When should I apply?

[rmar1129]

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Hi all! I've lurked here on the forums for a while..finally decided to sign up. A little background... I used to be a nursing student & when I got into clinicals I knew I'd never be happy there. Long story short, I've found my love in PT. I've worked in outpatient pt as a rehab tech/aide for about a year now.

I found out from my advisor that I will be eligible to graduate with my undergrad next Aug. I still have my Physics, Chem, and a couple odd pre-reqs to complete over the next year. It looks like most programs start over summer. I'm in Illinois & hope to attend PT school in state. Does this mean I'll have to wait an extra cycle? Also will schools accept you if your pre-reqs are still in progress?

Just trying to get all my ducks in a row 🙂

 

[nicolej5]

You should apply to the cycle that opens right before you graduate. So if you graduate Aug 2014, that years cycle will open July 2014. Get all of your LORs and observations done quickly, send the final transcript and have your essay written before you graduate. You will still be applying early if you can get it done by September. And yes some schools will accept you if you have only a few pre reqs that you are enrolled in or plan to be enrolled in next semester.

 

[RPC2011]

From experience get everything done before applications open makes it easier on you in the long run. First time I applied I procrastinated and ended up not having very many interviews, second go around the number doubled and luckily was accepted. I found the hardest part with the application was reminding my Recommendations of the deadline. I would make a deadline earlier than when you have to have them in by. Don't be afraid to continually remind them and ask if they have completed your LOR. I almost had to force some of mine to sit down and write them, luckily the liked me enough and were okay with me getting onto them about finishing them!! If you have any questions feel free to ask.

 

[rmar1129]

So if I expect to graduate Aug 2014, I would apply next year's cycle to start PT school in 2015, correct? Sorry just so confused! I'm not too worried at LORs, as I work for a PT and one of my other references is from my work. Right now I'm at well over 1,000 hours in outpatient pt, and just began observing in the school setting. I just need to start some impatient observation. I turn 24 this summer & just want to get into PT school asap & finish!!

 

[okramango]

Some programs start in late August, so depending on when in August you will finish your undergrad, it seems possible that you could apply this upcoming cycle to start PT school in August 2014. It just depends on how prepared you are to apply at this point, whether the scheduling works out for whatever schools you apply to, and whether your schools accept prerequisites that are still in progress. It seems that most schools do accept some prerequisites in progress, but they vary on how many they will accept.

 

[RPC2011]

It all depends on the schools, I know majority of the schools in Texas i believe start in the summer. I started right after Memorial day. You would most likely be applying for the 2015 cycle. That way you would have more schools to apply to, all depends on what schools your looking at going to and what their requirements. Best advice if you have questions about prereqs, call the schools your looking at and they will be able to give you a better answer, we are just assuming based on what your saying. Also don't worry about age, we have ppl from 20-35 in our program.

 

[NewTestament]

Don't apply to any school that starts before August. When I applied it seemed that half the schools started in May/June, none started in July, and then the other half started in August. So if you graduate in August, look for schools that start in late August. PTCAS will tell you when schools start.

Get everything done as soon as possible. Have as much ready as possible by the beginning of July. The sooner the better. And the sooner you finish your pre-requisites, the better, as long as you get good grades

Kevin