Transcript PTCAS Overview for Applicants - College of Arts and Sciences
PTCAS INFORMATION SESSION
2013-14 Admissions Cycle
Disclaimer
The slide show is intended to provide an overview of PTCAS and
NOT be a substitute for the full instructions.
You are responsible for reviewing and following all PTCAS and program-specific instructions.
What Is PTCAS?
The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) allows applicants to use one application and set of materials to apply to 166 PT programs.
PTCAS is a service of APTA and is administered by Liaison International in Watertown, MA.
2013-14 Application
The PTCAS application for the 2014 entering class will launch on JULY 2, 2013
Professional Behavior
PT applicants are expected to act
professionally
in all of their dealings with PTCAS and the physical therapist programs, and to properly follow instructions and meet deadlines.
Responsibility, respect, good judgment, and cooperation
are qualities valued by the PT profession. Applicants are expected to demonstrate these qualities beginning with the application process.
REQUIRED Materials
You must submit the items to PTCAS before your file will be processed
PTCAS Application
All Official U.S. Transcripts
Correct PTCAS Fee
Arrange for materials to arrive at PTCAS by the program’s deadline. Once “complete”, file will enter the queue for verification. Processing may take up to 4-5 weeks once your file is complete.
Other Materials Accepted by PTCAS
IF REQUIRED by PT program, submit items to PTCAS.
Submit Official GRE
®
Scores
• • •
Request Official GRE ® Scores from ETS ®
Use the correct GRE
®
code for each PT program, if required Many PT programs have a separate code from the university Login to check status of scores sent to PTCAS GRE codes • •
Enter Your GRE ® Scores on the PTCAS Application
Do not mix and match scores from different dates Enter any planned GRE
®
test dates
PTCAS Will NOT…
“verify” official scores against unofficial scores “hold” files for missing GRE
®
scores
Materials Sent Directly to Program
Supplemental Application
Supplemental Fee
Original Foreign Transcripts
Reapplying to PTCAS?
If an application was "mailed" to one+ PT programs in the last cycle, PTCAS can pull selected application data and materials forward into the next admissions cycle.
• • • • • •
PTCAS Will NOT Pull Forward…
References PT Observation Hours and Verification Forms Essays Payments PT Program Designations Responses to School-specific (Custom) Questions for PT Programs For more information, go to http://www.ptcas.org/Reapplicants/
Submit U.S. Transcripts to PTCAS
Enter ALL colleges & universities attended
• • 4-Year Institutions Community Colleges
Print PTCAS Transcript Matching Form for each
Registrar sends one official transcript to PTCAS
• Ask registrar to include PTCAS transcript matching form
Do NOT send student-issued transcripts to PTCAS
Do NOT request electronic transcripts.
Enter All U.S. Courses on Application
Use a personal copy of transcripts to complete section
Do NOT enter courses from memory
Enter all courses on US transcripts, including…
Credit earned due to AP/CLEP/IB exams Audited Deferred Institutional/Departmental Exam Incomplete Pass/Fail Withdrawn (WP or WF)
If significant errors, PTCAS will “undeliver” application
Academic Update (AU)
Enter updated summer & fall 2013 grades
Send updated 2013 transcripts to PTCAS as soon as available
Academic Update Dates:
• • • •
Dec 12, 2013 – Jan 15, 2014 – Feb 14, 2014 –
Feb 14, 2014 –
AU OPENS - No edits to coursework until AU opens to you. Priority deadline for updated transcripts to PTCAS. AU CLOSES - No edits to courses after this date. Final deadline to submit AU transcripts to PTCAS.
You can update your coursework only ONCE.
PTCAS will send updated courses & GPAs to programs.
2
nd
Set of Transcripts
If accepted to a PT program, submit official transcripts directly to institution before you enroll.
PTCAS cannot forward your transcripts to a PT program for this purpose.
Canadian Courses
Enter any Canadian courses on application
Determine program requirements for Canadian transcripts
PTCAS will NOT…
verify Canadian courses
include Canadian courses in GPAs
hold for missing Canadian transcripts
Foreign Transcript Evaluations
IF REQUIRED BY THE PT PROGRAM
Arrange for course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation to be sent to PTCAS BEGIN EARLY! It may take 4-6 weeks for agency to complete evaluation PT program may specify a particular agency If received, PTCAS mails copy to your designated program(s) Foreign evaluations are NOT required for “Study-abroad”
Some PT programs require ORIGINAL foreign transcripts to be sent directly to the institution .
