What are the chances of me getting into PT school?

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erikaash27

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Hello,

I am applying to PT school starting this July. I am really worried about getting in. My first two years of college were rough and I ended up transferring three times. I was playing tennis on a scholarship and dealing with medical issues that made me struggle with memory issues and made me feel very weak and tired. I couldn't afford the schools if I stopped playing tennis so I transferred to a public school where it was cheaper. Anyway, my first two years of college my GPA was pretty low, but when I transferred I started doing a lot better and each semester, my grades would continue to get better. This last semester I got a 3.9.

My stats:
Transfer work GPA: 3.18
Current institution GPA: 3.638
Cum. GPA: 3.392
GRE: Haven't taken it yet (Goal is to get 155 on each section and 4 on analytical writing)
Observation Hours: 560 in a paid setting in three different nursing homes ,20 hours in an outpatient clinic, and 10 hours home health
Extracurricular Activities: Played varsity tennis at first two institutions, a part of a sorority, delta rho tau (physical therapy club), Alpha Phi Omega (service fraternity), and tennis club

I am planning on applying to at least 20 schools. Hopefully this will broaden my chances of getting into one. Mostly going to apply to private institutions because it seems like they accept lower GPA applicants.

Do you guys think I have a chance at getting into any? Do you have any advice that I can do to prepare myself or anything that would give me a better chance of getting into a program?

Also, I am struggling about who to ask for my letters of recommendation. I have one set up already from a professor and a health care professional. However, for the physical therapist I have two options. My aunt is a physical therapist and has helped me and mentored me with the field. She would write me a great letter of recommendation, but a lot of schools seem like they discourage letters of recommendation from family members. On the other hand, I could ask a physical therapist I worked with last summer at the nursing home. She wasn't there much so I interacted more with the PT assistants. The PT seemed to like me and I would help her out a lot when she was there, but I am worried she doesn't know me well enough and won't give me a strong letter that I need. What do you think I should do?

Thanks for your time!
 
I wouldn't say it's discouraged, rather it's straight up not allowed for family members to write recommendations. I would check with the schools you plan on applying to, but I think that is usually the case.
 
If your pre-req GPA is good and you're willing to shell out the money to apply to 20 schools, I'd say you have a good shot of getting in at least somewhere. I wouldn't recommend using your aunt as a reference. If you look at the PTCAS instruction PDF, the LOR is more like a rating system - the reference is asked to rate you on multiple different characteristics (responsibility, problem solving, commitment to learning, etc.) and then answer the question "Taking into consideration these characteristics how do you think this person would perform as a health care provider?" If you believe the PT from the nursing home knows you well enough to rate you highly and answer that question with a strong yes, then I think that's fine.

Also... take both your essay and the GRE seriously! Although this year's essay question is a little tougher, I think my essay and GRE score were arguably the strongest elements of my application.
 
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That's good enough for anywhere you apply since the medium tends to be 3.6 -3.7. So, factoring a SD of .3 a 3.3 (rounded down) gives you more than enough for a chance, and your overall stats (all of them) look good. You also don't have to apply to 20 schools... That wasn't a very rational/practical answer. I don't believe every school will take you, but all will consider you and some will take you for sure. Granted your GRE is good and you aren't a robot in an interview. Good luck 🙂
 
I wouldn't say it's discouraged, rather it's straight up not allowed for family members to write recommendations. I would check with the schools you plan on applying to, but I think that is usually the case.

Okay, thank you. I found someone else to give me a LOR anyway.
 
If your pre-req GPA is good and you're willing to shell out the money to apply to 20 schools, I'd say you have a good shot of getting in at least somewhere. I wouldn't recommend using your aunt as a reference. If you look at the PTCAS instruction PDF, the LOR is more like a rating system - the reference is asked to rate you on multiple different characteristics (responsibility, problem solving, commitment to learning, etc.) and then answer the question "Taking into consideration these characteristics how do you think this person would perform as a health care provider?" If you believe the PT from the nursing home knows you well enough to rate you highly and answer that question with a strong yes, then I think that's fine.

Also... take both your essay and the GRE seriously! Although this year's essay question is a little tougher, I think my essay and GRE score were arguably the strongest elements of my application.

Thank you for your help! I think my pre-req GPA is around a 3.5. Yeah, I'm not going to use my aunt as a reference. I'm following one of her good friends and that person is going to write me one. Trust me, I'm taking the GRE very seriously as well as the essay. I've been studying for 3 months now and taking it next week. Hopefully it will go well. The essay question seems very tough, but I'm going to try my best. Thank you again!
 
That's good enough for anywhere you apply since the medium tends to be 3.6 -3.7. So, factoring a SD of .3 a 3.3 (rounded down) gives you more than enough for a chance, and your overall stats (all of them) look good. You also don't have to apply to 20 schools... That wasn't a very rational/practical answer. I don't believe every school will take you, but all will consider you and some will take you for sure. Granted your GRE is good and you aren't a robot in an interview. Good luck 🙂

Thank you very much for your encouraging words 🙂
 
Thank you for your help! I think my pre-req GPA is around a 3.5. Yeah, I'm not going to use my aunt as a reference. I'm following one of her good friends and that person is going to write me one. Trust me, I'm taking the GRE very seriously as well as the essay. I've been studying for 3 months now and taking it next week. Hopefully it will go well. The essay question seems very tough, but I'm going to try my best. Thank you again!

With a 3.5 prereq you should have no problem!! Good luck!
 
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