My Journey from Undergrad into the UNE DPT Program 🎓
HI FOLKS... I've gotten several questions regarding my career path and how I've reached my current position. For those that need a brief overview - I graduated from Stonehill College in 2018 with an undergraduate degree in biology. Amidst my senior year, I completed my applications to handful of physical therapy programs (about 6 or 7), and selected the University of New England to attend beginning fall of 2018. I have just finished year 1 of school and am on May break before the start of my summer (June/July) semester! Was it an easy journey to this point? HECK NO. But I put in the work, got organized, and took the correct steps to get here. Let's review them step-by-step😊...
Deciding on a Graduate Program
In my first two...almost THREE years at Stonehill, I was completely unsure of what I wanted to pursue after graduation. I knew I would attend graduate school for something in the medical field, but I hadn't yet found something I was totally passionate about. I'm not sure if any followers know I actually began with exploring dentistry! After deciding medical school required far too much dedication and years of study, I researched other options. Dental school is CERTAINLY no walk in the park, but I liked the idea of flexible hours and being an expert in an area within the health field. I never liked the idea of fleshy/messy surgery (God BLESS those people that love it), but I never disliked the idea of oral procedures! I spent well over 50+ hours in a wonderful dental office with the most amazing doctors but I finally decided the focus on the mouth was too specific for me.
I have always been amazed by the functioning of the human body as a whole, so I continued to look into something better fitted to my interests. The summer before my SENIOR YEAR was truthfully one of the most stressful times in my life😅. It felt as though all of my school companions had their career paths figured out and I was quickly approaching my final year of undergrad with no clue. I considered registered dietetics for some time, nursing, even just personal training because I knew I needed to do something I loved. Then one morning my mom randomly questioned; "why haven't you considered physical therapy?"... I hesitated, because I had no concrete answer. Upon further research, I found that this route may be the absolute best fit. Physical therapy is all about healing the human body through movement, manual therapy techniques, muscle strengthening, joint mobilizations, electrical stimulation and more. It takes the entire body into perspective in healing and I think it's truly so in tune with my interests. Once I had FINALLY decided this would be my course of study (by the August before my senior year...lol yikes), I began the work needed to become a perspective applicant for schools the following fall of 2019!
Applying to Graduate Schools for Physical Therapy
Selecting the list of schools to apply to was the next big step in the process. I primarily looked for highly ranked schools and those in the New England area. I applied to University of New England, Northeastern, Boston University, University of Hartford, Franklin Pierce, Plymouth State, and Husson University (also in Maine). The PTCAS forum required for the process is very similar to the common app completed during high school. It required the input of GRE scores, observation hours, (most schools had 40-100 hour minimums), references from professors and a PT, (I think three professors and one physical therapist), supplemental essay answers, and a detailed outline of everything completed during undergrad - classes with grades earned, club and sport team involvement, extra-curricular activities, achievements earned, etc. Specific schools had unique requirements but the general outline was similar for each! This took up quite a bit of time to perfect in the fall of my senior year, but it was worth all the hard work. I managed to find a PT practice nearby in which I could get about 6 observation hours a week even amidst my hectic tennis season. They even asked that I become a PT aide for the spring and paid me for the work I did with patients and cleaning the facility. REACH OUT to places nearby, you never know what opportunities may arise!
I really feared having to restart the process again the following year and put all of my effort into perfecting my PTCAS application. Despite the guidance of my family to take a year off and think about things, I strove to continue my schooling. I was on such a school grind, I didn't want to hassle with waiting a year... I decided to keep it going while I was at the peak of my study habits! I DO want to emphasize that this move isn't for everyone. Some of my classmates worked for a year between undergrad & grad to earn money, boost their application, or score higher on the GRE, ( I studied for two days prior and did fine - it's totally not a test to stress about and felt like the caliber of an SAT!). Others have worked completely different jobs and have taken up to 5-6 years off. Do what works for YOU. I knew that continuing my school journey with no extended break would be best, and I'm grateful I put the work in to do exactly that.
What do I think of the University of New England?!
Among the list of schools to which I applied, UNE remained my top choice. It's lovely Portland location and highly ranked status among PT programs drew me in from my initial searches. The campus is beautiful and I've loved Portland since taking trips here with my momma when I was little. Being only an hour from home is also a huge bonus, as I can make it home for every holiday and even the long weekends. The campus is also 5 minutes from the ocean and beautiful beaches - I'm praying that this makes the upcoming summer semester all the more doable!!😊
As for the curriculum - it was generally what I expected! The difficulty level certainly increased from my undergraduate schooling but the courses pertained more closely to my interests. MOST of the professors are unbelievably great and have the best interest of the students in mind... I'll never love every professor I have at a school, and that's just something I've learned to accept. In life, you're never going to LOVE every boss and co-worker you have. It takes a great level of maturity to coexist with those that you don't see eye to eye with on a daily basis. Maintaining a high level of respect for all co-workers is crucial in the workplace and some educators this year truly tested this quality of mine. HOWEVER, my classmates were wonderful. We all come from different hometowns and backgrounds yet formed an amazing bond over this year 1 struggle together. There were about 60 of us total, and it was so pleasant to be working toward a common goal together. I often felt in undergrad I had the less free time than a lot of my friends with different majors, internships, etc. This year was incredibly nice to feel so connected with everyone in the same program. There were several Friday nights we were all practicing mobilizations together in lab late into the night. Our stress levels were high but it is so relieving never to feel alone. I have heard countless times that year 1 is the hardest, so you better believe I'm gosh darn proud WE MADE IT!!😁
I hope this post is helpful to those beginning the application process, starting PT school this upcoming fall, or simply curious about whether physical therapy is the best career fit! I love UNE for many specific reasons but I suggest you research the details of every school on your list and visit them beforehand if feasible.
