Hi! I'm applying to Physical Therapy school and I would really appreciate any advice that anyone would like to give on my statement of purpose essay! I can try to give you feedback on your own essays if you want that as well! Just lemme know!
TOPIC: Which personal characteristics and motivating factors have led you to pursue the profession of physical therapy?
After three years of undergraduate studies at Baylor University, and seeking to obtain a bachelors degree in Biology after my fourth year of study, I wish to undertake graduate studies in Physical Therapy.
I entered into my undergraduate schooling knowing that I wanted to eventually enter into the healthcare field for my profession. In confession, I made the choice to settle on physical therapy without fully knowing what the work entailed, simply because it seemed more appealing than being a medical doctor or pharmacist on a surface level. However, after shadowing at physical therapy clinics, and seeing what the actual experience of working as a PT was, I definitely knew that physical therapy was the work I would be excited and passionate for. During my shadowing experience, at least one person in the clinics asked me if I was "bored," by simply just observing the PTs. I was able to earnestly answer them back "no," I was not bored. Instead, even after spending hundreds of hours in the clinics, I was thoroughly enjoying my experience each time I was there.
One of the PTs I shadowed was named Kelly. One day a Spanish speaking patient came seeking physical therapy. The patient's translator relayed to Kelly, the patient's explanation about her various symptoms that were occurring throughout her body. Kelly then explained the different symptoms that she was hearing from the translator, did not seem to link together properly, in order for Kelly to be able to generate a proper diagnosis. She then asked the patient and translator if they could make another attempt to explain the symptoms again. After they made a second attempt, Kelly was able determine that their explanation was correct this time, and she was able to make the proper diagnosis. I thought it was incredibly fascinating how Kelly was able to evaluate how all the different parts of the explanation fit together as a whole, with such an accurate degree of expertise, and then to use her evaluation on a practical level through the process of formulating the proper diagnosis. I also thought it was fascinating how Kelly was able to generate an exercise from her own thought process for the use of treating a patient with a shoulder replacement, after they complained about pain and/or difficulty with reaching forward. I have a strong desire to be like another "Kelly".
Looking back, I wish I could have been a Health Science major as an undergraduate, instead of a Biology major. With PT related undergraduate courses that Baylor offers such as Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Therapeutic Exercise, Therapeutic Modalities, and Exercise Physiology, I would have loved the chance to build a strong base of these core disciplines to take with me even before entering PT graduate school. However, I know that this passion that I have for PT will help me a lot to get the most of what I can out of a PT graduate school education. The fact that I am seeking to take a Biomechanics course next semester, even though it is not required to earn my degree, nor is it a prerequisite for any PT graduate school application, I believe reflects the breadth of the degree of passion and interest I have in being a well-trained PT and in the field of Physical Therapy in general.
My active involvement through my entire undergraduate career, in a student organization called UNITE InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, reflects the passion I have for my Christian faith. As a part of my faith, I specifically desire to share the love of God. I desire accomplish this through treating my patients with a spirit of love and a heart that sincerely seeks the improvement of their health, rather than one focused primarily on obtaining money. I hope that by being admitted into PT graduate school, I can be one step closer towards exercising my goal.
TOPIC: Which personal characteristics and motivating factors have led you to pursue the profession of physical therapy?
After three years of undergraduate studies at Baylor University, and seeking to obtain a bachelors degree in Biology after my fourth year of study, I wish to undertake graduate studies in Physical Therapy.
I entered into my undergraduate schooling knowing that I wanted to eventually enter into the healthcare field for my profession. In confession, I made the choice to settle on physical therapy without fully knowing what the work entailed, simply because it seemed more appealing than being a medical doctor or pharmacist on a surface level. However, after shadowing at physical therapy clinics, and seeing what the actual experience of working as a PT was, I definitely knew that physical therapy was the work I would be excited and passionate for. During my shadowing experience, at least one person in the clinics asked me if I was "bored," by simply just observing the PTs. I was able to earnestly answer them back "no," I was not bored. Instead, even after spending hundreds of hours in the clinics, I was thoroughly enjoying my experience each time I was there.
One of the PTs I shadowed was named Kelly. One day a Spanish speaking patient came seeking physical therapy. The patient's translator relayed to Kelly, the patient's explanation about her various symptoms that were occurring throughout her body. Kelly then explained the different symptoms that she was hearing from the translator, did not seem to link together properly, in order for Kelly to be able to generate a proper diagnosis. She then asked the patient and translator if they could make another attempt to explain the symptoms again. After they made a second attempt, Kelly was able determine that their explanation was correct this time, and she was able to make the proper diagnosis. I thought it was incredibly fascinating how Kelly was able to evaluate how all the different parts of the explanation fit together as a whole, with such an accurate degree of expertise, and then to use her evaluation on a practical level through the process of formulating the proper diagnosis. I also thought it was fascinating how Kelly was able to generate an exercise from her own thought process for the use of treating a patient with a shoulder replacement, after they complained about pain and/or difficulty with reaching forward. I have a strong desire to be like another "Kelly".
Looking back, I wish I could have been a Health Science major as an undergraduate, instead of a Biology major. With PT related undergraduate courses that Baylor offers such as Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Therapeutic Exercise, Therapeutic Modalities, and Exercise Physiology, I would have loved the chance to build a strong base of these core disciplines to take with me even before entering PT graduate school. However, I know that this passion that I have for PT will help me a lot to get the most of what I can out of a PT graduate school education. The fact that I am seeking to take a Biomechanics course next semester, even though it is not required to earn my degree, nor is it a prerequisite for any PT graduate school application, I believe reflects the breadth of the degree of passion and interest I have in being a well-trained PT and in the field of Physical Therapy in general.
My active involvement through my entire undergraduate career, in a student organization called UNITE InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, reflects the passion I have for my Christian faith. As a part of my faith, I specifically desire to share the love of God. I desire accomplish this through treating my patients with a spirit of love and a heart that sincerely seeks the improvement of their health, rather than one focused primarily on obtaining money. I hope that by being admitted into PT graduate school, I can be one step closer towards exercising my goal.
