When is it the right time to apply?

[ASUDevils]

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Any input would be greatly appreciated regarding my current situation. As some background, I am currently at Arizona State University as a junior. I will be graduating with B.S. next spring. With that being said, I have a few outstanding PT prerequisites remaining. These courses are as follows: CHM I, CHM II, PHY I, PHY II. I am currently a 4.0 student at ASU and am receiving a partial scholarship for my excelling grades at community college prior to transferring. With my remaining courses left at ASU, I am confident in saying I should be graduating with a 4.0. All PT prerequisites taken prior I have received an A or A+.

My ultimate question is when should I apply? For instance, my major school of interest only requires (1)CHM course, so that would place me at (3) outstanding prerequisites and I could apply. However many other schools I have found only offer application to those with less than (4) outstanding prerequisites but require 2 CHM courses. So I feel as if I am to apply after graduating with my B.S to those that only require one CHM course OR wait an entire year for those that require <4 remaining courses.

If anything was unclear I would be glad to elaborate. Again, any information or insight is greatly appreciated.


Thank you,

ASU Student


[EDIT] I would like to add that those remaining courses I have left would be taken at a community college

 

[starrsgirl]

Take 2-3 pre reqs this summer and apply in September. Your GPA is great, it would be most efficient for you to go straight into PT school as you likely don't need the year off for an application booster.

 

[ASUDevils]

Take 2-3 pre reqs this summer and apply in September. Your GPA is great, it would be most efficient for you to go straight into PT school as you likely don't need the year off for an application booster.

This crossed my mind as well, but it is difficult to imagine a scenario where i'd be taking 2-3 condensed Chem/Physics courses and being successful in them (A or A-). As of now, I am registered for Developmental Psych for the summer. My other thought was to take Chem I over the summer of 2016 right after graduating, that way worst case scenario is that I will apply for a school with 3 remaining courses(chem II, and both physics). Thank you kindly for your thoughts.

 

[starrsgirl]

I would dump developmental psych and schedule it in the fall....I don't foresee that really affecting admissions decisions. If you are taking Chem/Physics at a community college in a condensed format, this is excellent practice for PT school. In fact, I argue it's a great test of your ability to handle a rigorous load. I think it is completely doable as long as you aren't trying to work full time (part time work should be fine). You could take Chem I and Physics I the first cycle. Then maybe Chem II the second summer cycle. Depending on what schools you are planning to apply to you might even be able to take the academic portions online and go in person for the labs which makes your hours a little more efficient.

**I do NOT recommend applying with both physics outstanding. No matter what, applying with 3-4 outstanding classes is going to hurt you. At a minimum, get at least the first chemistry and physics done.

I personally did a crazy summer where I dual enrolled at 2 community colleges (I was taking too many credit hours for 1 CC). I also worked part time. I took Bio, Physics, English and a math class in a shortened semester. Was it hard? HECK YES it was hard. But I buckled down and got it done with As. Community college classes seem to be very straightforward. I'm not saying they are easy, but the expectations are clear and if you study hard, good grades will come (haven't found that to be the case with courses at other schools). The good thing is it was short (8 weeks in my case so I could see the end when I started). And, looking back, it was still many times easier than my first semester of DPT school.

You are clearly a good student. If you pulled this off, there is clear financial incentive too as you would be working as a PT a year earlier and not generating any additional expenses in an off year.

 

[kcrat21]

I took chem I/II and phys I/II the summer I applied to PT school....if it's important to you to go to PT school then 16 weeks of hell during the summer won't kill you, especially considering PT school is 3 year's worth.

 

[DesertPT]

Highly recommend taking PSY 341 as an icourse with Barbara Tinsely if it's available...easiest A I've ever gotten.

Fear the fork!!

 

[DesertPT]

@ASUDevils just checked, Tinsely isn't doing it in the summer. I've heard fabricius is tough in person, don't know about his icourse... And I don't know about the other profs who are teaching either.