CMU GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PHYSICAL THERAPY

ENTRY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

ADVISEE’S NAME: Mason Freehling DATE OF INTERVIEW:

ADVISOR/INTERVIEWER: Dr. Haines

1. ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF?

I am from Stevensville, MI which is in the southwest part of the state. I completed my undergraduate education at
CMU and lived in the HPRC my first two years on campus. I played hockey and football in high school and I still
occasionally play beer league hockey in Mount Pleasant. I decided to randomly room with other people in the
program and so far it seems to be working out very well.

2. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A PT? WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PROFESSION?

My junior year of high school my mother was pestering me to choose a career path and a college to attend. At this
point in time I also dislocated my left patella and tore much of the surrounding cartilage. Not as rough as an ACL
tear, but it still sidelined me for a decent amount of time. During this time, I became very close with my school’s
athletic trainer who also happened to be my PT. His attitude and the ambiance of the PT clinic seemed like
something I would enjoy. I knew I wanted to go to into the medical field because I wanted to do something where I
could see the direct impact of my skills having a positive influence on others. My time in therapy cemented the
idea that I wanted to also one day become a PT.

3. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS/HOPES FOR YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM?

In this program I hope to forge lasting personal and professional relationships with my classmates and be prepared
for almost any clinical situation when I graduate. I hope that the information I learn in the next few years is all
relevant and that I can retain most of the principles and ideas that it takes to become a PT. I want to be able to
utilize the knowledge and not just use it for a test and then forget about it.

4. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR PT PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION WILL BE THE SAME AS OR

DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCS?

I think it will be different learning in DPT school because of the closely-knit group that we will naturally have to
utilize. In undergrad I flew solo for much of the time and I think that will change rather soon. I also think the
material will all be relevant, and will all be beneficial in my upcoming profession. So, in short, I think it will be
different than undergrad, but not in a bad way.

5. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU LEARN BEST? WHAT FACILITATES YOUR LEARNING?
I feel as though I learn best through repetition and handwriting almost everything. The classes I have performed
best at in the past were ones where I rewrote and summarized my notes multiple times and spent several hours
every night multiple days or even weeks ahead of scheduled exams. Hardcopies seem to be what works best for me.

6. WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND INHIBITS OR CONSTRAINS YOUR LEARNING?

I feel as though what inhibits my learning is classes where much of the learning material is based online. I am also
an inhibitor of my own learning when I get into moods where I like to procrastinate. If I feel as though the material
is not relevant for me or if I do not find it interesting it is difficult for me to take it as seriously as I should.

7. WHAT STRENGTHS OR SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS DO YOU THINK YOU BRING TO THE PT

PROGRAM AND PROFESSION?

One thing I have always been adamant about is seeing my work have a positive impact on somebody else. In
undergrad, it was me raising my roommate’s grade for every anatomy test by guiding him through the material
while I retaught myself. In this cohort, I feel as though I can contribute my way of thinking to different situations
and receive and implement multiple sources of feedback.

8. WHAT AREAS WOULD YOU LIKE TO GROW OR IMPROVE IN DURING THE TIME YOU ARE
COMPLETING THE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM?

I need to refocus my study habits and reenergize them in a way that I can retain and utilize the information I am
looking at. I also would like to improve on my general professionalism. This would include mostly dress and
language for me. Not that I am unprofessional but speaking to some of my classmates it is clear some have a more
moderate approach to their verbal choices.

9. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SHORT-TERM (1-2 YEARS) PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
GOALS?

Some of my personal short-term goals are to get back into a better physical shape and develop myself as an
individual to a point where I do not necessarily have to rely on others to enhance my mood. Professionally I would
like to remain on the correct tract to becoming a PT and develop my professionalism and be able to understand
actions that are happening in the clinics, not just observe them.

10. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR LONG-TERM (3-6 YEARS) PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
GOALS?

It feels a little sappy to be typing it out, but for a personal goal in the next three to six years I would like to
have found the woman I am going to marry. I would like to be finished with school before I get into the legality of
marriage, but I would be content with being sure about that part of my life in the next 3-6 years. Professionally, I
would like to have decided where I want to work and at that point I hope I will have become the best aspiring PT
that I possibly could.