I’m a senior at Sterling College in Kansas, graduating with a BS in Health Science: Pre-PT. I narrowly missed being accepted into a DPT program (#7 on the wait list). After a recent phone call it seems that they have filled this year’s class and I won’t be accepted. Now I am left wondering what to do. I don’t really have a plan B and have very little work experience on my side. I am getting overwhelmed sifting through jobs that either won’t pay enough for me to begin paying on student loans and live, or I am not qualified for. I hope that someone would have some advice for me. I plan on reapplying next year.
Maybe repost on the Parents Forum? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/ This one is about undergraduate admissions.
thank you! I’ll try that.
A visit to the career center wouldn’t be a bad idea to talk about your options,how to be a stronger applicant next year when you reapply, etc.
Explore with them the idea of working in a Physical Therapy clinic or related area (sports training, etc) as an assistant. Getting more exposure to the field may help you when you reapply; certainly if you are the hardest working person they’ve ever seen and you demonstrate your dedication to helping clients you will get a great rec.
I have a young friend who went through this last year. She worked as a PTAide. Volunteered with an adaptive ski program and retook the GRE. Basically tried to make her application stronger.
She also the 2nd round applied to a wider range of schools. She is just this week moving to a new state to begin her PT grad program.
To the OP…did you only apply to ONE PT program?
These programs are very popular right now, and fairly competitive. Don’t feel too bad- you made the waitlist, so you are qualified. I would think if you work this year at anything in the health field, it will boost your application.
My DIL wanted a very top grad program a few years ago offered at one university. She applied after undergrad and was denied. After working in a loosely related area for a year, she applied again, and voila! She’s now in her third year in her PhD program, with fellowship. Persistence is a big part of success in this life!
If you can utilize your college to help with job placement, do so. Let everyone you know that you are looking. I wouldn’t give up on the health field quite yet because work in that area, even if it’s tangentially related, will contribute to your candidacy.
The good thing is your BS in health sciences is a flexible degree and you’ll still be able to do something within the medical/physical therapy field in the office or outside the medical field. The question @thumper1 posed is a strong one: did you only apply to one?
A job outside the health field isn’t a bad idea but it’s not necessary.
My sister majored in exercise science and originally intended to go to a DPT program after a few years; she currently works in a physical therapist’s office as an aide (not a licensed PTA, but some kind of aide). The pay isn’t great, but it is something to do in between and if you have federal loans only you can use income-based repayment or use a hardship deferral while you reapply for PT programs.
You could also look for more general positions at hospitals, physical therapist’s offices and rehabilitation centers. They might be more administrative in nature.
If you did just apply to one PT program…obviously you need to apply to more.
The problem I’m facing now is finding a job in the health field with no credentials or experience.
@thumper1 @TheDidactic this year I only applied to one. I realize, now, that was foolish, but I was in a situation where I wanted/needed to be close to what I consider home. Next year I plan on applying to as many as I can.
Thanks for the advice and I apologize for my late response.
I know PT’s who have become involved in Tai Chi or yoga. You could even get a certification of some sort in an alternative modality. You could also become a personal trainer, train in Pilates or gyro, that kind of thing.
If you get a job in some other field, perhaps you could volunteer at a rehab or hospital PT department, if you have the time.
Community college PTA programs are two years but perhaps you could take some courses at CC that would apply to a future program-?