Mistakes to Avoid in Your PT Personal Statement

Note: This was post written for a previous application cycle. As of June 15, 2023, there is a new PTCAS essay prompt.

I’ve written a few posts about common mistakes I’ve seen people make when writing their PTCAS application essays, including not explaining what first got them interested in physical therapy or focusing too much on what got them into PT .

Lately, I’ve noticed two more missteps in the way many pre-PTs are telling the stories of the patients who inspired them and form the basis of their personal statements.

1. Not explaining your patient’s story. I almost always recommend telling a story of a patient who inspired you as you answer the prompt regarding what has confirmed PT for you. But you can’t tell a story just to tell a story. You have to explain why the patient is significant to you. Tell us what about them helped you know why you were meant to be a PT. And if you interacted with them in a meaningful way, even if it was just talking to them, tell us about it! This is the only way to fully answer the prompt and give the story you’re telling some context.
2. Not relating the story back to PT. I read a lot of stories from future physical therapists who did great things as PT aides or observers. They helped give someone a word of encouragement or directed a lost patient to the right department. Sometimes they formed a really unique bond with a patient with whom they have a shared language or hobby. But these stories often have nothing to do with PT. If you felt so much accomplishment as a tech doing something a tech is already able to do, why are you about to spend three’ish years and thousands of dollars on physical therapy school? There needs to be something in your story that relates to why you want to be a PT, which is likely a realization that you want to help them in a way that only a PT can. You need to add this to truly answer the question of why you want to be a PT.

So, as you write about the most memorable patient you’ve had, explain why you’re choosing that person’s story to share and make sure it relates back to PT.