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What was YOUR college major?
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What was YOUR college major? - May 30, 2004 5:43:00 PM
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JDeAngelo80
Posts: 4
Joined: May 29, 2004
From: Atlanta, GA
Status: offline
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Hey there.
I am in college and I want to go to school for PT. I CANNOT decide on what to get my undergrad degree in. Georgia State University is the PT school I will apply to. They don't necessarily require a specific major nor do they have required prereq's. However, they HIGHLY reccomend a heavy science background. I am currently a psychology major. I was planning on taking several BIO and CHEM courses for my electives. Is this a bad idea? Should I change my major to Biology? What was your major?
Thanks!
Julie
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 30, 2004 6:05:00 PM
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jma
Posts: 2415
Joined: August 24, 2000
From: NY
Status: offline
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Hello,
While you can major in any subject, almost every PT program requires that certain prerequistes be taken, with a certain GPA, prior to applying to their PT program. Without them, it would be next to impossible to get accepted. Yes, science courses are well favored and I majored in Biology before I went to PT school. Anatomy and phsyiology courses helped me understand the fundamentals.
JMA
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 30, 2004 6:13:00 PM
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JDeAngelo80
Posts: 4
Joined: May 29, 2004
From: Atlanta, GA
Status: offline
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JMA:
Thanks for your response. Deep down I really feel like it would be better to switch my major from Psyc to Biology. And this may sound crazy, but I think the only reason I am hesitant on doing so is because I am so scared to take Pre Calculus and Calculus (which are required for that degree). I am horrible with math. However, I really do enjoy Psychology, so I am torn at making a decision on a major.
Julie
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 30, 2004 8:08:00 PM
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Alex Brenner PT MPT OCS
Posts: 1057
Joined: February 29, 2004
From: Kentucky
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Julie,
How about majoring in Athletic training, therefore you are learning about sports injuries, rehab, anatomy, nutrition and taking care of athletes all before you would even start PT school. Also, when you finish you would be eligible to sit for the national AT licensing exam. This would all make you a more marketable PT and would probably give you an advantage at PT school. Good luck.
Army
_____________________________
Alex Brenner, PT, MPT, OCS
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 31, 2004 4:05:00 AM
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Jon Newman
Posts: 1711
Joined: April 24, 2004
From: Amherst, WI
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DeAngelo,
My recommendation is to go heavy on the basic sciences. The fact that you struggle with math is the exact reason you should take it now, while you have guidance and accountability to learn it.
The fact that you enjoy psychology suggests you can pursue that as leisure intellectual development and with a basic science background you will be able to do so.
Choosing such a path requires focus and if you're fearful as you stated, courage. That may be the biggest education you recieve throughout your undergraduate experience.
Good luck,
jon
_____________________________
[URL=http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/30/064887/064887_03_03_30.wav]Evidence[/URL]
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 31, 2004 6:28:00 AM
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Diane
Posts: 1507
Joined: March 9, 2001
From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Don't be scared of calculus Julie. In high school I was terrible at math, but a few short years later I took it as part of premed and could hardly believe how easy it was. I think I'd grown more frontal lobes in the meantime.
Diane
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 31, 2004 6:59:00 AM
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JDeAngelo80
Posts: 4
Joined: May 29, 2004
From: Atlanta, GA
Status: offline
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Thanks you guys!
I am curious what area of PT are you all in? Also, I wanted to ask about being a PTA. I know that it cannot be used as a bridge to become a PT. However, I have been trying to decide if I wanted to go the PT or PTA route. While I know PT's are the "boss" so to speak and make more money I am more interested in having a lot of patient contact. What are the differences in the job responsibilities of each?
Julie
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 31, 2004 10:03:00 AM
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jma
Posts: 2415
Joined: August 24, 2000
From: NY
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Hello,
I work in an outpatient facility within a hospital setting. If you look within this forum, I do believe there was a post about the difference b/w PT's and PTA's and it got a lot of responses. You can find the what PTA's can/can't do from the APTA website @ http://www.apta.org. Of course, you can also find you state practice act, which also defines their role as well.
JMA
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 31, 2004 12:07:00 PM
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Diane
Posts: 1507
Joined: March 9, 2001
From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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We don't have PTAs in Canada (at least not to my knowlege) but it seems to me that as a PT you would have more options, able to work with patients if you wanted, whereas perhaps as a PTA you would have less freedom to manouver. So, if you are a PT you can do PTA 'stuff' if you wanted but if you're a PTA you can't do PT stuff. (Hope I got that right, edgies.)
