Do I have no chance of getting into OT school?

[Chris1004]

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Hi I'm currently finishing up my sophomore year in UC Irvine and my cumulative GPA is 2.5 🙁 I did not know what I wanted to do for the first two years of college, and I was also immature. I haven't taken any prerequisites yet, but even if I do well on my prerequisites & the rest of my classes, the highest I can get my GPA up to is probably 3.0. I'm devastated. I finally found passion in occupational therapy and I really want to be an OT but it seems like getting into OT school is SO competitive these days. I live in CA, so I hope to go to a school in CA, but it seems like CA schools are the most competitive which doesn't help. 🙁 I saw people on these forums applying for 3, 4 years until they get in! I don't think I've seen people applying for that many years even for pharm school. Should I just give up? Is a 3.0 GPA not competitive at all?

 

[Hillary]

No you should not give up! Some schools, such as San Jose State, only look at your last 60 semester or 90 quarter units. You also have a chance to get into other schools if the rest of your application is good. I recommend getting a good GRE score, getting a lot of observation hours, get an OT related job, and take part in clubs/organizations at your school that are somehow related to OT.

 

[prodigiousflame]

what she said. I learned of OT after I graduated from UCI with a miserable GPA and didn't get a chance to participate in clubs/organizations/research/leadership positions. You still have two years to make up for a GPA that's lacking, you have enough time to compensate.

 

[dobber]

ditto. man, if they've been applying they must have had something lacking. I see people getting in with 2.8 GPAs, but they make up for their low GPAs by killing the GREs, getting good LORs, and a crap ton of shadowing

 

[jewel11786]

Hi I'm currently finishing up my sophomore year in UC Irvine and my cumulative GPA is 2.5 🙁 I did not know what I wanted to do for the first two years of college, and I was also immature. I haven't taken any prerequisites yet, but even if I do well on my prerequisites & the rest of my classes, the highest I can get my GPA up to is probably 3.0. I'm devastated. I finally found passion in occupational therapy and I really want to be an OT but it seems like getting into OT school is SO competitive these days. I live in CA, so I hope to go to a school in CA, but it seems like CA schools are the most competitive which doesn't help. 🙁 I saw people on these forums applying for 3, 4 years until they get in! I don't think I've seen people applying for that many years even for pharm school. Should I just give up? Is a 3.0 GPA not competitive at all?

I would look into retaking some of the classes you messed up on. You're only halfway through undergrad and still have plenty of time. I would look into getting a grade replacement (if your university offers it) by retaking the classes you have done the worst in first. If you want something bad enough, don't ever give up.

 

[andgelyo]

Don't give up, 3.0 may not be as competitive as other GPAs but you can make that up through tons of volunteer hours, different sites, and being involved in extracurriculars, as well as having a stellar essay. I think you can do it. I'm managed to get in OT school, but i wish someone had warned me about how difficult in would be to stay in here.....OT school is by far the most difficult thing i have ever done in my life.....