Category: Pre-PT

PT School Interview Tips ✨👩🏻‍💼

𝗕𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗗
🎬  Know where you want to sit for the interview (if virtual) – be mindful of what’s behind you and in view of the camera
🙊  Minimize background noises – tell everyone in the house what you’re doing to minimize background noises
🤳  Clean the camera – wipe the lens of the camera so you’re presented clean/clear (don’t be 𝒕𝒉𝒆 blurry candidate)

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘
🗣️  Look up practice interview questions and think, write, and practice out loud your answers
🎥  If you’re really feeling up to it, record yourself talking, watch your facial expressions and count how many “ums” you do

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛
🧐  The school – know their key philosophies and their program strengths
🚶🏻‍♀️ The campus life – tour the school if you can
📚  Resources – know what resources are available to students
🤷🏻‍♀️  Whatever you don’t find, save for questions to ask at the end of the interview

𝗕𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘
🤐  If it’s a group interview, take turns. Don’t always be the first to talk.
🙏🏼  Thank the interviewer for their time, express gratitude for the opportunity to interview – more than “thank you!”
📧  If you can write the interviewer’s full name down after the interview, you can send a follow-up email to thank them

Follow my Instagram to continue to learn more tips about getting into PT school and follow my journey as a PT.

12 Essential Supplies To Improve Study Sessions

I created a list of my study essentials for physical therapy school. Things to motivate me, keep me in the zone, and more. Check out the list below and click the photo to follow the links to purchase.

Set yourself up for success by studying with these essentials.

Sharpie Highlighters – these are the best brand I’ve tried that also doesn’t bleed through the paper, doesn’t smear, and is retractable

Earplugs – great for studying to zone out and for test-taking. It bothers me when people are moving around and making noises during tests, so it’s helpful to use earplugs (if the professor allows).

Flags – great for bookmarking in textbooks to refer back to (ie. yellow = important, pink = to memorize, green = where you left off).

Planner Stickers – liven up your planner with fun and colorful stickers. Makes it much more fun and enjoyable to look at the week and keep track of your tasks.

Whiteboard (24” x 36”) – taking notes and a strategy to memorize information! It helped me a ton to write things out but with limited access to study rooms on campus, have your own whiteboard at home.

Dry Erase Markers – what good is a whiteboard without the best markers?

Post-it Notes – a way to keep track of reminders, tasks, or important things to remember

Colored Pens – I have always had a “thing” for pens. Every time we walk past a pen wall at a store, I am drawn to it and my husband gives me a big eye roll. So I couldn’t choose just one! Here are my favorites for different reasons. 

Fine tip recommendation (0.5 mm)

Smooth and thick tip (1.4 mm) 

Gel pen (1.0 mm)

Notecards – to make flashcards to study with

Laser Printer – Ok. This is a pricey item but let me tell you why this is a smart purchase. This printer prints double-sided (saves paper) and toner are less expensive per page than inkjet. So be prepared that refills are expensive but you don’t have to refill as often as an inkjet. If you like to study off printed lecture slides as much as me, this is worth it.

Good luck with your studies! Don’t be afraid to change up your study group a couple of times to find out the best team that works with your study style. And change up the environment so you’re studying at different places and settings.

Waitlisted for PT School?

If you were waitlisted for your grad program… don’t lose hope. I was waitlisted up until the week of orientation. Yep. I got the phone call in August the week before the semester started.

I was in the middle of studying for a final (class I was retaking for a better grade) with Hung. I received the phone call at about 12pm and needed a response by 5pm that day so they could let the next person know if I declined. When I hung up, I started crying with joy. His response to me was along the lines of, “well obviously you’re going.”

I was in Eugene, OR renting an apartment and had a work shift the next day. My first call was my boyfriend at the time (now husband), Jay, who didn’t answer because he was at the gym. We were living 2 hours away from each other so I asked his mom to go find him to tell him to answer his damn phone.

I called my mom and she had the exact opposite reaction. “No, you’re not going. It’s too far and too last minute. You can try again next year.”

I called someone I knew from UO that interviewed the same time as me and was accepted into the same program. Monica ALSO was at the gym. When she got my 5 missed calls, she answered with warm support. She said she’d let me stay with her until I found housing. She even picked me up from the airport.

When Jay finally called me back, he said he’d fully support whatever decision I would make. He said he’d drop everything and move with me to California if I chose to go. By 5pm, I was on the road back home. Called into my job to quit and to find coverage for the rest of my shifts, emailed the professor for options on how to take the final off campus, and bought a ticket to California for the next day.

My waitlist story was INSANE but I still got in.