Hello!! This is my first post here! I’m an incoming senior in undergrad and currently applying to OT school for the 2020 cycle. I’m looking for a little feedback with my situation and would really appreciate some input.
So I’m only applying to 1 school right now. I’ve known I want to go into OT for years and have done my research, visits, etc., but I really want to go to this particular program because it's from my hometown, I can commute, I love the cirriculum, have good connections, and it's just a really great fit for me. My plan is to apply to just this program, see if I get in, and if not I’ll go ahead with a gap year to save up money and apply to ~7 programs the next cycle. I know there’s never any clear guarantee for admittance or not, but I‘m looking for some help in gauging my competitiveness to determine if I'm competitive enough to take my chance and only apply to the 1 the first time, or if it might be better to go ahead with a gap year and apply to all at once programs. Any additional input or personal experience on decisions with gap years or not applying to many schools would also be highly appreciated!
University: Michigan State University
Major: Kinesiology with Health Promotion Minor, member of the Honors College
GPA: 3.908
Prerequisite GPA: 3.90 (3.5 in one class, the rest 4.0)
GRE: Quantitative 146, Qualitative 152, AW 5.0
Shadowing: 40 outpatient pediatrics, 10 acute care, 10 neuro, 10 hand therapy
Extracurriculars:
Thank you in advance for feedback, and good luck to everyone else also starting to apply!!
So I’m only applying to 1 school right now. I’ve known I want to go into OT for years and have done my research, visits, etc., but I really want to go to this particular program because it's from my hometown, I can commute, I love the cirriculum, have good connections, and it's just a really great fit for me. My plan is to apply to just this program, see if I get in, and if not I’ll go ahead with a gap year to save up money and apply to ~7 programs the next cycle. I know there’s never any clear guarantee for admittance or not, but I‘m looking for some help in gauging my competitiveness to determine if I'm competitive enough to take my chance and only apply to the 1 the first time, or if it might be better to go ahead with a gap year and apply to all at once programs. Any additional input or personal experience on decisions with gap years or not applying to many schools would also be highly appreciated!
University: Michigan State University
Major: Kinesiology with Health Promotion Minor, member of the Honors College
GPA: 3.908
Prerequisite GPA: 3.90 (3.5 in one class, the rest 4.0)
GRE: Quantitative 146, Qualitative 152, AW 5.0
Shadowing: 40 outpatient pediatrics, 10 acute care, 10 neuro, 10 hand therapy
Extracurriculars:
- 1 summer working at disability service center in adult day program
- 135 hour internship with an OT in adult outpatient clinic
- 1 semester as adaptive swim class coach doing assessment, making goals, and evaluating progress
- Spring break trip titled Helping Seniors Remain Independent to build wheelchair ramps and volunteer in memory care
- Vice President one year then President the next of a service club at my undergrad
- College ministry 300+ leadership hours during undergrad
- Cultural competency in international language program partner
- Cultural exchange spring break trip overseas
- 1 academic year in research lab at undergrad institution collecting and analyzing research data
- 5 honors option research papers tying class concepts to occupational therapy
- Also listed 20 honors as participant in research (OT program adviser confirmed it counted)
- Various other experiences in short term commitments listed on resume, such as Special Olympics, Night to Shine, pre-physical/occupational therapy club involvement, hospital rehab floor volunteering, etc.
Thank you in advance for feedback, and good luck to everyone else also starting to apply!!
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