It's been awhile since I wrote, I've been busy with work, teaching my spinning classes and trying to prepare for the interview... But, yesterday was quite the day. I went down to Jon's house on Friday because the interview day started at 8am and it would only be about a half hour drive from his house rather than over an hour from my house. However, I also compromised my comfortable bed for Jon's uncomfy bed, and my sleep suffered. But, I think I was really nervous, so I doubt I would've slept better at my own house. I wore my gray suit that my Mom loves and ended up feeling really frumpy the whole time I was there... oh and it was so hot out (like 78) and my hair ended up getting frizzy and stuff. I'm sure I was a looker!
The morning was broke up into 4 sections after a little breakfast. There was a welcome thing and then there was a tour with first year students of the facilities (that I had already gotten at the Open House), a Problem-Based Learning "mock session" so you could see how their education works (they do a modified Problem-Based Learning program), an interview session and then a writing session. So, I was in the group that our schedule went tour, interview, problem-based learning and writing. I actually was ok with this set-up because the tour gave me time to sort of calm my nerves and then I had the interview, then another "calm" period of the mock session and then end with writing.
Welcome: So, they made everyone stand up and say their name, where they were from, what their undergrad major was and what you were doing now if you were already graduated. So, I ended up being the very last person to go and wouldn't you know I was literally the ONLY ONE that had a non-related bachelor's degree. Talk about buzz kill right from the start. Everyone else is talking about being exercise science, biology, kinesiology, etc and hear comes elementary and early childhood education girl. Great. Right then my spirits started to falter, and it continued on that for the rest of the morning.
Tour: The facilities are great, but I already knew that because of the open house. It was still nice going around and seeing everything again and having that same "good vibes" feeling about everything. Plus, it was neat to sit back and chat with some of the first years. Almost all of them were chosen from the early interview date, so that made me feel pretty good.
Interview: I got paired with a boy and he was a moron. I mean, I'm not trying to be rude, but some of the stuff he was saying I was really questioning what he was talking about. The questions were really, really weird. Basically I could answer every question with "When I was a teacher" After the interview I felt completely defeated. I felt that the questions didn't showcase me as a good PT candidate, it showcased me as someone who had a teaching degree- they wanted life experiences and my only experiences were with teaching. I felt like I had really screwed up and it was really hard for me not to break into tears right there. I honestly feel like I'm completely screwed. I was the only non-related degree person there and then spent the whole time talking about being a teacher. *bangs head off of desk*. That is the only interview I have walked out of feeling terrible.
PBL Session: This is probably the most important part of the interview day because not every school uses problem-based learning. I really enjoyed the session and I think it will be challenging but also engaging to learn this way. Basically, instead of having some separate courses we will have PBL courses where we are broken up into small groups of students with a faculty supervisor and given a case study. Then the faculty will lead us through the case study, helping us to learn and diagnose, etc, etc. Although I feel this will be a more difficult way to learn, I think that ultimately it is a better way to learn because when I am a PT I will have a patient and it won't be just a knee replacement (or whatever) it will be that attached to a person with other needs. Second year students ran the PBL and I won't lie- the one girl was really stuck up and I wanted to smack her, but I tried to ignore her. A lot of people in the session knew answers to questions that I didn't really think about, but I did answer one question correctly. Then, we spent the rest of the time talking about the differences between the two schools I (and a lot of others) have applied- which was really nice, although they all had pretty negative things to say about School A. I don't know what to think. I've heard a lot of so-so things about this school (but they have to be good because they are within the top five) and I hate to form an opinion without experiencing it myself... but since the my interview date was the same day as the other's open house, I guess I won't get the chance to see it myself.
Writing: The two writing questions weren't bad... Once was about morals/ethics and the other was "what will you bring to the group" -- so again, I had to say about being a teacher and always having different ways to try to learn/remember information. Seriously, they are going to think I am insane and should just be a teacher. I am really trying to use my teaching degree as a springboard... There are a lot of similarities and knowing how to deal with people/how people learn differently is a huge advantage (in my opinion) so hopefully someone will recognize this too.
After the interview, I called home and cried. I just really feel like I may have screwed up royally.. But, I have about 2-3 weeks to wait until I hear back and it will be one of three things- accepted, maybe or rejected. I will go nuts until I find out, I just know it! Plus, School A has been reviewing my application forever and their deadline isn't until Dec 15- it feels like years away and who knows if I'll ever hear from School C, I'm not really worried about them. Anyway, I am having a slightly (probably) unnecessary pity party for myself following my stupid interview. Ugh, I wish I could redo it and think of other things that aren't teaching related!!!!
