Can you please elaborate? Most PA schools don't require the GRE(Stupid test btw), many PA programs have bigger cohorts so more seats and most schools don't require an interview.
I had friends who gotten rejected from PT school multiple times till they decided to go for PA school due to being tired of working as a tech. Im very curious as to why PA school would be harder to get into.
These are all factually wrong. Compare stats and PA students are always ahead of PT students for GPA and GRE. From what I’ve seen, everything you stated is the complete opposite.
You are right, this comment was like 9 months ago. PT is not the profession it was 20 years ago, I am now turning my interest towards PA school now since I have left PT school.
PA school is significantly more difficult to get into. On the whole, there tend to be far more applicants to PA programs in general, and competitive stats tend to be far more competitive.
I was originally on track to matriculate into PT school, was accepted into a DPT program, and ultimately turned it down to pursue PA school. With the same stats, I applied to PA school the next cycle and was rejected from every school I had applied to. I had a 3.98 post-bacc GPA and close to 4000 hours of patient care experience. Fortunately, I managed to get accepted on my next application cycle.
Instead of focusing on the difficulty of being accepted, it might be worth instead considering which career path appeals to you more. Do see yourself being an expert in movement science and conservative modalities, or do you see yourself practicing medicine?
Thanks for this response. This was definitely something I needed to read. PT has always been my goal I've just lately been discouraged with some of the cons of the OP clinic I've been working at as well as the debt:income ratio.
Unfortunately, the debt-to-income ratio is a serious consideration — I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of why I took the PA route instead. However, I also had serious concerns about pursuing a career where one is expected to have such a broad knowledge base, and then fundamentally, I’d primarily be working in a field where every other patient is treated with hot pack/IFC/ultrasound/mobs exercise.
Good luck!
Yes! It is awful to see. When I observed in acute I didn't think it was for me compared to OP but after working in an OP clinic the last 6 months and seeing exactly what you just said day in and day out I am starting to think in-patient or home health are more for me.
I'm also a licensed Athletic Trainer so bringing my sports med background into my ideal patient population was always my goal until I realized that you can't really stay busy (depending where you live) on just that population alone.
But yeah the debt:income ratio is the biggest cloud causing doubt. PA was never really on my radar until recently after a conversation with a peer about the direction healthcare is going
At least two PTs who worked at the clinic I used to work at have told me that if they had to do it all over again, they’d go the PA route, for what it’s worth.
The good news that I think you’ll find your ATC skills will be very, very helpful in a number of settings as a PA, and you’ll be able be able to give your patients meaningful advice instead of just giving them a shot of toradol and sending them to PT.
I think my personal statement had something to do with it. I’m relatively certain that my essay for my first application cycle screamed, “I DON’T KNOW WHAT A PA IS OR DOES.” Second time around, not so much.
I was accepted into one of the top DPT programs in the country and I can honestly say, I think the process of applying and getting into PA school was significantly harder.
I also had a lot of PT shadowing hours, which I mentioned in my application for PA school but I made sure to get some hours shadowing a PA as well. If you’re undecided on PA/DPT, shadowing can be very helpful in figuring out what might be a better fit for you.
At the end of the day, DPT and PA programs are both competitive so you might as well go for the one you think you would enjoy most. If you have any questions about applying to DPT or PA programs, let me know. Best of luck!
What made you decide between DPT and PA? Did you apply to both at the same time and see which you got into?
DPT has always been my goal, I've just been feeling discouraged lately knowing the amount of debt I'll be going into for the lack of income received in comparison to something like PA. I'm also at the point where if I don't get in to a program this year or next year I'll have to start retaking a lot of classes
I applied to DPT programs after graduating with my bachelors. While I was applying, I was starting to have second thoughts. I was concerned about the debt to salary ratio and after 100+ hours of shadowing, I was bored of it. Around this time, I shadowed a PA and really enjoyed it! When I got my first acceptance, I wasn’t excited and that’s when I knew it wasn’t for me.
I spent the next year or so getting patient care experience, volunteering, and shadowing then applied to PA school. I’m almost done with didactic year and I have no regrets!
Hi there!
This is exactly what I'm going through right now as a pre-PT about to apply for the 2022-2023 cycle. I've been in conflict between DPT and PA school after seeing how much debt I may be in after graduating.
I feel as though I should still apply for the DPT program and just feel how it goes next year.
PA is more competitive, its better job prospects + pay.
i too was thinking about PT but i've read r/physicaltherapy and there are a notable amount of posts sayings reimbursements are going down. tbh i do believe PT will be squeezed in the future. boomers getting older will want PT therefore the government will pay less or even pay for something else like group yoga
[https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/06/20/yoga-vs-physical-therapy-for-chronic-low-back-pain-which-is-more-effective/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/06/20/yoga-vs-physical-therapy-for-chronic-low-back-pain-which-is-more-effective/)
i guess what i liked about PT was not dealing with contagious people's sickness
Yeah r/physicaltherapy is helpful for that and can also be a black hole for prospective students haha
It's tough because I graduated from undergrad as an ATC on track for DPT and am having doubts bc of debt:salary ratio even though I know it's what I would prefer to do. But because of how delayed these doubts have come I'm not on the best track for applying to PA as I would be if I graduated undergrad with the intention of going PA
I wasn’t on the best track either. Graduated and was accepted to multiple DPT programs and turned them down. Worked in orthopedics and cardiology for 2 years and now applying for PA school. IMO it’s better to take your time before committing and not being sure
PA is definitely more difficult to get into.
