Applications

The UCSF/SFSU Graduate Program in Physical Therapy evaluates applications in multiple phases as part of our holistic admissions process. Both the PTCAS and UCSF supplemental applications must be submitted in order to be eligible for review by the admissions committee.

• Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS): You'll submit almost all of your application materials through this nation-wide application system. Be sure to select UCSF/SFSU as one of your school designations. Full instructions for submitting your PTCAS application can be found here.
• UCSF Supplemental Application: UCSF has a brief supplemental application which is required for your packet to be considered for admission.  You will receive instructions for completing the supplemental application after you submit the PTCAS application.

Admissions Process Timeline

Apply Early! It can take 4-5 weeks for PTCAS to process and verify your application, and we cannot review your application until it is verified.

• June 17, 2024: PTCAS and UCSF supplemental applications open
• September 1, 2024: All official transcripts should be submitted to PTCAS; complete "Institutions Attended" section first, add all courses exactly as they appear on your transcripts
• September 15, 2024: UCSF supplemental application fee waiver request/paying by check deadline; applicants are strongly encouraged to pay by credit card if possible. If paying by check, UCSF Graduate Division must confirm receipt of payment before you can submit your application. You may request a fee waiver for the supplemental application on the payment screen of the application.
• October 1, 2024: Deadline of 11:59pm, Eastern Time, for the PTCAS application
• October 1, 2024: Deadline of 11:59pm, Pacific Time, for the UCSF supplemental application 
• December 2024: Invitations for virtual interviews are sent
• January 2025: Virtual interviews take place
• January 2025: Final decisions and admissions offers sent

Communications

The program does not send application confirmation emails, but you can view your application status by logging in to your applications:

• Log in to PTCAS and select the "STATUS" option to check the real-time status of all application requirements. Your application must be verified by PTCAS to be reviewed. Please work directly with PTCAS if there are any delays.
• ​Log in to your UCSF supplemental application to confirm whether your application has been completed and submitted.

Once you apply, please check your email accounts and junk/spam mail folders daily. Messages may come from any of the following email addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Status

All applicants will be notified of their final application status as soon as decisions are finalized. We know this can be a stressful this time and we do everything we can to complete the process as quickly and efficiently as possible. Final application statuses are usually emailed within two weeks of Interview Weekend.

Accepted

• If you've been accepted, congratulations! Your offer letter will contain all necessary instructions for accepting or declining the offer.
• Please be sure to accept or decline our offer of admission by the date designated in the letter.
• A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot in the class.  

Wait List (Alternates)

• If you've been selected as an alternate, congratulations! Your notice will contain all necessary instructions for accepting or declining an alternate position.
• By accepting a place on the waiting list, you must complete any outstanding prerequisite requirements before the beginning of the program in early June. You must report any changes to your academic schedule for current and planned courses by emailing [email protected]
• We will contact you immediately if we are able to offer you a place in the entering class and the wait list will remain active until the first day of instruction. If you are not offered admission by this day, you will be notified by email. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict how many applicants will be offered admission from the waiting list and when these offers will be made.
• We encourage you to go ahead and complete the application process for financial aid if needed. The Student Financial Aid Office will award aid only to students who have been officially admitted to the program and have accepted their offer of admission but applying early will expedite the process. Note: financial aid is processed through UCSF only; do not apply for financial aid through SFSU.

Denied

• If you are not offered admission, we thank you for the time and effort you spent on applying to our program and we hope you will continue your pursuit of a career in physical therapy!
• Applicants may apply a maximum of three times to our program; however, we are not able to offer guidance/feedback on individual applications or interviews.