I am a rising senior in HS and I am having trouble finding schools that meet my criteria.
I would like to study physical therapy/kinesiology/exercise science & minor in business. I am also considering studying biology, but I would need to be able to access a few chemistry/physics classes as they are DPT prerequisite classes. I would also want the biology major to be relatively human-based. I am not interested in California or Washington state, and I would rather study on the east coast/south. I am only looking in the US.
My current GPA is a 3.81 (unweighted) and I am taking my SAT in August.
I have gotten a 4 on AP US History, and have taken the AP exams for Statistics & Biology. I will graduate with 7 AP exams.
I am also looking for:
Well rounded (not just strong in one department in case I decide to switch majors)
Strong alumni network
Activities to participate in besides parting (I do want to be able to party, but I don’t want to get bored within the first year-- activities on/off campus)
Greek Life (doesn’t have to be super prominent, just available and not lame)
Small classes (less than 30/40 even for intro to chemistry & physics classes)
I would also prefer a more liberal student body if possible.
Thank you for all of your help!
It’s in the Midwest, so not your preferred area, but you might take a look at Denison in Ohio, specifically it’s Health, Exercise and Sports Studies (HESS) major. Denison does not have a business department, but it does have the sciences, and it ticks a lot of your other boxes - well-rounded, strong alumni network, Greek life, sports, small classes, etc. My son is in the HESS program, and we looked at other schools with this type of major. My recollection is that most of the smaller LACs that offer this were on the West Coast, but just looking around on Niche, it seems that Wake Forest and Skidmore, among other East Coast/Southern schools have strong programs. Wake is bigger but would seem to check a number of your boxes.
Thank you so much! I have had an interview with Wake already. I do like that size of school and may consider schools with an even larger undergrad population, I am just worried about the class sizes. My mother is afraid that going to a small school may become boring. I am looking mostly at schools between 3,000 and 9,000. I did like Denison, but I feel like it may be too small.
UVM is good for “physical therapy/kinesiology/exercise science”, is only slightly over your preferred size, meets most of your criteria, and is in a very attractive small city. However, it fails big time in terms of the “south” criteria.
I am not sure if you are going to find classes no larger than 30 or 40 students unless you go with quite a small school.
Thanks! I have looked at UVM, but I am not sure I love it. Do you have any suggestions in NC, SC, TN, or VA? They do not have to be physical therapy focused schools. As long as they offer anatomy & physiology type classes & chem & physics I should be able to complete the prerequisite courses for DPT school. Do you know any strong biology programs that are more geared towards human biology rather than environmental science?
Hi @uniresearch3 you may want to consider TCU! We have all the departments you are considering. One of my good friends is on track to become a PT (the major is called Movement Science) and is has found it very enjoyable so far. Neeley School of business is very reputable and a minor is a great way to have the name without necessarily majoring in business or a related program (Finance, Accounting, etc). I’m not completely sure about the bio track, but it is a fairly common program. TCU has a core curriculum, so you could potentially take chem or physics to complete that requirement and DPT. As far as your other criteria I’ll address them in list form:
Well rounded: imo all of TCU’s colleges/departments are great with caring professors
Strong alumni network: Great recruiting in the DFW metroplex and through career fairs and centers, as well as athletics game-watching parties hosted nationwide; if I ever see someone with TCU clothing we always throw up a Go Frogs sign to one another
Activities to participate in besides partying: I am not a partier and there are many school sponsored events: athletics, free comedians or musical artists, numerous clubs, the local zoo bringing in sloths to see… just a taste
Greek Life: I am also not Greek, but TCU definitely has Greek life
Club/Intramural sports (preferably lacrosse & volleyball): Lacrosse is Club but actually recruited and very high level here, but there are many intramurals too such as volleyball
Small classes (less than 30/40 even for intro to chemistry & physics classes): Most classes are small but unfortunately I think the largest classes are intro Chem and Bio, although profs provide lots of office hours and intro Physics is kept small
I would also prefer a more liberal student body if possible: I think TCU is center, but left leaning? It’s obviously more progressive than the areas around it in TX, but since most college campuses lean left, I’d have a hard time comparing it to them since I haven’t experienced others. There are definitely political groups and clubs across the spectrum represented.
@SuperfrogFan Thank you so much! TCU sounds great! Do you know if they have an international move-in day or extra international support? I am a US citizen but have lived abroad for 16 years, so having an international community is relatively important. I really appreciate your help
Just by chance, I saw something about Ithaca College’s Physical Therapy program just after sending my earlier response - you can enter as a freshman and obtain a Ph.D. within six years. It’s not in the South, but it’s more the size you may be looking for, and Ithaca is a neat college town that it shares with Cornell.
@uniresearch3 Yes they do have an international orientation and frog camp session! In fact I attended those as a domestic applicant, but am so glad I did! Some of my best friends are international students, and I don’t know if I could have met them otherwise It’s always right before move in day so that everything can be done in one fell swoop without flying back and forth. Of course this year is different, but normally orientation is as it sounds and when you register for classes. Frog Camp is an unbelievably amazing experience all first year students are recommended to take advantage of- most are free if it occurs in state (which international always is). The facilitators and small groups really make you feel comfortable at college and connect you with others in the same stage of life.
There are cultural groups on campus, and also clubs/groups that meet specifically for international students to have a place, but also to meet US resident students. If you speak French, Spanish, or Mandarin there is a living community on campus for those speakers, Sophomore and above. Let me know if you’d like me to PM you if you have specific questions or there’s info I could share.
It’s always right before move in day so that everything can be done in one fell swoop without flying back and forth. Of course this year is different, but normally orientation is as it sounds and when you register for classes. Frog Camp is an unbelievably amazing experience all first year students are recommended to take advantage of- most are free if it occurs in state (which international always is). The facilitators and small groups really make you feel comfortable at college and connect you with others in the same stage of life.