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career changer... getting into PT school?
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career changer... getting into PT school? - March 16, 2008 7:05:01 PM
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debimags
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hello, i wanted to ask a question about the competition of getting into masters PT programs. i am 28 years old, wanting to change careers from design to PT. i already have a BFA, and basically PT pre-reqs. I know this change will be long and slow, but I really want this so i am going to go for it.
My question is... since not having a BS in science or anything related to PT, do you think just fulfilling all the mandatory pre-reqs and volunteer hours, will make me competitive enough to get into a PT masters program? Do people actually get in to programs this way (not having a PT related BS)? If anyone out there has gotten into their masters program similar to this, i would really love to hear your stories/trials/tribulations of getting in!!!
I just really hope that I don't have to go back for a second Bachelors degree.
Thanks for all your advice!
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 16, 2008 7:18:21 PM
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jma
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From: NY
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Although you have fulfilled the basic requirements that was asked for, others have done the same thing. Extracurricular activities, like participating with a local PT chapter eventa can help you stand out more and show that you are more than just interested in meeting requirments.
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 17, 2008 1:24:20 PM
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PHS
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From: Texas
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No, you dont have to go back to school. Even though youve been out of school for a while. Your current work situation can strenghten your application. It shows youre dependable and are able to carry a full job while completing your pre-reqs. In your case, Id focus my application on: 1)current work experiences and anything else that shows your ability to juggle multiple tasks e.g volunteering during weekend, church activities, clubs memberships, outreach missions, organized sports, coaching etc. Ask yourself why would I let myself in to P.T school If all I do is go to work M-F 8-5pm??? what else do you bring to the table (whether overcoming personal struggles, volunteer, hobbies,, etc) that shows your ability to handle stress and dedication. 2) Do what I said above, over and over again. The word for today: community outreach!!..remember you will be entering a healthcare profession, where our mission is the well being of others.
Take care
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 17, 2008 8:50:28 PM
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A20RepSquat
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debimags,
I imagine everyone else is doing it the same way you are (as am I). You have a bachelor's in something. You find out what is required by the programs to which you will apply. You do your pre-reqs at your local community college because it is the least costly.
I have a bachelor's in computer science from 1991. That included physics so I'm currently doing all the other sciences.
Best Wishes
_____________________________
David Adames, LMT
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 18, 2008 11:06:49 AM
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jesspt
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debimags,
I had several classmates who had bachelors degrees in non-science related fields - so obviously one can be accepted into a PT program without a science degree. Having said that, some of them struggled mightily during the coursework that had a strong science base, such as biomechanics, neuroscience, etc. My advice would be to make sure that you're really focusing on absorbing as much info as you can while persuing your pre-reqs, and also developing sound reasoning skills at the same time.
_____________________________
Jess Brown, PT
Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 19, 2008 1:17:02 AM
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debimags
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Thank you all so much for your help! Such great suggestions. I have a meeting with a school (USF) in a few weeks regarding my pre-reqs and how/when to get started on those. (ugh, this is going to take a long while) And i will start calling some PT's to get my volunteer time started. I assume once I am a bit more familiarized with the PT circle here in my city, I can start attending some events and getting involved in activities.
Do you suggest cold calling? visiting?
To jesspt: thanks for the reality check regarding science heavy classes and your classmates that struggled with them. Ya know, its not the amount of work that scares me, its not knowing if I will be able to handle the material. Science just hasn't been my area of study, ever! It does not come easy for me at all (i've been an artist my whole life) ...which makes me wonder if I can actually learn it or even do well enough to be competitive.
again, thanks. this board is great.
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 19, 2008 8:16:18 AM
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Dr.Wagner
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Out of curiosity...how much is PT school these days...how much debt do you expect?
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Dr. Wagner DO
Moderator of Medical Complexity Forum
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 19, 2008 9:10:35 AM
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A20RepSquat
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debimags,
I started pre-reqs last summer with A&P 1. I did not do well in the first exam and my confidence plummeted especially since I had graduated from massage school just 1 year prior. However, I did stick with it and got re-grooved. Like you I had never done well with any sciences (Bio, Chem, etc.) but perhaps being older (wiser?) is making the difference for me now. Start out slowly, i.e. take one course rather than 2 or more. If you have the option to take the course online or in-class I would think that in-class would be better since you have the prof & fellow classmates as a support system.
_____________________________
David Adames, LMT
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 19, 2008 11:52:23 PM
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debimags
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thanks for the insight. i plan on starting slowly, to ween myself into the sciences basically. may i ask how you are handling the work load? are you also working while doing the pre-reqs? how many are you currently taking and when do you think you will be done with them and able to apply to a PT program?
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - March 20, 2008 2:35:04 PM
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A20RepSquat
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Since last summer I've taken 2 courses each semester. It has been an intense workload but I am able to study during lunchtime at work and evenings. I don't have much time for much else. I work 7 days a week including weekends as a massage therapist. That job will probably go away once I start grad school. I expect to complete the pre-reqs either this summer or in the fall. I applied to the program last year so I would be certain what pre-reqs they required and which of my previous credits they would accept.
