Which Major Is Better???

[FuturePeeTee]

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Hello World,

I'm trying to decide on a major. Right now I'm thinking Software Engineering or English.

A 4.0 in English is achievable for me. English would be the easiest way I could make a high GPA. But if PT school didn't work out I'd be screwed. There is NOTHING I want to do career-wise with an English major.

On the other hand, Software Engineering would be a real challenge. I could maybe squeak out a 3.3-3.5 (at best!) But it would be a great backup plan because a GPA even as low as a 3.0 could get me a high salaried engineering job right out of college.

PT schools are okay with Software Engineering and English majors, right? Just so long as you meet the additional pre-reqs for admittance? Will it hurt me if I don't major in a Science of some kind? Being a Physical Therapist is my dream job. I just know I can get a higher GPA in English than Science, and I'd rather have a job as an engineer than have any scientific profession aside from a PT.

So what do you think I should do? Any suggestions? 😕

 

[djb051]

Hello World,

I'm trying to decide on a major. Right now I'm thinking Software Engineering or English.

A 4.0 in English is achievable for me. English would be the easiest way I could make a high GPA. But if PT school didn't work out I'd be screwed. There is NOTHING I want to do career-wise with an English major.

On the other hand, Software Engineering would be a real challenge. I could maybe squeak out a 3.3-3.5 (at best!) But it would be a great backup plan because a GPA even as low as a 3.0 could get me a high salaried engineering job right out of college.

PT schools are okay with Software Engineering and English majors, right? Just so long as you meet the additional pre-reqs for admittance? Will it hurt me if I don't major in a Science of some kind? Being a Physical Therapist is my dream job. I just know I can get a higher GPA in English than Science, and I'd rather have a job as an engineer than have any scientific profession aside from a PT.

So what do you think I should do? Any suggestions? 😕

Any major can apply for PT school.
I talked to an admissions counselor not long ago and she said say hypothetically there are two students that are similar in most aspects of their application other than GPA and major, and one student had a 4.0 in an easier major and the other student had a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA in a much harder major that is science, that she would accept the 3.5 or 3.6 GPA student. She also said she likes to see students that challenged themselves in undergrad and did well. It might not be like that at all schools, but that might be something to consider when deciding on a major.

 

[greco13]

I couldn't imagine completing a degree in something as challenging and unrelated to PT as software engineering. Those moments when you're at 17 credits and for some reason all your finals got scheduled the first three days of finals week - takes digging deep to push through that. Knowing I was going to abandon everything I was learning would make it very difficult to stay motivated.

It's tough to say that 'major doesn't matter'. From what I've read most everything depends on the program. Some schools use a straight algorithm to choose applicants and some have a more humanistic approach. I've known someone that got accepted to PA school (in my opinion is 'harder' to get into) with an outdoor recreation major.

If PT is your dream then go for 'er. Here's a link I've given out here many times. Has some good info related to majors. Check you pg 31 http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/A...APTA/PTCAS/2010_11_PTCAS_ApplicantDataRpt.pdf

 

[NewTestament]

I got accepted to a couple programs with a BS in Geography. Yes, that's right, Geography. I guess it helped it was a BS, and not a BA. I took two levels of Calculus, two levels of Biology, and Ecology. I came back and did well in my pre-reqs so that made a huge difference.

Why don't you major in pre-medicine, nutrition, or something related to health? You can definitely find work as a software engineer, but that's a challenging path. I also don't recommend that you major in kinesiology or exercise science. Those majors aren't in much demand, but it will look on a PT application.

Kevin

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

Don't pick a major because it will "look good" to PT schools or because you can get a high GPA...unless you are truly passionate about it (which does not seem to be the case for you and English). Also, don't assume English is an easy major. Some of the 300-level English classes were the hardest I took in college.

The important thing is to pick a major that you will enjoy, do well in, and will lead you to a career you like, be it PT or a backup plan if PT doesn't pan out. DJB has a point that most schools will take into account the rigor of your program/major when looking at your GPA, and that it could be worth a few extra GPA points (e.g. a 3.6 in biology at Harvard might be equivalent to a 3.9 at Northern Illinois University).

When programs interview you, it is likely that the question of "so how come you were a theater/English/computer science major if you wanted to be a PT?" may come up. The last thing you want to say is "Well, I thought it would be an easy 4.0" Instead, you want to be able to discuss your desire to do something you love for four years, be it reading Shakespeare and performing and analyzing literature, being able to be involved in plays, or being able to program websites for student organizations. The PT school won't care that you're not a kinesiology major - they want to see that you are passionate about something, are dedicated, and can communicate it with others.

In the end it's 4 years of your life - if you hate the subject material, you're not going to want to put in the time and energy to do as well as you'd like, and if you don't end up getting into PT school, you don't want to be stuck with something you can't use or don't like.

 

[Brandon1986]

I agree with Dancer's advice. Either go with something that you enjoy or go for a backup plan if PT doesn't work out in the end. Don't pick a major just because it would be an easy 4.0. In my opinion nothing in college is easy everything requires hard work you mines well do something you enjoy.

 

[moonflowerdust]

Hello, I know this thread is a little old, but it's so nice to read about others majoring in subjects other than kinesiology while pursuing PT. My biggest dilemma lately has been choosing what to major in for undergrad. I think a part of my problem is having to choose between what would be the most beneficial vs what I am most interested in. Plus, every other career I am interested in is at graduate level, so I am trying to find something that would keep my options open.

It seems like every aspiring PT at my school is majoring in kinesiology or some type of science, so it makes me feel like I SHOULD just major in that. However, I am curious to know if anyone has struggled in PT school without that kind of foundation.

Thanks!

 

[Romazicon]

Hello, I know this thread is a little old, but it's so nice to read about others majoring in subjects other than kinesiology while pursuing PT. My biggest dilemma lately has been choosing what to major in for undergrad. I think a part of my problem is having to choose between what would be the most beneficial vs what I am most interested in. Plus, every other career I am interested in is at graduate level, so I am trying to find something that would keep my options open.

It seems like every aspiring PT at my school is majoring in kinesiology or some type of science, so it makes me feel like I SHOULD just major in that. However, I am curious to know if anyone has struggled in PT school without that kind of foundation.

Thanks!

There are people in my program right now who weren't kinesiology majors and even those who have had a career before hand and are now in PT school. As long as you have the pre-reqs, then you should know the background that PT school requires. It does help to have a Kine degree, but required. I majored in Exercise Science because I am truly passionate about understanding human movement. This passion lead me to earn a 4.0 and get into PT school to further take part in that passion to be a PT.

Don't worry about major. Just do what you want to do, get good grades, get the pre-reqs, take the GRE, observe and volunteer, make relationships with PTs and a professor from that major that is well known for letters of reference in the future.

Good luck.

 

[moonflowerdust]

There are people in my program right now who weren't kinesiology majors and even those who have had a career before hand and are now in PT school. As long as you have the pre-reqs, then you should know the background that PT school requires. It does help to have a Kine degree, but required. I majored in Exercise Science because I am truly passionate about understanding human movement. This passion lead me to earn a 4.0 and get into PT school to further take part in that passion to be a PT.

Don't worry about major. Just do what you want to do, get good grades, get the pre-reqs, take the GRE, observe and volunteer, make relationships with PTs and a professor from that major that is well known for letters of reference in the future.

Good luck.

Good to know. Thank you! 🙂