Pre-PT Interview Stress: Part II

Critical feedback was painful in my first meeting with my interview coach. He counted each and every one of my um’s and ah’s, pauses, stutters, and bad answers. The was no sugar coating and ultimately, he told me I needed a lot of work. I took his advice to heart and practiced on my own time over the next couple of weeks. I interview myself in the bathroom mirror. When my follow up session I walked in and he was impressed with my appearance commenting that I even carried myself with more confidence. He as question after question with tough questions and I came right back at him. I had taken his tips to heart and refined my skills. I gave heartfelt answers about real life experiences. Not just your typical I had an injury and I did PT and it helped so now I want to be a PT. With personal experiences, I was able to win him over. After 30 minutes of tough to answer questions he announced to me that a grad school would be nuts not to take me. I walked out 2 inches taller that day. Shortly thereafter the invite came. I accepted the interview with excitement and let my interview coach know that I had received an interview. We met for one more short session just to fine tune and then off to Austin, Tx. With a fresh haircut, a pressed suit, and refined interview skills I was ready for the challenge. They called a group of 4 applicants into an interview and started asking questions. The interview went as smooth as butter. I felt confident I was doing well. After exiting the interview the other 3 applicants started asking me how I know what they were going to ask. I didn’t know what they were going to ask but came prepared. I just told them about my practice and preparations and all 3 of them praised me for knocking it out of the park. After going home, I knew I had done everything I could to get accepted. A couple of long weeks later anticipating the news I finally received a letter informing me I had been accepted into a DPT program.

If you are looking to prepare for an interview for a DPT or PTA program check out some of my previous post below.

Pre-PT Interview Stress: Part I 
Interview day 

Additional Interview Questions 

Interview Prep

If you are trying to get into PT school I would love to hear from you! Find me via:

Email: dalinhansen@gmail.com

Twitter: @DPT_USA

Facebook: Dalin Hansen 

If you are looking to take your interview skills to the next level contact me for a one on one interview with me for critiques and advice. Email me at dalinhansen@gmail.com

20 minute one on one interview session for $35 via Venmo

If you are not happy with the interview prep session just email me and I'll give you 100% refund.

Pre-PT Interview Stress: Part I

Applying to PT school = stress + research + essay writing + paperwork + pay money. Then repeat. It's expensive, it’s scary, it’s exhilarating. At the end of my under-grad I studied PTCAS constantly. I looked endlessly at programs, dates, requirements, matriculation rates. I calculated, hypothesized, theorized, wrote, studied, worried. The deadline arrived and I submitted loads of paperwork, essays, and application fees. And then I waited. Forever. And finally, I got invited to interview, all the way across the country at the University of New England. Unbelievable! Surely, an interview meant I would get accepted. Arriving in Portland, Maine with a crisp new haircut, and dry cleaned suit I felt cool and confident. When I arrived, I noticed everyone else also had a fresh haircut and dapper attire. But I had one thing nobody else did – a really great personality! As I started to chat with the other interviewees I soon realized they too seemed to be really good people persons. What was I going to do to stand out?  I reassured myself that I am a really good people person and I will knock this interview right out of the park. Only problem was my homerun hit felt more like a pop fly to center. From the start of the interview, I struggled.  My answers were choppy, cliché and full of um’s and ah’s. Nothing I said made me stand out from anybody else. Having looked over their website and reviewing the pros of their school I thought I was ready to go, but I wasn’t nearly enough prepared.

At the end, I had a doubtful feeling but tried to remain optimistic. Perhaps I did not do as poorly as I thought. In anticipation, I checked the mail daily and then it came, an envelope from UNE. I ripped the envelope open to read a letter. WAITLIST! Remaining optimistic I just knew I would get in. As time went on I ultimately ended up waitlisted at 3 schools and eventually, I was not accepted to any of them.

Obviously, I needed to improve as an applicant. So I took physics I again and got an A. I took more time researching programs that were a better fit for my stats. Lastly, I knew I needed to address my poor interviewing skills. Just being a people person didn’t equal a quality interview. I hired an interviewing coach. At our first meeting his first words were “I hate your shirt, there is not a chance I would accept you into my grad program.” Boom, it just got real, but that is exactly what I needed.

If you are trying to get into PT school I would love to help you! Find me via:

Email: dalinhansen@gmail.com

Twitter: @DPT_USA

Facebook: Dalin Hansen 

Also check out some of my other posts about my interview experience and advice. 

Interview day 

Additional Interview Questions 

Interview Prep