General Admissions & OTCAS Applying next cycle, what can I work on?

[mcatcar]

Hi all! I'm working on getting ready to apply next July (2017). I will be graduating in December 2017 so I'll have a semester off to work and whatnot before hopefully starting an OTD program! I don't want to be one of those 'chance me' posts, but I would really like to know what you all think I can improve upon especially considering the schools I plan to apply to.


GPA- Currentl 3.411 after this semester 3.49
Pre-req GPA- Around a 3.8-3.9 depending on certain school's pre-reqs
GRE- taking it in June, I'm starting the 6month Magoosh study prep in December
Major: Psychology
Minor: Public Health

Work:
- Direct Support Professional for an individual with Autism/ADHD- 1 year and continuing
- Peer Mentor (same as above but in an academic setting) 1 year and continuing
- School of Social Work Student Assistant- 1.5 years

Research
- Starting a research assistantship at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital next semester working on integrating primary and mental healthcare

Experience
- A program working with students and families with Autism on their physical fitness and skills (1 year and continuing)
- Volunteering with a 15 yr old with Autism
- Tutoring children of refugees - 1 year

Involvement
- Sorority Philanthropy Coordinator
- Dean's Team (welcomes freshman, helps with prospective student days)
- Peer Mentor to a group of 15 freshman (included with Dean's Team)
- Syracuse Students Teaching Healthy Habits (we go into city schools once a semester to teach healthy habits and behaviors)
- Creator of a feminism instagram project

Awards
- Strive for Pi (above 3.14 GPA) 3 semesters
- Dean's List Spring 2016 and will be Fall 2016
- Sorority Honor Society

Job Shadowing
- 30 hours in an outpatient rehab setting
- 20 hours at a private outpatient clinic
- 20 hours and continuing in an elementary school
- 15 hours and continuing with a hand specialist

I will be doing hours with the hand specialist in inpatient hospital setting over Christmas break.

Schools I will be applying to (as of now, it changes all the time and I will most likely narrow this down because $$)
OTD
- WUSTL (dream school)
- Boston University (dream school)
- Creighton (also in top 3)
- Ohio State
- Virginia Commonwealth
- Huntington
- Toledo (maybe)

Masters
- Ithaca College
- Looking to add one more

Any recommendations for what to continue working on??

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[Bokonomy]

Hi all! I'm working on getting ready to apply next July (2017). I will be graduating in December 2017 so I'll have a semester off to work and whatnot before hopefully starting an OTD program! I don't want to be one of those 'chance me' posts, but I would really like to know what you all think I can improve upon especially considering the schools I plan to apply to.


GPA- Currentl 3.411 after this semester 3.49
Pre-req GPA- Around a 3.8-3.9 depending on certain school's pre-reqs
GRE- taking it in June, I'm starting the 6month Magoosh study prep in December
Major: Psychology
Minor: Public Health

Work:
- Direct Support Professional for an individual with Autism/ADHD- 1 year and continuing
- Peer Mentor (same as above but in an academic setting) 1 year and continuing
- School of Social Work Student Assistant- 1.5 years

Research
- Starting a research assistantship at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital next semester working on integrating primary and mental healthcare

Experience
- A program working with students and families with Autism on their physical fitness and skills (1 year and continuing)
- Volunteering with a 15 yr old with Autism
- Tutoring children of refugees - 1 year

Involvement
- Sorority Philanthropy Coordinator
- Dean's Team (welcomes freshman, helps with prospective student days)
- Peer Mentor to a group of 15 freshman (included with Dean's Team)
- Syracuse Students Teaching Healthy Habits (we go into city schools once a semester to teach healthy habits and behaviors)
- Creator of a feminism instagram project

Awards
- Strive for Pi (above 3.14 GPA) 3 semesters
- Dean's List Spring 2016 and will be Fall 2016
- Sorority Honor Society

Job Shadowing
- 30 hours in an outpatient rehab setting
- 20 hours at a private outpatient clinic
- 20 hours and continuing in an elementary school
- 15 hours and continuing with a hand specialist

I will be doing hours with the hand specialist in inpatient hospital setting over Christmas break.

Schools I will be applying to (as of now, it changes all the time and I will most likely narrow this down because $$)
OTD
- WUSTL (dream school)
- Boston University (dream school)
- Creighton (also in top 3)
- Ohio State
- Virginia Commonwealth
- Huntington
- Toledo (maybe)

Masters
- Ithaca College
- Looking to add one more

Any recommendations for what to continue working on??

Can you tell me why your top choices are your top choices? I'd add Thomas Jefferson University to your list if you're interested in working with refugees; one of our faculty members is setting up a residency art the place he does work with refugees (it's a passion of his). We also have a well respected faculty member who does sensory integration research for children with autism. And there's a master's and OTD option. Not to plug for my school or anything.

 

[HME4OT]

Start studying. Take your GRE early so you can have plenty of time to retake it (and retake it), if needed.

Take 2-3 easy A's at a CC to increase your cGPA (Or not, 3.5 is competitive).

Begin drafting your personal statement as soon as possible. This is easily the most important part of your application (once the minimum requirements are met), and probably the most difficult.

Good luck!!

 

[mcatcar]

Can you tell me why your top choices are your top choices? I'd add Thomas Jefferson University to your list if you're interested in working with refugees; one of our faculty members is setting up a residency art the place he does work with refugees (it's a passion of his). We also have a well respected faculty member who does sensory integration research for children with autism. And there's a master's and OTD option. Not to plug for my school or anything.

