Hey prospective and current OTs/OT students! I am brand new to SDN, but long time lurker, and I am so glad I found this forum! Everyone is so supportive and helpful of one another. Anyway, I am currently applying for this cycle (2018-2019) and I just want to post my stats/experiences to see how my chances are in getting interviews/admissions to OT schools. I know there are many other things that play a role such as interview performance, personal statements, LORs, etc.
Just a quick background: I was a nursing student until my 3rd year of undergrad. I was absolutely miserable during my clinical fieldwork, so my grades dropped off a little bit. (4 Bs in that semester). I was introduced to OT by my family and I decided to shadow one in a subacute rehab center and I LOVED it! So for the past 2 years, I have been trying extremely hard to boost my application because I knew the competitive nature of the application process!
Undergrad major: Biology with Physical education minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.31
OTCAS/Cumulative GPA: I dont know to be honest. It should be a little higher than 3.31 but I dont know how OTCAS works lol! All my classes (22 credits) not taken at my undergrad school is a GPA of 3.45.
Last 60 GPA: 3.65
Prereq GPA: 3.44-3.63 depending on school
GRE: 151 V ; 149 Q ; 4.0 AW (I can retake this, but not really sure at this point. Really don't want to spend any more $ because I am applying to 12 schools)
My biggest worry is my C in Anatomy&Physiology II. I retook A&P I and got an A. I mean I could retake A&PII next spring.
Work experience:
-Worked as an auditor/phone receiver at a home health care office ~500 hours
-Fitness personal trainer since April 2018; taught a strength training class and worked with a teenager who had a stroke as an infant
-Fitness desk attendant
-Academic tutor at my Undergraduate college for insignificant time (like a month); I spent a lot of time tutoring a student with learning disabilities
Observation (OT):
~185 hours total
-Pediatric Autism Rehab Center - 20 hours
-Private Outpatient Pediatric Clinic - 68 hours
-Subacute Inpatient Cardiac/Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center - 2 settings: 97 hours total
-I could probably add another setting (SNF, Hand therapy, or Home health) if I really wanted to. My parents and all my family are in the medical field so I have a lot of connections. If anyone is around the suburbs of Chicago, I can probably hook you up with a setting. My family is very good friends with the Therapist Coordinator and he is in charge of a lot of places.
Extracurriculars:
-Volunteered at the two pediatric clinics helping maintain equipment and joining to conduct social group classes.
-Lectured twice on campus fair: Alcohol & College; Effects of Sugar on the Body
Applying to:
A.T. Still (OTD & MSOT), Creighton University, Chatham University, Gwynedd Mercy, University of St. Augustine (St. Aug campus), Adventist University of HS, Nova Southeastern (Ft. Lauderdale), Lewis University, North Central College, Midwestern (IL), and Brenau U
I am willing to move anywhere, so I applied to a lot of schools out of state (I'm from Illinois), but if an IL school accepts me, it will probably be a priority.
To be honest, not really feeling optimistic about Rush because my GRE did not even make the cutoff (302) and it has a reputation of being hard to get into.
LORs: I think this is my strong suit. I very carefully picked who I wanted to write me a LOR based on our relationships and length we've known each other for.
-My most recent OT shadowed: When I asked her, she replied with "I was actually just about to write you one before you even asked!". I helped her tons because she was/is pregnant and could not do a lot of things anymore. I formed great bonds with the kiddos and their parents as well!
-My supervisor at the Park District I work as a personal trainer at: He can talk & talk & talk & we have a great relationship.
-My professor for 4 classes I took my last year of undergrad (2017-2018). She knows how badly I want to be an OT and I did really well in her classes! I visited her this summer in her office and we talked for hours.
I have finished my personal statement and I wrote it as personal and genuine as possible in a way that also reflects my attitude. I've had two of my cousins who are phenomenal writers proofread it and correct some grammatical errors and structural faults.
Now for the unpopular topic: I have heard on many accounts that being a male (especially minority race) has a big advantage in applications due to wanting to diversify the field. Is there ANY truth to this? I have heard this from my most recent OT I shadowed (she FIRMLY believed this), my friends who are in PT and OT schools, and many people in this forum. I am an Asian male (Filipino&Spaniard), fluent in the Filipino languages. Obviously, I am NEVER going to rely on what I was born as for applications. I never want to be known for getting in a competitive field just for being a man. I have tried so hard to strengthen my application with things that I can control. But what are your thoughts on this topic?
