Looking to become a licensed PT after graduating college. I’m getting ready to start my freshman yr. of college and i was going to enter the Pre-Physical Therapy program at my college… what is the difference in Med School and PT school? Eventually my career goal is to become a PT or an Ortho Surgeon and I want to work with a college team… any suggestions/comments would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance!
#1 by Intersec on February 10, 2010 - 1:10 am
PT is an allied health career. Your college may only offer the prerequisites for a pt program. The degree will typically be a B.S.
This is your undergraduate degree. Med School is a graduate level program. Many people successfully use an undergraduate in an allied health field to apply for Med school (although most go the traditional route of a BS in biology or more rarely chemistry) I have even talked with some Dr.s that recommend getting a degree in business with taking the needed science courses. My opinion is that the allied health route (such as PT) offers advantages over biology. One if your plans change or you do not get in the first go around you have a readily available way to make your own way in the world. In many cases, allied health fields are in demand with some flexabilty in hours – good to earn money while in med school. Finally, working in allied health will enable you to make helpful connections, and give you insights into the realities of medicine you would not have had otherwise.
#2 by secret on February 10, 2010 - 1:49 am
If one of your choices is to become an ortho surgeon then it will be better to go into med school, also if you want to become a physical therapist then your med school training will benefit. You won’t be able to become a surgeon just with physical therapy training. Are there physical therapy schools? I thought it was just courses.