Starting in June 2026, there will be a new essay question in PTCAS. This personal statement is sent to each school applied to by the applicant. For the 2026-27 cycle, the new essay prompt is: “As a prospective Doctor of Physical Therapy, how do you see yourself having an impact on the profession upon entering the field? Consider areas such as practice, education, research, leadership, or community-based endeavors.“
If you’re reapplying, or started your application early, your biographic information, coursework, schools attended, official test scores, attached transcripts, observation hours, experiences, achievements, licenses and certifications will carry over between cycles. The coursework section in particular is very time consuming since you must enter every single college course and grade you’ve ever taken, in addition to having your transcripts sent over.
The following parts of the application won’t transfer from one cycle to the next: letters of reference, essays, payments, and program-specific information.
There are also certain things that cannot be changed after you’ve submitted PTCAS, while others can be changed or added. The essay cannot be changed once submitted.
If you’d like to work with me to brainstorm 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!