I didn’t want this to be my first official post, but realizing the 2-year anniversary of my Emory DPT interview is coming up, I thought this might be of help to some of the people going through that now.  My next post will be something more fun!

Physical therapy is a great career, but navigating the world of PT school admissions can be kind of rough. I hope these tips help!  Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions! I’m no expert on getting into grad schools, but I can talk from my own experiences.

What major to have: My major was biology, but most people in my class have health/exercise science related degrees.  In any PT program there are a few people with really different backgrounds, for example one of my professors was a theatre major and is a great PT. I honestly think schools like having people from diverse backgrounds.  Whatever your background is, it will contribute to you being a better PT in some way.  Have a business degree?  You are off to a great start and will be the envy of all your friends in any management course.  Psychology/sociology?  You will have a better understanding of motivation and the teaching-learning process for each patient.  I really can’t think of a major that wouldn’t be good for PT, as long as you complete all of your prerequisites.  Coming from a non-health background just means you’ll have a little more catching up to do in some ways compared to your peers.  Just be prepared for that. However, you might be ahead of them in others, for example I barely needed to study for our genetics course compared to other classmates.

What classes to take: A problem with PT schools is that they all have different course requirements, although they all are similar.  Pick your top 3 schools and be sure to take their class requirements.  Contact the program if you have any questions about if a certain course will count before you take it.  Still apply to schools you don’t have all the classes for though, but you won’t have as good a chance of getting into those schools as ones you have the requirements for.

Grades/ GRE scores: I think a lot of people stress out about this, but I feel like grades are not the key deciding factor in admissions.  Most places look at the whole person, not just grades.  I feel it is more to see how well a person will do in grad school.  If someone struggled with grades in undergrad, PT school is A LOT harder, so they want to pick people who will do well in the program.  In Emory’s DPT program grades below 80% are failing (if I got a 79 on a test, that means I failed it). Bottom line: grades are important, but not life or death.

PT Observation Experience: All schools require a certain number of observation hours of a PT. I highly, highly recommend you split them up between at least 3 different physical therapy places, preferably in different settings.  Some schools might not care, but it will help a lot if you have a diverse experience before you come to school.  Each PT and clinic is different and does things differently.  There is no one way to do things.  If you get all of your hours at one place, you might get that impression.

Regarding different settings, observe in at least an outpatient orthopedic clinic and a hospital setting, maybe a nursing home too.  This varied experience will mean a lot more to you in the end believe me.  Also, it will give you more options for getting letters of recommendation from a PT and open you up to the diversity of the field.

Since everyone is busy, how do you make time for observation hours?  A lot of hospitals have PT on the weekends, so that is good.  Also, if you don’t take classes in the summer, that is a great time. If you are busy during the day, many outpatient orthopedic places are open late to accommodate patient work schedules.  I was able to get 40+ hours and have it count for course credit as my biology internship.  Maybe your school has independent study as well that you could do in a PT clinic.  A lot of people in my class worked at PT clinics, which really brought them ahead.  I tried and tried to find work in a PT clinic and could never find an open job as an aide or a tech.  But, it’s worth trying.

Letters of Recommendation: Make sure they are from people who know you well and have good things to say about you.  Get to know some faculty at your school well.  Taking on a research project or independent study in undergrad is a great way to do this, a good experience and a serious plus on an application.  Also, ask them for the letter way before you need it.  PT’s and professors are busy people.  You don’t want to miss a deadline because you are waiting on a letter of recommendation.

Paperwork/deadlines: Get everything together and send it in as early as possible, really! The earlier you get it in, the better.  I turned in my application for Emory in December, when it was due.  It turns out some people had already interviewed and been accepted by then!  You only hurt yourself by waiting.

The interview: Not all schools require it, but congratulations if you get one! Most schools interview way more people than they have spots for though.  In my opinion the key to the interview is to be yourself and be confident.  Practice with a family member, friend or record yourself in a mock interview so you feel more prepared for questions.  Some of the questions I remember (I’m a little rusty, it was 2 years ago) were

- “Why do you want to come to (insert school here)”

- “Why do you want to be a physical therapist?”

- “Describe a good experience and a bad experience you had during your observation hours”

- “Describe yourself in 3 words”

- “What makes you a good candidate for physical therapy school”

- “What are your plans if you don’t get into any PT schools?”

That’s all I can remember for now.  A lot of schools have group interviews, with 2-3 students at a time which has its pros and cons.  A definite pro is that while another student is answering it gives you time to think about your response.  A con is that they might say something really good that you were going to say and “ditto” is not a good answer.  Plus, it can be a little intimidating if there are multiple professors interviewing you, but that means you have multiple people evaluating you, instead of one person’s opinion.

It’s a good idea to research the school and find out their specialty and what makes them different from other schools. You can weave this into your answers if possible.  For instance, Emory’s DPT program has an emphasis on research, so it’s a plus to mention your interest in research during the interview if appropriate, and if you actually have an interest in research. Don’t lie or say things just because they will help you get in if they aren’t true.

An important part of the interview is not just what they think of you, but what you think of the school.  One school I interviewed at was my top choice before I saw the campus and realized it wasn’t a good fit for me.  Take the time to ask current students and faculty questions, they want to be of help to you!  Make friends with the other applicants too, you might be seeing them again soon!

My mom and stepdad came to my interview days, as did other parents.  If your information says it’s ok to bring family and they want to come, go ahead and make a trip of it.  I’d say less than 25% of people had anyone with them though, but I felt ok about it.  They liked seeing the campus and I appreciated their input on the schools.  They also helped me feel supported and a little less nervous.

What to wear: Dress professionally and wear comfortable shoes.  Most interview days involve a tour of the campus.  For some reason, most people wear black suits for their interviews.  When I see a group of students on a tour, it looks like a funeral.  If you like to go with the flow, than a black suit will be great.  If you are like me and like to stand out just a little, try a suit in neutral, brown, gray, beige or navy blue.

A note on non-traditional students: I’ve read where a lot of people are coming back to school after years of working and thinking about PT.  I think schools love non-traditional students and your years of experience will be appreciated as input in class discussions. Most physical therapy students are younger, in their 20’s, but will look up to you for sure.

Hope this helps!