_____________________________
David Adames, LMT
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - April 27, 2008 4:22:52 PM
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debimags
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career changing to PT is beginning to look like a very distant and perhaps unreachable goal :( i just went to a school advisor to start taking my pre-reqs, and it seems there are pre-reqs just to get into the pre-reqs for PT. mostly math (about a years worth) and some intro to physics and chem classes before i go into chem 1&2, or physics 1&2. so its probably going to be another 2 years of pre-pre-reqs, on top of the already 2+ years of PT pre-reqs (i have to go part-time so i can work). ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh. the daunting task of changing to PT, just got even more daunting. i know its not impossible to get all this done...but this many years before i can even apply to a PT school...is it worth it?
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - April 28, 2008 10:22:51 PM
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A20RepSquat
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It is a long road for you but if you have the least interest why not commit to just one course. If that goes well then do 1 or 2 more. You might get locked into that groove and all will fall into place.
I did my bachelor's degree work at night while working fulltime. It wasn't easy but I hung in there for 5 years, 2 courses each semester including most summers. I'd say I developed a school habit.
Now I'm headed to more of the same and I try not to see 4 more years but rather one semester at a time.
good luck
_____________________________
David Adames, LMT
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - April 30, 2008 12:23:17 PM
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PT2009
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I started back to school at 29 in a somewhat similar situation...liberal arts B.A. and no serious science and math to speak of since high school, so I was pretty nervous about how I would do, since I just had no idea. The first couple classes (a pre-calc/algebra class and the first bio) showed me I had an aptitude for the work though, and it was a lot more fun after that.
No one in any of the schools I applied to seemed to care one whit what my undergrad degree was in, just as long as it was in something and I had acheived some minimum standard on the pre-req GPA and the GRE, and met whatever volunteer hours they required.
One thing to keep in mind, is even though you might meet the minimum requirements for the program, to be competitive you need to do better than the minimum. For myself, well, my undergrad GPA wasn't all that fabulous (in the bottom of the minimum range) and I have kids, so I wasn't able to get in much more than the minimum volunteer hours (I did try for a good variety of settings though). So that left pre-req GPA and the GRE, and I figured I needed those two areas to be outstanding to make up for the other deficiencies. You can usually get the stats for the typical entering class from the admin offices of the schools you will be interested in, if it isn't already online.
One more thought regarding the minimums versus the actual averages...different schools do their admissions calculations differently. Some seem to only care that you make at least a 1200 on the GRE for instance, while others will give you more "points" the higher the number you acheive. Same for GPAs etc. Call the offices and ask. They are there to answer your questions.
Sarah
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - April 30, 2008 12:39:46 PM
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PT2009
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I forgot to say that it took me four years...three of taking classes, and 1 of working, and I'll start PT school this fall. To me it has been worth it. The classes have been fun, and looking back it doesn't seem like it has taken all that long, just one semester at a time.
Also, if you are serious about changing careers into the health sciences but unsure of PT specifically, most of the PT pre-reqs would translate well to other programs that might be shorter, like ultrasound or radiology tech, masters of public health, OT, or genetic counseling.
Sarah
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - April 30, 2008 8:07:26 PM
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debimags
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thanks so much PT2009. i do feel like i have the work ethic to get good grades. my undergrad, though in design, was a 3.7, so thats something. and the lil bit of science i have taken this semester, so far, has actually been kinda fun. my concern really is the amount of time it will take me to finish the pre-reqs. Now that i have to take *pre-pre* reqs (about 6 of them) before i even get to the PT pre-reqs, which will take me another few years...im looking at 4 years of school before i can even apply. i just have to learn to be patient with this i guess.
however, i have already begun to contact PT clinics and will be shadowing in the next week. in your opinion, or anyone elses, would it be better to wait to do my volunteer work since i wont be applying to PT schools for another 3-4 years? or get in as much as i can till then? would getting alot more volunteer hours have a good impression on schools?
i really appreciate everyones feedback. cheers!
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - April 30, 2008 9:21:31 PM
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kiwi PT
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I think getting a little bit of exposure in a few different areas of PT now would be benificial as it would demonstrate your committment and give you a chance to make sure this is what you want to do. Waiting probably wouldn't exclude you, but you don't want your observation hours to look like an after thought.
Kyle PT
_____________________________
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
Mark Twain
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - May 3, 2008 11:35:48 AM
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jma
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Waiting to go to clinics can be a plus and a minus. If you have time to go and you will continue to go there right up to the point of applying, then that will be good. This is because you would have established a good relationship with the individual(s) that would be writing/submitting the recommendation forms/letters that programs request. In addition, it would give you plenty of hours to help you stand out from the rest, showing your committment to the field. On the downside, if you decide to go to different clincs down the road, most programs request that the recommendation forms/letters be filled by those who have worked with you within the last 6 months to a year. Example if you only had 50-100 hours at one clinic within the past year but 200-400 hrs a few years ago somewhre else, I would expect that they would want the most recent one to fill out the forms.
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - May 3, 2008 8:17:03 PM
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debimags
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thanks, those are great points to consider.
i called a few hospitals in my area about volunteer work, and they all seemed to be swamped with students trying to get volunteer hours in the rehab clinics. one PT told me she has 6 students working with her daily. is this typical? they also mentioned a waiting list. do hospitals give priority to students that are enrolled in school full time, over students (like me) that are just taking the pre-reqs at my own pace?
thanks again!
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RE: career changer... getting into PT school? - May 3, 2008 8:32:22 PM
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jma
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Hospital aren't the only places to work. Some programs ask for different experiences. Outpatient facilities fit the bill and they have early and later hours than hospitals do.
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