How to Apply

Applying for Admission

The BGSU DPT admissions cycle opens in the centralized application system portal in June each year.

BGSU's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program uses a hybrid admissions cycle.

The program reviews and extends priority action selection decisions in the fall of the preceding year of the cohort start for competitive applicants who submit by the priority deadline in October.  

Applications received after the priority deadline through the close of the admissions cycle in spring are reviewed within the general applicant pool on a continual basis until the class is filled.  Offers are extended from as early as December-April for each cohort beginning in the fall.

*Applying priority action does not obligate applicants to commit to BGSU. It is an opportunity for review and potential offer earlier than the general pool of applicants. Those who apply for a priority action decision but are not selected for early review may be deferred for consideration in spring with the general application pool.

Admissions and Application Procedures

BGSU DPT receives applications exclusively through the Physical Therapist Central Application Service (PTCAS), provided by the American Physical Therapy Association. Applicants are advised to review the application instructions on PTCAS. Bowling Green State University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program information can be found on the program’s PTCAS Directory page.

Applicants can also utilize the BGSU DPT PTCAS application guide for more instructions and information on using PTCAS.

Application Deadlines and Important Dates

• October 15 – Deadline to submit a PTCAS application for priority action review.
  • Priority Action Seat Deposits due January 16.
• Please refer to the PTCAS Directory page for the general application deadline.
  • All other Seat Deposits are due within 1-2 weeks of admissions offer date.
• Classes begin in the fall semester for each cohort.

Application Review

Eligible applications are reviewed holistically within a competitive applicant pool based on a combination of academic achievement and valued background experiences. More information about our evaluation criteria can be found on our BGSU DPT Admissions Selection Rubric.  The DPT admissions committee uses this evaluative process to ensure nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all applicants.

Qualified applicants are invited to participate in a virtual multi-stage interview. Those invited applicants are notified by email through PTCAS and given instructions regarding next steps. BGSU DPT applications are reviewed at both the program and Graduate College level.

Applicants are notified by email regarding final selection decisions.

Please email our admissions advisors at dpt-admissions@bgsu.edu for questions related to the application process.

Early Assurance

The BGSU School of Physical and Occupational Therapy partners with internal and external aligned undergraduate programs in exercise science, applied health science, psychology and gerontology to offer a limited number of early assurance selection decisions to qualified applicants.   

The Early Assurance (EA) Pathway

This pathway is intended for high-achieving juniors participating in partner program exercise science, applied health science, gerontology and psychology degree plans who meet elevated and accelerated entrance requirement criteria to secure their place early for the next eligible DPT or OTD class, ahead of the start of the general application cycle for each program.