I have a lot of reasons for my choices! I don't have a specific interest in refugees, it was just a placement for one of my freshman classes. I love WUSTL because of its proximity to home, plus the hand specialist I shadow went there and LOVED it and I just love everything about their program. Boston is one of my top choices because I've always wanted to live in Boston and they have an amazing program that I've been in love with from the start. Creighton because it also has a great program but I'm not super enthusiastic about the location. I'll definitely look into TJU!

 

[mcatcar]

Start studying. Take your GRE early so you can have plenty of time to retake it (and retake it), if needed.

Take 2-3 easy A's at a CC to increase your cGPA (Or not, 3.5 is competitive).

Begin drafting your personal statement as soon as possible. This is easily the most important part of your application (once the minimum requirements are met), and probably the most difficult.

Good luck!!

Thanks!I would take CC classes but they won't affect my current university GPA because they don't accept the grade only the credit. I have an ongoing list on my phone of personal essay ideas!

 

[corn17]

I'm applying now, and I haven't been accepted or rejected from any schools yet, but I can definitely say that Magoosh is amazing. I took the GRE the first time without studying and did pretty well, but then studied with Magoosh and raised my overall score by 9 points. My GPA is about the same as yours and my prereq GPA is lower, but I completely changed my major halfway through college and dealt with heavy course loads. And I would definitely say I felt much more confident about my stats when my GRE score improved I also think it's really good that you're thinking so far ahead about what schools you want to attend because I know for me personally I didn't apply to some schools because they were rolling admissions and I didn't think my chances were good enough later in the cycle. But then again, you never know. And like mentioned above, start your personal statement as soon as possible and always be on the lookout for particular stories or things to write about when you're doing your extracurriculars. Good luck!!

 

[CAOT]

Apply EARLY to rolling admissions schools.
I was accepted to WUSTL this cycle and had my OTCAS app basically ready to go by the time they opened in July. I was verified by early Aug.

 

[Sawyer95]

I agree with CAOT! I got my applications out mid-August and got accepted to WUSTL late October. Every year is different, I am sure, but getting everything in OTCAS and getting your letters of recommendation in as early as possible probably can't hurt your chances. You have WAY more shadowing experience than I did, so hopefully that will help you as well.

 

[LAtoSDtoOT]

Honestly didn't read any of the responses. if you are only looking at otd just make sure the extra cost and time are worth it. as a generalist you won't make anymore money. if you choose to specialize, DIR Floor time, CHT, neuro, etc you're better off just doing a ELM. I was accepted to every otd program I applied to, it just wasn't where I wanted to spend my time and money. places that interview are better than those who don't in terms of chances if you don't have stellar grades. it gives them a chance to get to know you personally.

 

[mcatcar]

Thanks everyone for your answers! I definitely plan on getting my application in ASAP which is why I'm making sure I'm prepared way ahead of time. Any more suggestions/critiques of what I've been doing so far would be great!

 

[rcjhgirl]

honestly yes applying early helps so so much. I worked on my personal statement early in the summer so it was ready to go when app opened. Also make sure you are looking to see if other schools require essays. I know both Creighton and Toledo requires essays. Personally I was planning on applying to 7 schools but dropped 2 because the essays were too much for me. Also, Toledo is big on getting in your application early so make sure you do that!!! And as for schools that interview like Creighton and Ohio State, getting your app in early reserves the first few interview spots. I got my apps in August 15th and got early interviews with Creighton and Ohio State. Early interviews give you better chances!

 

[RastaOT]

Hi all! I'm working on getting ready to apply next July (2017). I will be graduating in December 2017 so I'll have a semester off to work and whatnot before hopefully starting an OTD program! I don't want to be one of those 'chance me' posts, but I would really like to know what you all think I can improve upon especially considering the schools I plan to apply to.


GPA- Currentl 3.411 after this semester 3.49
Pre-req GPA- Around a 3.8-3.9 depending on certain school's pre-reqs
GRE- taking it in June, I'm starting the 6month Magoosh study prep in December
Major: Psychology
Minor: Public Health

Work:
- Direct Support Professional for an individual with Autism/ADHD- 1 year and continuing
- Peer Mentor (same as above but in an academic setting) 1 year and continuing
- School of Social Work Student Assistant- 1.5 years

Research
- Starting a research assistantship at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital next semester working on integrating primary and mental healthcare

Experience
- A program working with students and families with Autism on their physical fitness and skills (1 year and continuing)
- Volunteering with a 15 yr old with Autism
- Tutoring children of refugees - 1 year

Involvement
- Sorority Philanthropy Coordinator
- Dean's Team (welcomes freshman, helps with prospective student days)
- Peer Mentor to a group of 15 freshman (included with Dean's Team)
- Syracuse Students Teaching Healthy Habits (we go into city schools once a semester to teach healthy habits and behaviors)
- Creator of a feminism instagram project

Awards
- Strive for Pi (above 3.14 GPA) 3 semesters
- Dean's List Spring 2016 and will be Fall 2016
- Sorority Honor Society

Job Shadowing
- 30 hours in an outpatient rehab setting
- 20 hours at a private outpatient clinic
- 20 hours and continuing in an elementary school
- 15 hours and continuing with a hand specialist

I will be doing hours with the hand specialist in inpatient hospital setting over Christmas break.

Schools I will be applying to (as of now, it changes all the time and I will most likely narrow this down because $$)
OTD
- WUSTL (dream school)
- Boston University (dream school)
- Creighton (also in top 3)
- Ohio State
- Virginia Commonwealth
- Huntington
- Toledo (maybe)

Masters
- Ithaca College
- Looking to add one more

Any recommendations for what to continue working on??

Hi there! Try to make good scores on the GRE, I just tried to wing it and I did poorly. You don't want another thing (low scores)to stress over along with the anxiety of waiting on responses! Also I would say the personal statement is extremely important... start on it super early so I have time to edit it and make it an interesting read!