rant: does anyone else get this?

[vinganca]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm sorely tempted to start lying to people about what I do. Because every time, without fail, the conversation goes something like this:

Well-meaning But Ultimately Infuriating Acquaintances: "so what are you up to?/what are you in school for?"

Me: "I'm taking pre-requisites right now; will be applying to physical therapy programs next year"

Responses: "oooh, that's so hard to get into! Do you know how competitive it is? Do you know you need a 4.0 to get in? oh...well even so, I know so-and-so who had a 4.0 and s/he wanted to be a PT but s/he didn't get in anywhere! I heard (local state school) had 400 applications last year! What will you do if you don't get in? Because a lot of people don't..." omg omg on and on ad nauseum with horror stories about how they've heard it's so impossibly difficult to get into PT school...

Ugh! I need to start telling people I'm studying something utterly dull, so I can avoid the inevitable. One day, the 4753234th person will say "PT school? ooh, that's soooo competitive!", and my brain-to-mouth filter will malfunction and I'll blurt out "Really?! No ****!" 😡

And it comes up at just the places/times when I'm really trying to give myself a break from thinking about all the pressure. Last night I was at an Irish step-dancing class...for the first time since I started this insane schedule of full time work, full time prereq classes, shadowing and community service hours all at once. Was really enjoying it...until someone asked me what I was in school for, and I told the truth, and then everyone had something to say about how omgimpossible it is to become a PT. 🙄 Really? On my first night off in 4 months? Thanks. 😡

Am I the only one who hears this completely unsolicited tripe from people on a regular basis? It's mildly insulting, to be honest; I'm intelligent and working hard, and I don't appreciate receiving pitying looks and pessimism in response to "I'm trying to get into PT school".

[/rant]

 

[black]

I don't get this too often and I'm in the same boat as you more or less, I'm working full time, taking prerequisites, shadowing, etc and have been doing it for a couple years now. My advice if it's starting to get to you make up a story about an alternative.

Something like: Yea I know it's hard but donating blood and semen just doesn't pay the bills as well as I would like...

Or... Well I considered robbing banks but it's pretty much a dead end field, I think it wouldn't be as challenging so I decided I would try my hand at PT.

 

[johncronejr]

Honestly, I have never once had anyone say that stuff to me. What I usually get is "Wow! That suits you perfectly!' or "That is such a good field"

 

[Sophiberry]

I live in a community where no one knows what "PT" is. As far as their understanding, I am in for something questionable and boring.

The only outside pressure is my parents. They don't know what "PT" is either. They just think that admission to this thing called "PT school" equals to good future on my part, and relieve from the "bad parents who did not send their kid to goto med school" title. The way they walk suggests that their dignity hang upon my admission.

I am already planning a backup lie to use in the condition where I got accepted no where. Should I say I got in, and keep up by making up more lies? Or tell the truth and hope that they have very good medical insurance and a great cardiology doctor will be available for them.

oh, sorry. Didn't meant to twist the topic.

I soooooo don't believe the 4.o story they keep telling. That story is either not true or not the norm. I was told a similar version too.

For those people you just met and will not meet them again, just tell them you are that good and you have already got in. (I feel great after I do that. But that's just me). They scare you with comments like that to amuse themselves with your fear and drama.

But for those who actually care about you, try to explain to them that you are trying very hard to do a great thing for your future. You are not sane and you well know the reality too. If they would like to help, then they would hug you and wish you good luck. And if you are very unfortunately rejected by your school, you wish they care enough about you to help you find your way then, not now.

 

[rosebud1]

Responses: "oooh, that's so hard to get into! Do you know how competitive it is? Do you know you need a 4.0 to get in? oh...well even so, I know so-and-so who had a 4.0 and s/he wanted to be a PT but s/he didn't get in anywhere! I heard (local state school) had 400 applications last year! What will you do if you don't get in? Because a lot of people don't..." omg omg on and on ad nauseum with horror stories about how they've heard it's so impossibly difficult to get into PT school...

I soooooo don't believe the 4.o story they keep telling. That story is either not true or not the norm. I was told a similar version too.

Exactly. If a truly qualified applicant doesn't get in anywhere, they probably just didn't apply to the right schools / enough schools. PT schools are competitive, absolutely, but they aren't so competitive that a qualified applicant won't be able to get in anywhere.

Example: It seems like a lot of PT schools, from what I've gathered, have acceptance rates between 15-30%. If you apply to, say, 6 or 7 schools that you fall into a competitive range for, probability is STRONGLY in your favor that you'll get into at least one.

