Physical Therapy Early Assurance Pathway

Eligibility

1. Prerequisites

   • Complete or be in process of completing no less than 3 semesters of full-time academic study at UMU in a degree granting Bachelor of Arts or Science program of study.
   • Maintain enrollment at UMU throughout the application process.
   • Possess a minimum overall/cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 for all post-secondary coursework, to include 24 completed hours in the following areas: Psychology, Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, and/or Anatomy and Physiology, labs preferred where applicable.
2. Application Process

   
   1. Apply to the DPT Early Assurance Reserve List
   

   The Mount Union Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) offers Early Assurance for up to 8 seats for currently enrolled undergraduate students at the University of Mount Union. Interested candidates must apply using the Mount Union DPT Early Assurance Application. Applicants are invited to apply in the fall semester if they are in the process of completing or have already completed at least three semesters of full-time coursework at Mount Union. Applicants must complete the entire application and submit all required credentials by December 1.

   Interviews will be granted by invitation only following the application review. In-person Early Assurance interviews will be conducted in the spring or summer semester. A successful in-person interview at Mount Union is required prior to an official offer of Early Assurance.

   Selection into the Early Assurance Pathway is done via an annual selective process. Early Assurance offers will typically be made in April with a student response due in early May. Acceptance into the DPT Early Assurance Pathway is an earned privilege for the opportunity to secure a seat in the DPT program and not a right to matriculate into it.

   Candidates who are not offered an Early Assurance reservation are eligible to apply through the typical application process. DPT applications are due October 15 prior to the following end of August start of the program.
   
   

   2. Apply to the DPT Program Via PTCAS

   Students who have been accepted to the DPT Early Assurance Reserve list will need to apply through the standard PT application via PTCAS to officially obtain their seat in the program. Applications must be submitted by October 15 prior to the following end of August start of the program.

   Students must complete the following: 

   • Successfully complete all prerequisite coursework for DPT program admissions with a grade of C or better. Applicants may have 1-3 courses pending at the time of application to the Mount Union PT Program.
   • Complete all DPT admissions criteria (includes minimum GPA requirements for overall and pre-requisite courses, 40 hours of PT shadowing/observation hours, 3 letters of recommendation, and a writing sample).

    

   Grade point average (GPA) data used for admission decisions will reflect applicable coursework available in October in PTCAS (prior to matriculation in May). Early Assurance students should successfully maintain competitive cumulative and science GPAs throughout their college career.

   • Maintain an annual meeting with a PT faculty member (mentor/advisor) with a positive performance review. Candidates will not typically need to complete a PT program interview during the admission cycle as the earlier in-person interview and subsequent annual meetings take the place of the traditional interview that follows completion of their PTCAS application. Exceptions to this will be based on Admission’s committee recommendations due to identified concerns.
   • Apply to the Mount Union PT Program through PTCAS by October 15. Students must follow all PTCAS application procedures and deadlines in order to have a completed application. As with all candidates for this program, it is solely the student’s responsibility to meet all admission requirements and deadlines. Acceptance into the DPT Early Assurance Pathway is an earned privilege for the opportunity to secure a seat in the DPT program and not a right to matriculate into it.
   • Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from the University of Mount Union.

    

   NOTE: Early Assurance students who do not meet their matriculation admission requirements in the October PTCAS review may be eligible to have a second review of their application credentials in December by the Mount Union DPT Admissions Committee. All December review admission decisions are final for the current admission cycle and candidates that do not meet admission standards at that time will be denied admission for that admission cycle. Denied candidates shall not be reviewed again for that cycle but can apply through the normal process for the next admission cycle.