University of Puget Sound


Physical Therapy Phase II Application Procedures and Instructions


APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15.

We appreciate your interest in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Puget Sound. All applicants must submit 2005 application materials. Students who have been denied admission previously may reapply to the program one time only and must submit a statement (on the online form) with the second application indicating what measures have been taken to strengthen the application since it was first submitted. The admission committee will not review any second applications that do not include such a statement.

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS MUST BE ABLE TO FOLLOW EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS, THEREFORE, FAILURE TO FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PROGRAM APPLICATION MAY RESULT IN DENIAL. Priority for admission is given to qualified students with Puget Sound status. In order to obtain this status, an applicant must have been granted a Puget Sound degree or have viable plans for completion of an undergraduate degree from Puget Sound. Students with Puget Sound status will have to meet acceptance standards to be eligible for consideration. Applicants who have or will have completed a degree at another college or university and who meet the standards for acceptance are strongly encouraged to apply.

Admission to the School of Physical Therapy consists of two phases. First, a student must be admitted to the University as a regular student (PHASE I). Second, a student must be admitted to the Physical Therapy Program (PHASE II). Any applicant denied to the University in PHASE I will not be considered in PHASE II for the professional program even if the PHASE II program application materials are received by the Office of Admission. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the applicant complete and submit the PHASE I University application prior to December 15, so that the student is aware of the University admission (PHASE I) decision in advance of the January 15, PHASE II application deadline.

The Physical Therapy Program Admission Committee does not include information from a personal interview in the admission process. During decision meetings, the Committee works with information sheets that do not include the applicant's name, gender, age, or race. Decisions are based on the applicant's qualifications taken as a whole, with proportionate emphasis on all elements of the application package. The Admissions Committee relies on the written recommendations for information on personal characteristics.

Physical therapy faculty members are sensitive to the fact that in the absence of an evaluative interview, the potential applicant may miss the opportunity to visit the program and experience the program environment. Faculty members of the Physical Therapy Program strongly encourage interested applicants to visit the program at their own convenience, meet with faculty and students, and take an opportunity to observe classes. No information about the potential applicant is recorded for the purpose of admission evaluation as a result of such a visit. To arrange a campus visit for the Physical Therapy Program, call the University Campus Visit Office at 253-879-3211 or 800-396-7191 and request a Physical Therapy Program visit.

Acceptance to Degree Candidacy
  1. Completion of all prerequisites:
    1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Students may choose from any major to prepare themselves for graduate work in physical therapy. Some majors may be designated as pre-physical therapy majors. Students are cautioned not to assume that programs designated as such will advantage their application. A diversity of majors enriches a physical therapy class since diverse therapists are needed to work with diverse patients.
    2. EXSC 221/222 (Human Anatomy and Physiology) or equivalent (comparative or vertebrate acceptable, human preferred; equivalent course may be from another department such as biology.)
    3. PHYS 111/112 (General College Physics) or equivalent
    4. CHEM 110/111 (Fundamental Chemistry) or equivalent
    5. MATH 271 (Elements of Applied Statistics)
    6. One course in general psychology, abnormal psychology, or sociology emphasizing human behavior or disability issues. Puget Sound courses that meet this requirement are: PSYC 101 (Introduction to Psychology); PSYC 295 (Abnormal Psychology); CSOC 206 (Deviance and Social Control) or CSOC 370 (Disability, Identity, and Power) or equivalent.

      7. In general, prerequisite courses should be completed no more than 10 years before entry into the program. If a longer time has elapsed, the applicant should submit a letter explaining how the knowledge has been kept current.

      All prerequisite courses must be taken for a grade. If the cumulative science GPA (physics, human anatomy and physiology) is less than 3.0 or if any single prerequisite grade is less than a "C" (2.0), the application will not be considered by the committee. Organization of content in sequential science prerequisite courses taught at different institutions can differ significantly. Thus it is highly recommended that you complete the full sequence of any science prerequisite course at a single institution.

