General Admissions & OTCAS Extremely Low GPA for any MOT schools in CA?

[otot1313]

Hello all,

this will be my first post here as well

I was a psychology major as an undergrad and I am regret to tell you guys that I have really low gpa... really low, 2.5 gpa..

During 4 years at the college I was going to, I was never in the class nor tried because I didn't know what to do and it was the most hopeless/depressing time of my life... No motivation at all, just wanted to get out of school not knowing what's going ahead of me...

and here I am...

Also, the fact that I was no longer interested in psychology, I wanted to just graduate and think afterward...
Now 2 years later I regret most of my action... the fact that I was not spoken of my mistake during school and no one helped me nor advised me to at least repeat the classes that I failed or got C in.

But now, I have found goal of my life... to be an OT...

As I have said, there is so much obstacles because of my GPA...

I am currently living in CA and wanting to apply to CSUDH, Loma Linda, west coast, and more...
I have talked to them(schools) about my situation and they were all understanding but have told me that I don't have their requirement of minimum 3.0 gpa...

Still, I didn't want to give up and I am going to try and apply until I get in... doesn't matter if it'll take 3 or 5 times to apply... i will try until I get accepted...

Currently, I am taking pre reqs

-To prove my mistakes, I have already taken 3 classes which I got all A's on and taking anatomy currently and pacing to get an A in the class as well!!! I still have Physiology and Medical terminology class... I will be retaking statistics which I got an C on and they will take an A if I earn it... I am looking to have at least 3.8 pre req gpa after all done.

-I have 150 hrs of observation hours...
-I have asked on of the professor for recommendation letter and another after I take physiology class... I also have an OT whom graduated from USC to write me an strong recommendation as well... I can have up to 4 letters of rec
-Still haven't taken GRE yet but I will this summer of by winter time...

So, what you guys think... you can bash me and i'll take that as an motivation but I want to know what's my option and will i have a chance of getting in if I keep on improving...

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[gntk]

Hi otot1313,

Your story seemed very similar to mine, so I had to respond with something positive.

First of all, The 2.5 gpa you can't really do much about it. Accept it, but realize you can show schools that you have potential. You're already on the right step by taking pre reqs and getting A's. Every single pre-req you take get an A, retake any classes and get A's. Make sure the pre-req gpa is near or as close to 4.0 as possible. Take at least 30-40 units extra at a CC (including pre reqs) of random classes that have so usefullness in OT. This will bump your last 60 unit gpa above the 3.0 mark. Many schools really only care about this.

Take the GRE seriously. I honestly hated the test. I feel it's a useless test and used to weed out people from OT school (though some people may believe it has merit). Check the minimums for schools and exceed the minimums. Aim for the 60%+ percentile.

Imo: the amount of volunteer hours an applicant has really has no correlation to if an applicant will get accepted, it's about the letter of rec (LOR) you get after it (or how detailed the volunteer evaluation is depending on the school). Make sure the person writing your letter of rec makes the best damn letter of rec possible. Get to know your recommenders as if they were your personal friends. This makes your LOR much better imo. This can take a while, but it will be worth it. Get multiple OTs to write a LOR on your behalf in multiple settings.

The next step is simple yet quite complicated: develop your story and make it believable, and live this story. Ask yourself truthfully and honestly: why OT? Where was that 'spark' that started it all? I noticed many people who also apply really don't have this developed. Think of it as an elevator speech. You'll need this answered for interviews. Your goal right now is to score an interview, and prove them wrong about your undergrad Gpa.

Look for unique experiences working with people across the lifespan. Get paid experience in these fields. Many schools allow you add a resume. These experiences can really help your resume and make things easier during interviews when explaining "how this experience relates to OT". Real paid experience in something OT related looks better then just volunteer hours (and can lead to a LOR from a manager!). Get paid experience working with people or patients in some sort of healthcare setting, it can be really anything. Although, aim for experience working with people to become more functionally independent, as this is what OT is pretty much about.

For schools, don't loose hope! There are many schools in CA that only look at the last 60 units of GPA. Realistically, you won't get into CSUDH, USC, Loma Linda. BUT, look into Samuel merit, SJSU, Dominican and Stanbridge. These schools ONLY look at the last 60 units!

West coast only looks at your pre req gpa, so with 3.8 you qualify. ST Augustine seems to look at applications as a whole when I applied.

Now I can give you a little background about myself: I had a 2.69 undergrad gpa, 2.31 science gpa. I graduated and had no idea what I wanted to do and I didn't learn about OT till after I graduated. Yeah I felt depressed. Yup I failed multiple courses. I worked part time in home health with developmentally disabled adults and scored a job in a hand therapy clinic alongside OTs. I volunteered in a school based system and added hours from the hand therapy clinic. I also finished a clinical internship at a hospital as a CCE and scored an awesome LOR from the manager. Memorized at least 600 new vocabulary words to bump my verbal score up to a competitive range and probably forgot them all by now. I applied with a 3.4 last 60 unit gpa.

I received three interviews from the schools I mentioned above and accepted into two. I'm glad to say I have a seat reserved for fall in an OT program.

Show your determination. Build a story. Hope this helps! Gpa is important, but it's just a number.

 

[Osillyphilly]

If you are going to schools out of state. There are plenty of schools that don't require GRE! Midwestern University, Touro University, AT Still University. Great news they are on the west coast! So apply to those but apply super early.

 

[haley7]

If you are going to schools out of state. There are plenty of schools that don't require GRE! Midwestern University, Touro University, AT Still University. Great news they are on the west coast! So apply to those but apply super early.

