot of what they teach us is geared more towards research rather than practice. What am I saying? When you graduate and end up going to a #75 school, you are going to be completely fine. As long as your application is solid, you will get into a school as long as you are not limiting yourself to top 10, but again rank doesn't really matter.
Even looking at graduation and licensure pass rate %'s, I would look at it with a grain of salt. If you think about it, the top ranked schools will naturally get the smarter students because they believe the schools are better. As a result, these top-ranked schools will have better percentages because they have a pool of smarter students every year. It doesn't really speak to the quality of the program. If anything, smarter students in a worse program will do better than the less-smart students in a better program. So, if you are smart, you will do well no matter where you go. Referring to my experience again, I don't think the program at Northwestern is run pretty poorly actually, but the students are all incredibly hard-working and very smart, so they do well regardless of the ineffectiveness of the teachers.
A large proportion of schools now have an average GPA for accepted applicants of >3.7, and there are a decent number with >3.8...going forward I would only be moderatelyh confident in an applicant's chances based on a GPA of 3.5-3.6, particularly if we are talking about pre-req GPA.
Also as far as I can tell if a school ever places more emphasis on one section of the GRE then the other, quant is usually the least importance...overall the raking seems to go verbal > writing > quant, at least in general. There will always be exceptions, but this is the overall theme I have observed. And plenty of schools probably just look at the total of V+Q without weighting either score more heavily.
