A Ten Year Comparison of Physical Therapy Programs in the State of North Carolina (2009)

Undergraduate: Brooke Swinson

Faculty Advisor: William Prentice
Department: Exercise & Sport Science

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Physical therapy is a high-demand, rapidly growing profession. With roots dating from the early 1900s, this field has experienced significant advancement. For example, educational requirements have shifted from certification, to BPT, to MPT, and finally DPT. The purpose of this study was to examine demographics of current PT students in North Carolina and compare these characteristics with students that participated in a similar study 10 years ago. Questionnaires and consent forms were sent to second-year PT students. The total number of subjects in this study was 89 with students representing UNC, ECU, Elon, Duke, and WCU. Results proved that 64% of PT students in the state were female. This parallels the female majority in 1998 (66.7%). GRE scores were as follows: verbal 516.25 ± 86.09, quantitative 624.90 ± 97.44 and writing 4.61 ± 0.80. Students’ average age was 26.16 ± 4.35 which was comparable to the average in 1998 (26.52 ± 3.91). Independent groups t-test indicated no significant difference between the two cohorts (t=0.661 ?= 0.509). A negative correlation (r = -0.235, ?= 0.05) existed between number of PT programs applied to and cumulative undergraduate GPA. As GPA increased, students applied to fewer PT schools. The most important factors attracting students to PT school were degree offered (53.93%) and cost (55.06%). Entrance into PT programs is competitive; these results offer a guide to suggested qualifications for admission into NC PT schools.