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All PTA Program applicants who meet entrance requirements are required to participate in a formal oral interview process. The interview is a panel interview with the Program’s Admissions Committee. The interview aims to evaluate the applicant’s affective skills, including communication, professionalism, and attitude. It will also assess the applicant’s knowledge of the profession. The intent is to improve student retention by admitting students who exhibit a good knowledge base of the profession and key characteristics vital to success in the field of physical therapy. All students will receive the same questions and will be scored based upon the content of their responses. Questions will include the following content:
- The applicant’s general knowledge of the profession of physical therapy including work settings, challenges of the profession, and role of the APTA.
- The applicant’s understanding of the roles of the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant and their professional relationships.
- The applicant’s rationale for the selection of physical therapy as their profession of choice.
- The applicant’s knowledge of the PTA Program’s curriculum and requirements associated with clinical and didactic experiences.
- Other areas related to the professional and to the applicant’s personal successes and challenges.
Applicants who are selected for the interview process should review information available in the Prospective Student Informational Packet available on the SABER College website www.sabercollege.edu and visit the American Physical Therapy Association’s website at wws.apta.org to learn more about the profession prior to the interview.
Grading Rubric for Oral Interview
Question 1: Professionalism
| Poor (0 Points) | Fair (1 Point) | Good (2 Points) |
| Unprofessional and inappropriate business attire.Use of improper social skills and body language
More than 15 minutes late
|
Professional attire but comes in jeans, sneakers, exercise clothes, etc.Use of good manners and body language
Less than 15 min late |
Professional attire including business dress, slacks, etc.Use of appropriate social skills and body language
|
Questions 2-10:
| Poor (0 Points) | Fair (1 Point) | Good (2 Points) |
| Unable to accurately answer questionsNervousness impedes answering questions
No eye contact Use of negative words to describe self and negative attitude towards experiences related to physical therapy Use of rude comments Answers demonstrate lack of commitment to program Answers do not support choice of profession |
Accurately answers questions but incompleteNervousness impedes answering questions completely and thoroughly
Decreased eye contact Long pauses when answering questions Short quick responses Answers demonstrate commitment to program and choice of profession |
Accurately answers questionsMaintains eye contact
Nervousness does not impede answering questions thoroughly and completely Use of details and supportive comments to answer questions Use of positive words to describe self and experiences Answers demonstrate commitment to program Answers support choice of profession |