Questions to ask PT?!

[confetti&icecream]

Howdy!

Okay so I am taking a physical therapist I've been observing out to dinner tomorrow night to look over my application for schools. Then at the end I'll slide in the "do you mind writing a LOR for me." (I feel like I'm going on a date lol) I also plan to ask her questions about applying, her experience in school, and any other questions I have not had a chance to ask while being in the clinic. Do you guys have any questions that you think would be valuable to ask or would like to know the answer to?

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[ya1]

LOL. Never heard of an applicant taking a PT out to a dinner!

 

[stemaba]

I did this too with one of my PTs I shadowed! It was great to have her one-on-one to talk about so many topics. I hope the dinner went well for you!!!

 

[reems112]

I think this is wonderful as to how you are doing that. In one way you are expressing your gratitude and appreciation for shadowing underneath her so its great!

 

[Galain]

I know it's well past your dinner date and I hope they said yes, but I wanted to share some networking advice with you. Although I know you meant well, when you network avoid making an ask following an outing. It can sometimes re-frame your intent in a negative way especially since most people don't want to feel like they are being taken advantage of. As a professional you do not EVER want time spent outside the workplace with yourself to be associated with asking favors.

My recommendation for the future: Go to dinner without a plan to ask for any favors or needing anything from them. Do it because you're interested in a genuine professional relationship. If you have an extra ticket to a festival/concert/sport/event invite them out. Take the time to ensure all they have to do is show up and enjoy their time with you. You'll make a lifelong connection and if at some point down the road you need help, they'll be asking what they can do for you.

 

[confetti&icecream]

Update: Dinner went really well! It was a cool experience getting to hear about her experience in a clinic where they treated her really poorly and how she dealt with that. This was a conversation that we would not have been able to have in the clinic due and it was nice to not feel rushed telling each other stories. Also, I think it helped getting to share with her my purpose for pursuing physical therapy and gave her the opportunity to write a higher quality LOR on my behalf. I did this for two different physical therapist I observed and highly recommend taking them out to eat or out to coffee. They both were flattered and willing to revise my PTCAS essay.

 

[confetti&icecream]

I know it's well past your dinner date and I hope they said yes, but I wanted to share some networking advice with you. Although I know you meant well, when you network avoid making an ask following an outing. It can sometimes re-frame your intent in a negative way especially since most people don't want to feel like they are being taken advantage of. As a professional you do not EVER want time spent outside the workplace with yourself to be associated with asking favors.

My recommendation for the future: Go to dinner without a plan to ask for any favors or needing anything from them. Do it because you're interested in a genuine professional relationship. If you have an extra ticket to a festival/concert/sport/event invite them out. Take the time to ensure all they have to do is show up and enjoy their time with you. You'll make a lifelong connection and if at some point down the road you need help, they'll be asking what they can do for you.

Hey Galain,

That's a really good point. I really like that and think overall that would be more beneficial in the long run.