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How hard is it to get into physical therapy school?

I am a high school senior in hopes of being a physical therapist. #health #physical-therapist #physical-therapy

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Estelle’s Answer

I'm not a PT, but I am a physician and surgeon and work with PTs all the time! I think that they provide a very valuable service to the community with their skill set and get to build a relationship with their patients.

From what I understand, PT program takes about 3 years to complete. This is after ~4 years of college, taking the required pre-requisites, and taking an entrance exam. So, the road to becoming a PT requires commitment. On top of that, the acceptance rate is only 31.76%, which means you need to be at the top of your class in undergrad and do very well on your exams.

I think that PTs are a vital part of the healthcare team and I wish you the best.
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Kelsey’s Answer

Hello! Great question. I have friends who are currently in PT school. I know for some of them they got in on the first try, while others had to apply more than once. I would say it is really important to have good grades/high GPA in your undergraduate career and to major in a health science related field. I would also be sure to have lots of shadowing and volunteer experience. I know some of my friends volunteered all 4 years at the local hospital and tried to shadow each summer/have an internship. I would also try and join clubs or programs that are related to physical therapy. Most colleges have clubs or programs dedicated to that. Just make sure to keep working hard! Best of luck and hoped this helped :)
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Haylee’s Answer

As long as you are passionate about physical therapy and dedicated to put in the time for schooling, it will not be hard for you to be accepted into PT school. Of course, it is a competitive field to get into, so good grades are always a recommendation, but experience in the form of volunteering, shadowing, or working is just as important. Schools want to know that you truly have a passion for physical therapy, so if they see that you have spent hours observing a physical therapist, they will feel more confident that this is truly what you want to do. Just set your mind to a goal and write down everything that you need to accomplish before you begin applying, and you should be good.
I know most schools want you to have above a 3.0 GPA, but a 3.5 GPA and above will put you in the competitive running. Of course, a 3.5 GPA is something that is hard to achieve, so just do your best and don't beat yourself up if you cannot reach that. Spend time volunteering and shadowing PT's in different areas such as outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, etc. Show your dedication and interest and you will have no problem getting into a program. I also recommend applying to many different programs. For reference, I applied to 9 schools and only got into 1 school. I had the grades, but I did not have the hours of observation that many schools wanted. That just goes to show how important it is to get your hours in! That being said, I absolutely love the school that I go to and I wouldn't want it any other way. It'll all work out in the end! Just keep pushing yourself.
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