PTCAS INFORMATION SESSION Admissions Cycle

Disclaimer The slide show is intended to provide an overview of PTCAS and NOT be a substitute for the full instructions. You are responsible for reviewing and following all PTCAS and program-specific instructions.

What Is PTCAS?  The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) allows applicants to use one application and set of materials to apply to 160 PT programs.  PTCAS is a service of APTA and is administered by Liaison International in Watertown, MA.

Application The PTCAS application for the 2013 entering class launched on JULY 2, 2012

Professional Behavior PT applicants are expected to act professionally in all of their dealings with PTCAS and the physical therapist programs, and to properly follow instructions and meet deadlines. Responsibility, respect, good judgment, and cooperation are qualities valued by the PT profession. Applicants are expected to demonstrate these qualities beginning with the application process.

REQUIRED Materials Arrange for materials to arrive at PTCAS by the program’s deadline. Once “complete”, file will enter the queue for verification. Processing may take up to 4-5 weeks once your file is complete. You must submit the items to PTCAS before your file will be processed Application  PTCAS Application Transcripts  All Official U.S. Transcripts Fee  Correct PTCAS Fee

Other Materials Accepted by PTCAS IF REQUIRED by PT program, submit items to PTCAS.

Materials Sent Directly to Program  Supplemental Application  Supplemental Fee  Original Foreign Transcripts

Reapplying to PTCAS? Applicants who reapply through PTCAS can have some of their application materials carried over. Re-applicants must have "mailed" status in the current cycle to be eligible. PTCAS will pull the following documents and sections forward: All U.S. coursework and transcripts Contact information Personal information Background information Unofficial test scores Extracurricular activities Honors Work experiences Professional licenses and certificates Foreign transcript evaluations Unofficial TOEFL scores. Re-applicants will have the ability to edit their application (except previously verified coursework), enter updated information, and change PT program designations in the new application.

Visit PTCAS Web site to determine whether GRE is required for admission and requirements: Changes to the GRE Due to changes in the GRE in 2011, programs may require or prefer that you to take "GRE® revised General Test". GRE® General Test = Testing on or before JULY 31, 2011 GRE® REVISED General Test = Testing on or after AUGUST 1, 2011

Submit Official GRE Scores  Request Official GRE Scores Use correct GRE code for PT ProgramGRE code Scores MAY also go to PTCAS, depending on GRE code  Enter GRE Scores on PTCAS Application Do not mix and match scores from different dates Enter planned GRE test dates NOT…  PTCAS Will NOT…  “verify” official scores against unofficial scores  “hold” files for missing GRE scores

Submit U.S. Transcripts to PTCAS ALL  Enter ALL colleges & universities attended 4-Year Institutions Community Colleges transcript request form  Print PTCAS transcript request form for each  Registrar sends one official transcript to PTCAS Encourage registrar to include PTCAS transcript request form  Do NOT send student-issued transcripts

Enter All U.S. Courses on Application  Use a personal copy of transcripts to complete section  Do NOT enter courses from memory  Enter all courses on US transcripts, including… Credit earned due to AP/CLEP/IB exams Audited Deferred Institutional/Departmental Exam Incomplete Pass/Fail Withdrawn (WP or WF)  If significant errors, PTCAS will “undeliver” application

Academic Update (AU)  Enter updated summer & fall 2012 grades as soon as available  Send updated 2012 transcripts to PTCAS as soon as available  Academic Update Dates: you Dec 12 – AU OPENS. No edits to coursework until AU is open to you. Jan 16 – Priority deadline for updated transcripts to PTCAS. Feb 15, 2013 – AU CLOSES. No edits to courses after this date. Feb 15, 2013 – Final deadline to submit AU transcripts to PTCAS.  You can update your coursework only ONCE.  PTCAS will send updated courses & GPAs to programs.

2 nd Set of Transcripts  If accepted to a PT program, submit official transcripts directly to institution before you enroll.  PTCAS cannot forward your transcripts to a PT program for this purpose.

Canadian Courses  Enter any Canadian courses on application  Determine program requirements for Canadian transcripts  PTCAS will NOT…  verify Canadian courses  include Canadian courses in GPAs  hold for missing Canadian transcripts

Foreign Transcript Evaluations IF REQUIRED BY THE PT PROGRAM  Arrange for course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation to be sent to PTCAS  BEGIN EARLY! It may take 4-6 weeks for agency to complete evaluation  PT program may specify a particular agency  If received, PTCAS mails copy to your designated program(s) NOT  Foreign evaluations are NOT required for “Study-abroad” ORIGINAL Some PT programs require ORIGINAL foreign transcripts to be sent directly to the institution.

