Other OT-Related Information COTA vs (another chance at)OTR

[Confusedandlostone]

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Hi all,

I am having a bit of a dilemma about choosing an OTA path vs OTR path. If you read my previous posts, then you know about my back story: I was enrolled in a previous OT program but greatly struggled academically and I ended up leaving my program. I have a general idea of what path I am going to choose, however I want to make sure I make a decision I will not regret and hear out what everyone else's opinions are before I reach a final definitive choice. On one hand I realize that I am still relatively young(24) with experience of being in another program prior and know what challenges and difficulties await me if i decide to continue to pursue the masters route(ideal/end goal). I have also identified my weaknesses and learned and matured from what happened at my old program. However, on the other hand I realize that I also accumulated a lot of debt from my past experience of being in a expensive OT school. This has prompted me to think more practically. The OTA school I was accepted in is only 18 months with all my prerequisite and core courses complete already so essentially I do not have to take several courses and will be paying even less money to attend(the program is cheap already). Last night I thought long and hard and weighed out each programs pros and cons. Here is what i gathered:

COTA school

Pros:
-Cheaper program
-In state and near home ( can stay and still live with family)
-warm, small, and friendly atmosphere
-shorter duration( 18 months)
-easier and relaxed curriculum( no 3.0 average needed unlike graduate OT school)

Cons:
-assistant only( cannot perform evaluations and must get my notes cosigned by an OTR)
-Less prestigious
-limited job opportunity???? (I have only seen COTAs work in SNFs, no COTAs are in the hospital I currently volunteer in)
-will take longer to receive my masters(end goal)
- for profit school/new school( apparently for profit schools here on SDN are looked down upon, I have no idea why though)
-significantly less pay( 40-50k???)

MSOT school

Pros:
-Continue to pursue my masters and finish what I originally started
-Can perform evaluations/more autonomy
-the school I was accepted in offers students to complete their degree in only 2 years as well as offer a 3 year part time course
-significantly more money(70-80k???)
-I have some distant family members in the state I will transfer in so I guess I'm not completely "alone"
-more job opportunities and flexibility(can work in a variety of settings)
-personal growth and indepedence

Cons:
- out of state( I will be in even more debt that I already am)
-difficult curriculum if I attend full time( I'm leaning towards 3 year part time plan)
-away from family, friends, and my home.

Honestly speaking, the biggest fear I have is the amount of debt I will be in if I decide to go out of state and re-pursue my masters. If I become an OT is paying off this insane debt doable? People have told me to go straight to OT because they make more. Also, my priorities are learning from my previous horrible experience at my old program and making sure such events do not happen again. I have been reviewing past material, revolunteering at a hospital, reading self help books about how to manage my time better and become more efficient, as well as looking at youtube videos on how to perform transfers/assessments and practicing them on family members and friends.. Anyways, what are your thoughts and opinions?

 

[Osillyphilly]

Well you said the end goal is eventually to be an OT. Wouldn't it cost even more money if you decided to do COTA then eventually get into a OTR program. Why would you take the easy way out? Don't let your past hold you back.

 

[HopefulOT13]

What difficulties did you face that made you drop out in the first place? I think you should do MOT, with significantly higher pay, the debt won't be too bad.

 

[Confusedandlostone]

What difficulties did you face that made you drop out in the first place? I think you should do MOT, with significantly higher pay, the debt won't be too bad.

Essentially, my undergraduate bad habits carried over to graduate school. I wasn't balancing my life inside school and outside school well. After a deep reflection I concluded that my barriers to success are 1. Insufficient time management skills 2. Insufficient ability to handle stress and 3. Visual spatial deficits( a learning disability). My visual spatial skills are becoming better through practice in crafting, constructing objects, making patterns with yarn, practicing on my friends and family etc. However I also still struggle with time management and stress management.

I would love to see or maybe observe a straight A student in OT school and see how they manage everything. I want to draw ideas from those kind of students on how to manage everything better.

 

[Confusedandlostone]

Well you said the end goal is eventually to be an OT. Wouldn't it cost even more money if you decided to do COTA then eventually get into a OTR program. Why would you take the easy way out? Don't let your past hold you back.

Yup, I am extremely grateful. Not everyone gets a second chance. The school we were admitted in has a very good reputation and is well known. One of the therapists I work with said the chair person of the program writes one of the nbcot exam prep books or something.