References
Send up to 4 references to PTCAS
Electronic references preferred
Reference requirements vary by program
PTCAS will NOT hold files for missing references
PT program may not accept late references
Login to check reference status
PT Observation Hours
Enter your PT experiences on the application
Programs may require that a PT verify your hours PT hour requirements vary by program
Not all PT programs require PT experience or a signed form
PTCAS will not determine if you met requirements for PT program
PTCAS will not hold for…
missing PT signatures
missing PT observation hours
Updating Your PT Observation Hours
After you e-submit, you can…
add new PT experiences
request new PT signatures
make edits to in-progress / planned PT hours
NOT make edits to completed PT hours
NOT make edits to hours verified by a PT on a paper form
PTCAS Essay
“Describe your decision making process in choosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers.
”
Essay limited to 4500 characters with spaces (~1 page single spaced)
School-specific “Custom” Questions
If required, PTCAS will prompt you to respond.
You cannot submit PTCAS application until complete.
Programs can only view responses to their own items.
2013-14 PTCAS Application Fees
$135 base fee to apply to one program $40 incremental fee for each additional program FEE WAIVER is available for financially disadvantaged applicants
PTCAS Fee Waiver
Available for financially disadvantaged applicants
If approved, $135 base fee is waived
Pay $40 for each additional designation over one
U.S. citizens & permanent residents only
PTCAS fee waiver request form
Submit form and most recent tax return BEFORE you e submit your PTCAS application
Limited number of waivers available
Deadlines
•
APPLY EARLY
• Deadlines expire at 11:59 pm
EASTERN
time • Many programs have a rolling admissions process • Program may not consider late applications or materials • FIRM Deadline - You can NOT apply after the deadline • SOFT Deadline - You can apply after the deadline, but program will only consider you if space is still available in class
2013-14 Application Deadlines
Visit the PTCAS Directory for program-specific deadlines.
http://www.ptcas.org/ProgramPrereqs/ • October 1, 2013 • October 15, 2013 • November 1, 2013 • November 15, 2013 • December 2, 2013 • December 16, 2013 • January 15, 2014 • February 3, 2014 • February 17, 2014 • March 3, 2014 • March 17, 2014 • April 1, 2014 • April 15, 2014 • May 1, 2014 • May 15, 2014
Early Decision
Aug 15
– Early Decision Deadline for Applicants
Sep 24
– Deadline for Programs to Submit Decisions to PTCAS for ED Applicants Binding option for applicants Not all programs participate in Early Decision
If accepted
, applicant cannot apply to other PTCAS programs
If denied or moved to “general
” status, applicant can apply to other programs via PTCAS
Transcript Verification
Courses on application compared to U.S. transcripts
Transcript grading scheme verified
Staff corrects minor errors to course history
Application will be undelivered, if numerous errors
PTCAS GPA Calculation Rules
INCLUDED :
Repeated Courses
Failed Courses
Study Abroad EXCLUDED: Foreign Coursework AP/CLEP/IB Audit Deferred Inst/Dept Exam Incomplete Pass/Fail Withdrawn
PTCAS will email you when your GPAs are posted online
PTCAS GPAs
Overall Cumulative GPA Undergraduate Cumulative GPA Graduate GPA GPA for Each College / University Attended GPA by Academic Status
freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate, & post-BS Combined Science and Math GPA Science GPA
(no math)
Upper-Division GPA Course Subject GPAs Core PT Prerequisite GPA
PTCAS Customer Support
Customer Service Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (EASTERN Time)
PTCAS P.O. Box 9112 Watertown, MA 02471 617-612-2040 [email protected]
Login to your PTCAS application frequently to check the real-time status of your application and materials
Stay in Touch!
Check your email daily for important messages You will receive a confirmation for every document received.
Login to your PTCAS application frequently to Check for missed messages from PTCAS staff Check on the status of your materials Respond immediately to any requests
Important Dates for 2013-14
Jul 2
Jul 17
Aug 2
Aug 15
Sep 24
Dec 12
Jan 15
Feb 14
2013-14 Application Opens
Programs Can Access Applications 1 st Mailing
Early Decision Deadline for Applicants Decisions for ED Applicants Due to PTCAS Academic Update Opens Priority Deadline for Academic Update Academic Update Closes
Follow These Steps FIRST
Review
instructions
and PT program requirements. Create a new PTCAS application
account
. Complete “
Colleges and Universities
” section first.
PTCAS cannot post transcripts to your application until section is done.
transcript matching form
for each institution.
Request
official transcripts
to be sent to PTCAS.
Enter your college
courses.