WAHOO!! :) Got my ACCEPTANCE email from School B today! :) They are sending a packet of information & my official letter soon!
After the interview, I thought for sure I blew it, but I guess that maybe I'm not as crazy as I thought I was and they did see the potential in me! I am so relieved!
I can't believe it! Two acceptances! And just a month ago I was bawling my eyes out feeling like I wouldn't get in anywhere!
Showing posts with label applying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label applying. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Acceptance #1 - School A
Surprisingly, the last place I was expecting to hear from this afternoon was the highly ranked school I applied to; even more surprising was the fact that it was an ACCEPTANCE EMAIL!!!!!!!!! Wow! I can't believe I got an acceptance and way before the December 15th deadline!!! When I first started the process this school was my #1 choice... I am so excited! I have quite a bit of time to let them know my decision, and that's great, because I should be hearing back from School B soon. :) YAY!!! :)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Interview Day - School B
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!!!!
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!!!!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Interview Invite - School B
I GOT AN INTERVIEW INVITE TO SCHOOL B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This feels AMAZING after all my stress on the GRE! I know that if I can get there, I can just answer the questions and really show them that I am a great person! I have been feverishly looking up interview questions to see what I may be asking, as well as reading up on things on the APTA website. I just know I can nail this interview!! Positive thinking!! I can do it! Ahhh!! I'm so excited!!!!
This feels AMAZING after all my stress on the GRE! I know that if I can get there, I can just answer the questions and really show them that I am a great person! I have been feverishly looking up interview questions to see what I may be asking, as well as reading up on things on the APTA website. I just know I can nail this interview!! Positive thinking!! I can do it! Ahhh!! I'm so excited!!!!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Applications Received!
Eeks!! Double email today. Both School A and School C have received my applications and they are officially "under review". My tummy is doing super flip-flops! So exciting, but even more nerve-wracking knowing that they are looking at my stuff!!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
In the waiting line...
The anticipation is killing me! Today is School B's early decision interview. I am just dying to hear from them. I just went to their open house this past weekend and absolutely LOVED IT. The school was gorgeous, the faculty were so kind and the students all seemed really happy. In fact, after visiting, I think I'm definitely more interested in School B than School A.
School A's open house is coming up on November 13th (which also happens to be School B's interview day) so I may or may not get to go. But, I just got such a great "gut feeling" about School B, and a lot of people said negative things about School A, so that was sort of a bummer.
The PT building is new and it is off the main campus, but there is a huge parking lot (a big downfall of my undergrad university) and a shuttle that will take you from the PT building to main campus and back during the day. They didn't really seem to have too many options research wise, but I'm not letting that stop me from the overall awesome feeling I got from there. I just was blown away by how "homey" it all felt. I'll admit that I'm more sensitive and I definitely like to be treated like a person and feel like I am a part of something, rather than only be a number. Plus, my parents got to go with me and they loved it too! :)
School A's open house is coming up on November 13th (which also happens to be School B's interview day) so I may or may not get to go. But, I just got such a great "gut feeling" about School B, and a lot of people said negative things about School A, so that was sort of a bummer.
The PT building is new and it is off the main campus, but there is a huge parking lot (a big downfall of my undergrad university) and a shuttle that will take you from the PT building to main campus and back during the day. They didn't really seem to have too many options research wise, but I'm not letting that stop me from the overall awesome feeling I got from there. I just was blown away by how "homey" it all felt. I'll admit that I'm more sensitive and I definitely like to be treated like a person and feel like I am a part of something, rather than only be a number. Plus, my parents got to go with me and they loved it too! :)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Now, it's time to cross my fingers.
I officially submitted my application today on PTCAS. I decided to apply to three schools. Mostly because I am attached to my family and don't want to be too far away, and also I don't want to be long-distance from my SO any longer than I have to. (We are working on 3, almost 4 years of being long-distance and it is getting old!)
Thus, I decided to apply to all three DPT programs in a city about an hour from my hometown.
My School Choices
1. Highly Ranked University (School A)
2. Smaller, unranked University (School B)
3. Back-Up School (School C)
I still need a letter from one of the PTs I did my shadowing with, so I hope he gets that submitted super quickly so that my application is complete.
