General Admissions & OTCAS Choosing a major...?

[balletdancer]

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Hello all!
I just joined the forum, and this is my first time posting.

I know there are probably a lot of other threads on this topic, so sorry for that. But, I am a pre-OT student and, while I feel pretty darn certain that I want to do OT, I am having a really hard time settling on a major.
My university offers a few major that have the option of a pre-OT track, pre-reqs built in.
The majors to choose from are:
- Psychology
- Kinesiology
- Health Studies
- Child development
I was originally thinking I was going to do psychology, but I'm not so sure right now. Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not there may be a benefit to doing one of these over the others?
Child development doesn't interest me as much, because the classes seem pretty redundant and I think I would get bored. Everybody and their brother majors in Kines at my school, so that major seems pretty competitive and saturated. However, it also seems like it could be good preparation. Health studies is essentially public/community health with a lot of sciences required, but it appeals to me because I'd gain more health/medical related knowledge than I would with the others. But, I psych seems like it could be a good choice as well, and perhaps easier to maintain a high GPA in, as it doesn't require the extra sciences like kines and HS.
I need to pick something soon, but I am really undecided and I just want to make the best decision. I'd love to hear opinions or advice of any kind.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read/respond!!

 

[deejayy]

To be honest, in my opinion, it comes down to whichever major will get you the higher GPA for when you do apply to OT school.
Psychology and Sociology are definitely easier than Kinesiology. That being said, whatever major you do choose, make sure it is a major you'll be willing to put in time to get good grades.
I understand wanting to choose a major based on the knowledge one may gain from it, however all the knowledge and experience you will need to know to become an OT will be learned throughout the future OT program you apply to.
To put it in other words, you'll gain most of the knowledge/experience to become an OT from an OT program more than you'll get from you're undergraduate degree.
Therefore choose whatever major that gets you the highest GPA to get accepted into OT school.
Hope this helps! Good luck!🙂

 

[balletdancer]

Thank you very much for your response! I think I agree that going with what I can get the highest GPA with is probably the best idea.

 

[jk3nn]

Hello,
This is actually my first time as well too. I had this same question and figured id share my thoughts as well. I was wondering about this as well. uring undergrad do certain majors have to be taken as pre-req's to be taken serious for medical school or any other schools that the student is interested in? Im currently studying biology and am interested in either taking the medical school route or PA route but that in itself is a dilemma, i cant figure out which to decide on. Ive weighed out the pros and cons and just cant seem to figure out what to do. And if anyone can clarify this as well. In all honesty when applying after undergrad, does a super high GPA like 3.8-4.0 really matter? are you considered just as much if you are able to get a 3.3-3.5/6? What if you were highly involved with extra circulars? Ive searched all over and its all seems to be bias based on who wrote it. I'm not trying to cause an argument just looking for facts and everyone's personal experience or opinion.

 

[cavs2016]

Coming from experience, yes you do wanna something that will benefit your GPA and prepare you, but at the same time, it could be beneficial to do something different than what most people do. For example, I am pre speech pathology, but many of the courses were allied health courses that prepared me for OT and it is also different than many other people's majors who apply for OT.

 

[cb31]

Hello,
This is actually my first time as well too. I had this same question and figured id share my thoughts as well. I was wondering about this as well. uring undergrad do certain majors have to be taken as pre-req's to be taken serious for medical school or any other schools that the student is interested in? Im currently studying biology and am interested in either taking the medical school route or PA route but that in itself is a dilemma, i cant figure out which to decide on. Ive weighed out the pros and cons and just cant seem to figure out what to do. And if anyone can clarify this as well. In all honesty when applying after undergrad, does a super high GPA like 3.8-4.0 really matter? are you considered just as much if you are able to get a 3.3-3.5/6? What if you were highly involved with extra circulars? Ive searched all over and its all seems to be bias based on who wrote it. I'm not trying to cause an argument just looking for facts and everyone's personal experience or opinion.

If you are going the medical school or PA route YES high GPA is one of the MOST important part of your application. Extracurricular is nice, but doesnt compare to having a high GPA and good MCAT scores. If you are going OT route then 3.5 overall is pretty good... pre-req GPA should be a litle higher... but most schools normally look at the whole application so extracurricular and LORs can help.