any current Pacific U. OTD students?

[OTtoBe2013]

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I was recently accepted into Pacific's OTD program. Classes start in about a month and I am still weighing my options. I am wondering if there are any current students who could tell me more about the time commitment for first year students. Are students usually at lab for the entire time? How many hours do you find yourself on campus per week? How hard is the curriculum? How does the online class work? I am wondering if I can keep my current job and go to school at the same time. The program is so expensive and I love my job that I have now. I really want to be an OT but want a little debt as possible. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Futureotcb]

Hello, I just finished up my first year of OT school at Pacific University and I couldn't be more happy and grateful for this opportunity. There are quite a few students in my cohort who work, some two jobs and still seem to do fine. For your first semester, you will be in school Mon-Thur and have Fri off which is very helpful for catching up. My first year at Pacific was, well how can I put this, think of every emotion and that is what I felt. However, once you get passed the first semester, everything seems easier, or it could be once you get into it, you realize you will be OK. The faculty, director and staff are wonderful. They guide you through the process, step by step and are there to support you in your success. Your cohort becomes part of your family and you realize you are all a team that is working together to learn.
Your first semester will consist of a lot of cadaver lab time, which honestly, after you get used to it, is an amazing experience. You learn so much. The online class is simple and a great learning experience as it prepares you for summer classes as they are all online. You post a few things a week and develop an online portfolio which was very simple.
I am just finishing up summer classes and fieldwork and I can't believe I am done with my first year. If you choose to come to Pacific's OT program, you will get a lot out of it and I can say the first year has prepared me fully and I can only imagine how much more I will evolve during the next 20 months I have left.I will say that the debt scared me at first. Now that I know I will have a great job, I realize it is worth it as I will be able to pay it off. Congrats by the way on your acceptance, you should feel proud of yourself. 🙂
Good luck and I hope you follow all your dreams!
If you have any more questions, let me know.

 

[OTtoBe2013]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. It is so helpful! It sounds like I need to be prepared to spend the entire time dedicated to lab in lab-is this correct? And also that even though there is a specific time on the schedule for the online class, that the coursework can be done at any time. Is this also correct? It is also helpful to hear that summer classes are all done online. This is great news!! I plan to pitch the idea of working and going to school at the same time to my boss next week so I just need to know as much as I can before then.
Thank you again!

 

[Futureotcb]

Hello,
You do not need to spend the entire time in lab because within the class, there is designated cadaver lab time. It is up to you whether or not you need to go more then those times which I did, but honestly, not as much as I thought. I spent just a few extra days before tests but that is about it. Coursework can be done at any time for online classes but of course by due dates.

Summer online classes have been amazing, I am realizing I love them and I am learning an immense amount of information and how to manage and structure my time. Also, summer online classes includes 1 day a week at fieldwork, just so you know. 🙂

I think you should be fine if you were to work (maybe not full time) while you go to school. Like I said, it is an amazing experience of a lifetime, and it has been absolutely worth it for me. Of course, I will be honest and say I was not prepared for the first semester, but due to the support of my family, cohort and faculty, I did just fine. 🙂 And you will too if you decide to come here. Let me know if you have any more questions, I am happy to help!

 

[OTtoBe2013]

Thank you so much!! You have been so helpful. Now I am almost 100% sure that I will go. My current job allows for flexibility with time as long as I can complete all of my work on time. This information really helps me to get a better idea of what the first semester will look like so that I can pitch the idea to my current supervisor.

Thanks again!

 

[KristinaOT]

bump

 

[Futureotcb]

Hello KristinaOT,
First, congrats on your acceptance! And I can safely say NO you will not automatically get kicked out of the program if you get a C. The "whole" situation is taken into consideration. Obviously if you are continuously failing and showing no effort and no desire to ask for help, then I can only imagine something like that would be discussed.

However, if you are trying, which you will be if you care this much already 🙂 then you will be fine.
Remember, the faculty and your cohort are there to support you. Your advisor and the rest of the faculty including the director of the program are there to help guide you and be there as a support. They want you to succeed.

None of the students in my cohort have dropped out or been kicked out due to academic performance. A couple in my cohort and in the one before me have survived with having a new born baby and loss of a parent so I can assure you, that you will be ok. 🙂

I have to say my hardest class the first semester was the Applied Human Movement class (kinesiology). I am not sure if it has the same name but my class is the first they taught it since we are the first OTD cohort. It was difficult but with the resources provided including the computer 3D application of the human body to study off of as well as extra time to spend in the cadaver lab, I did amazing, and I can tell you I have never learned so much in my life. I am thankful for this experience as it has humbled me.

I hope my answer helps as I am being very honest. 🙂 Let me know if you have any questions and also remember that my cohort (2nd years) are there to help as well with whatever you need!

 

[OTtoBe01]

So yeah.....to anyone who may read this: Think long and hard before you try to work and go to school - especially during your first semester. I tried it and wish more than anything that I didn't. The first semester is very challenging- especially if you are like me and don't have a very strong background in kines OR neuro...

 

[lucys1024]

Thank you. SOme people are posting about how awful the program is and I am nervous bc I would love to stay in PDX with the support of my family.

 

[GradSchoolz]

🙂

 

[lucys1024]

I read a post but when I went to sign in- it was missing. But I do want to say that I read it and it is exactly what I was looking for. So thank you. Everyone speaks so highly of programs and sometimes you cannot really know a program without its faults. That said- the main reason I am worried about PAcific is because of how expensive it is. When I priced (without housing) it was more than USC, NYU, and Columbia. The 200,000 after housing and everything seems exactly right on, and it is worrysome-it will be considered in my pros and cons, if I get in. Thank you.