Pre-PT Grind | Physical Therapy School Podcast · Pre-PT Grind

304. Pre-PT Inspire Series with Heriberto Torres

·33 min·2 clips

"You don't need to rehearse your passion. Just find out what your passion is and be true to it."

1. Pre-PT Grind Episode 304, part of the Pre-PT Inspire Series, follows recently accepted student Heriberto Torres through three GRE attempts and an acceptance from Texas Tech. 2. Host Dr. Joseph interviews Torres, who calls him "Dr. Joseph" and is addressed in return as "Dr. Torres" because he is about to start PT school. 3. The episode's core thesis is that struggles with standardized tests can be overcome, and that a clear reason for choosing PT sets applicants apart. 4. Torres traces his interest in PT to a high school sports injury, then to work as a physical therapy technician in an orthopedic setting, and names a goal of bringing cultural insight on the Hispanic community to the profession. 5. He scored 149 on his first GRE after skimming the resources, did worse on the second attempt, and says he texted Dr. Joseph feeling "completely devastated" before taking it a third time that summer. 6. His GRE advice is to "take away that pressure," start with 10 minutes, then 20, then 30, and analyze the structure of each word problem instead of memorizing practice-exam formats. 7. Torres learned of his acceptance through a Texas Tech email, opened the portal to red and black confetti and the word "congratulations," and told his family before they cut his father's birthday cake. 8. His application plan included building relationships with faculty early for letters of recommendation, five PT observation settings (hospitals, skilled nursing, and orthopedic clinics), and volunteering with the Special Olympics. 9. He says Texas Tech asked about a plan B, that he answered he had none, and that his essay line was "Physical therapy is not a choice, but a lifestyle." 10. Pre-PT students struggling with the GRE or unsure how to stand out will find this useful.

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