Doctorate of Physical Therapy Admissions Process

UPDATES TO 2020/21 AND 2021/22 ADMISSION CYCLE REQUIREMENTS DUE TO COVID-19

• Completion of 8 out of 12 pre-requisite courses will be required prior to eligibility for interview consideration.
• We recognize that many universities have offered pass/fail grading for coursework due to the transition to online instruction. Walsh University requires students to take their undergraduate pre-requisites courses for a grade if this option is available.
• Given the current climate of healthcare, Walsh University will alter the observation requirement for the 20/21 and 21/22 cycles.
  • Students who have completed ANY hours in any setting should submit them in order to complete the requirement in full
  • Any number of telehealth observation hours will complete the requirement in full
  • For those applicants who have not been exposed to the profession through observation hours, an alternate essay will be assigned which will complete the observation requirement in full
• Given the current climate of healthcare, Walsh University will alter the letter of recommendation requirement for the 20/21 and 21/22 cycles.
  • We require three recommendations from individuals who are able to comment on the student’s academic performance, work ethic, and/or professional potential. However, for applicants unable to complete observation hours, the professional (PT) reference can be replaced by another academic or “other” reference. Therefore
    • must be academic
    • must be a licensed PT if observation hours were completed
    • The applicants should not have a personal relationship with any of the individuals giving the recommendation (ie- no family, friends, TAs, etc)
• We continue to require the GRE exam.

Admissions Process: Application Checklist

June 17, 2020 - Opening date for PTCAS portal for 2020-2021 cycle. 

Early entry into system is strongly recommended.  Review program requirements at the following link before creating account: Coming soon!

For new applicants: 

• Visit http://www.ptcas.org/
• Create a new PTCAS account
• Complete the Colleges and University section with every institution attended.
• Print the PTCAS transcript matching form for each institution.
• Arrange for your official transcripts to be sent from the registrar to PTCAS with the transcript matching form enclosed.
• Enter all of your college courses in PTCAS using personal copies of your transcript.  Do not enter courses from memory. PTCAS may withhold verification of grades if your self-report does not match your transcripts.
• At the time you take your GRE, you should specify that results be submitted to Walsh University/PTCAS GRE code 3790. This number should also be listed on your PTCAS application.
• Complete the reference section.  PTCAS will forward an electronic recommendation form to your reference. Note: PTCAS accepts a maximum of 5 electronic recommendations. Additional hard copy recommendation forms are available upon request. These paper copies are then submitted to Walsh University Graduate Admissions office directly from the reference. The hard copy will then be uploaded into the PTCAS system by Walsh University.
• Complete the observation section.  PTCAS will forward a verification request via email to the individual that you observed.
• Review your application for accuracy before you e-submit.  Essays, answers to custom questions, background information, extra-curricular activities, service, honors or work experience CANNOT BE ALTERED AFTER E-SUBMISSION.   PTCAS does not correct grammar or other errors.  Also, completed references or verified observations cannot be deleted.
• Print a hard copy of the application for your personal records.
• Login regularly to check the real time status of your transcripts, references, observation verification forms.  You may need to contact PTCAS or academic institutions, references or clinical sites that have not responded.
• Check your email daily for any correspondence from PTCAS or Walsh DPT.
• Contact PTCAS promptly if you have any discrepancies or issues with your application. 

Do not wait for PTCAS to receive all of your materials before e-submitting your application (e-submission requires paying your fee.)  You will want PTCAS to begin verifying your grades as you continue to gather other materials. 

If you are reapplying from a previous cycle, please follow the instructions by clicking here. 

To Interview: 

The following materials need to be submitted to and processed by PTCAS to be considered and ranked for a slot in the November interviews:

• PTCAS application
• Paid fee
• Transcripts from all institutions attended (indicating 9 of 12 pre-requisites completed for 4+3 students and 7 of 12 prerequisites for Walsh  3+3 students)
• Verification from PTCAS of all transcripts (may take up to 5 weeks, please leave sufficient time for processing)
  • You can wait to submit transcripts after completing summer 2020 course work, but PTCAS  may not be able to verify your grades in time to be considered for a November interview.
• GREs (all portions of the test including writing score)  GREs are self-reported on the PTCAS form; note that you will need to allow 7-15 days after test taking before you will receive your score for the written section.
• Verification from PTCAS of a minimum of 3 recommendations (one academic; one professional; one may be professional, academic or an athletic coach). NOTE: PTCAS allows only 4 recommendations to be submitted in the system.
• Verification from PTCAS of a minimum of 30 observation hours in 2 settings, at least 10 hours at any one setting, inpatient and outpatient represented. The Walsh University DPT program does not accept submission of checklists with times/hours as verification of an observation.

Deadline: December 15, 2020  We will not process new applications after this date. In order for applications to be reviewed, the applications must be e-submitted and fee paid by this date.

November 6, 2020 and November 13, 2020 - Fall interviews (by invitation only)

Winter 2021 interviews to be scheduled.

• Applicants who submitted their materials by the close date and were not interviewed in November will be considered for the interview session in the winter of 2021.

Fall Grades for Academic Update: 

Submit as soon as possible for wait list ranking and final interview consideration.  Transcripts not verified by PTCAS will not be considered. Please refer to PTCAS for deadlines.

Acceptance Policy 

• At the completion of the November interviews, all interviewed candidates will be ranked. Offers for admission will be made in mid-December. 
• Students who are invited to a waitlist interview are eligible for acceptance on a rolling basis as openings occur. 
• Students who are not offered an interview are not eligible for acceptance.