I attended the CSU-DH information yesterday and learned a few things that might be of some use to those applying for January 2014 cohort. The application deadline is September 15 and applications can be submitted starting August 1, after you have begun a CSU Grad School application online and have been given a student number. The acceptance ratio last year was 1 in 5 applications of those who met all advertised admission criteria. That does not include those applicants who were rejected prima facie based on having incomplete files or lacked qualifying GPA or GRE scores.
First, it appears they have tilted toward a fairly strict rubric system that is good in some ways and not so good in others. The op had questions about GPA and that is a big part of the rubric. 2 GPA scores are calculated, one for your undergrad degree and one for your prerequisites. Nothing else is considered. Not your graduate degree, or post-bachelor teaching credential. Just your undergrad GPA and GPA for the 5 prerequisites.
Your GRE is broken into 2 numbers on the rubric, AWA and combined V and Q. Below are the averages of this years cohort in those four areas.
Minimum undergrad GPA. 3.0. Avg undergrad GPA 2012 cohort, 3.66
Minimum Prerequisite GPA 3.0 Avg Prerequisite GPA 2012 cohort 3.78
Minimum GRE AWA score, 4.0. Avg GRE AWA 2012 cohort. 4.45
Minimum GRE V 146, Q 140, combined V and Q 286. Avg V and Q combined 2012 cohort 310
Must have Minimum 80 hours shadowing/volunteering with OT Documented via LOR on institutional letterhead
LOR 1 from OT, 1 from academia, 1 of your choosing(preferably not your mother) THEY DO NOT allow a fourth LOR under ANY circumstances.
The rubric weighs the quantifiable stuff, (GRE, GPA) far more heavily than the LOR's. If you are above average in those 4 areas listed above, you have a very good chance of acceptance as long as the rest of your application is complete. According to the Director of the program, they are less and less likely allow any slack on any single number below the advertised minimums. If you do have a 2.8 undergrad GPA, you need to balance it with a 4.0 on your prerequisites. You are allowed to retake
prerequisites WITHOUT PENALTY! That means even if you got a D in Anatomy you can retake and only report the second grade. You are allowed to have up to 2 of the 5 prereqs in progress at the time of application.
For hopeful CSU-DH MSOT 2014 cohort applicants, there is still time to retake your GRE's. They were very clear that you must have a 4.0 or better on the AWA- and they emphasized the "or better". The V and Q scores will be taken from a single sitting but the
AWA score can be applied from a separate sitting. If your combined score is below 300 on the V and Q you might improve your chances by boosting that score.
Of course there is nothing you can do about that undergrad GPA unless you get a second bachelors. This is not as hard or expensive as you think. You can apply up to 90 credits from your original BS or BA, eliminating your poorest grades from your first Degree and earn 30 credits additional credits, including prereqs. There are a few regionally accredited schools in the country that have very low residency requirements(as in 6 credits) so you can combine credits from multiple sources to earn that degree. You can do that for under $5k.
The real lesson is improve your prereq grades if you want to get into CSUDH. Consider retaking B's, It is one of the four quantitative rubric elements that are most heavily weighed on your application.
It may be discouraging to some, but it is what it is. There is no place in the application process for your resume, for example. You personal statement is limited to the generic CSU wide application form, not the department MSOT application. On the other hand, it is very forgiving on prereq do overs.
I hope this is of some use to those who plan on applying to CSU-DH. Best of luck.
