Columbia University

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION

Cynthia Worthington
Admissions Coordinator
Program in Physical Therapy
Columbia University
Neurological Institute, 8th Floor
710 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
Phone: 212-305-0470
Phone (alternate number):
Email: cw75@columbia.edu
Website: www.columbiaphysicaltherapy.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Final PTCAS Application Deadline	Thursday, January 15, 2009
Deadline Type	FIRM Deadline
Program has rolling admissions process?	YES

Other deadlines (if any):

Additional Deadline Information: Interviews, required for program acceptance, begin in January and follow a rolling admissions process. Applicants are notified of their acceptance status within one week post-interview. It is encouraged that applicants complete the application process by the December 1 deadline date. Applications submitted after this date are subject to space availability in the entering class.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites

Must applicants earn a Bachelor's degree prior to enrolling into the PT program? YES

For more information about course prerequisites, visit the program Web site: www.columbiaphysicaltherapy.org

Course prerequisite fields will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

Course Prerequisite Name or Subject Area	Req, Rec, Crq*	SEM hrs	QTR hrs	Lab Required (Y/N)	Additional Program Information
Biology I and II or its equivalent	REQ	8	-	YES	Must be taken through the appropriate science department. Life science and ecology courses can not be used to fulfill this prerequisite.
Anatomy and Physiology	REQ	8	-	YES	Can be taken as either separate courses or as Combined Anatomy and Physiology I and II courses.
Upper Divisional Biology	REQ	3	-	NO	Considered a 300-400 level course unless the college or university uses a different numbering system to designate junior/senior level courses. Kinesiology and Exercise Science majors can use a course from their major to fulfill this prerequisite.
Chemistry I and II	REQ	8	-	YES	.
Physics I and II	REQ	8	-	YES	Courses do not have to be calculus based.
Psychology	REQ	6	-	NA	Any 2 psychology courses will suffice. Abnormal Psychology or Life Span Development is recommended.
Statistics	REQ	3	-	NA	.
Humanities and Social Sciences	REQ	15	-	NA	Five (5) courses are required.

* “Req” = required course; “Rec” = recommended course; “Crq” = conditionally required course

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE: Required
Last acceptable GRE test date( if applicable): No later than December 2008
Oldest GRE score considered (if applicable): 5 years

GRE table below may contain blank fields if program data is not available or applicable.

GRE Section	Minimum GRE Score	Average GRE Score for Accepted Students
Verbal	500	550
Verbal Percentile	.	.
Quantitative	500	660
Quantitative Percentile	.
Analytical	500	680
Analytical Percentile	.	.
Writing	3.5	5
Writing Percentile	.	.

Additional information about program’s GRE requirements:
If GRE is taken more than once, test scores are not averaged. Best set of scores from any one testing date are considered.

References

Total number of references required by program: 3 References

REFERENCE TYPE	Reference Type Is Required, Recommended, Accepted, Conditionally Required, NOT Accepted, or Other
Teaching Assistant	Not Accepted
Supervisor	Accepted
PTA	Not Accepted
Professor (Science)	Accepted
Professor (Math)	Accepted
Professor (Liberal Arts)	Accepted
Pre-Health Advisor	Accepted
Politician	Not Accepted
Physical Therapist (1)	Required
Physical Therapist (2)	Accepted
Health Care Provider	Not Accepted
Friend	Not Accepted
Family Member	Not Accepted
Faculty Advisor	Accepted
Employer	Accepted
Co-Worker	Not Accepted
Clergy	Not Accepted
OTHER	Accepted

Additional information about program’s reference requirements:

Two (2) letters of recommendation must be from academic sources; one (1) letter from a physical therapist.
If applicant has worked/volunteered in more than 1 PT setting, an additional (4th recommendation) can be submitted.
If applicant is seeking a career change (4th recommendation) from an employer is accepted.
Composite recommendations kept on file at the university-level and submitted by a pre-health/pre-medical committee or pre-health advisor is accepted.

PT Observation Hours

Enter your PT observation hours on your PTCAS application. Login to the PTCAS application and print each customized PT Observation Hours form, if the program requires a physical therapist to verify your hours with a signature. Mail the signed form directly to the PT program, if required. Do not mail to PTCAS.

PT HOURS	PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Description of Program’s PT Hours Requirement	PT hours are required and should be documented in letter of recommendation by a physical therapist. A PT Observation Hours form is NOT required.
Total Number of Hours REQUIRED	75
Total Number of Hours RECOMMENDED	100
DEADLINE for Completion of All PT Hours	.
PAID Experience	Accepted
VOLUNTEER Experience	Accepted
INPATIENT Experience	Accepted
OUTPATIENT Experience	Accepted
Number of hours in each PT specialty (if specified)	.
Number of hours in each PT setting (if specified)	.

Additional information about program’s PT hours requirement: It is recommended that required observational hours be completed by time of application.

GPA Requirement

GPAs will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

Name of GPA	Minimum GPA	Average GPA for Accepted Students
Overall Undergraduate Cumulative	2.75	3.48
Program-specific Prerequisite	2.75	3.50
Other GPA 1:	.	.
Other GPA 2:	.	.

