General Admissions & OTCAS Chances of Getting In?

[chickfilaregular]

Hi all!

I'm new to these forums and have been lurking around for quite some time.

I'm a recent grad and I wanted to apply to OT school this summer for Summer/Fall of 2018 start. I've had a rough time in my college career and was worried about my stats.

Major: Kinesiology and Health Promotion, minor in Psych
UT Austin GPA: 3.43
Pre Req GPA: 3.25-3.4 depending on the school
Volunteer/Shadow Hours: Over 100 in pediatric outpatient, 60 in outpatient hand therapy, 15 in inpatient OT (trying to get a spot shadowing/volunteering at a nursing home as well)
LOR: Can get 2 from OT's I've shadowed, one from advisor, and one from faculty (Haven't officially asked yet)
Taking the GRE this summer


EC's and Other Notes:

• I transferred to UT and my first semester I struggled with the adjustment of transferring and ended up getting a 2.1 GPA, which kind of puts me on the lower end in regards to my cum gpa
  • However once I got back up on my feet, I started a club and an academic program aimed to increase the success of all transfers at UT, and I ran that organization for 2 years. I started the org based off of my experience and recognized that the school had a weakness in its support for new transfer students. Starting and developing this organization earned me an award called the Dean's Dozen which is only awarded to 13 out of 50,000 students (including undergrad and grad) at UT Austin and recognizes students who are altruistic, responsible, committed and involved in transforming the lives of their fellow students.
  • The organization itself has earned multiple university wide awards on campus as well
• Been a member of the OT society on campus and attended meetings.
• During school I have always worked a job, before I transferred I worked 1:1 as a learning specialist with kiddos who have learning disabilities at a tutoring company. I also worked in the Parks and Recreation department running activities for kiddos who stay after school, including kids who had ASD (I had to tailor programs to be inclusive). I have also been working as an ABA therapist for kids with ASD for the past year and will continue doing so until I go off to grad school (hopefully).
• I also volunteered 2 months in Armenia running summer camps for underprivileged children in the villages of the country (best experience ever).
• I have also worked as a Transfer Student Peer Mentor for the past year on campus as well.
• I have been awarded with University Honors at UT Austin for the past 2 years.

What are my chances of getting in? The reality is setting in that I need to apply and that it's all due this Fall and I'm really stressing out about it and my stats because they don't seem to be very good. No idea how the GRE will go either. I'm worried because having to work due to financial reasons has really affected my grades, but I am SO confident in myself that I can succeed at a master's level program. How can I prove this to schools?

I want to apply to schools in Texas btw, are there any schools that I might have a higher chance of getting into?

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[student4life101]

It looks like you have a lot of life experience and personal achievements that would be of great value to the OT profession! I would try hard for a competitive GRE score. However, I really think you can stand out in your personal statement and in any essays that schools throw your way. From my experience, there is an emphasis in this process on how well you can clearly articulate to an admissions committee the basics (why OT, why you, why this program, etc.) in a way that shows, but not blatantly tells them you have all the good stuff that makes for a great OT. It will take some time, self reflection, and grinding out multiple drafts, but you can do it!

 

[nOTeworthy]

Yeah, what student4life101 said. Writing is a major component to this field. Someone who can sell themselves in a paragraph has one up on someone who took 1-2 pages to do it. My cum gpa was higher, but overall you've outdone me in all other areas. And my GRE scores were average at best. And I got into all the Texas schools I applied to. I think people seriously underestimate the personal statement and LORs. People with perfect GPAs get rejected and I'm sure that's why. Generic LORs and poorly written personal statements. It's a holistic thing and you've got some serious life experience that you can use to your advantage to stand out in writing. Go for it. If you nail it, I'm sure you'll get in somewhere...if not everywhere.

 

[harmcharm]

Hi all!

I'm new to these forums and have been lurking around for quite some time.

I'm a recent grad and I wanted to apply to OT school this summer for Summer/Fall of 2018 start. I've had a rough time in my college career and was worried about my stats.

Major: Kinesiology and Health Promotion, minor in Psych
UT Austin GPA: 3.43
Pre Req GPA: 3.25-3.4 depending on the school
Volunteer/Shadow Hours: Over 100 in pediatric outpatient, 60 in outpatient hand therapy, 15 in inpatient OT (trying to get a spot shadowing/volunteering at a nursing home as well)
LOR: Can get 2 from OT's I've shadowed, one from advisor, and one from faculty (Haven't officially asked yet)
Taking the GRE this summer


EC's and Other Notes:

• I transferred to UT and my first semester I struggled with the adjustment of transferring and ended up getting a 2.1 GPA, which kind of puts me on the lower end in regards to my cum gpa
  • However once I got back up on my feet, I started a club and an academic program aimed to increase the success of all transfers at UT, and I ran that organization for 2 years. I started the org based off of my experience and recognized that the school had a weakness in its support for new transfer students. Starting and developing this organization earned me an award called the Dean's Dozen which is only awarded to 13 out of 50,000 students (including undergrad and grad) at UT Austin and recognizes students who are altruistic, responsible, committed and involved in transforming the lives of their fellow students.
  • The organization itself has earned multiple university wide awards on campus as well
• Been a member of the OT society on campus and attended meetings.
• During school I have always worked a job, before I transferred I worked 1:1 as a learning specialist with kiddos who have learning disabilities at a tutoring company. I also worked in the Parks and Recreation department running activities for kiddos who stay after school, including kids who had ASD (I had to tailor programs to be inclusive). I have also been working as an ABA therapist for kids with ASD for the past year and will continue doing so until I go off to grad school (hopefully).
• I also volunteered 2 months in Armenia running summer camps for underprivileged children in the villages of the country (best experience ever).
• I have also worked as a Transfer Student Peer Mentor for the past year on campus as well.
• I have been awarded with University Honors at UT Austin for the past 2 years.

What are my chances of getting in? The reality is setting in that I need to apply and that it's all due this Fall and I'm really stressing out about it and my stats because they don't seem to be very good. No idea how the GRE will go either. I'm worried because having to work due to financial reasons has really affected my grades, but I am SO confident in myself that I can succeed at a master's level program. How can I prove this to schools?

I want to apply to schools in Texas btw, are there any schools that I might have a higher chance of getting into?

I think I know who this is!!! "Chickfilaregular" who went to UT lol!
Girl your stats are amazing! Especially your extracurriculars. Definitely better than mine were! Like others have said, if you just really work it into your personal statement, your application will look great. Remember TWU also takes into account the last 60 hours GPA. And as for GRE, obviously shoot for a strong score but even as long as you're in the 50th + percentiles, you shouldn't worry. I believe in you!!! <3

 

[chickfilaregular]

I think I know who this is!!! "Chickfilaregular" who went to UT lol!
Girl your stats are amazing! Especially your extracurriculars. Definitely better than mine were! Like others have said, if you just really work it into your personal statement, your application will look great. Remember TWU also takes into account the last 60 hours GPA. And as for GRE, obviously shoot for a strong score but even as long as you're in the 50th + percentiles, you shouldn't worry. I believe in you!!! <3

LOL HI!!!!

You made me smile thank you

 

[proapplicant]

do they even look at gpa semester by semester? your overall undergrad gpa is good. everything else looks good. you're good. maybe get more observation hours if you must.

i'm rooting for you chickfilaregular. i love your username.

 

[chickfilaregular]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. Definitely helped calm some nerves (for now ).

Thanks!