<p>Agree with advice above.</p>
<p>It would help to know where you are in-state and any other parameters to keep in mind for suggesting where to visit. In CA, for example, I’d suggest you visit Cal Poly SLO and Long Beach, with both offer kinesiology — enough science requirements to be the entry way to PT or OT. I’d also look at USC which has an excellent research-oriented K program. </p>
<p>You could look at both university-based kinesiology programs, which tend to be smaller and more nurturing in atmosphere than the big all-encompassing Arts and Letters, or Letters-Science-Arts colleges at large universities. </p>
<p>You could also look for LACs that offer kinesiology (or LAC-like unis such as Rice). Some other LACs that offer kinesiology as a major are Occidental College (LA), Skidmore in NY, Colorado College. Look for those programs that make a point of guiding a student and helping them obtain clinical internships. Some offer courses that are explicitly pre-PT/OT and some have combined degree programs (see University of the Pacific). </p>
<p>For a h.s. sophomore, I’d also suggest just going to local PT businesses and ask if you can “shadow” for a day…hang out and watch how they work, what it’s like day to day to work in the profession. Some may offer student internships of some kind. Same with OT; if you know someone who would provide some mentorship, that would be ideal. </p>
<p>One quick way to look for what programs are offered by specific colleges is to go to the “College navigator” website. [College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics) </p>
<p>Type in the college name, then go to “programs” and look for kinesiology or exercise science…look to see if there’s also a graduate level PT or OT program, which would indicate they have research and other experiences to help guide UGs. The LACs that offer this major, while they don’t have grad programs, usually have partnerships with medical centers to provide students with research opportunities. </p>
<p>Happy searching!</p>