 

[WSUPT]

I've never heard that before either. I have heard on numerous occasions, "oh, you give massages and stuff right?" Most of the population thinks that a PT appointment consists of lying on a bed and getting a massage. The other one I get when I tell people I'm in PT school is "couldn't get into pharmacy/medical school, huh?" even though I have no interest in medicine or pharm.

 

[pwrtrainer]

...

 

[pttrac]

I've never heard that before either. I have heard on numerous occasions, "oh, you give massages and stuff right?" Most of the population thinks that a PT appointment consists of lying on a bed and getting a massage. The other one I get when I tell people I'm in PT school is "couldn't get into pharmacy/medical school, huh?" even though I have no interest in medicine or pharm.

I completely agree with this statement. Most of the people I talk to do not have any idea and believe I am a med/pharm school reject!

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

I've never heard that before either. I have heard on numerous occasions, "oh, you give massages and stuff right?" Most of the population thinks that a PT appointment consists of lying on a bed and getting a massage. The other one I get when I tell people I'm in PT school is "couldn't get into pharmacy/medical school, huh?" even though I have no interest in medicine or pharm.

I get that a lot...or I work at a high school as a teaching assistant and when the students ask me what I want to do and I tell them physical therapy, they're like "oh you want to be a gym teacher?" Uh...not quite. Although maybe I should...there's a very attractive gym teacher at the school (he's gorgeous!) haha.

I also seem to find myself defending it to people....it's about as hard to get into PT as it is to med school, it requires a lot of science prerequisites, etc. I absolutely love the profession, but I feel like people don't truly understand what it entails. But now that baby boomers are getting older and knee replacements and need someone to rehab them! maybe word will spread 😛

 

[helloteenah]

I've had this happen to me too. One time it was from my doctor when I was 18. He said, "Oooh. Physical therapy school is very, very competitive to get into," and gave me some sort of disapproving look. I thought, "Really? You don't say? You mean I can't just show up and get in?"
Way to encourage the youth!

Another doctor, mother of my ex-bf, tried to discourage me by saying I would not obtain the respect or money I was looking for in a career. She kept insisting I should become a PA because "they park right next the doctors," even after I repeatedly told her I was not interested.

I currently work at a legal firm with people who never pursued any education past college. After hearing what I wanted to do, a co-worker stated "Really? Physical therapy can be bypassed." Not sure what she was trying to say.

Another coworker will often say, "Ooohh... PT school is really hard to get into. I don't know about you, but I'm couldn't do anymore schooling. I'm comfortable."

I just hate when people state the obvious about the competitive factor as if you've never taken it upon yourself to research. I also think it insulting in a way because you can sense that people doubt you, but really it is about their own insecurities.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

I actually feel the opposite way about when people bring up the competitiveness factor...or maybe it's just who have said it to me, but I always get the sense that it's a compliment, like saying "oh, isn't that really hard to get into?" implying that I must be really smart, not that I'm stupid and shouldn't be going for it. Or maybe that's just how I'm interpreting it...I've never felt like anyone who mention that is condescending me or implying I haven't researched it enough.

 

[Danae00]

.

 

[black]

To be honest most people I've met think that physical therapy is a one or two year program at a technical college that any high school graduate could take. 😛

Direct access has a huge effect on this, when you have to jump through hoops to get to a PT it makes it seem like they can't be trusted, I love seeing MD's give exercises to a patient that put them in a painful range of motion, benefit them in no way, and they complain about it but do them just because their doctor told them too. Maybe if MD's were not considered the end all in health care patients would start to understand they know next to nothing in a lot areas.

 

[lee9786]

Yeah I've gotten these words of discouragement. Whats worse is that I've gotten them from PTs themselves. I've had two tell me I'd be better off going to med school. In my area there seems to be little support for this doctorate. I've not seen a DPT in all of my shadowing experience. All the BsPTs and most of the MSPTs I've talked to don't support this "vision" it seems. They're quick to point out the fact that the doctorate currently has no marketable benefit. They don't seem to optomistic that third party payors will eventually reimburse for direct access. It almost seems as if they are trying to deter me. I thought for a minute they may percieve me as a potential threat. Maybe they're simply being honest.

As for the general public, people don't seem to have any clue about the PT profession. My guess is the big reason is PT has always been a referral dependent profession thus there has never been much of a need for advertisement. My mother was amazed to hear that PTs make more than RNs and think the doctorate is only going to add to healthcare costs. Some people believe what a PT does can be done by ATCs and Kinesiologists at a cheaper costs. Very discouraging.

 

[helloteenah]

I actually feel the opposite way about when people bring up the competitiveness factor...or maybe it's just who have said it to me, but I always get the sense that it's a compliment, like saying "oh, isn't that really hard to get into?" implying that I must be really smart, not that I'm stupid and shouldn't be going for it. Or maybe that's just how I'm interpreting it...I've never felt like anyone who mention that is condescending me or implying I haven't researched it enough.

