Worried applicant.

[Cooperylee]

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So I've screwed up during my colleges years. Came out with a GPA of 2.67 (with many W's). Lets just say i had no purpose, no drive, and was a confused person for awhile. After i volunteered at a PT clinic and i knew immediately THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO 😀. After taking repreqs for 2 years, i managed to obtain a 3.78 prereq GPA and even now im taking 5 science courses with labs and maintaing 4.0 this semester.

So my concern is: I look at applicants who have GPAs well above me who dont get accepted , and i cant help but to feel discouraged cause of the mistakes I've made in the past. I am 110% certain I want to this but I feel like PT schools will look at my my cumulative GPA and possibly be "turned off" by it. I guess what I'm asking is for some guidance or reality. Hope people can put there .02 in. Appreciate it. 🙂

Schools im really interested: USA (san marcos), APU, Western,( pretty much any school that will take me 🙂)

 

[djb051]

You could always apply to graduate school....and take a few graduate classes. If you get a good GPA from that, it would improve your chances of getting accepted because it would show the programs that you applied to that you would be able to handle graduate level work. I know a lot of people who do this to improve their chances of getting accepted into competitive graduate programs.

 

[Cooperylee]

You could always apply to graduate school....and take a few graduate classes. If you get a good GPA from that, it would improve your chances of getting accepted because it would show the programs that you applied to that you would be able to handle graduate level work. I know a lot of people who do this to improve their chances of getting accepted into competitive graduate programs.

Thanks for that quick respond 🙂. I did think about that possibility but Im 28 and if I go that route and if everything goes smoothly then I'll be done with dpt at the age of 34. It's possibility but im hoping I won't have to go that route.

 

[adh28]

If I were you, I would keep up with the good grades, kick butt on the GRE, and mainly really pick up the rest of your application. And then I would give it a shot and apply to a few schools! You never know, all schools are looking at different stuff. I would give it a shot

 

[Cooperylee]

If I were you, I would keep up with the good grades, kick butt on the GRE, and mainly really pick up the rest of your application. And then I would give it a shot and apply to a few schools! You never know, all schools are looking at different stuff. I would give it a shot

Thank you for that advice! I really want to kick the GREs butt and get a good score 🙂. Yes I am thinking about sending my application to 15 schools. All of the schools that is within range of my overall GPA, that might end up at 2.9ish.

 

[angl88]

Thank you for that advice! I really want to kick the GREs butt and get a good score 🙂. Yes I am thinking about sending my application to 15 schools. All of the schools that is within range of my overall GPA, that might end up at 2.9ish.

Take a GRE course ( like Kaplan) and do really well on GRE Put in ALOT of PT observation and work on getting great reference letters . Use your experience in your essay to explain how motivated you are and how all your recent grades and scores reflect how hard you are willing to work and not let your earlier poor performance stop you from reaching a life goal. Lastly , if you have PT schools in the area see if you could meet with a faculty member and or admission staff and sometimes they can be very helpful. Additionally , it may help when they know you by name Good luck

 

[CristianoParese]

Hey Cooper,
I'm in your same position. I'm 27 and I didn't decide PT was a must in my life until after a year of volunteering and work-experience. After 2 more years of working in-patient, I finally applied for Fall 2012.
My experience is that the PTCAS programs I applied to pretty much disregarded me completely. The 2 non-PTCAS schools I applied to (SDSU and USA-San Marcos) have me on a waitlist and USA offered me a spot in May 2012 already. SO THERE IS HOPE!
You can't undo the past but yes, a great GRE score and your improved immaculate course work will be your strengths. Continue working in the field to show your dedication and don't give up. Before I started the application process I doubted myself completely. Much different story now.

Keep up the good work

 

[Cooperylee]

Take a GRE course ( like Kaplan) and do really well on GRE Put in ALOT of PT observation and work on getting great reference letters . Use your experience in your essay to explain how motivated you are and how all your recent grades and scores reflect how hard you are willing to work and not let your earlier poor performance stop you from reaching a life goal. Lastly , if you have PT schools in the area see if you could meet with a faculty member and or admission staff and sometimes they can be very helpful. Additionally , it may help when they know you by name Good luck

Thanks. I've been going to the orientation and open house for the schools I am interested in. Maybe I should make time to see them individually.

 

[Mborg]

Hi,
In a similar situation... Didn't take undergrad too seriously. Ended up with a 2.8 gpa. Went back to school while working full-time for an MBA and got a 3.7 gpa... Now at 29, I'm starting my prereq's hoping to get 3.8 or higher... I'm hoping I get into a decent program, but plan on applying to >10 schools...

