What do we know about the PTCAS essay, or personal statement prompt, for the 2021-2022 application cycle?
At the moment, I assume the PTCAS prompt will remain the same as it was last year: “Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that “help” others, please go beyond your initial interaction or experience with physical therapy, and share the deeper story that has confirmed your decision to specifically pursue physical therapy as your career.”
Typically, PTCAS switches the prompt every two years and assuming they maintain this pattern, it should be the same again. We will know for sure on June 17 when PTCAS goes live for the upcoming cycle, although some years it leaks early.
June 17, 2021, is the application’s “soft” opening, meaning pre-PT’s can access and start their applications, but cannot submit them until the “hard” deadline of July 1, 2021 at the earliest. I don’t recommend rushing. I also advise not starting the application before June 17 as most of what you enter will be erased when the cycle turns over.
My assumption is that the COVID-19 question will also remain part of the application:
“If you feel as though your pathway to a physical therapist education program was educationally, personally, or professionally impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, please describe for your programs the impact you experienced. Some impacts you may want to consider when responding include:
- Educational: Did your institution move to requiring online or distance coursework? Were you able to effectively interact with your program faculty and professional staff and receive the support needed to succeed? Were you required to move to a Pass/Fail grading system? Did your GRE testing date get canceled or delayed?
- Personal: Did you unexpectedly have to change your living situation? Did you need to care for yourself or a loved one who was directly impacted? Did you seek out new volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis
- Professional: Did you have a change in employment status, a change in available shadowing experiences, or other professional or financial changes?”
Unlike last year, I recommend that everyone answer the question even if it is optional again. At this point, we are over a year into the pandemic and it has affected everyone in some way.
That said, do not be overly dramatic. I have edited essays of future physical therapists who lost parents, been laid off from jobs that plunged them into financial instability, or got very sick themselves. Saying you missed seeing your friends or noting that you had online classes is universal at this point. If those are the worst things that happened to you at this point, you need to acknowledge how fortunate you are.
Stay tuned as further PTCAS application information becomes available!