Taking a Year Off

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I've totally underestimated how competitive and hard it is getting into PT school! i'm currently wait-listed at a couple schools and haven't gotten accepted anywhere yet, and now i feel like i should probably start looking at other options in case i don't end up getting accepted at my waitlisted schools. What are some cool/interesting/different things to do (PT related) if i take a year off? I know i can find a job as a PT aide/tech but i kind of want to do something more exciting than that for a year. I've heard of people becoming athletic trainers, which seems like something i'm sort of leaning towards right now, but what are some other things i could possibly look into?
thanks!

 

[Axesmasher]

I've totally underestimated how competitive and hard it is getting into PT school! i'm currently wait-listed at a couple schools and haven't gotten accepted anywhere yet, and now i feel like i should probably start looking at other options in case i don't end up getting accepted at my waitlisted schools. What are some cool/interesting/different things to do (PT related) if i take a year off? I know i can find a job as a PT aide/tech but i kind of want to do something more exciting than that for a year. I've heard of people becoming athletic trainers, which seems like something i'm sort of leaning towards right now, but what are some other things i could possibly look into?
thanks!

You do realize that you cannot just become an athletic trainer in most states right? To become an trainer in most states your bachelors degree must be in athletic training and then you have to take a certification exam.

 

[Azimuthal]

I've totally underestimated how competitive and hard it is getting into PT school! i'm currently wait-listed at a couple schools and haven't gotten accepted anywhere yet, and now i feel like i should probably start looking at other options in case i don't end up getting accepted at my waitlisted schools. What are some cool/interesting/different things to do (PT related) if i take a year off? I know i can find a job as a PT aide/tech but i kind of want to do something more exciting than that for a year. I've heard of people becoming athletic trainers, which seems like something i'm sort of leaning towards right now, but what are some other things i could possibly look into?
thanks!

Don't forget to also look into something outside of PT that you enjoy. Growth is not limited to the world of PT. I'm sure you will receive an acceptance letter. If not, next year. Good luck!

 

[brightlight1]

You do realize that you cannot just become an athletic trainer in most states right? To become an trainer in most states your bachelors degree must be in athletic training and then you have to take a certification exam.

Oh thanks for letting me know that! i had thought there was only an exam to pass, i didn't know about the athletic training bachelors degree (i just checked and it's required for cali)..i guess that's ruled out now.. 🙁

and azimuthal, i definitely agree with you! i do have things in mind outside the PT world, but i want to do something PT-related as well. thanks for the good hopes! 🙂

 

[bnwj89]

My sister is teaching english in Taiwan for a year, and has basically gotten to travel the world during her vacation times. Something like that might be cool 🙂

Sent from my DROID3 using SDN Mobile

 

[adh28]

Do some cool community service in various cultures, communities, or areas in your city (I know not PT related, but it helps your application). Study for and take the CSCS if you have an interest in becoming a sports PT one day and would like to train athletes and enhance performance as a part of your clinical work too. Check with your local university if there are opportunities for research in a health, kinesiology, or something related, kind of department. Good luck!

 

[situational]

I've totally underestimated how competitive and hard it is getting into PT school! i'm currently wait-listed at a couple schools and haven't gotten accepted anywhere yet, and now i feel like i should probably start looking at other options in case i don't end up getting accepted at my waitlisted schools. What are some cool/interesting/different things to do (PT related) if i take a year off? I know i can find a job as a PT aide/tech but i kind of want to do something more exciting than that for a year. I've heard of people becoming athletic trainers, which seems like something i'm sort of leaning towards right now, but what are some other things i could possibly look into?
thanks!

If you have a local rock climbing facility, you can always work there! One of my friends who is now in PT school worked there before being accepted. She got paid AND got to rock climb and go bouldering for free.

If you want to be a trainer at a gym, I would shy away from it, to be honest. One of my friends was a former trainer and he hated his life. You're basically pressuring people all the time to sign up for the training regimen (like $50+ a session too, so lots of people just get the free one-session tryout and then never actually join). He got burnt out from being literally a salesman and just quit.

 

[akry6]

If you have a local rock climbing facility, you can always work there! One of my friends who is now in PT school worked there before being accepted. She got paid AND got to rock climb and go bouldering for free.

I've been a rock climber for almost 6 years and it definitely came up in discussion a few times during interviews. 😀 On that note, take this time to further develop your hobbies. You can show your commitment to helping others by volunteering in your community. Do things outside of PT that show that you're a well-rounded individual and stand out from other candidates. More than one of my interviewers told me that they liked that I had different experiences from other applicants (I volunteered in a homeless shelter for mentally-ill women, also with blind/visually impaired veterans, etc.).

I also second the advice on trying research. It's a very different aspect of science and can still be PT related. Every school at which I interviewed asked me about my research experience (but not about my research! I think this is because it was completely not PT related, haha).