I want to major in Physical Therapy. But first, what classes should I take? Where should I get my BD?

Question

BD-bachelor's degree

I'm in high school, going on junior.

Answer 1

A major in physical therapy requires a lot of science classes. Therefore, since you are still in high school I recommend taking the science classes you need and doing WELL in them. As far as which school you should go to, it all depends. First of all, I have no idea where you live. Second of all, there are tons of places where you can get a BA (the term used for a bachelor's degree; not "BD") that will get you started on your way to your DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree. A lot of people looking to pursue physical therapy get a BA in kinesiology, which is the study of human movement. You need a BA in an acceptable major before you can enter a DPT program. So basically, you should be more concerned with where you will complete your DPT program rather than where you should get your BA. However, there are schools that offer a five or six year DPT program in which you can enter straight out of high school. I know someone that attends Ithaca College and another that attends Syracuse University, both in New York, for this type of program. It would also be a great idea to volunteer or get a job at a rehabilitation facility so you can get a feel for physical therapy, and because it would look good on your resume when applying to a college or university. I hope this helps and it's good that you're thinking about this now. Physical therapy is a very fun and rewarding career. I hope you stick with it! Good luck!

Answer 2

First decide on some physiotherapy schools that interest you.  Then have a look at what they require to get in eg:

http://www.regis.edu/rh.asp?page=study.d...

They are the college courses you need to do.  Take courses at HS to prepare you for those college courses.  One thing to check with schools if you intend to do AP subjects is if they can count for prerequisites.  Best to know if you need to repeat it before applying rather than get a rude shock when you do.

Get your BD anywhere.  To save money do as much as possible at a CC first - at least that's what my physio strongly recommends (and I do as well).

Thanks

Bill

Answer 3

Good answer by Bill.  By the time you go to college, it is probably a good idea to have some ideas of where you would like to go to grad school.  That way, you know specifically what classes you need to take (which varies a little bit but generally involves a lot of bio, physics, chem and psych). You can complete your BS pretty much anywhere, but doing your undergrad and graduate work in the same school can make it a lot easier without having to worry if you classes will transfer.

At this point in time, focus on classes in high school that are required for entrance into college.  This usually includes 4 years of English, 3 of science and math and 2 of a foreign language (although in many instances, you can avoid taking a foreign language in college if you take it in HS).

Good luck

Answer 4

do research.

you cant have people do it for you. everyone has their own opinions. and you cant chose your classes until you find a school/get accepted. Every school has its own requirements and standards to get accepted and then with their coursework. It also depends on where you live and what you can spend. you should be able to talk to your high school counselor about this stuff. he/she should be able to help you.

but i can tell you, your classes will involve a lot of physiology, anatomy, chemistry, biology.