PTCAS Personal Statement (Essay) Example

When most people start writing their PTCAS personal statement, they look for an example of the essay. Unfortunately, there are not many online, and I don’t share my clients’ work with anyone.

Luckily, someone in a forum I frequent posted her essay for other applicants to read. I haven’t worked with her and don’t know her, but she says she is a current PT student who used this essay to get in.

Although there are many different approaches you can take with the essay, this is one way to write it. Here are some of the things this personal statement does well:

1. It has an interesting opening. She begins right in the middle of the scene, and while the language it a little flowery for me, she explains everything well enough so that you can follow what’s going on.
2. It makes the applicant look good. The story is all about how she organized a fundraiser as a teenager. This is impressive and show her generosity, leadership skills, desire to help others, etc.
3. It’s unique. She doesn’t write about getting hurt playing a sport, attending PT as a patient, loving to exercise, or her shadowing hours. Instead, she writes about something meaningful to her that only she could write.
4. It’s on topic. She’s not discussing what got her interested in PT or how she knows that PT is right for her. She’s writing about the unique traits that will help her as a PT – just as the prompt asks.
5. It’s not directly about PT. The main story is not about PT. It allows us to learn about the writer and see what she is like. It only ties into PT at the end to answer the prompt about how the traits she has will help her in the field.

You can read this essay to see what makes a good one, but remember that it is just one example. There are many ways to write well for PTCAS, but it’s worth noting the things that make this essay a good one.

If you’d like to work with me to brainstorm your essay topic or edit your essay once it’s written, reach out, and if you need extra preparation, take a look at my PT school essay course! Good luck!