• The program is well established and has been in existence for close to 50 years (first class attended from 1974-1976).
  
  
• Class size is relatively small, which is ideal for a physical therapy curriculum (student: faculty ratio ~3:1).
  
  
• Students form solid bonds with one another, much like family.
  
  
• The market for Physical Therapists is currently strong, a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
  
  
• Average starting salary is approximately $60,00-$75,000 per year.
  
  
• Graduates are often approached before graduation for employment.
  
  
• 100% of graduates find positions in physical therapy.
  
  
• Many job opportunities are right here in New Mexico – check out our Career Opportunities Page for recently submitted jobs.
  
  
• The curriculum is challenging, fulltime and intensive over 34 months.
  
  
• As a member of the School of Medicine (SOM), there is access to SOM resources:
  
  
  • excellent cadaver lab; hands on education using cadavers
    
    
  • award winning medical library
    
    
• Exceptional students make our program what it is. They are in it for all the right reasons:
  
  
  • excellent students (average GPA of 3.5 or better)
    
    
  • choice to make a positive difference in another’s life

• Faculty have a very broad range of specialties with board certified specialist is: neurology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and sports.
  
  
• Faculty are in academic education for the love of teaching; they are here for the students and are dedicated to helping them learn!
  
  
• Faculty team with our students on research and publications.

• Orthopaedic residency program
  
  
• Service Learning opportunities
  
  
  • Balance Workshops
    
    
  • Albuquerque Opportunity Center (AOC)
    
    
• Rehabilitation, exercise and community health (REACH) lab providing early clinical experiences.
  
  
• Faculty led 2-week clinical experience abroad - Guatemala, Ethiopia, Russia

Thank you for your interest in the University of New Mexico Physical Therapy Program.

We are located at the UNM Health Sciences Center campus, between the towering Sandia Mountains to the east and the Rio Grande Valley to the west. Northern New Mexico is high desert (Albuquerque sits at 5,000 ft above sea level), offering wonderful weather throughout the year. It is one of the only places in the world where one can ski in the mountains in the morning and bike in shorts in the valley the same afternoon. It is truly a special place for outdoor enthusiasts.

We are committed to student centered learning and have many non-traditional ways of learning, including: a faculty led 2-week clinical experience abroad; a rehabilitation, exercise and community health (REACH) service learning lab were students can obtain real world clinical experience beginning the first semester of the program; and simulated patient labs to address clinical skill development in a realistic setting. In addition, we offer full anatomy dissection in our state of the art gross anatomy laboratory.

Other highlights of our program include a motion analysis lab that we use for teaching, research and clinical gait analysis. Our research endeavors have grown considerably over the last few years, with active collaborations within exercise physiology, athletic training, and engineering. Additionally, we are involved with the North campus fitness center where students are paired with PT faculty on select Friday afternoons to develop custom fitness programs for UNM employees.

All in all, we are striving to provide creative ways to prepare students for the ever-evolving profession of physical therapy.
We are proud of our program and invite you to explore our website with updated news and events, attend an advisement session and contact our student success specialist Victoria Garcia or our Director of Admissions, Dr. Jodi Schilz, with any questions.

Beth Moody Jones, PT, DPT, EdD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Professor & Division Chief

It is highly recommended that students interested in the UNM Physical Therapy Program attend a formal group advisement session to obtain the latest information about our program. These hour-long advisement sessions are held from March through September to provide an opportunity for students to gather important information about the admissions process. All times listed are MST.

Please register for these advisements sessions by emailing HSC-UNMPTProgram@salud.unm.edu. 

Any additional questions can be answered by our Director of Admissions, Dr. Jodi Schilz at jschilz@salud.unm.edu or (505) 925-4218.

Group Advisement Sessions for 2021 (All Times are MST)

Group advisement session and our website will answer 99% of your questions, any additional questions can be answered by:

• Victoria Garcia, Student Success Specialist: vgarci01@salud.unm.edu or (505) 272 -5756
  
  
• Dr. Jodi Schilz, Director of Admissions: jschilz@salud.unm.edu or (505) 925-4218

Preview the Advisement Session Slides

For general information regarding physical therapy as a profession, and about other PT schools, visit the American Physical Therapy Association web site  or visit the PTCAS web site.

