Hello. Recently, I acquired a job at Publix, where there are many benefits and a good, above-average paycheck. However, I am currently signed up to begin college at a college about an hour away, but I would have no time for a job there and I am required to live there. Now, I am reconsidering staying local and maintaining my job. My future goal is to become a geriatric physical therapy doctor, but that is not set in stone. I know that the college I go to and GPA I get matters, but how much exactly? I live in Georgia, so any college recommendations will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time!
If it were me I would go to the four-year college that is an hour a way. This choice is based upon your ideal job being a geriatric psychical therapy doctor. In order to attain this job title, you must complete a four-year bachelor’s degree to enter a doctor of physical therapy program. While completing your undergraduate degree, you may have to take required prerequisite courses, such as biology, chemistry, physics, social science and statistics, to gain admittance to the graduate program. Once you get this over with you have to start working on doctor of physical therapy degree program in graduate school in order to attain your diploma for doctor of physical therapy. After this you will also have to do residency programs (most are paid) to prepare your for your job. In order to attain this job title you would need to do a lot of work in college and while you have a job at Publix and you can attain your local college (most likely two-year), it will mostly likely prolong, your stay in college. I know if would be tough to leave your job and live out there, but I am sure you can find a job out there. GPA matters in the sense that graduate schools may also require students to achieve a minimum grade point average to enter the doctor of physical therapy program, so take your GPA seriously. Although I don’t live in Georgia, some colleges I would recommend that are known and accredited for their geriatric physical therapy programs there are Emory University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, North Georgia College, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Health Sciences University, and Georgia State University.
Don’t delay college. Adults all know young people who never returned in their youth, only to be stuck without a career progression path since any promotion required a degree, and completing a degree 1 or 2 courses at a time while working full-time and raising a family is really hard.
However, talk to your manager. Explain you’ll be working through the summer and hope to return to work for them over the Winter Break and next summer too, if that’s possible. Ask if they have internships, etc. Demonstrate your interest for their company.
But don’t postpone college. 