Pathway to DPT
Is your goal to become a physical therapist?
We provide YOU with the tools such as thorough interactive courses, PTCAS guides, free resources, and 1-on-1 coaching calls for you to feel empowered, competitive, and confident when you apply to physical therapy school. Learn how you can take your next steps on your journey with Pathway to DPT!
Pathway to DPT's mission
3 pillars of success
Educate
Preparing to be a well-rounded applicant can be daunting, but we provide step-by-step instructions on what you need to stay ahead of your observation and volunteer hours.
Enrich
Take our advice and use it to the fullest. Create your own Pathway to DPT by finding your passions and your WHYs for physical therapy.
Empower
Confidence is KEY! We empower you to achieve your DPT goal by supporting you at every stage of the process. From years out from applying to applying right now, we have your back. With your hard work and our knowledge, you will feel fully confident submitting your PT school applications.
Your Pre-PT Guide and Coach
Rachael, PT, DPT
From observing over 1000 + hours of physical therapy in 5 different settings as pre-PT student to surviving DPT school during the height of the pandemic and now working as an acute care physical therapist, I have immersed myself in the profession over the past decade and learned what it takes to prepare oneself at each step along one's Pathway to DPT. For the past 4 years, I have mentored and guided over 100 students through applying to DPT programs with a high success rate in acceptances to multiple physical therapy programs across the nation.
Learn more about meRemember
Each of us has our own path to success and we are here to be your pre-PT guide and coach on YOUR own Pathway to DPT! We are here to help make your journey stress-free and eliminate all the organizational work when obtaining observation hours, letters of recommendation, and volunteer experiences!
Want to feel more confident when filling out your PTCAS?
Check out The PTCAS 101 Guide! It's our 26-page guide that walks you through the physical therapy application process with 10 pro tips, a detailed checklist of your to-do's to stay on top of your deadlines, and a FAQ section!
Interested in 1-on-1 coaching?
From essay feedback to mock interviews to mentor calls, we got you covered no matter what step you are at in your Pathway to DPT. Learn how we can fast track your success and make you feel confident in your pre-PT experiences and overall when applying to DPT programs!
PATHWAY TO DPT'S STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO...
"I highly recommend pre-PT students to use Pathway of DPT as a resource! In the two mock interview coaching calls I had with Rachael, she helped me prepare my thoughts and gain confidence with my answers. Rachael was very supportive throughout our talks and gave great suggestions to make my responses unique. As an international student, I encountered many difficulties preparing for PT school, and I was not confident with my accent during interviews. Rachael helped me connect my experiences and challenges in my PT school journey to my interview questions, and I got accepted by two schools thanks to Rachael's help!"
Grace D.
Pre-PT student from University of Pittsburgh
"I assure you, Pathway to DPT is a great resource for all aspiring students of physical therapy. Rachael has truly been a fundamental part of my journey that has led me to PT school. I first came across the Pathway to DPT page when Rachael was doing her webinar series. The “Why PT” webinar caught my interest and I decided to attend. It gave a great deal of information in regard to one’s purpose in any field, but specifically physical therapy. This webinar was the snowball effect that initiated the purpose behind my main essay on PTCAS. After I completed my main essay, I felt relatively confident. However, how confident can you be when you’re applying to physical therapy school for the first time ever and want to get accepted more than anything? I reached out to Rachael to embark on a one-on-one zoom session to discuss my essay. Rachael gave compliments and critiques that only made my paper stronger. There is nothing more nerve wracking than hitting the submit button, but it all feels worthwhile when a school invites you to an interview. I luckily am an active participant on the Pathway to DPT instagram page. Rachael was doing a free mock interview give away and I won! This was just days before my first interview with my dream school. The mock interview was a great experience and fantastic practice, so much so I decided to do another mock interview with Rachael. She did research on each school I was interviewing. This gave me an inside look on what the interview may look like. I was fortunate enough to get accepted into my top two DPT programs. Then came the challenging part of deciding which I would attend. Rachael volunteered her time to help me by talking through each option. Overall, Pathway to DPT has been a vital part of my journey to start PT and I am immensely grateful for all of Rachael’s help."
Emily P.
Pre-PT student from Shenandoah University
"Pathway to DPT was an extremely valuable resource for me while I applied to PT schools. I had a very unique path, and was uncertain how this would impact my applications. From the very first coaching call I had with Rachael, it was clear that she was very knowledgeable, and passionate about helping me. She helped me figure out the next steps I needed to take to be prepared for when applications opened. Rachael assisted with my main essay, which was a tremendous help to me and her advice made a big difference. I loved that Rachael gave suggestions for edits in the essay and then talked through them with me so that I could make my own decision on whether or not I wanted that particular edit to be included. I also decided to attend the “Why PT?” Web Series, and I’m very glad I did. Rachael had great suggestions to help me craft my own “Why PT?” as well as implement it into my essays. I am truly grateful to Rachael for all the help she has given me with my applications. I gained so much more confidence each time I talked with Rachael, and I am so glad I reached out to her during this process. I was accepted into my dream PT school, and I can’t thank Rachael enough for all the amazing resources and support she has provided."
Emma B.
Pre-PT student from Carroll University
"I cannot thank Rachael enough for being such an amazing and helpful coach throughout my entire PT school application journey. She helped me tremendously with my essays, which I believe were one of the factors of my application that enabled me to receive interview offers and acceptances to the programs. Rachael also helped me prepare for my interviews, giving me important tips and advices that boosted my confidence and prepared me well for the interview days. From the three DPT programs that I applied to, I can happily say that I got two interview offers and two acceptances so far. I definitely recommend Pathway to DPT to any pre-PT students willing to put in the work with an incredible coach and experience a successful journey."
Thatiana C.
Pre-PT student from University of Houston
"Pathway to DPT is an excellent resource for any pre-PT student. Rachael is really kind and genuinely cares about helping others achieve their dreams of being accepted to PT school. During our video calls Rachael helped ease my nerves about my upcoming interview by speaking with me about what to expect on the big day, asking me sample interview questions, and teaching me how to respond to questions in a way that truly reflected on my experience and passion for physical therapy. After working together I had a major boost in my confidence and felt well prepared for my DPT interview. I highly recommend working with Rachael and Pathway to DPT!"
Brianna P.
Pre-PT student from Texas State University
"Rachael helped me realize that I really need to dive deep and reflect on the value I gained from my experiences leading up to applying to PT school. I like how we discussed my responses to each question one-by-one so we could hammer down the fine details. Although this was a mock interview session, this realization will definitely transfer over to strengthening my PTCAS essay."
