- Can you tell me about yourself?
- How would your former coworkers or professors describe your work ethic?
- What do you plan to do in your free time while earning your degree?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
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Prior to entrance into physical therapy schools, administrators may perform interviews in order to choose the ideal PT students for their programs; such physical therapy school interview questions and answers may be stressful, so it is best to be prepared and aware ahead of time.
Below is a list of 5 physical therapy school interview questions and answers that may be helpful to know.
Physical Therapy School Interview Questions
Why do you want to study at a PT School?
The most important thing is to ensure them that you know why you study, and what you want to do in the future, and do not just follow a dream of your parents, or want to earn a degree because almost everyone has a degree nowadays.
Certainly you want to study at a PT school to be able to practice physical therapy later. But do you have a specific plan? Perhaps a certain target group you’d like to work with, or a specialization you want to get, or a plan to open your own practice/clinic in the future?
Try to be specific. Saying that you want to study at a PT school because you want to help people won’t make the cut in this interview.
If you talk about specific plan for the future, however, or about your awareness of deteriorating physical abilities across all age levels in the western world, and an honest desire to do something about it, and if the interviewers hear some enthusiasm in your voice while you speak about these things, your chances to succeed will be much better.
What was the first impulse that made you interested in PT, and not in nursing, medicine, etc?
Try to tell them a story. Perhaps you experienced your share of problems with movement in your childhood, being limited by some injuries, or by bad genetics. Or someone you loved had such a problem. An excellent therapist helped them to improve their range of movement, and doing so, they significantly improved their quality of life.
Or you visited a clinic for people who suffered spinal cord injuries and remained bed-bound or wheelchair-bound, and you were amazed by the “small miracles” physical therapists managed to perform with these people, and the profound impact they had on their lives.
Someone inspired you, but it wasn’t a nurse, or a surgeon. You found a role model in a physical therapist, and decided to pursue the same career. That was the ignition, the impulse that decided you won’t try to become a doctor, but a physical therapist.
#1: Why do you want to be a physical therapist?
Maybe it is a love of helping people. Maybe it is because your grandparent was sick once and made a miraculous recovery thanks to PT. Maybe physics and the distinct way people move interests you to no end.
It is not about money, it is not about a backup plan because med school was full. It is about the people, or the betterment of society, or something along the lines of helping others and the personal fulfillment that accompanies it.
Knowing the principles of physical therapy might help to answer this question. Under the Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist, Principle #2 is: Physical therapists shall be trustworthy and compassionate in addressing the rights and needs of patients/clients.
Being a physical therapist is about having compassion and treating others in order to better their lives and health. Choose a reason that falls in line with both PT goals and personal goals.
Why did you apply with our school?
You have two options for a good answer here, and you can stand out with them. First one is pointing out something specific about their school, something that makes them stand out in your eyes.
Now, it isn’t enough to say that they have a great reputation, or that you like the curriculum. Such general answers won’t impress anyone…
If you want to praise their curriculum, you should go through it, find three or four subjects you like, and perhaps one or two subjects that are at least somehow unique (you would not have them at other PT school), and point this out in your interview.
If you want to praise reputation of the school or quality of teachers, you should again come up with some facts and numbers. How do they rate in national rating of PT programs? Have any professors published some interesting research papers in the last 12 months? What in particular do former students praise about the school?
Second option for a good answer is brutal honesty. You applied with seven PT schools, but only this one invited you for an interview. Hence they are your first choice, because they decided to give you a chance.
At the end of the day, you do not care much about rating and stuff. At each and every school, you will find both good and bad teachers. You know that it depends mostly on you–your attitude, effort, etc, how much you will learn and whether you will become a great PT or not. Therefor you do not care much about names and ratings. They gave you a chance, and they are your first choice…
Not many people have courage to opt for brutal honesty in their interviews. You can easily stand out with this answer, and win a favor of your interviewers.
FAQ
How do you stand out in a PT school interview?
- Do you commonly treat my condition? …
- What specific type of physical therapy will be provided for my condition? …
- How is physical therapy going to help me? …
- How many times a week must I come to get results? …
- How long is each visit?
What are good questions to ask a physical therapist?
How do you answer why do you want to be a physical therapist?