Just a quick background: I was a nursing student until my 3rd year of undergrad. I was absolutely miserable during my clinical fieldwork, so my grades dropped off a little bit. (4 Bs in that semester). I was introduced to OT by my family and I decided to shadow one in a subacute rehab center and I LOVED it! So for the past 2 years, I have been trying extremely hard to boost my application because I knew the competitive nature of the application process!
Undergrad major: Biology with Physical education minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.31
OTCAS/Cumulative GPA: I dont know to be honest. It should be a little higher than 3.31 but I dont know how OTCAS works lol! All my classes (22 credits) not taken at my undergrad school is a GPA of 3.45.
Last 60 GPA: 3.65
Prereq GPA: 3.44-3.63 depending on school
GRE: 151 V ; 149 Q ; 4.0 AW (I can retake this, but not really sure at this point. Really don't want to spend any more $ because I am applying to 12 schools)
My biggest worry is my C in Anatomy&Physiology II. I retook A&P I and got an A. I mean I could retake A&PII next spring.
Work experience:
-Worked as an auditor/phone receiver at a home health care office ~500 hours
-Fitness personal trainer since April 2018; taught a strength training class and worked with a teenager who had a stroke as an infant
-Fitness desk attendant
-Academic tutor at my Undergraduate college for insignificant time (like a month); I spent a lot of time tutoring a student with learning disabilities
Observation (OT):
~185 hours total
-Pediatric Autism Rehab Center - 20 hours
-Private Outpatient Pediatric Clinic - 68 hours
-Subacute Inpatient Cardiac/Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center - 2 settings: 97 hours total
-I could probably add another setting (SNF, Hand therapy, or Home health) if I really wanted to. My parents and all my family are in the medical field so I have a lot of connections. If anyone is around the suburbs of Chicago, I can probably hook you up with a setting. My family is very good friends with the Therapist Coordinator and he is in charge of a lot of places.
Extracurriculars:
-Volunteered at the two pediatric clinics helping maintain equipment and joining to conduct social group classes.
-Lectured twice on campus fair: Alcohol & College; Effects of Sugar on the Body
Applying to:
A.T. Still (OTD & MSOT), Creighton University, Chatham University, Gwynedd Mercy, University of St. Augustine (St. Aug campus), Adventist University of HS, Nova Southeastern (Ft. Lauderdale), Lewis University, North Central College, Midwestern (IL), and Brenau U
I am willing to move anywhere, so I applied to a lot of schools out of state (I'm from Illinois), but if an IL school accepts me, it will probably be a priority.
To be honest, not really feeling optimistic about Rush because my GRE did not even make the cutoff (302) and it has a reputation of being hard to get into.
LORs: I think this is my strong suit. I very carefully picked who I wanted to write me a LOR based on our relationships and length we've known each other for.
-My most recent OT shadowed: When I asked her, she replied with "I was actually just about to write you one before you even asked!". I helped her tons because she was/is pregnant and could not do a lot of things anymore. I formed great bonds with the kiddos and their parents as well!
-My supervisor at the Park District I work as a personal trainer at: He can talk & talk & talk & we have a great relationship.
-My professor for 4 classes I took my last year of undergrad (2017-2018). She knows how badly I want to be an OT and I did really well in her classes! I visited her this summer in her office and we talked for hours.
I have finished my personal statement and I wrote it as personal and genuine as possible in a way that also reflects my attitude. I've had two of my cousins who are phenomenal writers proofread it and correct some grammatical errors and structural faults.
Now for the unpopular topic: I have heard on many accounts that being a male (especially minority race) has a big advantage in applications due to wanting to diversify the field. Is there ANY truth to this? I have heard this from my most recent OT I shadowed (she FIRMLY believed this), my friends who are in PT and OT schools, and many people in this forum. I am an Asian male (Filipino&Spaniard), fluent in the Filipino languages. Obviously, I am NEVER going to rely on what I was born as for applications. I never want to be known for getting in a competitive field just for being a man. I have tried so hard to strengthen my application with things that I can control. But what are your thoughts on this topic?
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