to apply or not to apply?

[pa3cia15]

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So i'm really not sure if i should apply for PT school this year. My parents prefer me to go to PT school right after I graduate but they said it's fine if I wait another year (I think they're only saying that so I don't feel pressured). My counselor doesn't really help since she says it's all up to me. But me, I'm really motivated to go right after I get my bachelor's degree which will be next spring but I'm having second thoughts. So i will enumerate all of my reasons why and why not I want to apply this 2012-2013 cycle.

Why I would like to go to PT school next year?
I'm really excited to go to PT school.
I'm really motivated.
I would like to be a PT as soon as possible to help my parents.
I have my volunteer hours completed and I would not want the PTs that I shadowed to write my LORs a year after I shadowed them.
I think taking a year off would be a waste because I probably would end up traveling or working at a fast food
It would be a great accomplishment for me to go to PT school at the age of 20.

Why I don't want to start PT school next year?
Financially unprepared.
I don't have all of my prereqs done. (I'm taking Chem 2 this fall, Developmental or Abnormal Psych in the spring. That means I wouldnt have any Bio classes completed, I know some schools that don't need any Bio like NAU)
I wouldn't be able to apply to all the schools that I would like to because of the previous reason.
My GRE scores are low (152 for quant, 148 for verbal and 3 for analytical) I would retake it but I don't have a lot of time to study for it again.
Strengthen my application: more volunteer hours, higher GRE scores

Please I need your advice.

 

[Azimuthal]

I would apply just because I personally will not have much to gain in a 1 year gap. Why don't you take your list, place a weighted value (1-5) next to them and see which comes out on top? Good luck.

 

[djb051]

If I were financially unstable, I would take the extra year or two to save for school, but only because I know I would be able to save a lot within just 1 year or 2. It also depends on where you would be applying though because tuition rates can vary quite a bit from school to school especially between state and private schools. If you said you would not be able to save up very much within the time taken off though, then I would just go ahead and apply, especially if the programs you are applying to will be on the cheaper side.

 

[blackcar]

If I were in your case I would apply to a few schools this application cycle. You should look for other schools that do not require Biology and apply. The reason is because even if you do not get accepted this year. When you apply next year they will see your name as a reapplicant and you will be much more likely to get accepted then.

I think you should also apply this cycle because realistically PT school is expensive. The average school costs $50,000 and housing/books may be extra. All I am saying is that it would be difficult to make that much money in one years work. You have also finished your LORs which is great. Also, the quicker you get in means the faster you can graduate and therefore be able to pay off any loans faster rather than waiting.

Personally, I would apply this year hoping to get. However if for some reason you do not get in this year, you would be able to reapply next year and become a much stronger applicant because schools would have already seen your name.

Good Luck