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The College of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Program considers for admission those students who possess the academic and professional promise necessary for development as competent, caring members of the healthcare community. To select these candidates, a competitive admissions framework has been established. Within this competitive admissions framework, multiple criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates from an applicant pool that exceeds the number of seats available.
The Midwestern University Physical Therapy Program uses the Centralized Application Service for Physical Therapy Schools (PTCAS) for students applying to the Program. All applicants to the Physical Therapy Program are required to submit their applications to PTCAS (http://www.ptcas.org) with all required materials by December 15, 2020. Please refer to the PTCAS website for instructions on submission of PTCAS application materials.
The Physical Therapy program operates on a rolling admissions basis in which completed applications are reviewed throughout the admissions cycle to determine applicant eligibility for interviews. Interviews are typically conducted during the winter and spring. Admission decisions are generally made within one month of the interview.
Students seeking admission to the Physical Therapy Program must submit the following documented evidence:
An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post-secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, 6 hours in non-remedial English composition, and 3 hours in speech/public speaking.
Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the U.S. or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:
International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.
For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.
International Applicant Packet
Science Courses | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
Biology with lab | 4 | 6 |
Human/Vertebrate Anatomy with lab | 3 | 4 |
Human/Vertebrate Physiology | 3 | 4 |
General Chemistry with lab | 4 | 6 |
General Physics with lab | 8 | 12 |
General Courses | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
Math ( college algebra or above) | 3 | 4 |
Statistics ( should include inferential statistics) | 3 | 4 |
English-- must include at least one composition course (oral communication/public speaking is recommended | 9 | 13 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences (at least one course in psychology) | 9 | 13 |
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the college.
Candidates must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but candidates should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.
Candidates are required to verify that they understand and are able to meet these Technical Standards at least 4 weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within 1 week of deposit). Candidates who may only meet Technical Standards with accommodation, must contact the Disability Services Office to make a formal request for accommodation. The Disability Committee, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.
Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Disability Services Office. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student’s ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College’s Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.
1. PTCAS Application
Applicants are required to submit their applications to PTCAS at http://www.ptcas.org by December 15, 2020. Please refer to the PTCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. The PTCAS application should be available for applicants beginning during the summer months. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their PTCAS application early in the cycle. Midwestern University operates on a rolling admissions basis where applications are reviewed throughout the admissions cycle.
2. Letters of Recommendation
Applicants are required to submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation from professionals to PTCAS (http://www.ptcas.org). The Office of Admissions will only accept letters of recommendation received directly from PTCAS. It is preferred that one letter is written by a science professor who has actually taught the student or a pre-health advisory committee. The second letter can be written by any one of the following: pre-health advisory committee, pre-health advisor, college professor, or healthcare professional (preferably a physical therapist) who knows the applicant well. The applicant should refer to the PTCAS application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation.
3. GRE Scores
Applicants are required to submit official GRE general test scores directly to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting scores is 1769. Only test scores earned during the previous five years (no earlier than January 1, 2016) and sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) will be accepted.
4. Completed Applications
The Office of Admissions will send letters verifying receipt of PTCAS applications with all required materials to all applicants who meet the minimum cumulative science GPA of 2.90 and overall GPA of 3.00. The letters will also include instructions on checking the status of the required application materials online. All applicants must also submit official GRE general test scores to Midwestern University to complete their applications. Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and ensuring the submission of all required documents. Only applicants who submit completed applications with all required application materials will be considered for potential entrance into the Program.
Please Note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All application withdrawal requests must be made in writing via e-mail, fax, or letter to:
Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
555 31st Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: 630/515-7200 or 800/458-6253
Fax: 630/971-6086
e-mail: admissil@midwestern.edu
When applicants are considered eligible for interviews after review of their completed admissions files, they are notified of available interview dates and invited by the Office of Admissions to schedule an on-campus interview.
A typical interview day involves participation in the following activities, which are coordinated by the Office of Admissions: an interview with at least one interviewer, lunch with current Midwestern University students, a campus tour, and an opportunity to meet with an admissions counselor and a representative from the financial aid office.
During interview sessions, the interviewer questions applicants about their academic, personal, and professional aspirations and preparedness for admission to the Program. The interviewer rates prospective students on a standardized evaluation form. These evaluations are included in the applicant files provided to the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee. The Physical Therapy Admissions Committee meets periodically to review the files of applicants who have been interviewed. The committee reviews the full application files for interviewed applicants and then formulates and submits recommendations to the Dean for final approval. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants in writing of admissions decisions.
The matriculation process begins after applicants receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process, applicants must:
Applicants who fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or who omit or falsify information required on official admission documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Any individual accepted for admission to the college/program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials receives no further notification from the college regarding the forfeiture of their seat.
The Physical Therapy Program does not allow transfer students.
Students who receive either a denial or an end-of-cycle letter may reapply for the following year's admissions cycle. Individuals contemplating reapplication should seek the advice of an admissions counselor, prior to reapplying.
To initiate the reapplication process, prospective students must complete and submit new applications and proceed through the standard application process.
The Physical Therapy Program has a dual acceptance agreement with the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, IN. Students may inquire about the agreement through the Office of Admissions at the University of Saint Francis or Midwestern University.