When you apply to physical therapy school, you hope you’ll be accepted and fear rejection, but for many each cycle, there’s a third fate: the waitlist. Each year, future physical therapists on waitlists wonder what they can do to get accepted and start PT school.
Before I get into advice for getting off the waitlist, I want to explain how waitlists work. I’ll make up numbers based on conversations I’ve had with admissions committees.
Let’s say this year, 500 students apply to school X for a class that will have 60 spots. After reading the applications, this program does interviews and offers them to 150 students. Of these, 120 applicants are offered admission. Now there are several possibilities:
- 60 people decline + 60 accept, and the school has a perfect class of 60. Done!
- 55 students decline + 65 accept, and the school has a slightly larger than average class.
- 65 decline + 55 accept, and the school needs 5 more students. They turn to their waitlist!
As you can see, in two of these situations, there is no need to even consult the waitlist. However, most schools do not want to over-enroll and end up in the third situation, needing to consult their waitlist. CAPTE data shows that the average program must admit 107 students to fill just 44 spots. In other words, most schools are using their waitlists a lot!
Some schools rank applicants and others do not. Most don’t state specifically how they choose from amongst the waitlist.
So, what can you do to improve your odds?
The best thing is to send an email – sometimes called a letter of intent or letter of continued interest (LOCI) – to the school. PT schools do not want to waste time admitting students who are not interested in attending their program. By the time they’re turning to their waitlist, they have spots they want filled imminently. This letter solidifies your interest in the school and can acknowledge that you will enroll if accepted.
More schools are switching to making their deposits due January 15th, so often waitlist spots will not open until after this date, however, I’ve heard of students getting in off waitlists all the way up until a few days before the program begins classes.
The letter can be a great way to remind the program that you exist and why you’ll make a great PT student in their program. Hopefully, it makes you stand out enough that they’re willing to take a chance on you.
Who should you send it to? The program director, whoever is in charge of admissions or has been communicating with you about admissions, and whoever interviewed you, if applicable.
What should you include in the letter? I have a sample letter with guidance and suggestions attached available for purchase for just $10. Click here to purchase yours today!
Take it from an SPT in the class of 2026, “I got accepted to 6 out of the 7 universities I applied to including my top choice, Pitt, which I will be attending in the fall. I was first waitlisted, but sent a letter of intent and was accepted one week later. I used your website to write it and it clearly worked!”
Be patient. Sometimes schools have spots to fill at the last minute if someone drops out. I’ve heard of students getting accepted only a few days before the program starts. Sending an email can’t hurt!