I understand what you are saying, and I think it really depends on one's tone when they inquire. Of course if someone is speaking in an upbeat tone, then yes it would be silly to assume they think you are stupid.

 

[Kyra4dpt]

To be honest most people I've met think that physical therapy is a one or two year program at a technical college that any high school graduate could take. 😛

I find other people's perspective interesting. Many people who I have run into who are not involved in the health care field believe this as well! Esp the pre-med students in my classes! They think I'm already in a tech college for PT and am just taking biology, etc for....the fun of it? I've heard, "You need Physics? Why?!" I've argued with a pre-dental student that the degree is a DPT and not a PhD. He probably still swears I'm wrong! lol

If they are in health care, I'm asked why not med school or PA instead. Unless it's a PT or OT who understands! 😍

 

[DougFunnyDPT]

I work as a personal trainer right now, mostly with post-rehab clients, so the majority have been through physical therapy. Even most of them have no idea how hard PT school is. Everyone is shocked when I tell them what I've had to do to get to this point and what lies ahead in school.

 

[Danae00]

.

 

[lee9786]

We have direct access here with PT offices are seemingly on every street corner here, yet people still are clueless as the the training a PT goes through.

So I don't think it is as simple as obtaining direct access. If anything, I think people would have a higher viewpoint of PT if it was only "doctor prescribed". When anyone can walk up and get "treatment" I think there is an immediate distrust as to whether or not PTs are just out there to take your money. But if a doctor says it's valid, well, it must be!

But it really doesn't really bother me though. I have zero use for prestige and/or recognition from the public. They could think I'm a high school drop out for all I care as long as it doesn't impact my ability to do my job 🙂

Yes but in a world of patient utilization of direct access public image does matter. If patients don't accept the PT as a direct access provider they will continue to be reliant on physician referral. If a patient has the option to choose who performs their rehabilitation, then they will go to who they perceive as trustworthy. I personally question how many patients would actually use direct access if third party payers started reimbursing PTs for it directly. My guess is that most patients would still go to the physician/PA/NP for referral. So the practitioner's perception of the PT is also important. Public image does matter. You are selling who you are and what you do.

 

[markelmarcel]

Ah! I get that too! Especially since I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Educ. and Elementary Educ. Mostly I get, "well why don't you want to be a teacher anymore?"

Because I don't! That's why! Ha. But yes, I feel your pain!!!

 

[pwrtrainer]

...

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

You guys all make interesting arguments. IL is a non-direct access state, so I really don't know much about how direct access works (other than anyone off the street can walk in and get PT).

I don't know how I feel about it either - I know doctors who are very tight with PTs, and if a PT sees a patient for a screen appt (not treating them, but looking at their injury and then suggesting that they see an MD for a script or just gives them some exercises and tells them to go home) and the PT wants the patient to come in for PT, a lot of times the PT can get the patient a script by calling the MD, getting them an appt that day, and then getting a script sent over.

I don't think direct access would hurt the image of PTs, because doctors are all direct access (unless you have an HMO and need a referral to see a specialist).

I always wondered though with direct access and liability for a PT. At least when an MD refers a patient, the patient has had an MRI, has a definite diagnosis, etc. PTs aren't able to get that information without an MD's assistance, and I'd be slightly worried about treating a patient that seems like they have arthritis/sever's disease/etc and then find out that it was something much more serious. (This is basically what happened to me as a kid...they thought I had Achilles tendonitis and Sever's for 2.5 years and it turned out I had a chronic bone infection, which prior to my biopsy they thought was cancer. I even had orthos though telling me it wasn't anything serious initially, until my parents demanded more tests cuz I wasn't getting better). If I were a PT treating the kid in this case and it turned out it was cancer masquerading as a growth plate disease, even if I had recommended the parent take them to the doctor, I would feel guilty. At least with an MD prescription required it's up to the MD to make the diagnosis, and they have better tools to do so. But then I've heard direct access makes malpractice suits against PTs go down, so go figure.

Do you think PTs will ever get permission to directly order MRIs/CTs/Xrays or will they always have to ask an MD to see their patient, and then make the order?

Sorry for taking the thread someplace slightly off topic 😛

 

[WSUPT]

Military PTs are authorized to order CTs/MRIs/X-rays. They are also able to prescribe certain muscle relaxers and NSAIDS. Plus they are widely regarded as having the first PT direct access.

 

[jess818]

YES!! I get that all of the time to the point that I almost didn't apply because I figured it would be a lost cause. My undergrad uinversity is one of the only local ones that offers PT so a lot of people go there for it. It can be really discouraging but I agree with one of the above posters that I think a lot of people become insecure and want to frighten you away so it's one less person for them to compete against.