Leave any questions/comments below or via Instagram DM! Thank you all for reading, there are more posts to come!
XOXO - Coco
IG - @cocos_gymsta
Deciding on a Graduate Program
In my first two...almost THREE years at Stonehill, I was completely unsure of what I wanted to pursue after graduation. I knew I would attend graduate school for something in the medical field, but I hadn't yet found something I was totally passionate about. I'm not sure if any followers know I actually began with exploring dentistry! After deciding medical school required far too much dedication and years of study, I researched other options. Dental school is CERTAINLY no walk in the park, but I liked the idea of flexible hours and being an expert in an area within the health field. I never liked the idea of fleshy/messy surgery (God BLESS those people that love it), but I never disliked the idea of oral procedures! I spent well over 50+ hours in a wonderful dental office with the most amazing doctors but I finally decided the focus on the mouth was too specific for me.
I have always been amazed by the functioning of the human body as a whole, so I continued to look into something better fitted to my interests. The summer before my SENIOR YEAR was truthfully one of the most stressful times in my life😅. It felt as though all of my school companions had their career paths figured out and I was quickly approaching my final year of undergrad with no clue. I considered registered dietetics for some time, nursing, even just personal training because I knew I needed to do something I loved. Then one morning my mom randomly questioned; "why haven't you considered physical therapy?"... I hesitated, because I had no concrete answer. Upon further research, I found that this route may be the absolute best fit. Physical therapy is all about healing the human body through movement, manual therapy techniques, muscle strengthening, joint mobilizations, electrical stimulation and more. It takes the entire body into perspective in healing and I think it's truly so in tune with my interests. Once I had FINALLY decided this would be my course of study (by the August before my senior year...lol yikes), I began the work needed to become a perspective applicant for schools the following fall of 2019!
Applying to Graduate Schools for Physical Therapy
Selecting the list of schools to apply to was the next big step in the process. I primarily looked for highly ranked schools and those in the New England area. I applied to University of New England, Northeastern, Boston University, University of Hartford, Franklin Pierce, Plymouth State, and Husson University (also in Maine). The PTCAS forum required for the process is very similar to the common app completed during high school. It required the input of GRE scores, observation hours, (most schools had 40-100 hour minimums), references from professors and a PT, (I think three professors and one physical therapist), supplemental essay answers, and a detailed outline of everything completed during undergrad - classes with grades earned, club and sport team involvement, extra-curricular activities, achievements earned, etc. Specific schools had unique requirements but the general outline was similar for each! This took up quite a bit of time to perfect in the fall of my senior year, but it was worth all the hard work. I managed to find a PT practice nearby in which I could get about 6 observation hours a week even amidst my hectic tennis season. They even asked that I become a PT aide for the spring and paid me for the work I did with patients and cleaning the facility. REACH OUT to places nearby, you never know what opportunities may arise!
I really feared having to restart the process again the following year and put all of my effort into perfecting my PTCAS application. Despite the guidance of my family to take a year off and think about things, I strove to continue my schooling. I was on such a school grind, I didn't want to hassle with waiting a year... I decided to keep it going while I was at the peak of my study habits! I DO want to emphasize that this move isn't for everyone. Some of my classmates worked for a year between undergrad & grad to earn money, boost their application, or score higher on the GRE, ( I studied for two days prior and did fine - it's totally not a test to stress about and felt like the caliber of an SAT!). Others have worked completely different jobs and have taken up to 5-6 years off. Do what works for YOU. I knew that continuing my school journey with no extended break would be best, and I'm grateful I put the work in to do exactly that.
What do I think of the University of New England?!
Among the list of schools to which I applied, UNE remained my top choice. It's lovely Portland location and highly ranked status among PT programs drew me in from my initial searches. The campus is beautiful and I've loved Portland since taking trips here with my momma when I was little. Being only an hour from home is also a huge bonus, as I can make it home for every holiday and even the long weekends. The campus is also 5 minutes from the ocean and beautiful beaches - I'm praying that this makes the upcoming summer semester all the more doable!!😊
As for the curriculum - it was generally what I expected! The difficulty level certainly increased from my undergraduate schooling but the courses pertained more closely to my interests. MOST of the professors are unbelievably great and have the best interest of the students in mind... I'll never love every professor I have at a school, and that's just something I've learned to accept. In life, you're never going to LOVE every boss and co-worker you have. It takes a great level of maturity to coexist with those that you don't see eye to eye with on a daily basis. Maintaining a high level of respect for all co-workers is crucial in the workplace and some educators this year truly tested this quality of mine. HOWEVER, my classmates were wonderful. We all come from different hometowns and backgrounds yet formed an amazing bond over this year 1 struggle together. There were about 60 of us total, and it was so pleasant to be working toward a common goal together. I often felt in undergrad I had the less free time than a lot of my friends with different majors, internships, etc. This year was incredibly nice to feel so connected with everyone in the same program. There were several Friday nights we were all practicing mobilizations together in lab late into the night. Our stress levels were high but it is so relieving never to feel alone. I have heard countless times that year 1 is the hardest, so you better believe I'm gosh darn proud WE MADE IT!!😁
I hope this post is helpful to those beginning the application process, starting PT school this upcoming fall, or simply curious about whether physical therapy is the best career fit! I love UNE for many specific reasons but I suggest you research the details of every school on your list and visit them beforehand if feasible.
Leave any questions/comments below or via Instagram DM! Thank you all for reading, there are more posts to come!
XOXO - Coco
IG - @cocos_gymsta
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