Thank you for your interest in the UNM DPT Program. If you have questions about our program please attend one of our advisement sessions (see schedule on Advisement tab).  

If you applied during the 2020-2021 application cycle and want feedback on your application, please email HSC-UNMPTProgram@salud.unm.edu in April to make an appointment to speak with the Director of Admissions.

Thank you and stay safe,

Admissions Committee

Application changes for the 2021-2022 cycle:

Applications must be completed in PTCAS by October 1st.

• You must have taken the GRE (between October 1, 2016 – October 1, 2021). You must have taken the GRE by October 1st, 2021. We do allow 2-3 weeks after the Oct 1st deadline for your official scores to be sent from ETS. Please monitor that your official scores are sent from ETS to PTCAS.
  
  
  • We will accept the new at-home GRE testing being offered by ETS but the deadline for taking the GRE is still October 1st, 2021.
    
    
• Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years.  There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria listed on the prerequisite page.
  
  
• The number of required shadowing hours has been reduced to 20 hours to be in line with ACAPT observation hour recommendations and to reduce the burden of finding observation hours on our applicants.
  
  
• We will only accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for prerequisite courses taken in the Spring and Summer 2020 semesters for prerequisite requirements.
  
  
• We will still accept online and/or distance learning courses for prerequisite courses.  Please verify with PTCAS that the institution is accredited to be offering that course and that they will verify grades from that institution. 
  
  
• We will no longer require an advanced exercise physiology class in our prerequisites in line with ACAPT recommendations.
  
  
• We will no longer require 2 psychology courses instead we require only 1 upper level psychology in line with ACAPT recommendations. For a complete list of classes that are accepted please visit the UNM PTCAS directory page under course prerequisites 
  
  
• We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements. (See the applicant requirement tab for more information)

Students are admitted once a year with classes beginning in August.  We will notify applicants of admissions selections by March 1. 

 
Although the majority of our students are residents of New Mexico, residents of other states are invited to apply.  Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, and Wyoming are eligible to apply to our program under the Professional Student Exchange Program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Please verify that your state is participating in WICHE the year in which you are applying. Students who complete the WICHE application process in their home state prior to the WICHE submission deadline and get certified as eligible for WICHE will be considered as in-state residents for admissions purposes. If you are admitted to the program as WICHE, you must complete the program and fulfill your WICHE contract.  For more information on WICHE, please visit their website at www.wiche.edu.

Female/male:  17/14

GRE verbal (mean):  63

GRE quantitative (mean):  47

Prerequisite GPA (mean):  3.79

Cumulative GPA (mean):  3.74

Instate/WICHE/Out of State:  24/0/7

Requirements for a complete application include all of the following:

• Complete a bachelor degree in any field by the spring semester May 2022 (semester curriculum) or June 2022 (trimester curriculum).
  
  
• Have a cumulative GPA from all coursework, both undergraduate and graduate combined, of greater than or equal to 2.67.
  
  
• Complete at least 20 hours of observation in as many physical therapy practice settings as possible by October 1, 2021.
  
  
• Arrange for two professional references (1 must be from a PT).
  
  
• Order official transcripts sent to PTCAS from all colleges and universities you have attended.
  
  
• Take the GRE (between October 1, 2016 – October 1, 20201) with official scores sent to our program number 7670. Meet the minimum requirements of: 25% verbal and 20% for quantitative.
  
  
  • We will accept the at-home GRE for this requirement, however it is still due by October 1st, 2020 with your completed application.
    
    
• Complete 30 hours of prerequisites with a C or better AND have a prerequisite GPA of greater than or equal to 3.0. It is best to have all prerequisites completed by December 2021.
  
  
  • However, you are permitted to have one final prerequisite to be taken during the 2022 Spring Semester. If you have more than one (1) outstanding prerequisite class yet to take after the December 2021 academic update, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward.
    
