Undergraduate Pre-Physical Therapy Scholars Program
The Northwestern Undergraduate Pre-Physical Therapy Scholars Program (NUPPT-SP) is an early application program to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences at Feinberg School of Medicine. It’s designed for for high-achieving Northwestern University undergraduate students with a demonstrated commitment to a career as a physical therapist. Up to five students are admitted into the program each year.
NUPPT-SP offers:
- Early application (winter quarter of third undergraduate year) to enter the DPT program at the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences in the fall quarter after completion of undergraduate degree
- A wide range of pre-professional experiences at Feinberg School of Medicine, including research opportunities, classroom exposure and activities with faculty, alumni and current physical therapy students
- Encouragement and support for personal engagement in extra-academic exploration and activities
- Submission of only one physical therapy school application (to Northwestern)
Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must:
- Complete two years of undergraduate coursework in residence at Northwestern University with an overall and science GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Receive counseling from a pre-health adviser or Northwestern University college adviser at Health Professions Advising after completion of the second undergraduate year and prior to submitting an application to NUPPT-SP in the winter quarter of the third undergraduate year
- Demonstrate commitment to a career as a physical therapist in a sincere and convincing manner through application essay and participation in ongoing extra-academic clinical and research activities
- Complete several hours either observing, working or volunteering in a physical therapy setting
- Complete at least two of the three prerequisite course sequences listed below by the time of application, in residence at Northwestern University (if a student received AP credit for any of the required science sequences, it is strongly recommended that higher-level coursework in that content area be completed at Northwestern):
- Inorganic, Physical Chemistry: Three quarters or equivalent
- Physics: Three quarters or equivalent (calculus‐based physics is preferred)
- Biological Sciences: BIO 201, 202, 203
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following between Nov. 1st and April 1st of their third undergraduate year at Northwestern:
- A completed Application Form (PDF)
- Personal statement
- Official Northwestern University transcript
- Two recommendations: One from a physical therapist who has worked with the applicant and one from a Northwestern professor who has taught the applicant (NUPPT-SP Recommendation Form)
- A PT Experience Form (PDF) for each physical therapy experience completed
All applicants will receive notification of status during spring quarter.
Admitted applicants will be expected to:
- Sign a letter of intent to enroll and submit a tuition deposit
- Complete all outstanding DPT prerequisite courseworkprior to matriculation
- Complete necessary forms with the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service
Contact Us
NUPPT-SP program advising is available through your Northwestern college adviser and Health Professions Advising (847-467-4281 or premed-prehealth@northwestern.edu).