Should I quit while im ahead?

[SHU undergrad 5]

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I wanted to hear this from the perspective of individuals that have completed a dpt program. If I had struggled with the science pre reqs (getting Bs and Cs in all of them). Would I have a chance in grad school? I am seriously considering finding a new field of study, because I seem to struggle more than other kids.

 

[noyceguy]

I wanted to hear this from the perspective of individuals that have completed a dpt program. If I had struggled with the science pre reqs (getting Bs and Cs in all of them). Would I have a chance in grad school? I am seriously considering finding a new field of study, because I seem to struggle more than other kids.

If you are scared of adversity, please do us all a favor and don't apply to PT school. You will just drop out. However, if you are convinced that PT is career for you, don't let anybody dissuade you from going.

 

[Shyster]

I wanted to hear this from the perspective of individuals that have completed a dpt program. If I had struggled with the science pre reqs (getting Bs and Cs in all of them). Would I have a chance in grad school? I am seriously considering finding a new field of study, because I seem to struggle more than other kids.

I had multiple B's and C's: I retook all the C's and turned them into A's. I'm in PT school now and am doing very well. Hard work pays off!!!

 

[DPT13]

I wanted to hear this from the perspective of individuals that have completed a dpt program. If I had struggled with the science pre reqs (getting Bs and Cs in all of them). Would I have a chance in grad school? I am seriously considering finding a new field of study, because I seem to struggle more than other kids.

It depends on what aspect of the classes you find difficult. Have your grades been improving Cs, then more Bs? Have you re-examined your study habits and tried to make changes there?

If PT is your passion, I would say go for it. However...I won't lie, PT school is really tough. Chemistry was not my strong point in undergrad, nor was Physics II. I found the bio, A&P and exercise phys came a lot easier for me. Interestingly, I don't feel like any of my undergrad classes taught origins/action/innervation in a way that helped me to really learn it, but my PT curriculum helped me to get it down pat.

If you're struggling in all areas equally, then I'm not sure pursuing graduate coursework in those same topics (as is PT school) would be a practical decision. Detailed anatomy and physiology are at the core of our curriculum, as well as neuroscience. The chem and physics are much more secondary, though still necessary for the profession.

 

[PTMattI]

I struggled as well when I was in undergrad.....poor study habits and not highly motivated. After getting into PT school my study habits have improved, I am much more motivated, and I believe the instruction I am getting is far better.

If you put forth the effort you will be fine...the info in PT school isnt really hard, there is just a lot of it.

 

[Lolawashere]

i struggled with chem and physics too because it was hard to apply it to PT as an undergraduate student. I suggest taking the classes you got a C in over at a community college. However, if you are struggling with anatomy and physiology, that is something you should really consider since PT school heavily emphasizes these topics as it is the cornerstone of our profession.

 

[bnwj89]

I honestly feel like if you can get into a school, then you can get through a program. You'd be amazed what you can accomplish when there's a lot of pressure on you to perform.

 

[Berzerkernuts]

I honestly feel like if you can get into a school, then you can get through a program. You'd be amazed what you can accomplish when there's a lot of pressure on you to perform.

This is absolutely not true, my class lost 8 students throughout the 3 year curriculum, some for academic reasons and some for clinical reasons.

 

[NewTestament]

This is absolutely not true, my class lost 8 students throughout the 3 year curriculum, some for academic reasons and some for clinical reasons.

Read the OP's statement. He's saying you can get through a program, but it's not a guarantee. If you get accepted into a program, you're definitely qualified. Some don't make it for personal reasons, or they realize PT isn't for them. My class has lost one student but I seriously questioned her commitment.

Kevin

 

[AlanWattsBlues]

This is absolutely not true, my class lost 8 students throughout the 3 year curriculum, some for academic reasons and some for clinical reasons.

The class ahead of ours has now lost something like 5 people. And I've seen people in my own class struggling on the borderline of academic probation that could lead to getting the boot. It sucks, and honestly I was surprised that attrition in PT was so high.

So getting accepted is not a guarantee of success, but few people would take pre-reqs, volunteer/shadow, and throw down a bunch of money if they didn't have a decent amount of determination to follow down this path. Getting kicked out can happen even among people whose previous scholastic coursework was enough to get in. Honestly, that's kinda scary.

But to the original point of problems in pre-req sciences: I'm not sure that PT school is testing the same thing that basic science tests. You aren't internalizing complex models about the underlying nature of reality and expressing it via mathematics. But if (as mentioned before) you haven't done well in intro A&P, that might be a signal that PT isn't a good fit.