Taking a year off

[T2T2]

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Hey everyone,

I'm currently a undergraduate senior looking into PT school. I wanted to post a question in this forum intended for current physical therapy students. I know that taking a year off is becoming a more common route to go. With the cost of PT school getting so ridiculous, a lot of people want to make sure it's the career for them, enhance their competitiveness for the next round of applications, just decompress after a grueling 4 years of undergrad, or just take advantage of a year off to travel or try other new experiences.

For those of you that took a year off after graduating prior to starting PT school, was it beneficial? And why did you decide to do so?

 

[rangardrum]

I'm not sure if my situation applies, but I worked for several years before returning to school to pursue PT. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I originally graduated from college, so I wanted to gain some work experience while reflecting more deeply on where I wanted to go from there. Not only was it very difficult to find a job, but I hated what I did find (yet worked there for several years). I am a first year DPT student at age 29 now.

Personally, I don't think it would have been necessary for me to take any time off after undergrad if I had an interest in PT at that time.

As an aside, I think I've got a totally new understanding of the idea of "grueling" as I approach final exams this summer. Undergrad now seems like it was a year-round vacation. 😛

 

[ptootles]

I took off a year after finishing undergrad but it was not intentional. I naively only applied to one DPT program for the school year starting immediately after undergrad and when I was not accepted, I had to sit out a year. Looking back, it was probably for the best - I had more time to work (earn a few $$'s), volunteer and get more observation experiences and just get away from school for a while. Although as rangardrum points out, undergrad was a breeze compared to that first year in the DPT program.

 

[elmcd77]

I took 5 years off, similar to Rangardrum, in that I did not know what I wanted to do after college. (I actually thought I was going to apply to law school, and I'm so happy that did not happen.) Aside from that, I had an opportunity to work full-time as a PT tech/aide in a clinic for two years, and I feel that gives me a better perspective on school when we are discussing patient situations, etc. It is hard being a bit older and not as fresh from undergrad as most of my classmates, but I also have a better perspective, in my opinion. I also think taking a year or more off can confirm or deny that you are heading on the right path. If I had not taken a year or more off, I would have graduated from law school right now and would probably be hating my life working all the time and not making much of a difference in anyone's life. Just my experience.

 

[469738]

I definately agree that taking time off to find yourself or to work and figure it all isnt a bad thing at all. I am a nontraditional and have been working with my undergrad degree for a couple years and have now realized that I do not enjoy my profession that pursued in undergrad. I have had a lot of life changing events occur in the last couple years that has realigned my desires in life to something completely different. Looking back, when i graduated from undergrad I knew nothing compared to what i know now. Its amazing how life changes you even in a couple years. Undergrad is very sheltered compared to the "real world" (at least it was for me). The life experience I have (even a couple years) i feel will greatly help me relate to patients in the PT profession.

 

[T2T2]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, guys. Feel free to keep them coming!

 

[Kepania]

Yes for Pete's sake take some time off and go experience life. Work, travel, find new hobbies, even spend time getting your PT observation hours or volunteering in the community (application committees seem to like that). From what I've been told, and am about to find out for myself, PT school is no joke. Take some decompression time like you said and see what life has to offer before committing to another three years of grueling academics. The fact that you are asking this question suggests that you may be leaning towards taking the year off to get out in the world a bit before committing to PT, which to me seems to be the completely healthy and normal thing for a young person to want to do! Grad school will be there for you next year. I'm 39 and starting PT school in three weeks and I am certain that the admission committee at my school reeeeally liked all that "life experience" I have. They must have, because the rest of my application was not that great, except for my GRE scores. Go have fun! Good luck! 🙂

 

[Tom51]

I would not suggest taking a year off. I graduated in May of 2011 in kinesiology, took a year off and am now going to PT school this Fall. The past year was by far the biggest waste of time in my life. I lived at home with my parents and while I did pay off some debt, I would have much rather just gotten on with my life and started PT school a year earlier. If you can afford to travel, then that is different. However, if you are just taking a year off to work I wouldn't recommend it from my experience.

 

[Catch]

Taking a year off to work in my opinion is a good idea. If you save up some money, you will not have to rely on loans as much or have to work as much during school. You also will have more time for yourself that year than if you went straight into school.

 

[Kismet426]

Well I've just finished applying for this cycle (first time applicant), so not a current PT, but I graduated in 2010 and for me it was definitely worth it to take these years off.
I paid off all of my student loans from undergrad, so I'm going into grad school debt free + thousands in savings.
I also think the chance to see what a true "9-5/full time/this is your career/entire life" job was like was extremely valuable and helpful. it allowed me to feel confident about spending the money to become a pt.
I also used my vacation time from my job to travel abroad.
I guess it all depends on your priorities/situation: do you have undergrad debt? do you have things besides getting a PT degree you want to do? are you sure you have a true sense of the working world/are you 100% committed to being a PT?

 

[djb051]

I graduated in 2011, but I wish I had applied last year and went straight into PT school, mainly because I did not have any undergrad debt after graduating. I worked full-time for awhile after I graduated, but I did not feel it helped me. Everyone is different, and everyone has different circumstances so ultimately the choice is yours of whether or not to take a year off.