References  Send up to 4 references to PTCAS  Electronic references preferred  Reference requirements vary by program NOT  PTCAS will NOT hold files for missing references  PT program may not accept late references  Login to check reference status

PT Observation Hours  Enter your PT experiences on the application  Programs may require that a PT verify your hours  PT hour requirements vary by program  Not all PT programs require PT experience or a signed form  PTCAS will not determine if you met requirements for PT program  PTCAS will not hold for…  missing PT signatures  missing PT observation hours

Updating Your PT Observation Hours After you e-submit, you can… add new PT experiences request new PT signatures make edits to in-progress / planned PT hours  NOT make edits to completed PT hours  NOT make edits to hours verified by a PT on a paper form

PTCAS Essay “Describe your decision making process in choosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers. ”

Custom Questions  If required, PTCAS will prompt to you to respond.  You cannot submit PTCAS application until complete.  Programs can only view responses to their own items.

PTCAS Application Fees  $130  $130 base fee to apply to one program  $35  $35 incremental fee for each additional program  FEE WAIVER  FEE WAIVER will continue to be available ($50K)

PTCAS Fee Waiver  Available for financially disadvantaged applicants  If approved, $130 base fee is waived  Pay $35 for each additional designation over one  U.S. citizens & permanent residents only  PTCAS fee waiver request form  Submit form and most recent tax return BEFORE you e- submit your PTCAS application  Limited number of waivers available

Deadlines APPLY EARLY! Deadlines expire at 11:59 pm EASTERN time Many programs have a rolling admissions process Program may not consider late applications or materials FIRM Deadline FIRM Deadline - You can NOT apply after the deadline SOFT Deadline SOFT Deadline - You can apply after the deadline, but program will only consider you if space is still available in class

Deadlines October 1, 2012 October 15, 2012 November 1, 2012 November 15, 2012 December 3, 2012 December 17, 2012 January 15, 2013 February 1, 2013 February 15, 2013 March 1, 2013 March 15, 2013 April 1, 2013 April 15, 2013 May 1, 2013 May 15, 2013

Early Decision  Binding option for applicants  Not all programs participate in Early Decision  If accepted, applicant cannot apply to other PTCAS programs  If denied or moved to “general” status, applicant can apply to other programs via PTCAS Aug 15 – Early Decision Deadline for Applicants Sep 25 – Deadline for Programs to Submit Decisions to PTCAS for ED Applicants

Transcript Verification  Courses on application compared to U.S. transcripts  Transcript grading scheme verified  Staff corrects minor errors to course history  Application will be undelivered, if numerous errors

PTCAS GPA Calculation Rules Repeated Courses Failed Courses Study Abroad Foreign Coursework AP/CLEP/IB Audit Deferred Inst/Dept Exam Incomplete Pass/Fail Withdrawn EXCLUDED: INCLUDED : PTCAS will you when your GPAs are posted online

PTCAS GPAs  Overall Cumulative GPA  Undergraduate Cumulative GPA  Graduate GPA  GPA for Each College / University Attended  GPA by Academic Status  freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate, & post-BS  Combined Science and Math GPA  Science GPA (no math)  Upper-Division GPA  Course Subject GPAs  Core PT Prerequisite GPA

PTCAS Customer Support Customer Service Hours: Monday - Friday (9:00 am – 5:00 pm EASTERN Time) Login to your PTCAS application frequently to check the real-time status of your application and materials PTCAS P.O. Box 9112 Watertown, MA

Stay in Touch!  Check your daily for important messages  You will receive a confirmation for every document received.  Login to your PTCAS application frequently to  Check for missed messages from PTCAS staff  Check on the status of your materials  Respond immediately to any requests

Important Dates for  Jul APPLICATION Opens  Jul 15Admissions Portal Opens  Aug 21 st Mailing  Aug 15Early Decision Deadline for Applicants  Sep 27Decisions for ED Applicants Due to PTCAS  Dec 12 Academic Update Opens  Feb 15Academic Update Closes

Follow These Steps FIRST Review instructions and program requirements. Create a new PTCAS application account. Complete “Colleges and Universities” section. Print transcript request form for each institution. Request official transcripts to be sent to PTCAS. Enter college courses.

PTCAS is your first step toward an exciting career in physical therapy