What are the keys to enjoying your journey through graduate school and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program? Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) DPT interim chair and program director Dr. Steve Wilkinson and two current DPT students, Mackenzie Vineyard and Jasmine Serbas, share their DPT story and tips on how to survive and enjoy graduate school on the latest RMUpload podcast.
Here are five insights from their shared journeys.
School will be hard and challenging, but everyone is on the same team.
“Our students have to expect a lot of things. Hopefully, they will be challenged with rigorous coursework and welcomed with folks that really care about them and their success. I keep reminding them that we are on the same team, even if it might not feel like it sometimes. We do have a really great program, and great students and faculty. It’s hard work and when I interview students I always tell them that you are getting into something that is challenging but by the time they are finished they will be ready!” – Dr. Steve Wilkinson, Interim Chair and Program Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Focus on what is important during the process.
“For me, starting in undergrad…in that weird stage where you’re trying to figure out who you are, what you want to do, and just seeing where it’s taking you [can be overwhelming]. I think just taking [graduate school] one step at a time from the application process, looking into grad schools, [going to] interviews, etc… and then [once in grad school] focusing on time management, studying techniques, etc.” – Jasmine Serbas, DPT student
Remember why you are here.
“[Once you’re in a graduate program] it is different [than your undergraduate], we’re all really excited and we can all see the practical application for our patients and that is why we’re all here, for our patients, and to make our patients feel better and to give them the most independence that we can.” – Mackenzie Vineyard, DPT student
Make time to maintain important relationships.
“It is hard to be away from family, you have to be a lot more deliberate with your family time and making relationships with friends and family meaningful and make time for them.” – Jasmine Serbas, DPT student. “It’s been nice, with our cohort especially, because we have a lot of people from out of state, so a lot of us were able to bond over that. And everyone loves the outdoors and skiing, and we really motivate each other during the weekdays so that we work hard so we can blow off some steam during the weekends together.” – Mackenzie Vineyard, DPT student
Do something for YOU, every single day.
“Do something every single day that you’re excited about and makes you happy and excited and keeps you going. It is so important.” – Mackenzie Vineyard, DPT student
When tackling the rigors of graduate school, it’s easy to find yourself in a desperate hunt for things to help relieve the pressure and challenges that it can bring. Hopefully, these words of advice will help you along your PT journey.
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Listen to the full episode here.