Diane
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - May 31, 2004 1:47:00 PM
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jma
Posts: 2415
Joined: August 24, 2000
From: NY
Status: offline
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Hello,
I forgot to mention what area I am working in. It is outpatient orthopedics.
JMA
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - June 1, 2004 3:27:00 AM
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Sebastian Asselbergs
Posts: 1211
Joined: September 29, 1999
From: Barrie, Canada
Status: offline
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In Ontario, Canada we have recently (last few years) introduced formal education for PTAs. As far as patient contact is concerned; No contest, PT can offer the more extensive contact with a patient. Not all PTs use that style, but they have an option; the PTA does not.
No doubt, a PT's work options are much more numerous than PTA's.
I'm with Jon and Diane - go for it now, the work can really pay off for you.
Sebastian
_____________________________
Mundi vult decipi
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - June 1, 2004 6:12:00 AM
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gerry
Posts: 238
Joined: July 6, 1999
From: Montgomery, AL, USA
Status: offline
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Julie,
My undergrad is in psychology. Didn't decide on PT till after I graduated. Had to take a few science courses to complete requirements, but could have taken them during undergrad if I had known...
Anyway, I find my psych background very, very helpful. You could have a minor in biology, etc. My minors were in philosophy and religion. I had lots of interesting courses, but not a lot of job offers...
I work in peds.
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - June 1, 2004 7:44:00 PM
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tc
Posts: 137
Joined: January 7, 2004
From: Los Angeles area
Status: offline
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Hi,
My major was Psychobiology. I liked the dual components. In regards to your not being good at math, when I was applying for PT School, Physics was a a pre-req. and the pre-req for Physics was Calculus, so even if it isn't required for your major, you may still need to take it. Things may have changed since then, though. I had the same experience as an earlier post - I was honestly horrible at math in high school and somehow once I got to college it made a lot more sense and I did really well. Chalk it up to brain maturation or something! Re: your other question, I'm in pediatric PT.
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - June 2, 2004 2:16:00 AM
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Jeep
Posts: 353
Joined: March 28, 2003
From: USA
Status: offline
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Julie-
I'd like to add to the excellent suggestions already posted.
Don't let a particular subject or class distress you. I have found that the REALLY important element is: not the class, but WHO teaches it. A truly good professor can make even the most difficult and imtimidating subject, interesting and understandable. Find out who the best professors are(eg. talk to a few math majors), and arrange your classes around that parameter.
Personal antedote:
I had always considered chemistry a "tough" subject until I got the "right" professor. She made it SO interesting and logical, it actually became "easy". I ended up "Loving" organic chemistry instead of dreading it and just hoping to get through it.
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - June 2, 2004 7:18:00 AM
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Bournephysio
Posts: 585
Joined: April 25, 2002
From: Calgary
Status: offline
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One of the guys volunteering in our clinic majored (and did a masters) in Psych. He plans on treating chronic pain patients. That will probably be a very good fit.
My degree was in Kinesiology. Lots of physiology, neurophys/motor control, anatomy (gross, neuro and histology), and some biomechanics and ergonomics. For outside electives I took psych, biochem, and some biology courses. It was a great background for PT. I got out of a lot of courses in PT and taught the lab portion of the biomechanics class. Be wary of Kin programs though. Some are just Physical Education programs which changed their name. If you are learning history of sport or football 101, it is not kin.
Doug
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Re: What was YOUR college major? - June 3, 2004 5:27:00 PM
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JDeAngelo80
Posts: 4
Joined: May 29, 2004
From: Atlanta, GA
Status: offline
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Hey you guys!
Thanks so much for your advice and encouragement regarding my "Math Phobia". I have been thinking about it and I will stick with my current major in Psych. BUT, for my electives I will take PreCalculus, Anatomy and Physio, Chem, Physics, and some Bio, I will also take a Biomechanics class. The school that I will be applying to accepts any major, and they do not require a certain number of specific courses as long as you have a decent science background. I have also been thinking about going to school for PTA instead. It just takes less time to complete a PTA program. Any thoughts on that? I am just impatient and really want to get into the field! I am 23 and by the time I finish I will be near 30. Now, I know 30 isn't old, but I should have been done with my undergrad by now. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do so I was basically at a stand-still with my education, wasting time. And as for me, the area of PT that I would like to specialize in is Peds.
Julie
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