Redefining Academic Success: Exploring Recent Graduates’ Experiences of the First Year of a Physical Therapist Program

• In Event: 28.090 - MTCC Roundtable Session Nine
  In Roundtable Session: 28.090-5 - Career Trajectories in the Professions

Abstract

Increased rigor of physical therapist curricula and growing diverse student populations have raised concerns for success and retention of all students. While physical therapist education program (PTEP) often admit highly qualified applicants, 5-35% of students will likely experience departure in the early year of studies. Despite the growing research in doctoral student development and outcomes, academic success in physical therapist education has been defined to measurable cognitive factors. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to explore how recent graduates experience the first year of PTEP and how these experiences contributed to academic success and persistence. Results indicated the first year consisted of navigating an unfamiliar professional education setting to achieve academic success defined by personal, academic, and professional growth.

Author

• Thuha Hoang, Louisiana State University - Health Sciences Center New Orleans