At least 14 of the 17 prerequisite courses outlined above should be completed at the time of application. It is strongly recommended that all the biology science courses be completed by December 2012.

Advance placement credit cannot be used to fulfill prerequisite course work. The courses do not need to be repeated but supplemental courses in lieu of the advanced placement credits need to be taken. For example; advanced placement credit for Biology I and II can be fulfilled by taking any 2 biology courses such as Microbiology, Genetics, etc.

Information regarding the GRE can be obtained at http://www.gre.org
Information on the TOEFL examination can be obtained at http://www.toefl.org
Information on Columbia's English Placement Test can be obtained at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso

Volunteer or Work Related Experience Minimum of 75 hours required in any type of setting. Letters of Recommendation 3 required; 2 MUST be from academic sources; 1 from a physical therapist. It is recommend that an applicant who is still in school to earn a baccalaureate degree use a professor in his/her major as one of the academic references. Resume Should be sent directly to the program as an email attachment. Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid Copies should be sent directly to the program. Certification does not have to be taken at time of application but needs to be completed prior to matriculation. Interview Required.

STUDENT SELECTION
The primary requirement for admission into the DPT program is the applicant's ability, as judged by the program's Admissions Committee, to successfully complete the 3-year curriculum. Applicants who are admitted into the program have strong academic records as evidenced by their cumulative and science grade point averages, their breadth and depth of science background and their demonstrated consistency of undergraduate academic performance. A firm and clear commitment to physical therapy is another criterion for admission as manifested by work or volunteer experience. Qualities such as maturity and effective interpersonal relationships, as ascertained from the letters of recommendation and the personal interview are important admissions criteria.

An applicant, who receives a provisional acceptance on the basis of course work still in progress, must satisfactorily complete all outstanding courses prior to matriculation. All students must submit a final transcript that indicates the receipt of the baccalaureate degree.

The Program in Physical Therapy reserves the right to rescind an acceptance offer if the above are not completed by the start of program classes.

Columbia University is a private university. No preference is given to in-state versus out-of-state residents. Every applicant is considered individually with regard to suitability for graduate study and expectation of scholarly attainment.

INTERVIEWS

All applicants who meet the minimal prerequisites will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants found to be competitive are invited for interview, which lasts the entire day. The interview process serves a dual purpose:

1. It provides a realistic evaluation of eligibility for admission into the program as it assess personality, clarity of thought, strength of academic background, quality of related clinical and work experience, and knowledge of the profession.

2. It gives the applicant an opportunity to learn more about the program's teaching and learning philosophy and to spend time with faculty and enrolled students to appraise the program in terms of meeting personal and professional growth.

During the regular admission process, the program uses a rolling admissions format and applicants are notified of their acceptance status within 1-week post-interview. Interviews can begin as early as November but for the majority of applicants, interviews are held during January and February, on either a Friday or Saturday. A full class is accepted by early March.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

What are Competitive GPAs and GRE Test Scores?
Students are admitted into the program with a range of cumulative grade points from 2.75 - 4.00. The same range has been reflected in the science grade point average.

An average GRE score is 500 for the verbal and quantitative portions of the exam and 4.0 for the Analytical Writing. Applicants may retake the GRE. Scores are not averaged but the Admissions Committee will consider one set of scores, from one testing date, which provides the highest point totals.

Post-baccalaureate applicants are often judged on their academic performance with receipt of a master's degree or returning to school to complete missing prerequisite courses. Enhanced performance is not based on taking one or two courses per semester but maintaining a full semester course load.

Do You Take Into Consideration Steady Improvement of the Undergraduate GPA or GPA Based on Courses Taken as a Post-Baccalaureate Student to Fulfill Missing Prerequisites?
The Admissions Committee realizes that some applicants start their undergraduate education with a not too stellar performance but improve their grade point average as they advance into their major area of study. This may not deter acceptance as the Committee takes into account academic maturity with an increasing grade point average as the applicant progresses from freshman through senior year.

Should I Repeat Courses in the Science Prerequisites to Achieve Higher Grades?
Applicants who repeat courses will have the initial grade for the course and the repeat grade averaged to obtain a final course grade. To enhance the science grade point it is recommend that applicants continue to take additional courses, preferably in the upper divisional biological sciences, which is evaluated favorably by the Admissions Committee.

I am a Foreign Applicant and Have Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy. Can I Apply to the Program?

No, Columbia University's program is an entry-level program for individuals seeking their first degree in physical therapy. The program cannot accept applicants with a physical therapy degree wishing to enhance their credentials to the DPT. It is recommended that the applicant go to the American Physical Therapy Association web site at www.apta.org and look for those programs that offer the post-professional DPT degree.