    
  • Pass/Fail or CR/NC options are NOT acceptable for any of the pre-requisite courses except for those courses taken during Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 academic semesters. We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for classes that were affected by the Coronavirus outbreak taken during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 semesters.
    
    
  • If you are trying to use Advanced Placement credits for a prerequisite class, please contact us so we can verify that it meets the specific class requirements and is listed appropriately on your transcript.
    
    
  • Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years. There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria listed on the prerequisites.
    
    
  • If you are enrolled in classes in Spring of 2022 they should also be listed in PTCAS as in progress. Remember only one of those classes can be a prerequisite.
    
    
  • If you attend an institution that follow a quarter curriculum (4 terms per year fall, winter, spring and summer each lasting 11-12 weeks) then you need to verify in PTCAS that you have met the credit requirements for our prerequisites. For example: We require 2 4-credit semester long Anatomy/Physiology classes with labs. 4 semester credits = 6 quarter credits so to meet our Anatomy/Physiology prerequisite requirements you must have taken 12 quarter credits of A/P. You can do this by taking 3 sequential quarter A/P classes or combine 3 related anatomy/physiology quarter classes to equal 12 quarter credits. Please review your selected prerequisites. We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements.
    
    
• Complete the PTCAS application process by October 1st, 2021.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application. PTCAS may encounter technical difficulties due to high volume of applications being submitted.
    
    
  • Complete the NM Residency form if applicable, available via the provided link.
    
    
• Complete an academic update in PTCAS in December 2021, to update any classes listed as in progress in the Fall semester, if applicable.

1. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Physical Therapy Program if they are unable to meet the technical standards of the program. Technical Standards for physical therapy students are defined by the program at the provided link.
   
   
2. If you have a physical or learning disability, you are asked to self-report your educational needs. Evaluation of the disability by a physician or other appropriate professional must be presented at the time of the report in order for accommodations to be arranged. Evaluation of the disability by a physician or other appropriate professional must be presented at the time of the report in order for accommodations to be arranged.
   
   
3. If you are currently enrolled in classes or have not yet graduated with your bachelor’s degree, send in any updated official transcripts that show degree completion as of May 2022 (semester curriculum) or June 2022 (trimester curriculum).

We rank your prerequisite GPA heavily in the application process. In order to facilitate the highest GPA possible, we recommend you do the following when selecting your prerequisite courses:

• Use the highest course grade possible for your prerequisite selection. You may substitute a higher-level class for the prerequisite as long as you have taken the lower level required class.
  
  • As an example: you took Chemistry 1 + lab (4 cr.) your sophomore year and earned a B. Your junior year you took biochemistry + lab (4 cr.) a higher-level chemistry that had a prerequisite requirement of Chemistry 1 and you earned an A. You may use that higher-level chemistry class with the A, to match our prerequisites. Select the highest grade earned on all classes you have may have retaken.
    
    
• You are permitted to have one final prerequisite to be taken during the 2022 Spring Semester. If you have more than one (1) outstanding prerequisite class yet to take after the December 2021 academic update, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward.
  
  
• Pass/Fail or CR/NC options are NOT acceptable for any of the pre-requisite courses except for those courses taken during Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 academic semesters. We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for classes that were affected by the Coronavirus outbreak taken during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 semesters.
  
  
• If you are trying to use Advanced Placement credits for a prerequisite class, please contact us so we can verify that it meets the specific class requirements and is listed appropriately on your transcript.
  
  
• Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years. There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria listed on the prerequisites.
  
  
• If you are enrolled in classes in Spring of 2022 they should also be listed in PTCAS as in progress. Remember only one of those classes can be a prerequisite.
  
  
• If you attend an institution that follow a quarter curriculum (4 terms per year fall, winter, spring and summer each lasting 11-12 weeks) then you need to verify in PTCAS that you have met the credit requirements for our prerequisites.
  
