i want to become a physical therapist but

<p>hi! i'm a high school junior and i want to become a physical therapist and specialize in sport injuries. i dont want to be an athletic trainer (i mean PT's earn more money right). i just have a couple questions and it would be really nice if some people could help me out!!</p>

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<li><p>i'm not exactly sure what to major in, considering physical therapy is a grad school option, but i was thinking about kinesiology or exercise science. what should i major in and would it really matter? a pre-physical therapy program would be cool but i'm not looking for a 6 year program because that seems too stressful and i dont want to limit myself (especially since im considering minoring in graphic design or something else in the arts)</p></li>
<li><p>would my undergrad college choice affect my chances getting into the top PT grad schools (USC, Columbia etc)? because i'm considering going to college in canada (UBC). but if it's going to hurt my chances in getting accepted i'd rather not risk it. i know USC admissions for the PT grad degree is very competitive, considering it's the top PT school.</p></li>
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<p>thanks!!</p>

<p>bump!! please help</p>

<p>Hello! I am by no means an expert in this area. I have 3 family members working toward a PT degree or currently working in the field. It is an excellent career choice! There are wonderful opportunities and options for flexibility within the field. IMO, the 6 yr doctorate programs with direct enrollment are the way to go if your stats are strong and you can get in. Two programs that come to mind are Marquette University and Duquesne. Nothing against a fine arts minor but that is a passion you can pursue for your whole life, outside of your college coursework. Good luck to you!</p>

<p>hi 827129! </p>

<p>i was looking at the 6 year program at boston u but i know that its a very great but also stringent program with classes over the summer etc. i’m only considering the minor, but my main concern is that i wont like kinesiology/PT and i want to keep my options open. although my heart is almost 100% set on it now, i’m going to try and intern/volunteer with some PTs over the summer to get a feel for it, experience it for real. </p>

<p>i’m aiming for rice university for undergrad as of now, but i know how hard it is to get in there. thanks so much for your help!!</p>