| Problem. To date there are no standard sets of admission criteria/variables identifying an applicant's ability to succeed in an entry-level doctoral PT program. As physical therapy programs are moving rapidly toward the entry-level doctorate, it is imperative for admissions committee to be able to select applicants with the greatest potential to achieve academic success.;Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between physical therapy preadmission variables in a DPT program and academic success, as measured by the PTGPA in the basic sciences after the first professional year (1PY).;Methods. The sample consisted of 63 students from 3 consecutive physical therapy classes admitted to the entry-level Doctoral Program at Seton Hall University (SHU) from the Fall 2002 through Fall 2005. The following preadmission variables/criteria (independent variables) included: age on admission, gender, degree status, pre-cumulative GPA, and prerequisite course GPA. The preadmission factors were correlated with the dependent variable of PTGPA (1PY). In a second analysis, the resulting significant correlations (p < .05) were then entered into a forward multiple regression analysis, to determine the best predictors.;Results. Inferential statistics indicated that the pre-admission variable, pre-cumulative GPA correlates positively to the PTGPA (1PY) in the basic sciences (r=0.441, p<.01). This was based on the Spearman rho Correlation Coefficient. Results of multiple regression analysis noted that the predictors, pre-cumulative GPA and age, accounted for 16.7% and 3.9% respectively, of the total variance (20.6%) in PTGPA in the basic sciences after 1PY.;Conclusion. This study provided both descriptive, as well as quantitative data regarding admission variables/criteria essential for the selection process for the entry level DPT program at SHU. |
