Pre-PTs all have the same fears, some are a little stronger than others because of different things; GRE practices not looking good, freaking out because the test is in two weeks. Then we start panicking and getting in our own head and start thinking, “Shoot there's a lot of other applicants. There's a lot of people in my class applying. I'm seeing people online that are killing it and they have a higher GPA. Maybe they're not struggling with the GRE.” Now we’re putting ourselves in a position where we start saying, “Shoot! maybe it's not meant for me, but I know I love it. I know that I can't really see myself doing something else but should I have a plan B?"

Sometimes I like to ask myself, what's my life? What's my buyout from choosing to do something else other than PT? With that, there are five questions you should ask yourself along this journey.

Question 1: “What will really stop me from getting accepted?” 

• Will the PT program...

There are so many different things that are in the back of your mind when you're applying as a pre-PT that really affect how you do. Let’s talk about identity crisis. 

An identity crisis is in short, when you have this moment where you really don't know who you are anymore. It's tied to something that really doesn't define you, but you lead yourself to believe it.

What does that mean?

We're all human beings, but as a pre-PT applying to PT school you've been gifted with the ability to be you. When we go through certain obstacles many times we associate those obstacles with who we have become. Whether it's the GRE (fourth time taking it or fifth time taking it) or being rejected and looking at that and saying, “that's just who I am.” You might even be thinking, “last year I applied and I felt like I did everything in my power to have the best possible application. But it just didn't work out. So, I'm trying again this year, but I have even more...

So many times throughout our academic career, we've been trained to either ask the teacher, find a video, or get help from the tutor when we’re struggling. Basically, relying on other people to help us become a better student. Asking for help is a good thing, but, immediately running to others at the first sign of struggle may be a detriment to some people who are struggling with certain classes and other things that may not be working at this time. So, another tactic to think about is whether or not you’re an independent student or a dependent student.

Being independent versus dependent is important because this whole journey is an independent project. Meaning PT school, your board exam, the tests that you take in PT school, even the tests that you take now as Pre-PT students, you're taking them by yourself. So, whether you're a Pre-PT, going into PT school, or even started PT school already, a truth about studying that not a lot of people talk about is the importance...

PT schools: “We want someone unique, different. We want someone who stands out."

Every Pre-PT:  “How should I stand out?”

PT schools: “Oh, just get your GRE up. Get a higher GPA and more observation hours” (the same advice cycle after cycle)

Your professors, your advisors, and the PT schools are saying, “be different" or "be unique.” But then they're giving you the same advice, cycle after cycle, but expect something different. I liken this to the parable that says, basically, “If you're given a fish eat for a day if you're taught how to fish, eat for a lifetime.” They're not really teaching you how to fish. They're just giving you food, they're not teaching you how to hunt. They're just giving you surface-level answers. But not really teaching you anything of substance, then they get frustrated because they're not getting unique, different applicants, then you get frustrated because you listen to them, then you apply with...

I want you to think about this: you have something you're excited about doing like going to a party or a concert or maybe on a date. You start getting ready hours ahead of time. You're so excited to go so you're not procrastinating for that. Why? Because it's fun. Your expectations are so high for this experience that you do not want to procrastinate. There’s no reason to. You're so excited for that opportunity that your actions to get that opportunity follows. And what are those actions? Everything but procrastination.

Now, let's think about it from the PTCAS perspective or from the perspective of studying for the GRE. We've been taught to have our expectations and standards so low for stuff and the mindset that “we don't want to do it” for so long that our actions follow. And what are those actions? Procrastination!

A lot of you are thinking, “well, I took this class before and I failed.” “I took the GRE before and I got a low...

A Quick Q & A.

Q: What is Accreditation? 

A: A process in the United States that ensures the quality of education for the students

Q: Who grants Physical Therapy (PT) schools accreditation? 

A: A body called “CAPTE” or Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education.

Q: Why is accreditation important? 

A: In order to sit for your licensing exam and become a licensed Physical Therapist, you have to have graduated from an accredited institution. 

How accreditation works

When PT schools are applying for accreditation they are applying to get accepted for accreditation, aka “Candidacy.” Candidacy means that a school is a candidate for accreditation. 

The schools have to write down everything that they want to happen in school and actually do it. They have to say where the money is going. They say how much is going to a cadaver lab, how much is going to the teachers and the students. They have to break...

You might have asked yourself “what should I be majoring in as a Pre-PT?” Is there one best thing? Is there a worst one? Should I stay away from this? Should I stay away from that?

Is there something you can choose that will put you above the rest that will make you stand out? That'll make you be different? Truth is … it doesn't really matter what major you do as a Pre-PT and undergrad. Why? Let's take a step back and think about this. 

When you go to PTCAS or when you go to the school's website, does it ever say that they require a certain major? Does it ever say that they want you to be a biology major? Does it ever say they want you to have a Kinesiology degree? Does it ever say they want you to have an Exercise Science degree? No. 

What does it say?

It says stuff about your GPA requirements and the GRE requirements. It says stuff about the letters of recommendation they want and about the hours and the experiences, but it never says anything about...

Begin.

The other day, I was scrolling through Instagram, and I so happen to cross paths with this quote: “Sometimes I start a sentence and don’t even know where it’s going, but at least it had a start.”

Now depending on your own interpretation of this quote, depicts how you can apply those words to your own life. Through my eyes and even while on my physical therapy journey, there are and have been many new beginnings. Some things come to an end, others just keep going on and on.

However, this quote reminded me of the beginning of my pre-physical therapy school journey. I had no idea on how to get into physical therapy school, but I applied fearless to the unknown; and so it was being denied over a handful of times. Regardless, “I started my sentence,” it may not have ended with a period, stating a complete sentence; but with a semicolon signifying that my failures were not going to be the end.

I started my sentence, and not knowing how it was going...

Let’s talk about a topic that everyone always avoids. Grade Point Average! Let’s talk about why your GPA matters. Now we all know that GPA isn’t everything. 

But if you're going into graduate school, if you're going into a doctorate program, understand that this is going to be a hard intensive three years of schooling that you're about to get into and you have to respect that. Like these classes aren’t your normal pre-req classes. It is way more intensive than that.

So if you're suffering with a pre-req class here by itself and another one there by itself and you're struggling to handle two at a time plus you're studying for your GRE, just understand that this is ALL preparation for PT school.

Like, they're not going to make this easy on you. They're going to make you earn this thing. They're gonna put you through the fire to make sure you know what you're doing and that you're treating your patients with the utmost quality care. They want to make sure...

Some people are naturally good at interviewing, and others have a really hard time with it. There are so many different aspects of the interview in general, but underneath it all, there’s no getting away from that nervous feeling and those butterflies. 

I want to give you some perspective from the other side, because I've been on the other side of the interview. There are 5 tips that you need to know from the viewpoint of the interviewer.

1. Just be normal 

Be a likeable human being - as simple and cliche as that might sound. Be confident. SMILE! Use your hands when you talk and look them straight in the eyes when you answer. Be a person that you would like. People like doing business with other people they connect with and like. Don’t overthink it. Shake their hand when you see them for the first time, don’t overlook the simple/little things. It’s all about the first impression.

Think to yourself - what kind of student would you want to accept into...