How to Apply

The following coursework at the college level must be completed prior to matriculation:

• Biology (3–4 credits): one course of general or cellular biology with a lab
• Human Anatomy (3–4 credits): one course with a lab (Note: when anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined course, two semesters are necessary to meet the requirements)
• Human Physiology (3–4 credits): one course with lab. (Note: when anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined course, two semesters are necessary to meet the requirements)
• Chemistry (6–8 credits): two-semester course sequence with labs
• Physics (6–8 credits): two-semester course sequence with labs
• Statistics (3–4 credits): one course to include descriptive statistics, correlation, and introduction to inferential statistics or research design
• General Psychology or Developmental Psychology (3–4 credits): one course
• Exercise Physiology (3–4 credits): one course, lab not required 

We ask that you not have more than two outstanding prerequisite courses during the spring semester of the year you intend to enroll.

Courses taken to fulfill prerequisites must be completed with an overall prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher in order for the application to be considered. You may have courses still in progress during the application process, but all prerequisites must be completed by the start of the program. If you have questions about whether a course fulfills one of the above requirements, please contact the Physical Therapy program at pt@bu.edu.

Applicants should send all official transcripts directly to PTCAS (not Boston University) by following these instructions. We strongly encourage you to submit all transcripts in advance of the application deadline, as PTCAS requires several weeks to verify transcripts.

We require a formal course-by-course evaluation of all foreign transcripts by a third-party verification organization such as World Education Services (WES). Foreign transcript evaluations should be sent directly to PTCAS (not Boston University) by following these instructions.

All students admitted to the DPT program must complete a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution prior to matriculation.

GRE scores are not required to apply to the program. Any GRE scores received by the program will not be considered by the admissions committee.

For international students whose first language is not English, official TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic scores are required unless you have completed a baccalaureate degree at an institution where the primary language of instruction is English. TOEFL iBT scores should be submitted electronically to PTCAS. IELTS Academic scores should be requested from IELTS to be released to Boston University Graduate Programs.

The minimum TOEFL iBT score for this program is 100, and the minimum IELTS Academic score is 7.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. One letter must be from a course instructor or academic advisor. The other two letters can be from an academic, health care, or employer evaluator who can speak to your ability to be a health care provider and/or a successful graduate student.

Letters of recommendation must be submitted through PTCAS by following these instructions.

PTCAS requires all applicants to submit an essay that addresses the following prompt:

Every person has a background, an identity, interests, or talents which they feel their application would be incomplete without having mentioned. Describe the traits or experiences that make you unique and explain how they will help you be a successful physical therapist. (4500 character limit)

In addition, Boston University requires applicants to submit three (3) short-answer essays. Each essay should be limited to 1000 characters and submitted through the PTCAS application when prompted. All applicants are required to respond to the following essay prompt:

• Describe your specific reasons and motivations for attending Boston University to pursue your DPT degree.

Applicants must then select and respond to two of the following three essay prompts:

• The Boston University DPT program values empathy as an essential attribute for a physical therapist. Please describe a personal experience where an empathetic interaction led to a more beneficial outcome.
• The Boston University DPT program prepares students to be leaders in the physical therapy profession. Leadership can take many forms. Please describe a time when you demonstrated effective or ineffective leadership skills in a group, community, or family.
• The Boston University DPT program believes advocacy is an important role and responsibility of the physical therapist. Please describe a situation in which you spoke up even though it was difficult to do so.

Thirty (30) hours or more of health care experience. Letters of verification are not required.