Additional information about program’s GPA requirements (if any): In reviewing the overall undergraduate cumulative grade point, the program considers the breadth, depth and rigor of the undergraduate major.

The program prerequisite grade point calculates the required course work in biology, chemistry and physics. The program averages initial grade and repeat course grade. It is recommended that students take additional course work in the sciences to enhance this prerequisite grade point average.

PTCAS Essay Instructions

You can customize your PTCAS essay for each designated PTCAS program. The PT program may require you to respond to specific essay questions. If program instructions below are blank, respond to 3 of the 5 essay questions on the PTCAS application form.

What personal characteristics do you have that make you suitable for the profession of physical therapy?
What is your motivation for pursuing a career in physical therapy?
How has your background and experience prepared you to interact effectively with individuals who are different from you in their social, cultural, or economic perspectives?
What types of patients have you observed with the greatest frequency, and what have you learned from them? If you were to be accepted to two or more physical therapy education programs, what would help you make the decision regarding which program you should select?
REPEAT APPLICANTS If you have applied to a physical therapy program in the past five years, what have you done to improve upon, or enhance, your application for this current admissions cycle?

PROGRAM’S ESSAY REQUIREMENTS (If program instructions are blank, you must respond to 3 of the 5 essay questions on the PTCAS application form):

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

If supplemental materials are required, send items directly to the PT program.

ITEM	PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Supplemental application required?	NO
Supplemental deadline(s)	.
Link to supplemental application or instructions	.
Supplemental FEE required?	NO
If yes, supplemental fee amount	$
Briefly describe requirements for supplemental materials (if applicable)	Supplemental Materials Are Required (send materials directly to program): Resume First Aid Certification CPR Certification

Criminal Background Check

Are accepted applicants required to complete a criminal background check? NO
Description of criminal background check process (if applicable):

FOREIGN APPLICANTS AND TRANSCRIPTS

The program’s foreign (international) transcript policies do NOT apply to study abroad coursework that is itemized on a U.S. college or university transcript. Study abroad is processed in the same way as U.S. coursework.

POLICY	PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Program’s citizenship requirements (individuals listed may be eligible for admission):	U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, Canadian citizens, Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens with a visa, Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens, Other non-citizens (e.g., refugees)
Program requires non-native speakers to submit TOEFL scores?	YES
Program policy for submission of non-U.S. (foreign/international) coursework:	Send foreign transcript evaluation to the PT program.
Program policy for CANADIAN coursework:	Send official CANADIAN transcript directly to the PT program.

Additional information about program’s policy on foreign coursework: If a foreign applicant has attended and graduated with a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an American univeristy, the TOEFL exam is waived and applicant should submit GRE scores. A Canadian applicant needs to submit GRE scores.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

PT Degree Offered:	Program culminates in a doctoral (DPT) degree.
PT Program Start Date(s) For Entering Class:	9/08/2009
Dual-degree programs offered in conjunction with the PT degree (if any):	.

PROFILE OF MOST RECENT ENTERING CLASS

Items will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

PROFILE INFORMATION	PROGRAM DATA
Size of Most Recent Entering Class	43
Anticipated Size of Next Entering Class	60
Percent of IN-STATE applicants accepted	40
Percent of WICHE applicants accepted (if applicable):	.
Percent of OUT-OF-STATE (non-resident) applicants accepted	60
Percent of CANADIAN applicants accepted	2
Percent of INTERNATIONAL (non-U.S/non-Canadian) applicants accepted	2

Additional information about the class profile: The majority of students enter the program with undergraduate majors in Biology and other basic sciences, Sports Science and Athletic Training, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, and Psychology. See the program web site for a more detailed description of each class under Prospective Applicant, Entry-level Program, Class Profiles.

Institution's religious affiliation (if any):

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Columbia's DPT program prepares graduates with clinical problem solving skills. Students graduate with a comprehensive foundation of basic principles in the art and science of physical therapy. With 11 full-time faculty and a roster of distinguished adjunct faculty and laboratory instructors from Columbia Medical Center, the New York City area and nation-wide, students are ensured a comprehensive and cutting-edge curriculum. In recognition of the varied abilities and interests of students, the curriculum is designed to be flexible and innovative, incorporating a wide variety of adult learning methodologies, including clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice and self-directed learning. Students design and complete a capstone project (research initiative) and have the opportunity for specialized skill development in orthopedics, adult neurorehabilitation and pediatrics through advanced seminars and electives offered during the second and third year of study.

Students participate in a White Coat Ceremony to welcome the beginning of their transition in becoming empathetic practitioners, a Mentorship Program, which pairs students with physical therapists from the Medical Center and other affiliation sites in New York City, 2 full-time clinical rotations of 8 and 10 week duration and an 18-week internship as the culminating experience of the curriculum. Clinical education sites are located throughout the US, Australia and other countries and mirror today's practice environments.

The Columbia physical therapy educational experience goes beyond the classroom through a pursuit of interests outside the profession. Columbia students are members of an extensive and dynamic university community in a city that has a multitude of cultural and recreational activities.