  • For example: We require 2 4-credit semester long Anatomy/Physiology classes with labs. 4 semester credits = 6 quarter credits so to meet our Anatomy/Physiology prerequisite requirements you must have taken 12 quarter credits of A/P. You can do this by taking 3 sequential quarter A/P classes or combine 3 related anatomy/physiology quarter classes to equal 12 quarter credits. Please review your selected prerequisites. We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements
    
    

Psychology (3 credits): You must have one upper level psychology class. For a complete list of classes that are accepted please visit the UNM PTCAS directory page under course prerequisites

Not accepted: Sports Psychology or Psychology of Human Sexuality.

Statistics (3 credits): Must be a standalone statistics class (not just part of a research class).

Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits): Lecture and lab is required to total 4 credits. Class must include structure and function of the HUMAN body and organization/integration of systems. Must be taken within the last 5 years.

Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits): Lecture and lab is required to total 4 credits. Class must include structure and function of the HUMAN body and organization/integration of systems. Must be taken within the last 5 years.

Chemistry I (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits.

Chemistry II (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits.

Physics I (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits.

Physics II (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits.

If you are unsure of how many prerequisite courses you have completed: Complete this prerequisites worksheet and send it to HSC-UNMPTrogram@salud.unm.edu along with copies of your transcripts. We will be happy to review the classes you have selected as your prerequisites and confirm/deny if they qualify.

• If you attend an institution that follows a quarter curriculum (4 terms per year fall, winter, spring and summer each lasting 11-12 weeks) then you need to verify in PTCAS that you have met the credit requirements for our prerequisites. For example: We require 2 4-credit semester long Anatomy/Physiology classes with labs. 4 semester credits = 6 quarter credits so to meet our Anatomy/Physiology prerequisite requirements you must have taken 12 quarter credits of A/P. You can do this by taking 3 sequential quarter A/P classes or combine 3 related anatomy/physiology quarter classes to equal 12 quarter credits. Please review your selected prerequisites. We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements

• Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years.  There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria listed on the prerequisite page.
  
  
• The number of required shadowing hours has been reduced to 20 hours to be in line with ACAPT observation hour recommendations and to reduce the burden of finding observation hours on our applicants.
  
  
• We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for prerequisite courses taken in the Spring and Summer 2020 semesters for prerequisite requirements.
  
  
• We will still accept online and/or distance learning courses for prerequisite courses.  Please verify with PTCAS that the institution is accredited to be offering that course and that they will verify grades from that institution. 
  
  
• We will accept the new at-home GRE testing being offered by ETS but the deadline for taking the GRE is still October 1st, 2021.
  
  
• We will no longer require an advanced exercise physiology class in our prerequisites in line with ACAPT recommendations.
  
  
• We will no longer require 2 psychology courses instead we require only 1 upper level psychology in line with ACAPT recommendations. For a complete list of classes that are accepted please visit the UNM PTCAS directory page under course prerequisites 
  
  
• We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements. (See the applicant requirement tab for more information)

The University of New Mexico PT Program understands that 2020 was a difficult time for everyone and that several parts of the application process were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to helping future applicants by altering our admissions process to reduce the burdens on future candidates.

• Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years.  There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria listed on the prerequisite page.
  
  
• The number of required shadowing hours has been reduced to 20 hours to be in line with ACAPT observation hour recommendations and to reduce the burden of finding observation hours on our applicants.
  
  
• We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for prerequisite courses taken in the Spring and Summer 2020 semesters for prerequisite requirements.
  
  
• We will still accept online and/or distance learning courses for prerequisite courses.  Please verify with PTCAS that the institution is accredited to be offering that course and that they will verify grades from that institution. 
  
  
• We will accept the new at-home GRE testing being offered by ETS but the deadline for taking the GRE is still October 1st, 2021.
  
  
• We will no longer require an advanced exercise physiology class in our prerequisites in line with ACAPT recommendations.
  
  
• We will no longer require 2 psychology courses instead we require only 1 upper level psychology in line with ACAPT recommendations. For a complete list of classes that are accepted please visit the UNM PTCAS directory page under course prerequisites
  *
• We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements. (See the applicant requirement tab for more information)
  
  

• What is the application deadline? 
  
