PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY

Admission to physical therapy (PT) school is a highly competitive process.  It is vitally important that students who want to pursue a PT degree thoroughly prepare themselves to be competitive applicants during the undergraduate years.

GPA AND GRE

GPA is a vital part of your application to PT school.  Many applicants accepted into PT schools have a GPA of 3.2 or higher with the average being approximately 3.6.

The GRE general test is a standardized examination required by many PT schools as part of your application. Specific information on the exam is available at www.GRE.org .  The GRE is administered via a computer-based format. There are 5 test sites in Utah: 1 in Orem, 2 in Salt Lake, 1 in Logan and 1 in St. George.  Students select their preferred test site when they register to take the test.

The GRE general test measures:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Critical Thinking
• Analytical Writing

Three scores are reported on the general test: a verbal reasoning score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments; a quantitative reasoning score on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments; an analytical writing score reported on a 0-6 score scale, in half-point increments.

Students should plan to spend a minimum of 3-4 months studying for the GRE.  You may consider taking a prep course or studying on your own.

PREREQUISITE COURSES

A Bachelor's degree is required before matriculation into most PT schools.  Although many pre-PT students select Exercise Science as a major, PT schools do not consider one major as better than another.  Your major should be chosen based on your interests and strengths and can be in any discipline, science or non-science.  It is important to select a major that suits you.  Keep in mind that you may use your undergraduate degree to fall back on if you are not accepted into PT school or if you choose to pursue alternate options.

NOTE: PT schools determine their own individual requirements. The courses listed below are a general guideline to help you prepare for application to these schools. Refer to www.apta.org and the individual school's website to determine the specific requirements for each institution.

Required by most PT schools with a grade of C or better: 

• Biology I and II with labs: BIOL 1610/1615 and 1620/1625
• Human Anatomy: ZOOL 2320
• Human Physiology: ZOOL 2420
• Exercise Physiology: PES 3700 (ZOOL 3700)
• Principles of Chemistry I and II with labs: CHEM 1210/1215 and 1220/1225
• Physics I and II with lab: PHYS 2010/2015 and 2020/2025
• General Psychology: PSY 1010
• Abnormal Psychology: PSY 3400
• Principles of Statistics or Stats for Behavioral Sciences: MATH 2040 or PSY 3010

In addition, some schools require the following courses:

• Microbiology for the Health Professions: MICRO 2060
• Kinesiology: PES 3500 or Biomechanics: PES 3730 (Required by University of Utah)
• First Aid: HLTH 1200 or Advanced First Aid Certification (Required by University of Utah)
• Medical Terminology I: HLTH 1300
• Public Speaking: COMM 1020
• Trigonometry: MATH 1060 (Required by University of Utah)

Click here for a recommended schedule for taking the PT prerequisites. 

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

It is extremely important to be involved in activities outside of the classroom in order to be competitive for admission into PT school. GPA and GRE scores are important, but they do not make you unique. Extracurricular activities are a chance for you to set yourself apart and display your motivation for pursuing physical therapy and dedication to serving the community.  Admissions committees want to know that you are willing and able to learn in any circumstance and/or environment.

The activities you should be involved in and the recommended hours are listed below:

• PT Experience: 150 hours in at least 2 different settings. Some schools ask for 1000 hours. PT experience can be done be shadowing or volunteering in a PT clinic or working as a PT Aide. Students should gain exposure to the physical therapy and have a clear understanding of what life as a PT entails.



• Volunteer Service: 45 hours during each of the pre-PT years including the year of application. To be a strong applicant for PT school you must show dedication to serving the community. Volunteer service can be done with any group or organization and does not have to be medically related. Being involved in 2-3 service opportunities over a length of time will benefit you more than having several brief experiences.



• Leadership: 2 different leadership positions during the pre-PT years. These should be experiences that have lasted at least 3 months or more. This includes experiences as tutors, mentors, coaches, teachers or leaders in campus clubs and organizations as well as employment and church leadership.

CHOOSING A PT SCHOOL

Because all PT schools vary in their admissions requirements, it is recommended that students choose 5-10 PT schools they would be most interested in attending and make note of those schools admission requirements. This does not mean that these are the only schools you will apply to, but you will be well prepared for your first choice schools.

Go to www.apta.org for additional information on PT schools.