Best of luck

 

[Cooperylee]

Hey Cooper,
I'm in your same position. I'm 27 and I didn't decide PT was a must in my life until after a year of volunteering and work-experience. After 2 more years of working in-patient, I finally applied for Fall 2012.
My experience is that the PTCAS programs I applied to pretty much disregarded me completely. The 2 non-PTCAS schools I applied to (SDSU and USA-San Marcos) have me on a waitlist and USA offered me a spot in May 2012 already. SO THERE IS HOPE!
You can't undo the past but yes, a great GRE score and your improved immaculate course work will be your strengths. Continue working in the field to show your dedication and don't give up. Before I started the application process I doubted myself completely. Much different story now.

Keep up the good work

Wow.. I really appreciate that. That was a great story and it only encourages me to do well. If you don't mind me what were your stats?

 

[optionpaloma]

So I've screwed up during my colleges years. Came out with a GPA of 2.67 (with many W's). Lets just say i had no purpose, no drive, and was a confused person for awhile. After i volunteered at a PT clinic and i knew immediately THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO 😀. After taking repreqs for 2 years, i managed to obtain a 3.78 prereq GPA and even now im taking 5 science courses with labs and maintaing 4.0 this semester.

So my concern is: I look at applicants who have GPAs well above me who dont get accepted , and i cant help but to feel discouraged cause of the mistakes I've made in the past. I am 110% certain I want to this but I feel like PT schools will look at my my cumulative GPA and possibly be "turned off" by it. I guess what I'm asking is for some guidance or reality. Hope people can put there .02 in. Appreciate it. 🙂

Schools im really interested: USA (san marcos), APU, Western,( pretty much any school that will take me 🙂)

I royally screwed up undergrad too (cared more about my fabulous NYC lifestyle than studying 🙄)-- the transcript from the college where I earned my degree has a D, a W, 2 I's and 5 C's on it. I was able to salvage a 3.1 after shaping up towards the end.

You should note, however, that most schools seem to look at the overall GPA, which averages in all undergrad classes from all schools, so your 2.67 should go up after averaging in your 3.78. If you have time to take some fun classes for credit (in my case it was photography and film classes) and get As in all of them, it can also boost your GPA further.

Definitely study hard for the GRE -- I treated it like the most important final ever (it's a test that certainly counts for more than any final you'll take in undergrad), and it paid off dividends -- I got in to my top choices, both public schools, one of which even offered money. I didn't take any courses, just checked all the study books out of the library and studied hard for six weeks.

Also be sure to write a killer essay on PTCAS, and take advantage of the optional part of the application where you can explain your academic record -- I think most people leave this blank, but I explained away, and I think it helped.

Overall, don't let your past get you down! You can still do this! For years I thought grad school wasn't in the cards for me, and to be proven wrong is just so satisfying. Good luck! 🙂

 

[Gradschool]

I would really do some research into the school that you would like to go to. There are quite a few schools that have minimum requirements to set up and interview. I know that University of the Pacific and Samuel Merritt in CA have those requirements. As along as you meet their min GPA, GRE and experience hours they are supposed to grant you an interview slot. Interview can go a long way!!!!
Don't forget about your essay to schools as well. The essay you submit to PTCAS lets you tell the admissions committee everything. You could talk about your "struggle" at the start of school and finish with finally finding your path that way you can address everything before they have any concerns.
Best of luck

 

[stopitmarcy]

Find a job in the PT field like as a tech or something and don't apply to competitive schools (like California and Washington). A school is a school is a school.

 

[Cooperylee]

I royally screwed up undergrad too (cared more about my fabulous NYC lifestyle than studying 🙄)-- the transcript from the college where I earned my degree has a D, a W, 2 I's and 5 C's on it. I was able to salvage a 3.1 after shaping up towards the end.

You should note, however, that most schools seem to look at the overall GPA, which averages in all undergrad classes from all schools, so your 2.67 should go up after averaging in your 3.78. If you have time to take some fun classes for credit (in my case it was photography and film classes) and get As in all of them, it can also boost your GPA further.

Definitely study hard for the GRE -- I treated it like the most important final ever (it's a test that certainly counts for more than any final you'll take in undergrad), and it paid off dividends -- I got in to my top choices, both public schools, one of which even offered money. I didn't take any courses, just checked all the study books out of the library and studied hard for six weeks.

Also be sure to write a killer essay on PTCAS, and take advantage of the optional part of the application where you can explain your academic record -- I think most people leave this blank, but I explained away, and I think it helped.

