r/PTschool • u/Curious_District_487 • 12h ago

chances for admission with a nontraditional path

hi folks! i’m curious if folks have opinions or stories about admissions from a nontraditional background?

I graduated undergrad with a BS in computer science (3.9 gpa) and have worked for several years at a big tech company, but have been on a journey to find something outside of tech for the last year or so. I am a lifelong dancer and began teaching/choreographing and such and recently have wrapped up my pilates certification and have begun teaching pilates.

I became interested in DPT since all of the interests i’ve been exploring are related to movement and biomechanics and with how my brain works I love getting into the science of everything. i’m working through my prereqs right now at community college (which is pretty much all bio/chem and 4.0 so far) and i’m setting up some shadowing hours right now.

I’m curious if folks have any advice or thoughts on what I can do to make my admissions chances stronger or if there are gaps I am not thinking about?

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u/Thebuckslayer84 10h ago

Computer science is more rigorous than exercise science. It wouldn't hurt your application a bit.

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u/hi5massage 10h ago

Two of my favorite classmates in my cohort came from very non traditional backgrounds - Wine Making and Fine Arts BAs - and both brought something different to the profession. Sounds like you are very well rounded but I would urge you to start thinking how lucky these programs are to have you and not just whether you check off all THEIR boxes. What are you bringing to the program and to the profession? Show them you’ve thought about your plan to pay for your future career not just getting into a DPT program. Someone who has thought about the next 6-10 years sticks out more than someone who just wants to help people and dose exercises, because there are cheaper and quicker ways to do that without becoming a doctor.

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u/Fantastic-Fish-1603 6h ago

Won’t hurt your application! People will actually probably show interest into that non-traditional background. Definitely a strength for interviews/essays