Choosing best college for pre-physical therapy track

Hey everyone, I've been really interested in physical therapy for a while now. It's definitely my goal to become a physical therapist in the future. I'd love to hear about your thoughts on the best schools for a pre-physical therapy track or a kinesiology major. What kind of things should I look for in a school to prepare me best for PT school?

There are several factors you would need to consider when selecting a school for a pre-physical therapy track or a kinesiology major.

1. Curriculum: Check the course curriculum of the colleges you're considering to affirm that they offer subjects you'll require for your PT school prerequisites. Typically, pre-physical therapy students need to take courses in biology, physics, psychology, and chemistry. A strong science curriculum is an excellent indicator of a decent program.

2. PT School Acceptance Rate: Some colleges may provide information on how many of their pre-PT students get accepted into PT schools. This could be a useful data point in evaluating a program's success rate.

3. Experiential Learning Opportunities: Look for schools that offer research, internship, or co-op opportunities. Hands-on experiences such as these can make your application more competitive when applying to PT schools down the line.

4. Advising and Support: You want to ensure that there are advising services available to pre-PT or health sciences students - these advisors will help keep you on track with the right courses, prerequisites, and timelines for applying to PT school.

Examples of schools with strong programs in Kinesiology or Exercise Science could include the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Michigan, Penn State University and the University of Southern California. But remember, it's not just about the prestige of your undergraduate institution – it's also about how you make use of the resources available to you to become a competitive applicant and potentially a great physical therapist.