Abstract
Development of a diverse physical therapy workforce can contribute towards a goal of equity in healthcare access. This study reports on the outcomes of holistic review of socioeconomic disadvantage and language skills in fostering racial, economic and second-language diversity of accepted applicants in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The holistic review process at California State University, Sacramento weighted socioeconomic background characteristics (SBC) in the admissions rankings. Admissions data were analyzed to explore the relationships between SBC scores, self-identified race/ethnicity and acceptance into the DPT program. Total SBC scores were found to be statistically significantly associated with race/ethnicity, fluency in a second language and all socioeconomic variables (n = 858). White only applicant had statistically significant higher than average acceptance rates; and Asian American applicants showed lower acceptance rates. Admissions weighting of SBC factors may lead to increased linguistic, socioeconomic and racial diversity while not disadvantaging qualified applicants claiming “White only” racial identity.