6 Easiest Physical Therapy Schools to Get Into

The decision to continue your education after high school is one that is not taken lightly. A lot of things are well-thought out, the most important being which school to attend and their admission requirements. Different schools have their own patterns of admitting students. Sometimes the process is simple, and other times it is complex. As usual, most students meet the admission requirements of their dream school and get in, while others are not so lucky. Whether based on grades required, the cost of tuition and application fees, or acceptance rates, many students seek the easiest schools to apply to.

Physical therapy is the field of study concerned with helping patients prevent disability, manage pain from physical activities, recover from injuries and avoid injuries. It is a highly competitive course and entry might be a little hard. Thus, it is important for an aspiring physical therapist to not only choose a school with a good program but also a school that’s easy to get into.

This article is for aspiring physical therapy students and their parents who want to know the easiest physical therapy schools to get into based on admission requirements and acceptance rates.

6 Easiest Physical Therapy Schools to Get into

 

1: University of Delaware

University of Delaware is the biggest university in Delaware. It has eight colleges, through which it provides 3 associate programs, 148 bachelor’s programs, 121 master’s programs and 55 doctorate programs.

The University of Delaware has one of the easiest physical therapy schools to get into. They offer physical therapy programmes with easy admission requirements. The Department of Physical Therapy is the school in charge of physical therapy education at the University of Delaware and is among the top-ranked physical therapy schools with the mission to offer a top-rated undergraduate and graduate education in physical therapy.

It is also interesting to note that the University of Delaware has a low application fee, thus making it affordable for interested students in physical therapy to apply and has an acceptance rate of 71.36%. That’s pretty good.

Programmes Offered 

The University of Delaware offers a Certificate in Physical Therapy, which does not require a prior formal education. This means an applicant without prior experience in physical therapy can apply to get this certificate. The university offers a Master of Science (MS) program for those who have a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy or any related biological or medical course. The university also offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, which requires a Master’s degree in physical therapy. These three programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapists (CAPP).

Admission Requirements for Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware

• A  bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• GRE scores, both verbal and quantitative
• Completion  of prerequisite courses (in psychology, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology) with a minimum grade of C (2.0)
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Minimum science prerequisite GPA of 3.0
• 50 physical therapy observation hours
• Three letters of recommendation
• Apply through PTCAS

2: University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh is a public state research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is well known for its medical contributions to society, including the development of the polio vaccine. The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) is one of the top universities offering physical therapy programs and is also one of the easiest physical therapy schools to get into.

The acceptance rate of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) is 59% so you have a chance to be admitted.

Programmes Offered 

The university offers multiple programs in physical therapy, which include Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, Doctor of Physical Therapy-Ph.D. in Bioengineering (DPT-Ph.D.), Masters in Physical Therapy (MS) and Doctor of Rehabilitation Science (Ph.D.)

Admission Requirements for Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh

• Prerequisite courses in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, statistics and English writing.
• GRE score within the last 5 years
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Demonstrated evidence of observation (not specific but you should focus on 50–100 hours).
• Three letters of recommendation (one from a college professor, one from a licensed physical therapist, and one from a supervisor, employer, or another physical therapist).
• Apply through PTCAS

3: University of Miami

The University of Miami is a public research university located in Miami, Florida. The physical therapy program offered is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). This university has a 28% admission rate but you are guaranteed admission if you meet the requirements. Thus, it is included as one of the easiest physical therapy schools to get into.

Admission Requirement for Physical Therapy at the University of Miami

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
• A recent GRE score (optional)
• Prerequisite courses completed in English composition or writing, psychology, statistics, general biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology with a B grade or 3.0 GPA
• A minimum of 100 hours of observation or hands-on experience in physical therapy
• Three or four letters of recommendation (one from a physical therapist)
• PTCAS application
• Pass on-site interview with the admissions officer

4: Baylor University

Baylor University is a private Christian university located in Waco, Texas. It is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. It has 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

The university physical therapy program is “committed to academic excellence, lifelong scholarship, and servant leadership within the profession and our worldwide community.”. The programme lasts for two years and is a blended program of online learning, hands-on laboratory experience and clinical collaboration experience.

The physical therapy program offered at Baylor University is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), has an acceptance rate of 45.33% and is one of the easiest physical therapy schools to get into.

Admission Requirements for Physical Therapy in Baylor University

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• GRE score within the last 5 years
• Completion of prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, general physics, human anatomy and physiology, statistics, abnormal or developmental psychology, psychology, English composition or writing
• A minimum of 100 hours with a qualified physical therapist, either paid or volunteered
• Overall GPA of 3.0; however, a GPA of less than 3.0 can be accepted if the applicant scored 3.50 over the last 60 semesters or 90 quarter-hour credits of coursework.
• Two reference letters (one from a licensed physical therapist) submitted via PTCAS
• Apply through PTCAS
• Pass the admissions interview.

5: University of Iowa

Located in Iowa City, the University of Iowa is the oldest in the state and one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.

Its Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences is made up of students and educators who are determined to promote and enhance human health. Students are guided to tackle health  care issues and further new causes in physical therapy under the guidance of faculty members. The program and institution are also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) so you have nothing to fear in that aspect.

The University of Iowa is known for providing quality education. Its admission requirement for physical therapy programs and high acceptance rate of 83% make it the easiest physical therapy school to get into in the United States.

Admission requirements for Physical Therapy in University of Iowa

• Bachelor’s degree
• GRE scores
• Completion of prerequisite courses in general biology/zoology, physiology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, psychology, mathematics and statistics with GPA of 3.0
• GPA of 3.0 on a 4.00 scale
• 50–60 hours of work or volunteer experience in an outpatient or in-patient physical therapy setting
• Three letters of recommendation. One from a faculty member who has taught the applicant, one from a physical therapist, and one from a supervisor, employer, or another physical therapist
• Apply through PTCAS
• Pass on-site admission interview

6: University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and one of the easiest physical therapy schools to get into. The University of Kentucky Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is run at either the Lexington or Hazard campuses. The school has one of the easiest admission requirements.

Admission Requirements for Physical Therapy at the University of Kentucky

• A bachelor’s degree
• Prerequisite courses completed in general physics, biology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics with grade not less than C
• Minimum GPA of 2.70 or above from any university, state, or community college
• GRE scores
• 50 – 100 physical therapy observation hours
• Apply through PTCAS
• Pass the in-person interview

In conclusion, physical therapy is a demanding and competitive discipline for which an applicant must choose the best and easiest schools to get into. The choice of these schools depends on either their acceptance rate (how many students they admit each year), their admission requirements or the cost of their application and tuition fees.

This article sets out to compile a list of these schools for you, along with a little background information on the schools, their acceptance rate and their admission requirements. Unlike other physical therapy schools in the United States, these schools are easy to get into as long as you meet the admission requirements.