The application process for getting into a doctoral program
for physical therapy can be daunting. There are currently only 20 accredited PT
schools in all of PA and less
than 250 schools in the entire US, according to PTCAS (the common app for DPT
school). While there are new schools gaining their accreditation every year, it
is still very competitive to get into DPT school. I know this sounds scary, but
don’t fret! This blog post is meant to help guide those of you who are applying
to DPT school through the confusing and challenging application process and
hopefully help ease your stress a bit!
Undergrad Schooling:
Undergrad Schooling:
The first step to finding your perfect DPT school starts
with finding your undergraduate school. Some of you have already completed this
step: Congrats!! Others of you are currently looking into undergraduate
programs and are completely overwhelmed with the info packets constantly
arriving at
Decide on DPT Programs:
For those of you already in undergraduate school, already
graduated, or are coming from a different career path, the next step is
deciding which DPT programs you want to apply to. Surprisingly, they are all
very different from each other, and you want to make sure you are applying to
programs that you think will help you be successful. Some schools work on a
traditional class system, similar to undergrad. This is the most common format.
Some schools, like the one I attended, employ a unit-based format where you
integrate information from different “classes” together while focusing on a
specific body part. Schools also differ in their clinical rotation
requirements, different lab structures, etc. So look for the programs that you
think you will help you be the most successful.
Completing Classes:
Now that you have your schools picked out, the next step is understanding the
prerequisites courses. Surprisingly enough, while this is mainly consistent
across schools (chem, bio, anatomy, etc), there are some differences between
schools. Be sure to check out your schools’ requirements on their websites or
on PTCAS to see what each school requires.
The GREs are the next hurdle. We all have our own opinions
about standardized testing but put those aside because schools look at these
scores. I have never been one for studying for a standardized test, but I did
for this one and honestly the practice book was a life saver! Do practice
questions, read about the essay formatting, take a prep course, whatever you
need to be successful because the test is expensive and you don’t want to take
it twice!
Shadowing:
My last piece of advice is about shadowing/observation
hours. Get them early!! Schools have minimum requirements and you don’t want to
be scrambling to get those hours in at the last minute! I would strongly
recommend getting hours in an inpatient setting. Most applicants have a
plethora of outpatient hours, but many overlook the inpatient setting. Some
schools require it, but it will help not only set you apart but will also give
you a better view into the wide variety of opportunities there are as a
practicing clinician.
The most important thing to remember is that once you get
into a DPT program, the competition is over. Your classmates will be your
greatest asset and you will be surprised how much you end up relying on each
other to make it through. You are entering a small but wonderful profession
filled will so many great opportunities to help people who need you. So do not
let the application process bring you down! It will all be worth it once you
earn that DPT!
PTW’s Kaitlin McBryan , PT, DPT is a Staff
Physical Therapist at our West Norriton and Montgomeyville clinics. For an
initial evaluation, call Kaitlin at 610-630-0101 today!
