Professional Program Admission Criteria  ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GVSU ADMISSIONS OFFICE BY OCTOBER 15, ten months prior to the start of the program.  GVSU's Clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy does not participate in PTCAS.  Students apply directly to the Graduate Programs - Admissions Office.

Admission to the physical therapy program is competitive with a class of 44 students admitted annually. Students are accepted for fall entrance (late August) and will be informed of the Admission Committee's decision by January of the year of admission. 

 The criteria for admission consideration include:  

1. Completion of Bachelors degree and Prerequisite (pre-professional) coursework.  All prerequisites must be taken for letter grades.  The prerequisites and undergraduate degree must be completed by the first day of classes of the professional program.  Students in process of completing these must submit a written plan outlining courses and degree completion (include course name, number, credit hours, semester and university.

2. Completion of the GVSU's Graduate Application. 

3. Academic achievement.  Official transcripts from ALL community colleges, four-year colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education . Students must have a minimum average G.P.A. of 3.0 in pre-professional program course requirements, and a 3.0 overall to be considered for admission. 

4. Graduate Records Exam (GRE / GVSU school code #1258). The GRE score from the general test and writing test must be submitted prior to the application deadline. No subject tests are required.

5.  On-site interview and essay writing.  Communication and interpersonal skills are important components of the application process.  Students who meet select admission criteria will be invited to the interview process.  Practice interviews for GVSU student and alumni are available by contacting Career Services.

6. Recommendations.  Two recommendations must be submitted on PT Recommendation forms available through the university - - separate letters from references are NOT required. Only TWO references are required.  One must be from a licensed physical therapist.

7. Observational experience.  A minimum of 50 hours of observational experience in physical therapy (2 or more settings) is required.  The experience may be on a volunteer or paid basis.  This information must be recorded on the PT Abbreviated Resume form available online or through the university.  Examples of clinical settings include in-patient, out-patient, extended care and school. Students are not required to submit documentation from their respective observational experiences.

8. Additional activities.  Additional educational, professional, leadership, scholarly and volunteer activities are valued and must be documented on the PT Abbreviated Resume form.

9. Technical standards.  Individuals must be able to perform all technical standards of the physical therapy program.

10. International student applicants - Students should be able to communicate well in English. The following minimal scores are expected: TOEFL 610 or computer-based TOEFL 253.

Please note: The DPT program no longer requires an essay to be submitted as part of the initial admissions process.

ALL application materials must be submitted to the GVSU Admissions Office no later than October 15.  Applications that arrive AFTER October 15 will not be reviewed or considered for admission.  It is the student's responsibility to contact GVSU's Admissions Office at 616-331-2025 to confirm that all application materials have been submitted.

ALL application materials must be submitted to:

Admissions Office

Grand Valley State University

1 Campus Drive

Allendale, MI  49401-9403

07/09