Summer Before PT School

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

fallingreason

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hey everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice from current PT students for how to use my summer before PT school. I currently have a job that pays decently, but would like to resign and just relax while visiting my family before starting an intensive DPT program. Perhaps start going over some anatomy a few hours a day.

Do you wish you took as much time off the summer before as you could? Do you wish you worked as much as possible the summer before? Any advice on this subject?
 
Last edited:
both. But unless you find a job that pays you for relaxing, you can't do both 🙂

Don't worry about studying. Relax, spend time with friends/family, and balance that with working so you can save up some cash before starting PT school.

I ended up quitting my 20 hour/week job around July 15th, moved into my apartment at school August 1st, and started my program late August/early September (right around labor day). I think that timeline worked well. I made some money, relaxed a bit, and settled into my new place/met new people before jumping into the program.
 
Don't study. Unnecessary. Like the last poster has said already, balance work and relaxation during your summer break. It'll be your last. Do you want to spend it studying? Haha. But honestly, you could study ahead, but it really won't help you unless you completely know what it is you will be going over in anatomy.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
i'm going backpacking in colombia, ecuador, peru for a month+ before school starts.
 
Someone from my school's Year1 gave this advice: spend it with your family and close friends because you're not going to have a lot of time with them when school starts.