I have also had people ask if I will be giving massages and now with it being a DPT, I have people thinking I am going for my PhD. Anyways, point is if you want it GO FOR IT! It will be so sweet to go back to those people and let them know you got in that "ridiculously competitive field"😀

 

[Akiramay]

I thought I wouldn't get in anywhere I applied to either because people said it was 'so hard'. But you have to be confident in your abilities and realize that it IS hard, but someone's gotta get in, right? 😉

People can still talk about it even when you're in PT school though! I was walking to class a couple weeks ago and my neighbor stopped me and asked what I was up to. I told them I was in PT school and they said, "Ah, bet it's harder than you thought it'd be, right?" I was like, "Uh, sure." I've had very positive responses from people when I tell them I'm in PT school though. What I love is when people actually know what the profession is about! XP

I was talking with my boyfriend and his roommate about some basketball player's elbow injury and my boyfriend asked what the bones in the hand were called. I started saying them and he said, "Oh wow, you know that?" I was like, "Of course! It's anatomy, only the foundation of my career." LOL Also, a while ago I gave him a massage and he said, "You're going to make a great physical therapist!" I was like, oh no you didn't just say that! 😛 It's also like when he told my sister who's in vet school, "You love animals so much, you're gonna be a great vet!" Oh boy! XD But then again, he likes to brush his teeth a lot, so he's gonna make a great dentist. 😉

 

[ctk668]

Hmm, I only seemed to get the "PT school is extremely competitive" or "hundreds of applicants this year" remarks from fellow applicants, PT's themselves or my career counseler . I dont ever think they were trying to deter or discourage me. But, rather making sure that i had my **** together so i didn't waste all my efforts on a half assed application.

I felt the application process was difficult/competitive but no where near what they made it sound like. Not to downplay the competitivness of PT school, but in comparison dental and med schools are much harder to get into.

Next time they say something like that just imagine how good it will feel to tell them you got into their so called "ultra-competitive PT program" 🙂


The people who think med/pharm/PA school is a better option just because of prestige/money/etc. piss me off far more. If i had to go to work every single day as one of those i would probably feel like shooting myself. I feel bad for the poor souls who go into one of those careers for the prestige/money only to end up as an burnt-out and unsatisfied healthcare provider until they retire. I also feel lucky to have found a career that allows me to take my personal training experience and passion in exercise/health to another level. *sorry for the off topic rant*

 

[pwrtrainer]

...

...

 

[benchmadebali]

I'll bite.

I sometimes get the "oooh that's competitive" comments from people when I tell them I've been trying to get into PT school.

I got my BS going on 3 years ago and in that time I have done nothing but volunteer, retake prereqs. and work.

I have retaken A&P 1 and 2, took a microbiology course and I'm currently about to retake physics...

I went to Stetson University in DeLand, FL and graduated with a 2.72. Since then I have boosted my overall GPA to 2.85, and my prereq. GPA to 3.02.

I scored 1120 on the GRE the first time I took it and a 3.5 on the written portion. Clearly there is a discrepancy between my GPA and my GRE scores. I have always tested better than my grades have shown.

I have over 200 hours of volunteer/observational time and counting.

As it stands I am on Miami's alternate list, as well as FIU and Mount St. Mary's out in LA. I also have an upcoming interview with St. Augustine this summer.

My main frustration is that most schools (especially those that do not interview) see my GPA and I'm immediately out of the running. Whereas schools like Miami or Saint Augustine see that I have been at this for a while, that I am dedicated to PT as my career choice and are at least willing to give me a chance to prove myself in person.

I have applied to St. Augustine several times before, even interviewing but have never made it onto their wait list. I applied and interviewed with Miami and I got on the alt. list right off the bat.

My interview with Miami went extremely well, and I feel the only reason I didn't get a spot in the class was because of their rolling admissions cycle and my interview date was very last. I had my interviewer on the edge of their seat, demonstrating that I am up to date in current events with PT as well as my knowledge gained from my volunteer experiences. The interviewer was shocked I had even heard of some of the topics I brought up during the interview.

I know I'm blabbering on and on but my patience is beginning to wear thin. It makes me wonder why I went to a challenging school like Stetson where I had to perform graduate level research in order to be awarded my bachelor's degree vs. getting cakewalk A's at community college. 😡

I'm sick of being the one who busts the curve on all the tests, my classmates have even accused me of cheating! 😱

Don't be mistaken, I want this and I'll be damned if anything is going to stop me from achieving my dream.

If anyone actually takes the time to read this, then thank you! 😉