Physical Therapy School

[Anonymous]

My high schooler is interested in becoming a physical therapist. He's looking at both the six year options, where you are guaranteed admissions and get the BS and DPT combined, and regular options where you spend 4 years on your BS and then apply for a DPT program.

My preference for him is the regular option, but he's worried that it will be hard to get into PT school, and that the six year option is safer for that reason. Does anyone have any knowledge of how hard it is to get into PT school?

Also, how important is name recognition for PT schools? A lot of the six year programs are at schools without big names. Does it matter a little? A lot? Not at all?

Finally, do people often get into PT school with prerequisites but without a science major? He's not a kid who loves science. He does fine, gets good grades, but there are other subjects he likes more. He's very athletic, and loves volunteering with kids with disabilities, which is why he's thinking a PT who focuses on kids would be a good job.

[Anonymous]

My niece went to the Univ. Sciences in Philly for OT program, she was in 5 year masters in OT program.
It seems jobs are plentiful in OT field, she did not have a hard time finding one.
(I am not sure if PT would be the same.)

They have also a program in DPT. Their program is well regarded in the field, but their tuition is $$$$$.

My niece was a recruited athlete so she did not pay for the full price and she worked with the team as a trainer during her extra year, so I believe her family did not pay for everything, but still it was a big investment.

Though she was a good, hardworking student (very mathy), what matters more is human skills, therapists work mostly with kids and elderly with disabilities, so it takes certain kinds of people to want to stick to that profession.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get the sense that PT programs are all that competitive, nothing like medical school. He can major in whatever he wants as long as he meets the pre requisites which will be sciences.

[Anonymous]

My sister went to Ithaca for an undergrad degree in PT. She is constantly being offered new jobs, anywhere she moves.

There is also alot of variety in the field (different settings, patients, methods). Sorry that I cannot address your question directly. She was in the field before DPT was a thing.

[Anonymous]

Private practice is also an option.

[Anonymous]

uva undergrad school of kinesiology- it’s a direct admit into school of education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister went to Ithaca for an undergrad degree in PT. She is constantly being offered new jobs, anywhere she moves.

There is also alot of variety in the field (different settings, patients, methods). Sorry that I cannot address your question directly. She was in the field before DPT was a thing.

Ithaca's on his list for 6 year programs. It looks fantastic, but 6 years at Ithaca is a lot more money than 7 years at UMD, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:uva undergrad school of kinesiology- it’s a direct admit into school of education

I'm confused what you're saying. UVA doesn't seem to have a DPT program, much less a direct admit program.

Are you proposing a kinesiology undergrad major? If so, why? UVA is out of state for us.

[Anonymous]

My DD is exploring as well (current 10th grader). She is intrigued by University of Delaware right now.

As a parent who has had children who needed PT, I will tell you that pediatric PT is an area of significant need (at least in DC). There are waitlists that are 6 + months long at Children's and GT hospitals.

The best PT we have seen had an Undergrad from U of M and DPT from George Washington. Others had degrees from St. Louis University, Wingate and other schools that I do not remember. The bottom line - I was thrilled to get off the waitlist and have someone provide the support my child needed.

[Anonymous]

You definately want to go the direct entry route for PT school. Admission into PT school after a regular 4 year degree is more competitive than Med school.
Key is to find a university that has a broad range of majors/interests, so that if your kid does decide not to do PT, they would also be very happy there.

Signed, parent whose kid started out wanting PT, was not direct admit, and it became painfully obvious by end of freshman year that they should switch career plans/majors (was Exercise Physiology---whihc is really just a pre-PT/pre-OT major), very happy parent that the university had many other choices to switch into (kid has graduated already)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the sense that PT programs are all that competitive, nothing like medical school. He can major in whatever he wants as long as he meets the pre requisites which will be sciences.

PT programs are as competitive as medical school, if not more so currently. So few spots available that are not direct entry. Many top students (3.8+GPA in college), spend 2-3 cycles attempting to gain admission.

[Anonymous]

You can major in whatever you want. I was a Health science Major with a "Pre PT major" which had you take all the main classes to qualify you for application to most PT schools. When I was investigating schools as a junior to plan for my senior classes, there were some schools that had additional requirements--one wanted a business class, one wanted a 400 level science class (which you would have as a bio major but not Health major), one wanted one semester of organic chem, etc. Most pre-PT programs include a year of chem with lab, a year of bio plus anatomy and physiology classes, a year of physics, some psych classes, and stats. You do have to take the GRE if not doing direct entry. There are no TA slots for PT school--not a thing. Most are paying full price (minimal merit aid). You also need volunteer/observation hours to apply, numbers depend on the school.

[Anonymous]

confused what you're saying. UVA doesn't seem to have a DPT program, much less a direct admit program.

Are you proposing a kinesiology undergrad major? If so, why? UVA is out of state for us.

kinesiology and exercise science an excellent undergrad path to a dpt

UVA takes direct admits for this major into their school of education - best kins school in the country

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

confused what you're saying. UVA doesn't seem to have a DPT program, much less a direct admit program.

Are you proposing a kinesiology undergrad major? If so, why? UVA is out of state for us.

kinesiology and exercise science an excellent undergrad path to a dpt

UVA takes direct admits for this major into their school of education - best kins school in the country

DPT school is expensive and no real scholarships. So definately minimize costs for undergrad, especially if not in a direct admit DPT program

[Anonymous]

ts a flat field, meaning when you finish you get a salary and cant go up unless you do the business side of it--like own your own agency. Upi can make more not taking insurance but in that case you have to live in a HCOL. I think they make around 80-110K?