Overall, don't let your past get you down! You can still do this! For years I thought grad school wasn't in the cards for me, and to be proven wrong is just so satisfying. Good luck! 🙂

Thank thank! Def won't let my past get to me. 🙂

 

[Cooperylee]

I would really do some research into the school that you would like to go to. There are quite a few schools that have minimum requirements to set up and interview. I know that University of the Pacific and Samuel Merritt in CA have those requirements. As along as you meet their min GPA, GRE and experience hours they are supposed to grant you an interview slot. Interview can go a long way!!!!
Don't forget about your essay to schools as well. The essay you submit to PTCAS lets you tell the admissions committee everything. You could talk about your "struggle" at the start of school and finish with finally finding your path that way you can address everything before they have any concerns.
Best of luck

Thanks for that tip. I'll make sure to write the essays

 

[Cooperylee]

Find a job in the PT field like as a tech or something and don't apply to competitive schools (like California and Washington). A school is a school is a school.

Yea i realized how crazy schools in california are. Gonna apply to places out of state for sure

 

[stopitmarcy]

Yea i realized how crazy schools in california are. Gonna apply to places out of state for sure

oh yeah and i know it sucks but go all PRIVATE
state schools are hard to get into if youre not from that state so don't waste your time
but please keep in mind the cost. obvs don't apply to a school with crazy ass tuition. tccic.

 

[Litlwarrior08]

As along as you meet their min GPA, GRE and experience hours they are supposed to grant you an interview slot. Interview can go a long way!!!!

Don't count on schools required to give you an interview just because you met the mins. They have 800 applicants - most meeting the mins. Some web sites will tell you just because you met reqs. does not guarantee an interview. There just isn't enought time in admins day to do that many interviews. The GPA/GRE weeds out a lot-then some schools have their own mins as to who they interview.....One school I talked w/ said they "interviewed apps w/ over 3.4 GPA and 1160 GREs" while posting 3.0 and 1000 min. But they did interview me - 3.1 and 1060...(i'm waitlisted there)..which just proves - NOTHING- they do look at the other info. Can't figure the admin out. 😕

 

[SAJ19]

So I've screwed up during my colleges years. Came out with a GPA of 2.67 (with many W's). Lets just say i had no purpose, no drive, and was a confused person for awhile. After i volunteered at a PT clinic and i knew immediately THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO 😀. After taking repreqs for 2 years, i managed to obtain a 3.78 prereq GPA and even now im taking 5 science courses with labs and maintaing 4.0 this semester.

So my concern is: I look at applicants who have GPAs well above me who dont get accepted , and i cant help but to feel discouraged cause of the mistakes I've made in the past. I am 110% certain I want to this but I feel like PT schools will look at my my cumulative GPA and possibly be "turned off" by it. I guess what I'm asking is for some guidance or reality. Hope people can put there .02 in. Appreciate it. 🙂

Schools im really interested: USA (san marcos), APU, Western,( pretty much any school that will take me 🙂)

Thank God I'm not the only one!!! Im a non-trad student as well looking to apply to PT school in the fall. I graduated from my undergrad (2005) with a 2.5 (I was smart, just didn't take class as seriously as I shouldve) and from grad school (2011) with my Masters In Public Health and a 3.27. I got a 1040 in my GRE, and have just recently decided to pursue my DPT. After reading some of the posts in the forum, I was discouraged about my chances of getting in😕, but this post has really given me hope. I plan on starting my observation this month and my pre-reqs at the end of May, and hope to "knock them out the park" so to speak to make up for any weaknesses in my application. Best of luck to you Cooperylee and Mborg🙂!!!

Schools I'm interested in: Georgia Health Sciences University (old Medical College of Georgia), UCF, UNF, FIU, UF, UMiami, Florida Golf Coast, San Marcos, Any school thatll take me lol

 

[Cooperylee]

As along as you meet their min GPA, GRE and experience hours they are supposed to grant you an interview slot. Interview can go a long way!!!!

Don't count on schools required to give you an interview just because you met the mins. They have 800 applicants - most meeting the mins. Some web sites will tell you just because you met reqs. does not guarantee an interview. There just isn't enought time in admins day to do that many interviews. The GPA/GRE weeds out a lot-then some schools have their own mins as to who they interview.....One school I talked w/ said they "interviewed apps w/ over 3.4 GPA and 1160 GREs" while posting 3.0 and 1000 min. But they did interview me - 3.1 and 1060...(i'm waitlisted there)..which just proves - NOTHING- they do look at the other info. Can't figure the admin out. 😕

What school was it that youve been wait listed for?