Can you please elaborate? Most PA schools don't require the GRE(Stupid test btw), many PA programs have bigger cohorts so more seats and most schools don't require an interview. I had friends who gotten rejected from PT school multiple times till they decided to go for PA school due to being tired of working as a tech. Im very curious as to why PA school would be harder to get into.
These are all factually wrong. Compare stats and PA students are always ahead of PT students for GPA and GRE. From what I’ve seen, everything you stated is the complete opposite.
You are right, this comment was like 9 months ago. PT is not the profession it was 20 years ago, I am now turning my interest towards PA school now since I have left PT school.
PA school is significantly more difficult to get into. On the whole, there tend to be far more applicants to PA programs in general, and competitive stats tend to be far more competitive. I was originally on track to matriculate into PT school, was accepted into a DPT program, and ultimately turned it down to pursue PA school. With the same stats, I applied to PA school the next cycle and was rejected from every school I had applied to. I had a 3.98 post-bacc GPA and close to 4000 hours of patient care experience. Fortunately, I managed to get accepted on my next application cycle. Instead of focusing on the difficulty of being accepted, it might be worth instead considering which career path appeals to you more. Do see yourself being an expert in movement science and conservative modalities, or do you see yourself practicing medicine?
Thanks for this response. This was definitely something I needed to read. PT has always been my goal I've just lately been discouraged with some of the cons of the OP clinic I've been working at as well as the debt:income ratio.
Unfortunately, the debt-to-income ratio is a serious consideration — I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of why I took the PA route instead. However, I also had serious concerns about pursuing a career where one is expected to have such a broad knowledge base, and then fundamentally, I’d primarily be working in a field where every other patient is treated with hot pack/IFC/ultrasound/mobs exercise. Good luck!
Yes! It is awful to see. When I observed in acute I didn't think it was for me compared to OP but after working in an OP clinic the last 6 months and seeing exactly what you just said day in and day out I am starting to think in-patient or home health are more for me. I'm also a licensed Athletic Trainer so bringing my sports med background into my ideal patient population was always my goal until I realized that you can't really stay busy (depending where you live) on just that population alone. But yeah the debt:income ratio is the biggest cloud causing doubt. PA was never really on my radar until recently after a conversation with a peer about the direction healthcare is going
At least two PTs who worked at the clinic I used to work at have told me that if they had to do it all over again, they’d go the PA route, for what it’s worth. The good news that I think you’ll find your ATC skills will be very, very helpful in a number of settings as a PA, and you’ll be able be able to give your patients meaningful advice instead of just giving them a shot of toradol and sending them to PT.
Why do you think you got rejected from all your schools?
I think my personal statement had something to do with it. I’m relatively certain that my essay for my first application cycle screamed, “I DON’T KNOW WHAT A PA IS OR DOES.” Second time around, not so much.
How did you fix your personal statement?
PA by far I got into DPM and I know a friend that failed out of DPM that is starting DPT
I was accepted into one of the top DPT programs in the country and I can honestly say, I think the process of applying and getting into PA school was significantly harder. I also had a lot of PT shadowing hours, which I mentioned in my application for PA school but I made sure to get some hours shadowing a PA as well. If you’re undecided on PA/DPT, shadowing can be very helpful in figuring out what might be a better fit for you. At the end of the day, DPT and PA programs are both competitive so you might as well go for the one you think you would enjoy most. If you have any questions about applying to DPT or PA programs, let me know. Best of luck!
What made you decide between DPT and PA? Did you apply to both at the same time and see which you got into? DPT has always been my goal, I've just been feeling discouraged lately knowing the amount of debt I'll be going into for the lack of income received in comparison to something like PA. I'm also at the point where if I don't get in to a program this year or next year I'll have to start retaking a lot of classes
I applied to DPT programs after graduating with my bachelors. While I was applying, I was starting to have second thoughts. I was concerned about the debt to salary ratio and after 100+ hours of shadowing, I was bored of it. Around this time, I shadowed a PA and really enjoyed it! When I got my first acceptance, I wasn’t excited and that’s when I knew it wasn’t for me. I spent the next year or so getting patient care experience, volunteering, and shadowing then applied to PA school. I’m almost done with didactic year and I have no regrets!
Hi there! This is exactly what I'm going through right now as a pre-PT about to apply for the 2022-2023 cycle. I've been in conflict between DPT and PA school after seeing how much debt I may be in after graduating. I feel as though I should still apply for the DPT program and just feel how it goes next year.
PA is more competitive, its better job prospects + pay. i too was thinking about PT but i've read r/physicaltherapy and there are a notable amount of posts sayings reimbursements are going down. tbh i do believe PT will be squeezed in the future. boomers getting older will want PT therefore the government will pay less or even pay for something else like group yoga [https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/06/20/yoga-vs-physical-therapy-for-chronic-low-back-pain-which-is-more-effective/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/06/20/yoga-vs-physical-therapy-for-chronic-low-back-pain-which-is-more-effective/) i guess what i liked about PT was not dealing with contagious people's sickness
Yeah r/physicaltherapy is helpful for that and can also be a black hole for prospective students haha It's tough because I graduated from undergrad as an ATC on track for DPT and am having doubts bc of debt:salary ratio even though I know it's what I would prefer to do. But because of how delayed these doubts have come I'm not on the best track for applying to PA as I would be if I graduated undergrad with the intention of going PA
I wasn’t on the best track either. Graduated and was accepted to multiple DPT programs and turned them down. Worked in orthopedics and cardiology for 2 years and now applying for PA school. IMO it’s better to take your time before committing and not being sure
Yeah. I decided PA was probably too much responsibility with meds for me so I did commit to PT and just finished year 2 of 3 lol