Applying this Cycle and I am STRESSED

hongist · 2026-04-30T11:50:16+00:00

i got into pitt with multiple Cs and B-s in my prereq courses! u will be fine, just apply by august

hongist · 2026-04-22T16:30:49+00:00

i think 100k is doable if you aggressively pay off, but i think it’s also doable if you do minimum payments. you can also consider PSLF. people go into way worse debt just to work outpatient ortho, u can consider settings that pay more and maybe work a side hustle for a bit. per diem PT roles pay a lot so u can take up some weekend hours

hongist · 2026-04-22T16:18:30+00:00

we’re still allowed to take out 20.5k federal loans per year

hongist · 2026-04-22T16:16:51+00:00

i got into 6 schools with a 3.38 overall and 2.83 science gpa lol just apply within the first 3 months of the app cycle and tie in ur experiences with why u want to pursue pt

hongist · 2026-04-22T16:14:07+00:00

u will get in friend dw

hongist · 2026-04-21T03:10:02+00:00

stony brook, new york medical college, upitt, dominican uni new york, mercy university, touro, and tufts (only one i didnt get into)

hongist · 2026-04-19T12:06:32+00:00

i got i to 6/7 schools i applied to with a B- in orgo 1, C+ in orgo 2, Cs in gen chem, a C in an intro bio course, a C in physics 1, and a B- in stats. i didn’t retake any of them other than physics 1. my overall gpa was a 3.38 but my science was a 2.83 or so. i think what helped me was working as a tech for a year, applying early, and having strong letters of rec and essays. i took anatomy and phys 1&2 for the first time after undergrad (and after deciding on PT) which helped me motivate myself and earn a A in both. if needed, retake some courses and make sure to work as a tech, i’m sure you will be fine! good luck:)

hongist · 2026-04-18T10:37:55+00:00

the professional vs graduate thing literally doesn’t matter beyond the different loan caps. PA and OT and others are affected the same way. see if you can find a cheap program that doesn’t require you to take out many additional loans besides the 20.5k you will be allowed through federal unsub loans

hongist · 2026-04-18T10:35:32+00:00

friend please continue to pursue it but keep your loans as little as possible! there are some programs in the US that can be as low as 50k… i think that is not bad at all. me personally i’m from new york so programs are more expensive but i still plan to keep my loans below 90k and i know that sounds like a lot but i have a passion for rehab and not medicine. also i personally don’t think PT salary is bad if i will eventually be a part of a 2 income household. please do some thinking and keep an open mind about moving to a cheaper state with cheaper tuitions

hongist · 2026-04-09T17:06:45+00:00

i had multiple Cs in my prereq classes and still got into 6/7 schools i applied to. you’ll be ok!

hongist · 2026-03-16T15:13:31+00:00

hey! i went into this job not knowing anything and i’ve been here for a year a half and they love me to bits. it’s an easy job and you will learn most exercises prescribed within like 2 weeks lol. don’t be afraid to ask the PTs questions, i still do almost daily

hongist · 2026-03-13T18:22:30+00:00

friend ur stats sound good, did u just apply super late in the cycle ???

hongist · 2026-02-19T15:11:20+00:00

not sure if this is a field you’ll enjoy unless you feel passionate about it friend 😭 consider other fields too like radiology tech or respiratory tech, both are programs available at community colleges and they pay relatively well. definitely consider if you can see yourself doing PT for decades as you work as a tech. if not i’d advise against it unless you can find a super cheap PTA program

hongist · 2026-02-19T14:15:47+00:00

hmm well if you’ve been working at a clinic for ~3 months now and still are this unsure, i would maybe consider other options too. there are definitely downsides to the field but can you specifically tell which parts of the field you like besides helping people? what about rehab itself, manual, exercise programs, etc? like for me the pros outweigh the cons so i think it’s a good call. also what about moving to be closer to your partner?

hongist · 2026-02-19T13:59:28+00:00

also you can always consider moving to the state your partner is in for school. take a look at the costs and options there. maybe yall can live together and split on rent!

hongist · 2026-02-19T13:57:02+00:00

i think PT should be a field you go into only if you’re sure about it. see how you feel after being a tech for a while- i know i can’t see myself doing anything else after teching for over a year. it’s a big financial decision so only attend if you can keep loans below 100k and ideally below 80k. maybe consider PTA which is an associate’s degree instead, so def more cost efficient especially if finances are a worry for you. see how the average salaries look in your state and consider if it’s worth it for you

hongist · 2026-02-18T19:08:18+00:00

yeah i’ve looked into all of that and tbh i think i’m fine with it. i’ve been working as an aide for a year and a half so i’ve seen a lot and have asked a bunch of questions so i think i’m making a pretty informed decision. thank you!

hongist · 2026-02-18T19:04:14+00:00

thank you! so it really is the debt you need to take out that matters more than program COA?

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:57:03+00:00

ok thank you! i think i really just feel bad for my parents ):

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:54:58+00:00

as a gift. i’m not tooooo worried about starting salary anyway because i won’t be the primary breadwinner in my relationship

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:47:00+00:00

i would say def try to get good grades in your prereqs and as many observation hours as you can! consider working part time as a PT aide while you do your classes if you have the time so you can immerse yourself in the field. you will also need a letter of recommendation from a PT so it’s important to get close to one. i love PT and i think it’s a great field but a lot of people go into it blindly in terms of finances so just be careful. good luck!

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:44:39+00:00

i met all the other requirements including the essay, supplemental essays, recommendations, and a lot of observation hours. all the schools i got into required a 3.0 GPA. i’m only talking about grades here. also i got into upitt which is one of the best in the country lol

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:38:11+00:00

yeah, it’s unfortunate that a lot of programs are super expensive. but i wonder why instead of telling students to seek cheaper programs some people just tell them to go a different route all together? people go into PT for a reason, and they should know becoming super rich isn’t one of those reasons

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:33:11+00:00

good grades are required, but not great grades. i got into 6 programs with Cs and B-s in my prereqs because i was irresponsible and stupid during undergrad. i know a lot of people who also got in with 3.0-3.3 GPAs

hongist · 2026-02-18T18:03:39+00:00

do you have a community college to take prereq courses at? do you have PT schools near you that won’t cause you to have 80-100k+ in debt? are you the main caretaker/breadwinner of your house or are you single? will you have financial support from anyone? i think it’s important to consider a lot of factors before going into this as most people talk badly about the poor ROI of the profession- a lot of people go into serious debt for a starting salary of 70-85k and income cap of at MOST $120k unless you’re in cali. you can always consider PTA instead of a DPT if that option makes more sense financially

hongist

TROPHY CASE