Becoming Physiotherapist

[Flex]

great reply, thanks! I know exactly what you mean and that is what im worried about. I didnt get a UAI mark because i only did 8 units (hence the 4 subjects) and 10 units is required to be eligible for a UAI mark. I made a big mistake by doing this but back then I didnt know what I wanted to do.

Seeing my chances would be quite low (not very competitive) of getting in through what I have planned at the moment when i get the diploma, what else do you think I would be able to go for that will better my chances? I'm just trying to figure out the best way I can right now because im doing cert 4 in fitness at the moment and it's going to finish soon so I want to know where to go next. Thanks again

[Sonj]

Hi Flex.

I too am working towards trying to get into Uni to study Physiotherapy, albeit in Scotland so I don't know how things differ from where you are.

I will be applying as a mature student. Left school with very little qualifications years back now. Since then I have gained Higher Diploma's in Remedial Massage and Aromatherapy at Credit and Distinction level. I also have a few years of clinical working experience. I had wrongly assumed that this might be enough for a place at Uni, but no. I went to the open day at the University of my choice and was told that I didn't have enough science background and as it had been a few years since I had done any study of any kind, they would advice that I go back and get a couple of science qualifications at Higher level. This is what I am in the process of doing now, and have gained top marks in my subjects so far. Now, the Uni said, that with my Diploma's, clinical experience, and Higher Science subjects, it would only gaurantee me an interview and not a place. It's highly competitive. Also I was told that applicants who had not done any research and actually gone to visit a physiotherapy department for a look around and asked questions etc would be dismissed straight away. Don't know if that is true though.

My advice to you would be to contact the heads of the Physio departments of the Uni's you would wish to study at and let them advise you on which path to take. There would be nothing worse than say, spending another couple of years studying only to find you had taken the wrong path etc. Good luck.

[physiouk]

Gettin experience has a lot to do with getting a place at uni to do physiotherapy. I graduated last july but when I was applying in 2003 I know for a fact that universities took a lot more notice of your application if you had experience of shadowing in a physiotherapy dept. Try getting experience in different areas...most places are willing to at least give u a day where you can follow them around and have a look at what you are doing...also helps u realise whether its wot u really want to do. There is a lot more to physio than just the obvious sports phyio and outpatient that most of the public encounter....try and get into a hospital so you can also see the neuro and cardio side of it...its amazing how different it is when u look into it!!!

[alophysio]

Hi,

I agree with all of the above but if you want the fastest route into uni, i would go back and do year 12 again at TAFE.

It is actually illegal in australia to volunteer for unpaid work because people can be exploited. This tends to be for people who work on a "trial basis" for nothing. e.g. bar work on a friday night - there is one job but 4 people are there "on-trial". The thing is that probably every friday night they have 4 people "on-trial"!!!

But shadowing a physio dept is not like that. It would then have to depend on the physio dept head. Having said that, they would have to decide if they wanted someone hanging around. It can get pretty annoying to be honest. I have year 10 work experience kids at my practices and i will only take them for 1 or 2 days because they need to see hosital stuff and community stuff. Also, after a day, you have pretty much seen what a private practice physio does - only the patients and conditions change and they don't have enough knowledge to understand the differences.

Another alternative into the hospital system is to do your physio aide certificate from the Australian Physiotherapy Association. This will allow you to be actually employed at the hospital and so have a better chance at getting into physio. With you other qualifications, it will probably help get you a job in the hospital.

Lastly, physio school is HARD. Harder than year 12. That is why the mark is so high. It isn't just about the number of people who want to do physio, it is the level of knowledge required. The uni probably wants some sort of indication if you could cut the mustard.

What marks and subjects did you do?

I scraped into physio from year 12 with the following marks...

2 Unit Related English (highest 2 unit level) = 67/1000
2 Unit Maths (I did 3 unit but you have to do 2 tests) = 89/100
3 unit maths = 49/50
2 unit Physics = 83/100
2 unit Chemistry = 87/100
2 unit Computers = 93/100
1 unit General Studies (no longer offered) = 41/100
Average mark for best 10 units = 88.4%

TER/UAI = 96.7 - this is a rank of all the students in the year (everyone got one)...It means that i came in the top 3.3% of the state (out of about 50,000 students)

Physio entry mark in my year = 96.35

I hope that gives you any indication of the marks you will need in the subjects that you need. Physics and Chemistry are not pre-reqs but you don't want to have to do bridging courses as well. You will need both to cope with biomechanics, biochemistry and all the neuro stuff. And don't think that biology is a good substitute - it is not!

Put your head down, do your HSC again and aim to average 90 in every subject. It is the quickest way to make it back to uni.

BTW whoever let you do only 8 units was an idiot. Even if you only got a UAI of 60, you could have done nursing, topped the year with HDs and gone into physio via transfer. Also, you don't need to know what you are going to do when you grow up - God knows i don't know what i am going to do when I grow up!!

Good luck. HSC is easier than uni. HSC = 1 year, a bachelors in anything is at least 3 years. Do HSC while you still can.

Lastly, GET SOME GOOD ADVICE!!!!! Go talk to people who know, not your mates who are not in physio.

Good luck!

BTW - you can also go Full-Fee somewhere...

[physiobob]

great reply, thanks! I know exactly what you mean and that is what im worried about. I didnt get a UAI mark because i only did 8 units (hence the 4 subjects) and 10 units is required to be eligible for a UAI mark. I made a big mistake by doing this but back then I didnt know what I wanted to do.

Seeing my chances would be quite low (not very competitive) of getting in through what I have planned at the moment when i get the diploma, what else do you think I would be able to go for that will better my chances? I'm just trying to figure out the best way I can right now because im doing cert 4 in fitness at the moment and it's going to finish soon so I want to know where to go next. Thanks again

I would go back to tafe/tec and get the extra units you missed out on completing to allow admission to a university degree course. Maybe then you could get into Bachelor of medical science? Or start with a basic BSc degree and transfer into the other with good marks. This is possible even after first year. Thanks everyone for their support of this question, there are some good ideas floating around.

Also a degree in Human Movement like those that were/still are? provided in Woollongong in NSW are a great insight into the body and will set you up to become a great PT