      Prerequisite coursework is verified for equivalency. If you have completed or plan to complete any of the required prerequisite coursework at a school outside the State of Washington, you are required to enclose a description or syllabus for each course.

  2. Graduate level physical therapy course work is rigorous, requires full-time study, and students are required to maintain a program grade point average of 3.0 or above in order to graduate. Thus, to be considered for admission, students must have achieved an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 or above.

    Students who have not achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in their undergraduate degree work may petition to be considered for admission. A successful petition must include a brief personal statement that explains why the applicant believes he or she can achieve a 3.0 grade point average in rigorous graduate studies at this point. Within that statement, petitioning students must present evidence of academic capability. Evidence of academic capability will be either sustained (at least two consecutive semesters) full-time course work at a grade point average of 3.25 or above (usually this should include significant work at the upper division level), or sustained employment or volunteer activity that requires work that is similar to academic course work. Examples of the latter might include employment involving teaching, research, demanding presentations that require significant preparation and planning, a history of publication, or program development and implementation. Prospective students who are presenting only evidence of employment or volunteer activity similar to academic course work should include a supporting letter from a colleague or supervisor who can attest to the rigor and quality of the work described in the statement. Physical therapy volunteer work is not similar to academic course work, and will not ordinarily constitute evidence of academic ability. A successful petition will result in consideration for admission only; program admission is not guaranteed.

  3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (general exam) scores. The GRE must be taken in time to have the scores sent directly from the Educational Testing Service and received at Puget Sound no later than the January 15 application deadline date. The GRE must be taken not more than five years prior to planned enrollment in the physical therapy program.

  4. Exposure to the practice of physical therapy, including depth and breadth (for example, jobs or volunteer positions in physical therapy clinics.) Exposure to as many different patient populations as possible in a variety of physical therapy settings with a minimum of 100 hours is recommended. This exposure must be under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

  5. Physical therapy persuasive essay, physical therapy essay questions, prerequisite worksheet, physical therapy experience sheet and the three reference forms are reviewed for: (a) Your written communication skills; (b) Your personal characteristics (i.e., independence in learning, curiosity, problem-solving, logical thinking, flexibility, and ability to follow directions); (c) Understanding of the physical therapy profession; (d) Your motivation and potential contribution to the physical therapy profession; (e) Quality and care in preparation of all application materials.

Physical Therapy Application Procedures (PHASE II)--All applicants must:
  1. Secure Doctor of Physical Therapy application (PHASE II) materials from the Office of Admission and submit:
    1. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Official scores must be received at Puget Sound by January 15.
    2. Candidacy Application for graduate degree and $25 non-refundable Degree Candidacy Fee (online application)
    3. Physical Therapy Essay Questions (on online application)
    4. Physical Therapy Persuasive Essay (on online application)
    5. Completed Physical Therapy Worksheet on prerequisite courses (on online application)

  2. Distribute each of the reference forms (enclosed or downloaded) to an employer for whom you worked at a paid job (not necessarily medically related), a professor at your college from whom you have taken a rigorous academic course, and a licensed physical therapist who has observed you in a physical therapy setting. The employer and licensed physical therapist references must each be completed by a different respondent. Students who have never held paid employment or who have been self-employed should contact the Director of Physical Therapy to discuss alternative arrangements for the employer reference. Letters submitted by an advising board or formal letters substituted for the Puget Sound reference forms are not acceptable. In order to evaluate each applicant fairly, the Puget Sound reference forms must be completed and returned. Reference forms may be accompanied by a letter, but the letter cannot be submitted without the completed reference form. References will be verified. Submit three and only three references on the forms provided. The reference forms MUST be sent directly to University of Puget Sound by the person who provides your reference. We will accept references sent by mail or FAX. (This does NOT apply to other application materials; only reference forms are acceptable by FAX.) Please submit completed forms to: The University of Puget Sound Office of Admission, 1500 North Warner Street #1062,Tacoma,WA, 98416-1062 or FAX to: 253-879-3993. Applications without completed reference forms will be considered incomplete.


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