Frequently Asked Questions

The DPT program is 8 academic semesters for a total of 113 weeks. This includes 36 weeks of full-time clinical education experience.

The curriculum offers students the opportunity to tailor their education by choosing an advanced practice track—orthopedic, neurologic, or pediatric—and selecting electives that build both depth and breadth in clinical expertise.

Students benefit from access to a world-class medical library and a wide range of service-learning opportunities. The program also offers the unique opportunity to learn and collaborate with healthcare professionals at New York-Presbyterian: Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill Cornell. Columbia has hundreds of clinical partners in the US and beyond. The Clinical Education team uses individualized student-led methods for all full-time clinical placements.  

Columbia offers a rigorous yet supportive learning environment. We are a good match for students who have a strong academic foundation, solid work ethic, and are proactive learners. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to serving others both within the academic setting and the broader community. We value individuals who possess integrity, altruism, empathy, and respect.

Our program offers a variety of academic support services to promote student learning. All first-year students are invited to participate in a free Anatomy Boot Camp held virtually in the Summer prior to matriculation. During the academic semesters, many classes offer optional scheduled review sessions for lecture or lab content. All faculty/course instructors have office hours and are available for individual student meetings. Study buddy and peer tutoring services are available. Additional academic support includes the Program’s Learning Specialist, the VP&S Center for Education Research and Evaluation, Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and the Health Science Library.

Yes, scholarships are available based on both merit and financial need. Please see our Scholarships page for more details.

The DPT Program is housed on the 3rd floor of the Georgian Building, located at 617 West 168th Street in New York City. Lab-based courses (except Anatomy) are held here. Additional classes and labs are held in adjacent buildings that are an easy walk from the Georgian Building. The most common lecture spaces are in the Vagelos Physicians and Surgeons building, Hammer Sciences Center, 50 Haven, and the Vagelos Education Center (VEC). The Anatomy lab is held in the VEC. For more specific details, please see our Campus Map.

All first-year students are required to attend our on-campus Orientation Week, which is held for four days during the week prior to Labor Day (Monday-Thursday).  Orientation Week includes training sessions, campus tours, and plenty of opportunities for socialization and fun! Academic classes for all cohorts begin the Tuesday after Labor Day. For more details, please refer to our Academic Calendar .

Classes and labs are typically scheduled Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4-5 pm. A one-hour lunch period is reserved each day. Schedule variations may occur due to part time clinical experiences, field trips, or electives. 

With rare exceptions, all lectures and labs are in-person. Most lectures include the entire cohort, but some classes use a small group learning model. Labs are divided into two groups, with schedules varying based on your group assignment.

Scrubs are required for Anatomy Lab. Students typically wear comfortable or business-casual clothing to lectures. Most performance-based lab classes require students to wear comfortable athletic-type clothing and footwear. During clinical experiences, students are required to follow site dress codes, which may include either business-casual clothing or scrubs.

Various part time clinical exposure occurs throughout the program. Three full-time clinical education experiences occur during Fall II (8 weeks), Summer II (10 weeks), and Spring III (18 weeks).

Our firm application deadline is October 1st. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to allow for your application to be verified by PTCAS and considered for interview. Keep in mind it may take PTCAS 2-3 weeks to verify your application prior to our review. We cannot view your application until it is verified. Your application will be reviewed in the order it was received.

Yes, the Columbia DPT program uses rolling admissions. We will start making admission decisions after the first Interview Day in August. Decision information (accept, waitlist, reject) will be provided on a rolling basis.

Once your application has been verified and received by our Program, you will receive an email confirmation through PTCAS from the Admissions Team.

Yes, individual campus tours are available with our Student Ambassadors after a brief Zoom meeting with our Associate Director of Student Recruitment. To inquire about a tour, please email ptadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu.

Eligible applicants will be invited to a required on-campus interview. Our interview sessions run from August– October. Applicants should expect to spend a full day at Columbia University; breakfast and lunch are provided. You will attend informational sessions with the Program Director and the Co-Directors of Clinical Education, meet current DPT students, and take a campus tour. Each applicant will have an individual 30-minute interview with a current faculty member. 

It is highly recommended that a minimum of 14 of the 17 prerequisites for admission, including all coursework in the sciences, be completed by the October 1st application due date. Students on the quarter system must take a 3-part series or 3-part courses to fulfill requirements. Please note that AP and IB courses accepted by your University are not accepted as a replacement for our prerequisites.

Biology, Chemistry and Physics coursework must be completed within 10 years of application. Anatomy and Physiology must be completed within the past 5 years. Psychology, Social/Behavioral Sciences and Statistics courses do not have a required time limit. Please refer to our Prerequisite Checklist for more information.

Prospective students who repeat courses will have the initial grade for the course, and the repeat grade averaged to obtain a final course grade. To enhance the science grade point average, it is recommended that applicants continue to take additional courses, preferably in the upper divisional biological sciences, which is evaluated favorably by the admissions committee.

These courses cover a broad range of subjects that most institutions require as partial fulfillment of the baccalaureate degree. Courses may include, but are not limited to: anthropology, communication, ethics, humanities, literature, community health, criminal justice, cultural geography, ethnic studies, human sexuality, marriage/family, personal health, social science, social work, sociology, women’s studies, motor control, and motor learning.

This Instagram reel offers a great snapshot of a typical day as a DPT student, from early mornings to hands-on labs. Check it out here!

Students can participate in a variety of out of class activities including service opportunities, student clubs, and other social events. Click here for some recent events: Student Events - Fall | Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

We have 3 main program events on campus each year: Research Colloquium in the Fall, and White Coat and Graduation ceremonies in the Spring. In addition, the Program hosts an annual event at CSM each February.

The Columbia DPT Program values community and collaboration. All faculty have open-door policies and office hours to meet with students outside of class. Students are assigned both Academic and Clinical Education Advisors. Additional opportunities to engage with faculty include service, research, and teaching experiences. 

Students are also assigned peer mentors. Peer mentors are current DPT students in our program who guide, support, and encourage our new students as they enter the CU DPT community. All new students are assigned a peer mentor upon matriculation. 

To hear the perspectives of current DPT students about the Columbia community, click here.

Some of our students commute from nearby locations outside Manhattan including the Bronx, Queens, Northern New Jersey, Westchester County, and Long Island. Students use a variety of transportation methods including mass transit (bus, subway, LIRR, Metro-North) and car. Street parking and parking garages are available nearby. All students should factor in commute times to meet their responsibilities for classes, study time and group work. For more information, click here.

On-campus and off-campus housing options are available. Many DPT students often live together as roommates. Students have opportunities to connect prior to matriculation through social media platforms (GroupMe and Facebook) and our virtual Town Hall meetings. 

Yes, there is a gym located at 50 Haven Avenue. To learn about this and other nearby locations, click here.

While some students work later in the program, we strongly discourage students from working in the first year while they are transitioning into graduate level coursework.