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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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?

[b]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. [/b] [/quote]
hmm, maybe have him do some research about whether or not pt is the field for him? you don't need a science major, but most pre-PT students do end up majoring in a science because the pre-reqs are very science heavy and that way they can "double dip"- it somewhat varies by pt school but at a minimum he will need 2 semesters of biology, 2 of chemistry, 2 of physics, and 2 of human anatomy&physiology as an undergrad in order to apply to PT school. and then the courses once you actually get into pt school are pretty science heavy too- lots of anatomy, physiology, etc. [/quote]

I think it's a good fit for him.  He does well in his science classes, but he's not a kid who seeks it out on his own time, and his science classes aren't the ones he's most excited about.  Maybe some of that is that I compare him with his siblings, both of whom are science lovers.  I'm not worried that he won't be able to do the science, just that he'd probably like a balance of classes and a chance to do other things.

But as to why I think it's a good fit?  He's a very athletic kid, and very educated about his own body and how to improve his performance.  But even more than his own sports he loves working with little kids.  He coaches swimming, and teaches some kids with disabilities 1:1, and has worked as a 1:1 for kids with disabilities at camp, and coaches special olympics. Those are his very favorite parts of his week.  So, a job that builds on both of those things seems like a natural fit.  [/quote]

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