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Physical Therapy Advantage

What are the benefits?

  • Earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy one year earlier than non Early Assurance program students.
  • Seamless transition into Wingate University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program without the stress of competing against other qualified DPT applicants.
  • Gain access to DPT students, faculty, and staff via the Pre-Physical Therapy student organization.
  • Receive individualized academic advising from a member of the undergraduate Exercise Science faculty.
  • Experience a dedicated Gateway class that will include leadership building opportunities.

To qualify for the Physical Therapy Early Assurance Program, candidates for the freshman-entry must meet the following criteria: 

  • Exercise Science major
  • An overall unweighted GPA of at least 3.4 or weighted GPA of at least 3.6.
  • High school science and math grades of 90 or higher.
  • SAT score of 1150 (can be waived if both weighted/unweighted GPA meet criteria) or ACT equivalent.

To continue progression in the Early Assurance Program students will complete the following after the Spring semester of their Sophomore year:

  • Interview with DPT faculty 
  • Complete a required essay
  • Provide proof of at least 20 experiential hours under the supervision of a physical therapist

If you have completed your first two years of undergraduate study, you can still apply to the Physical Therapy Early Acceptance Program if you meet the criteria below.

  • An overall GPA of 3.5.
  • No science and math grades below B.
  • No grade of D or F in any course.
  • Interview with DPT faculty 

  • Complete a required essay

  • Provide proof of at least 20 experiential hours under the supervision of a physical therapist

  • Favorable recommendation from Wingate's Exercise Science faculty.

The ExSci/DPT early assurance (EA) program seeks to attract exceptionally qualified high school students who want to focus on exercise science in their undergraduate studies with a planned path to pursue physical therapy in a graduate program. As an accelerated program, the rigor and pace of coursework is more intensive than a traditional four-year undergraduate experience. As such, we seek to attract highly motivated, driven and high performing students. We recognize that this caliber of students is the same who will likely take an accelerated path through high school and/or seek to transfer in credit to their undergraduate experience.

Review Transfer Credit Policy

To continue enrollment in the program and to be accepted to the professional phase of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, you must meet/maintain the following criteria: 

  • Maintain the overall GPA of 3.5 and science grade point average of 3.25 in the undergraduate Exercise Science phase.
  • Maintain all science and math grades at a B or better.
  • Perform a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer or paid experience with Physical Therapist supervision by the time you submit your PTCAS (centralized application service) application.
  • Apply to the program through PTCAS (centralized application service) during the third year of undergraduate studies.
  • Complete a criminal background check.

Use the button below to apply to Wingate and indicate your interest in the Physical Therapy Advantage Program by selecting selecting Exercise Science or Pre-Physical Therapy as your intended course of study.

apply

Explore the doctor of physical therapy program

LeAnn Domitrovits performs physical therapy on a classmate during clinicals.

"The experience in my undergraduate program of exercise science with a minor in biology gave me critical thinking skills, research experience, and the intensity needed to succeed in a graduate program. I have to thank my academic advisor, Dr. Debra Davis, for giving me the constant encouragement and push needed to make it to where I am now."


LEANN DOMITROVITS
EXERCISE SCIENCE, CLASS OF 2019
DPT, CLASS OF 2022

Questions?


Traci Napolitano
(704) 233-8179
t.napolitano@wingate.edu