I kind of feel panicked it went out this "late" even though it's still early in the game. At least I'll definitely be considered early decision for the smaller, unranked school (Oct 15) and School A's deadline is December 15. As for School C, I'm not really worried about, because it's my "just in case" school!
So... now, once I get that last PT letter I just have to wait and see what happens. This, I'm sure is going to be the WORST part.
Thus, I decided to apply to all three DPT programs in a city about an hour from my hometown.
My School Choices
1. Highly Ranked University (School A)
2. Smaller, unranked University (School B)
3. Back-Up School (School C)
I still need a letter from one of the PTs I did my shadowing with, so I hope he gets that submitted super quickly so that my application is complete.
I kind of feel panicked it went out this "late" even though it's still early in the game. At least I'll definitely be considered early decision for the smaller, unranked school (Oct 15) and School A's deadline is December 15. As for School C, I'm not really worried about, because it's my "just in case" school!
So... now, once I get that last PT letter I just have to wait and see what happens. This, I'm sure is going to be the WORST part.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Step One is DONE!!!!!!!!! =D
Yes!! Today I am officially done finishing ALL of my prerequisite courses for PT school! The angels are singing! I am so, so, so happy to be DONE!!!
After my Physics II final, I hardly knew what to do with myself! I can't believe it. It's been just a couple weeks short of one year of hard work! And, I didn't do too bad, either!
Prob & Stats - A
Developmental Psychology - A
Biology I - B (grrr... stupid professor... I had an 89.4% AND visited him in his office all the time for help!)
Biology II - A
Chem I - A
Chem II - A
Anatomy - A
Physiology - B
Physics I - A
Physics II - A (I'm pretty sure!)
Plus, I had General Psychology (B) from my undergrad stuff.
Unfortunately, my two Bs brought my GPA down from a 3.92 to a 3.89... that really makes me upset, and I know that my GPA is still great, but still- I was SO close to the A in Bio I (and deserved it in my opinion!) that I wish I could've pulled off a 4.0.
This whole process has really been about me proving to myself and to the unknown "they/them" that I am smart and that I CAN do this!
Now- it's time to celebrate! And then Monday I start my last shadowing stint (around 30 hours) and super soon in 2 weeks is the GRE. *EEEEEK*
After my Physics II final, I hardly knew what to do with myself! I can't believe it. It's been just a couple weeks short of one year of hard work! And, I didn't do too bad, either!
Prob & Stats - A
Developmental Psychology - A
Biology I - B (grrr... stupid professor... I had an 89.4% AND visited him in his office all the time for help!)
Biology II - A
Chem I - A
Chem II - A
Anatomy - A
Physiology - B
Physics I - A
Physics II - A (I'm pretty sure!)
Plus, I had General Psychology (B) from my undergrad stuff.
Unfortunately, my two Bs brought my GPA down from a 3.92 to a 3.89... that really makes me upset, and I know that my GPA is still great, but still- I was SO close to the A in Bio I (and deserved it in my opinion!) that I wish I could've pulled off a 4.0.
This whole process has really been about me proving to myself and to the unknown "they/them" that I am smart and that I CAN do this!
Now- it's time to celebrate! And then Monday I start my last shadowing stint (around 30 hours) and super soon in 2 weeks is the GRE. *EEEEEK*
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Oh hi, PTCAS.
So today I officially created my PTCAS application account. Wow. I can't believe it!I'm sooo nervous about getting everything in as quickly as possible.
I only have one more class to take before I'm done with all of my prerequisites and it's Physics II! I can't believe I'm almost done! I've actually sort of enjoyed Physics I, and I'm really glad I decided to take it in the summer separate from all my other courses. It's given me enough time to really study and concentrate on it.
I already have some of my references and everything, but I'm sure I'm going to be nervous until I actually hit "SUBMIT" and it sends out to my schools!
I only have one more class to take before I'm done with all of my prerequisites and it's Physics II! I can't believe I'm almost done! I've actually sort of enjoyed Physics I, and I'm really glad I decided to take it in the summer separate from all my other courses. It's given me enough time to really study and concentrate on it.
I already have some of my references and everything, but I'm sure I'm going to be nervous until I actually hit "SUBMIT" and it sends out to my schools!
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