  
  • Your application is due by midnight (EST) October 1st. Do not wait until the last minute. PTCAS may encounter technical difficulties due to high volume of applications being submitted.
    
    
• How many hours should I spend observing in a PT clinic? 
  
  
  • The PT program requires a minimum 20 hours of observation, with a recommendation of at least 10 hours in 3 of the 4 types of practice settings: Inpatient, Outpatient, Long-Term Care and Pediatrics. Most applicants have ~ 200 volunteer hours when they apply to the program. The program recommends that you get as much exposure to the PT profession (whether from volunteer or work opportunities) as you can so that you can positively answer the question “Is PT the profession for me?” 
    
    
• I’m submitting my application through PTCAS and it says I need to also submit the residency form – I’m not from New Mexico, do I need to submit this form? 
  
  
  • This form is only required for New Mexico residents. New Mexico applicants must complete and submit the following residency information form and supporting documentation on PTCAS by October 1st.

• Does it matter what my degree is in? 
  
  
  • No, but a 4 year bachelor’s degree is required. Your degree must be completed by May 2022 (semester curriculum) or June 2022 (trimester curriculum).
    
    
• Does it matter what school I attended for my degree? 
  
  
  • No, it does not
    
    
• Do I need to major in a specific area to apply to the DPT Program? 
  
  
  • No, any major is accepted as long as you have met the requirements for the program.

• Do I send my GRE score to UNM? 
  
  
  • Submit your official GRE scores to code #7670 for the Physical Therapy Program at University of New Mexico. GRE scores for code #7670 will automatically be sent to PTCAS. Do NOT send your GRE scores to the UNM DPT Program or graduate admissions. The GRE testing must be completed by October 1st.
    
    
  • We will accept the new At-Home GRE testing being offered by ETS, but the deadline for taking the GRE is still October 1st, 2021.
    
    
• If I repeat my GRE what scores do you use? 
  
  
  • We will utilize the highest individual score from each section, independent of the test. The GRE must be completed by October 1st.

• What if I am taking a prerequisite class now? How do you get my grades? 
  
  When you submit your original application, you will list any classes that you are registered for in the fall and planning to take in the Spring as in progress. In December after your application is submitted, you will complete an academic update through PTCAS.
  
  
  • When those grades have been verified, PTCAS will automatically update the grades and update your prerequisite and cumulative GPA’s.
    
    
  • SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPTS TO PTCAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN DECEMBER TO ASSURE WE HAVE YOUR UPDATED GPA. 
    
    
• Do I have to have all the prerequisites complete before I can apply to the program? 
  
  No, you can be taking prerequisite classes in the Fall semester while submitting the application. Those classes must be listed as in progress in PTCAS and updated during the December academic update in PTCAS.
  
  
  • Our policy is that you are permitted to have one (1) final prerequisite to be taken during the Spring Semester after your application has been submitted. If you have more than one (1) outstanding prerequisite class yet to take after the December academic update, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward.
    
    
• Can I use Advanced Placement courses for prerequisite classes? 
  
  If you are trying to use Advanced Placement credits for a prerequisite class, please contact us so we can verify that it meets the specific class requirements and is listed appropriately on your transcript.
  
  
• Do I need to send my transcript to you or can it be sent from my school? 
  
  Send your transcripts to PTCAS. We are able to access your official grades and transcripts on PTCAS. 
  
  
  • If you are accepted to the program but had outstanding prerequisite coursework and/or you did not have your bachelor’s degree when you applied then you will need to send the UNM PT Program an official transcript to verify your degree status and completion of the final prerequisite class.
    
    
• Are there any time restrictions on prerequisite courses? 
  
  Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years. There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria.
    
• Can I use Web-Based courses for prerequisites?
  
  For the University of New Mexico (and PTCAS) to accept credits earned from a web-based course, that course must appear on a transcript from an accredited college or university. Therefore, if the online course you have taken or plan to take is offered by UNM or CNM (or any other accredited college or university), and it satisfies our requirement, the course will be accepted. All course work is verified through PTCAS. If you have questions regarding validity of an institution please contact PTCAS directly.
  
