Hello all! I would much appreciate your personal input on my situation since you all know how exciting yet stressful this process can be. This is my second year applying to OT school, I was rejected last year. I applied all around the country this year with the eye opening experience last year of how competive getting into OT school really is. So far I have interviewed at 4 different schools (I have about 9 other schools I'm waiting to review my applicztion) and yesterday I received my first acceptance letter to a school on the east coast. Although I'm excited that I finally have an acceptance letter after putting so much work into this process, I woke up with a feeling of not knowing if I would truly be happy in that program because of how far away it is from home (I am from Colorado). The school is in a very rural town, and the east coast would be a lifestyle change compared to what I grew up with. When I was at the interview, I felt like a complete oddball at the school because everyone was from the east coast, I wasn't in love with the area at all. Although the program seems to be excellent, I'm concerned if I would truly be happy there and was wondering if anyone could give me input on what they think is the importance of the Area/location of the school is. This program is a doctorate program so I would be there for three years. Of course I am also waiting to hear back from all the other schools I've applied to; but I'm concerned if I would truly be happy at this school/area if it is the only one I get into. Part of me feels like an idiot for being so picky about location because of how competitive schools are.
Program-Specific Info / Q's Accepting an Offer Input Needed
- Thread starter OTgirl29
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Once you move out there and make friends, I have a feeling you will end up liking it! I know it can be hard to be away from family, but three years is not that long, and I bet you'll fit in better than you expect. Also, rural life can be surprisingly fun. You just need someone from the area to show you what people do in their free time out there. If you get into more places, then definitely go wherever you feel happiest. But if you don't, just trust that it will be great when you get there, and take a leap of faith! I've found that location is not as big of a deal as it seems. Good luck!
If you can afford it, leave home and expand your horizons. As a practitioner, you are going to be exposed to lots and lots of people who do not look and think and talk and believe as you do, and appreciation of cultural differences, even if it's simply the difference of rural versus urban, is going to make you more equipped to handle the needs of your clients. (How rural are we talking, btw? Where were you accepted, if you don't mind sharing?)
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I think it's good to live in different places to learn what you like. Grad school is a great time to do it since it is short term. And if you find you prefer Colorado, you'll be able to return after you graduate with even more appreciation.
Also, your school will likely give you the option for where you would like to do your level I and II fieldwork, so you could choose to go back home for those.
Also, your school will likely give you the option for where you would like to do your level I and II fieldwork, so you could choose to go back home for those.
Yup - I had a few classmates who did at least the last, if not both of their Level IIs back in their home state. Most schools are fine with this, but just know (to the OP) that you will have to actively scout places for you to go, to help the fieldwork coordinator. That seems to be the unspoken rule that if you want to do fieldwork in a different state, they aren't going to do all of the legwork for you, like with the other students who are staying locally.
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So I just got into a school far away, but not as far as you.
It's a bit scary, but I don't count time spent in fieldwork as time there, and when you consider we can do our level II and doctoral internship away, it's really not bad.
This is a great chance to step out of comfort zones a little, and maybe the only chance we'll have. Given the close environment, we'll make plenty of friends.
I'm sure you'll get in somewhere, but the east coast is great! You won't want to go back if you're close enough to nice beaches. 😉
It's a bit scary, but I don't count time spent in fieldwork as time there, and when you consider we can do our level II and doctoral internship away, it's really not bad.
This is a great chance to step out of comfort zones a little, and maybe the only chance we'll have. Given the close environment, we'll make plenty of friends.
I'm sure you'll get in somewhere, but the east coast is great! You won't want to go back if you're close enough to nice beaches. 😉
