3 answers
Lyndi
Student
Grundy Center, Iowa
3
Questions
Asked
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What did a typical day in college look like to become a physical therapists, as well as what was the most challenging class/classes?
I am a Junior I am involved in 3 sports and extracurricular activities. #pt #physical-therapy #sports
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3 answers
Cathy Doyle
Physical Therapist and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
12
Answers
Vancouver, Washington
Updated
Cathy’s Answer
Once in PT graduate school, you study, study, study! It’s a very intense and academically challenging program. I did work a little to help pay bills and kept up my exercises, but other than that you’re in classes and studying for most of the day at least for the first 2 years. Then you get into your clinical internships where it’s like you go to work everyday from 8-5. My hardest class in PT school was Physiology. I know some people did not like standing up in front of the whole class doing oral presentations. And of course there is the most pressure being able to perform and pass your clinicals. I always did well with the hands on and practical stuff
Vicky Bale PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
Orthopedic and manual physical therapist, FAAOMPT
8
Answers
Bellingham, Washington
Updated
Vicky’s Answer
In undergrad you have to take a year of all the basic sciences plus anatomy and physiology and some math, depending on the grad school you apply to that will vary from stats, precalc and calculus. It does not always need to be a pre-PT major like kinesiology but it is very science heavy. You also need to arrange to have observation hours at PT clinics and hospital for your grad school applications, 100+ hours.
PT school is 3 years for the DPT doctorate and you do that with the same group of people through the whole thing. It is not recommended that you work during grad school since it is very time demanding
Make sure you have at least a B in all the main sciences and maths as it is very competitive
PT school is 3 years for the DPT doctorate and you do that with the same group of people through the whole thing. It is not recommended that you work during grad school since it is very time demanding
Vicky recommends the following next steps:
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3440
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Lyndi,
A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapy Student
A standard day for a physical therapy (PT) student is intense and full-on, packed with a blend of classes, lab work, and clinical observations. The PT curriculum is designed to be both challenging and all-encompassing, delving into subjects like anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Besides the academic work, PT students are also tasked with completing clinical rotations to gain practical experience in various healthcare environments.
A typical day for a PT student might kick off early in the morning with an anatomy or physiology lecture, followed by a lab session where students hone their dissection or examination skills. Post lunch, the student might attend a class on biomechanics or neuroscience, then proceed to a clinical observation where they learn from a licensed physical therapist in a real-world healthcare setting. Evenings could be spent studying for an upcoming test or drafting a paper for a class.
Tough Courses for Physical Therapy Students
Physical therapy students encounter several tough courses throughout their college journey. The most demanding ones often include:
Anatomy: This foundational course for PT students delves into the structure and function of the human body, focusing on the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. It demands extensive memorization and understanding of intricate structures and relationships.
Physiology: Physiology explores how the human body operates both at rest and during exercise, covering topics like muscle contraction, cardiovascular function, and respiration. It requires a deep understanding of how various organ systems collaborate to maintain balance in the body.
Biomechanics: This course focuses on how the human body moves and how forces impact the body during movement, covering topics such as kinematics, kinetics, and muscle mechanics. It demands strong mathematical skills and a grasp of physics principles.
Neuroscience: Neuroscience explores the nervous system and its role in controlling movement and sensation. It covers topics like neural anatomy, neural physiology, and neural plasticity. It requires a solid understanding of anatomy and physiology and the ability to critically analyze complex neural circuits.
Pharmacology: This course delves into the study of drugs and their impact on the human body, covering topics like drug classification, drug interactions, and pharmacodynamics. It demands strong analytical skills and understanding of how drugs influence different organ systems in the body.
To sum up, a standard day in college for a physical therapy student is packed with demanding classes, lab sessions, and clinical observations. The toughest courses for PT students often include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. These courses demand extensive memorization, critical thinking, mathematical, and analytical skills for success in the program.
May God bless you!
James Constantine Frangos.
A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapy Student
A standard day for a physical therapy (PT) student is intense and full-on, packed with a blend of classes, lab work, and clinical observations. The PT curriculum is designed to be both challenging and all-encompassing, delving into subjects like anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Besides the academic work, PT students are also tasked with completing clinical rotations to gain practical experience in various healthcare environments.
A typical day for a PT student might kick off early in the morning with an anatomy or physiology lecture, followed by a lab session where students hone their dissection or examination skills. Post lunch, the student might attend a class on biomechanics or neuroscience, then proceed to a clinical observation where they learn from a licensed physical therapist in a real-world healthcare setting. Evenings could be spent studying for an upcoming test or drafting a paper for a class.
Tough Courses for Physical Therapy Students
Physical therapy students encounter several tough courses throughout their college journey. The most demanding ones often include:
Anatomy: This foundational course for PT students delves into the structure and function of the human body, focusing on the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. It demands extensive memorization and understanding of intricate structures and relationships.
Physiology: Physiology explores how the human body operates both at rest and during exercise, covering topics like muscle contraction, cardiovascular function, and respiration. It requires a deep understanding of how various organ systems collaborate to maintain balance in the body.
Biomechanics: This course focuses on how the human body moves and how forces impact the body during movement, covering topics such as kinematics, kinetics, and muscle mechanics. It demands strong mathematical skills and a grasp of physics principles.
Neuroscience: Neuroscience explores the nervous system and its role in controlling movement and sensation. It covers topics like neural anatomy, neural physiology, and neural plasticity. It requires a solid understanding of anatomy and physiology and the ability to critically analyze complex neural circuits.
Pharmacology: This course delves into the study of drugs and their impact on the human body, covering topics like drug classification, drug interactions, and pharmacodynamics. It demands strong analytical skills and understanding of how drugs influence different organ systems in the body.
To sum up, a standard day in college for a physical therapy student is packed with demanding classes, lab sessions, and clinical observations. The toughest courses for PT students often include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. These courses demand extensive memorization, critical thinking, mathematical, and analytical skills for success in the program.
May God bless you!
James Constantine Frangos.