  
• Are Pass/Fail or CR/NC options accepted for prerequisite courses?
  
  Pass/Fail or CR/NC options are NOT acceptable for prerequisitie courses except for those courses taken during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 academic semesters. We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for classes that were affected by the Coronavirus outbreak during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 semesters.
  
  
• Are classes taken at quarter colleges accepted?
  
  If you attend an institution that follows a quarter curriculum (4 terms per year fall, winter, spring and summer each lasting 11-12 weeks) then you need to verify in PTCAS that you have met the credit requirements for our prerequisites. For example: We require 2 4-credit semester long Anatomy/Physiology classes with labs. 4 semester credits = 6 quarter credits so to meet our Anatomy/Physiology prerequisite requirements you must have taken 12 quarter credits of A/P. You can do this by taking 3 sequential quarter A/P classes or combine 3 related anatomy/physiology quarter classes to equal 12 quarter credits. Please review your selected prerequisites. We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements
  
  

Do I need to perform an academic update in PTCAS?  

There are many qualities that make up a competitive candidate and although it is difficult to paint a picture of someone guaranteed to get in, here are some guidelines:

• Excellent prerequisite GPA- higher than the minimum requirement (see Class of 2024 Demographics).
  
  
  • What is a competitive GPA? Compare your GPAs to the Class of 2024. If you are near those values, you would be considered competitive. The farther away you get the less competitive you are.
    
    
• Demonstrated ability to successfully complete rigorous course loads.
  
  
  • Have you taken 12+ hours of rigorous science classes together and scored A’s and B’s in those classes? This shows us you can excel in similar situations in our program.
    
    
• Quality preparation for the GRE General Test so that you score well above the minimum requirements of 20th percentile for the quantitative section and 25th for the verbal.
  
  
  • What is a competitive GRE score? Compare your score to the Class of 2024. If you are near those values, you would be considered competitive. The farther away you get the less competitive you are. The GRE testing must be completed by October 1st.
    
    
    • If you take the GRE 3-4 times and are not improving please consider a test prep class for test taking strategies. Click here for more information on the GRE and for GRE Prep courses. 
      
      
• Exposure to various specialties within physical therapy (orthopedic, pediatric, neurologic, acute care…) this helps you to understand what the field of PT has to offer and where you might fit into that. Ask Questions, talk to the people you shadow find out if PT is right for you!
  
  
  • Wanting to help people is a noble cause however there are many types of jobs where you can help people. Being a PT is wonderful but it is not for everyone. Observation hours help you to understand the immense knowledge needed to treat patients and some of the complicated issues that go into being a PT. Knowing you have considered the career in its entirety and can talk about your ideas and goals as a future PT helps our program have confidence you have the grit to make it through the program.

The application process works in 2 parts. The first part is to present an application that aims for the best in your GPA’s, test scores, essays, and all other PTCAS application requirements so that you are considered a top applicant and granted an interview.

• The essays in PTCAS are meant to help us get to know you better. Take the time to understand the questions and fully answer it. Be reflective and have other people read your answer to gauge if you are expressing yourself clearly.
  
  
• Strong letters of recommendation- be sure to carefully consider the people you ask to write your letters, you want to know that they will go the extra mile and include detailed information about you because we are not allowed to call and contact them.

The interview is the second part which if granted, gives you the opportunity to let the panelists know who you are, why you want to be a PT, how you would contribute to the field, and how you will overcome obstacles to succeed once admitted. This second portion gives us the opportunity to see the whole picture.

It is important to note that the UNM DPT program is 3 years full time, with classes and clinical experiences taking place in the spring, summer, and fall semesters- it is pretty much 8-5 Monday-Friday with some weekends and many evenings required for REACH Lab and other projects. The content is compounding and rigorous even for experienced students so it is very important to have a clear plan when entering the program.

We have drafted a PDF which estimates the costs of the program. Please note that these are estimated costs and actual expenses will vary:

•  Estimated Student Expense Sheet