Academics

I took the usual courses: anatomy, physiology, chemistry, etc. I made sure to take many “recommended” courses as well (keep in mind, this will vary between schools). This included courses such as medical terminology, exercise physiology, and nutrition. Taking these courses not only helped strengthen my application, but I found that having this background has helped me during PT school.

I took the GRE the summer before I applied to schools. I was working early morning shifts as an EMT, so I would use down time to study, or after work I would do some practice tests. My scores are V: 153, Q: 156, A: 5. I wish I had higher scores, but I was just happy that I broke past 150 for each section.  I used a variety of study materials, but for the quantitative and verbal sections, the best material is to use what ETS provides, as they are the ones that make the test. I made the mistake of using other materials too much, so I didn’t focus on what the test actually tests. The Princeton review, however, is AMAZING for the written section. They break down the essays into a skeleton, and they teach you how to fill in that skeleton. This helped immensely, and I believe that is why I received a 5 on that section.

Outside Experiences

I honestly was terrified that I wouldn’t get into any PT school. I knew I had plenty of observational experiences, but I felt I lacked academically. My GPA wasn’t as high as my classmates, and outside the writing portion, I had pretty average scores on my GRE. I know a lot of students like to focus on grades and PT observations, but I wanted to bring something different to the table to help me stand out more. I decided to do two things. The first thing I did was volunteer at a karate studio. The karate studio combined occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy to help these kids overcome various disabilities. I didn’t work with any PTs so I didn’t count these as observations, but I’m still thankful that I worked there. This broadened my understanding of how kids cope with their disabilities, and learned how to talk to parents when discussing their child’s health.

The second thing I did was become an EMT. I wanted to do something vastly different from other students, so I figured EMT was the best option for me. A lot of skills that EMTs learn can actually translate to physical therapy. Skills like note writing, and being aware of different illnesses and injuries, how they present, and what you should do in response are similar in both professions. Unfortunately, for me, though, I got my license in March of 2020. I was one of the frontline workers helping patients with COVID-19. I myself have asthma, so working with these patients was really scary for me, and I was scared to bring it home too. I was unable to see my dad for awhile, since he lives with my grandmother, who is currently 93. I couldn’t put her at risk. Despite the hardship, I felt it was so important to show up. These are still human beings that need medical help that they can’t get without us. I couldn’t be scared. I had to be their health care provider, which is exactly what I did.

PT Experience

For me, I began looking for volunteer opportunities at PT clinics at the beginning of fall semester of my sophomore year of undergrad. I didn’t have a car at the time, so I wanted to find something within walking distance.

I found a sports medicine program at my school, where the athletic trainers and PT worked directly with Division I athletes. This was an insane opportunity! They initially wouldn’t take me, however. This program is designed to last 4 years, and according to the head PT, some students fall behind if they enter later. I was able to convince them to give me 6 months. If I was unable to meet their expectations, I would leave. I wanted any experience that I could get from them, so I was determined to put in all my effort into this opportunity.

I came early every single day, and made sure to learn something new so I could come back and apply what I learned. I took the initiative to talk to the athletes and learn about their injuries, do case reports about them, and discuss with the PT various rehab programs that could benefit these athletes. I worked my butt off, and after six months, they introduced me as the new sports medicine intern for the Women’s Soccer team. Working with these girls truly solidified my desire to become a PT, especially after one of the athletes tore her ACL on the field. I was there with her from the moment she dropped to the ground, to the moment she was back on the field. I learned so much from her. Those moments captured what solidified my desire to become a physical therapist.

I knew I needed more than just sports medicine, so after I was able to bring my car on campus, I ventured out and sought other volunteer positions to beef up my application, and I tried my best to diversify my settings. I worked at a neuro clinic, an outpatient center that focused on hand therapy, and a sub-acute skilled nursing facility. The more diverse your experience is, you’ll have a higher chance of getting into schools! 

After all this, I accumulated over 1000 hours of observational hours under PTs. I was worried about my GPA/GRE scores, so I made sure to get a lot of hours. You definitely do not need to have as many to get into schools though. In fact, many schools cap hours. Keep that in mind when you’re researching which schools you need to get into.