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Advice needed for career path

I am a community college student planning to apply to Physical Therapy (DPT) school. I am currently trying to finish my prerequisites, but I realized that DPT programs ask for a bachelor's in some kind of science. I want to major in Kinesiology because it fits physical therapy the best. However, I know 4-year universities like Sac State require you to take at least a full year of classes with them to graduate, which costs a lot of money. Since DPT schools only care that I have any accredited bachelor’s degree and my science classes, is there a cheaper way for me to get my degree? Can I do an affordable online degree program, or get a bachelor's degree directly through a community college so I don't have to pay university tuition? Please let me know.

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LeQuan’s Answer

Good day,

here to provide insight to your question with the intention to help others as well. There are multiple options to achieving what you want, but to address your first question "is there a cheaper way for me to get my degree?". The short answer is yes, the first thing I would do is look into your specific profession and desired title/job. Then research the different ways to get there, it could be a degree or a certificate program or community college. Typically obtaining a certificate will be cheaper than attending university. There are also many online universities that offer a variety of degrees, look into which are available to you at this current time. Lastly, if attending university ends up being the only route you can take, start applying for grants and scholarships to help you pay for school. Do this a minimum of 6 months to a year before applying to the university as this will give you ample time to save up what is necessary. This is money that does not have to be paid back but may require you to give something in exchange, that could be time, resources or going through an application process. Lastly, the university will also offer scholarships based on need and merit. Hope this helps and best of luck to you!
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Sarah’s Answer

Hello. Yes, there are ways to keep costs down, but you’ll still need to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution because most California community colleges do not offer bachelor’s degrees in majors like Kinesiology. Your least expensive path is often to complete as many transferable prerequisites as possible at community college, then transfer to a public university for your final two years.

Before ruling out a university because of cost, complete the FAFSA. As an undergraduate, you may qualify for federal Pell Grants, California grants, institutional aid, scholarships, and Federal Work-Study, all of which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Work-study is especially valuable because it provides income while also giving you relevant work experience for your résumé.

If your goal is DPT school, I’d also focus on programs with strong advising, opportunities to gain observation hours, and undergraduate research. Those experiences will strengthen your application far more than simply finding the cheapest bachelor’s degree.
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