AT Still requires the GRE if your GPA is below 3.0. "Applicants are required to submit official GRE scores. Any scores older than three years prior to the matriculation year will not be accepted. The GRE Code for ASHS is 3743. (There is no department code.) For applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, the GRE is optional" (AT Still http://www.atsu.edu/ashs/programs/occupational_therapy/admission_requirements.htm). I would retake classes, a lot of the schools want at least a C or higher in each class with a cumulative GPA of 2.75. Retaking some classes would show initiative and the schools would most likely be able to look past your initial grades.

 

[deejayy]

Hi otot1313,

Your story seemed very similar to mine, so I had to respond with something positive.

First of all, The 2.5 gpa you can't really do much about it. Accept it, but realize you can show schools that you have potential. You're already on the right step by taking pre reqs and getting A's. Every single pre-req you take get an A, retake any classes and get A's. Make sure the pre-req gpa is near or as close to 4.0 as possible. Take at least 30-40 units extra at a CC (including pre reqs) of random classes that have so usefullness in OT. This will bump your last 60 unit gpa above the 3.0 mark. Many schools really only care about this.

Take the GRE seriously. I honestly hated the test. I feel it's a useless test and used to weed out people from OT school (though some people may believe it has merit). Check the minimums for schools and exceed the minimums. Aim for the 60%+ percentile.

Imo: the amount of volunteer hours an applicant has really has no correlation to if an applicant will get accepted, it's about the letter of rec (LOR) you get after it (or how detailed the volunteer evaluation is depending on the school). Make sure the person writing your letter of rec makes the best damn letter of rec possible. Get to know your recommenders as if they were your personal friends. This makes your LOR much better imo. This can take a while, but it will be worth it. Get multiple OTs to write a LOR on your behalf in multiple settings.

The next step is simple yet quite complicated: develop your story and make it believable, and live this story. Ask yourself truthfully and honestly: why OT? Where was that 'spark' that started it all? I noticed many people who also apply really don't have this developed. Think of it as an elevator speech. You'll need this answered for interviews. Your goal right now is to score an interview, and prove them wrong about your undergrad Gpa.

Look for unique experiences working with people across the lifespan. Get paid experience in these fields. Many schools allow you add a resume. These experiences can really help your resume and make things easier during interviews when explaining "how this experience relates to OT". Real paid experience in something OT related looks better then just volunteer hours (and can lead to a LOR from a manager!). Get paid experience working with people or patients in some sort of healthcare setting, it can be really anything. Although, aim for experience working with people to become more functionally independent, as this is what OT is pretty much about.

For schools, don't loose hope! There are many schools in CA that only look at the last 60 units of GPA. Realistically, you won't get into CSUDH, USC, Loma Linda. BUT, look into Samuel merit, SJSU, Dominican and Stanbridge. These schools ONLY look at the last 60 units!

West coast only looks at your pre req gpa, so with 3.8 you qualify. ST Augustine seems to look at applications as a whole when I applied.

Now I can give you a little background about myself: I had a 2.69 undergrad gpa, 2.31 science gpa. I graduated and had no idea what I wanted to do and I didn't learn about OT till after I graduated. Yeah I felt depressed. Yup I failed multiple courses. I worked part time in home health with developmentally disabled adults and scored a job in a hand therapy clinic alongside OTs. I volunteered in a school based system and added hours from the hand therapy clinic. I also finished a clinical internship at a hospital as a CCE and scored an awesome LOR from the manager. Memorized at least 600 new vocabulary words to bump my verbal score up to a competitive range and probably forgot them all by now. I applied with a 3.4 last 60 unit gpa.

I received three interviews from the schools I mentioned above and accepted into two. I'm glad to say I have a seat reserved for fall in an OT program.

Show your determination. Build a story. Hope this helps! Gpa is important, but it's just a number.

@gntk Hi,
If you don't mind me asking, how many/which schools did you apply to and which did you decided to go to?
Also, what were you GRE scores?
I'm also in a similar situation as you both and it definitely helps to hear stories like yours, Thank You!

 

[Osillyphilly]

@gntk Hi,
If you don't mind me asking, how many/which schools did you apply to and which did you decided to go to?
Also, what were you GRE scores?
I'm also in a similar situation as you both and it definitely helps to hear stories like yours, Thank You!

Hi deejayy. I applied to 12 schools this year. Got waitlisted for 2 schools. I will be attending Bay Path University in Massachusetts. I didn't take the GRE.

I applied to:
AT Still University-AZ
Midwestern University- AZ
Midwestern University-IL
Springfield College- MA
Bay Path University-MA
Loma Linda University-CA
Creighton University-NE
Pacific University-OR
SUNY Downstate Medical Center- NY
NYU-NY
Touro University-NV
Sacred Heart University- CT

 

[travelOt]

Hi deejayy. I applied to 12 schools this year. Got waitlisted for 2 schools. I will be attending Bay Path University in Massachusetts. I didn't take the GRE.

I applied to:
AT Still University-AZ
Midwestern University- AZ
Midwestern University-IL
Springfield College- MA
Bay Path University-MA
Loma Linda University-CA
Creighton University-NE
Pacific University-OR
SUNY Downstate Medical Center- NY
NYU-NY
Touro University-NV
Sacred Heart University- CT

If you do not mind me asking, which schools did you get waitlisted and accepted into?

 

[LAtoSDtoOT]

Hi otot1313,

Your story seemed very similar to mine, so I had to respond with something positive.

First of all, The 2.5 gpa you can't really do much about it. Accept it, but realize you can show schools that you have potential. You're already on the right step by taking pre reqs and getting A's. Every single pre-req you take get an A, retake any classes and get A's. Make sure the pre-req gpa is near or as close to 4.0 as possible. Take at least 30-40 units extra at a CC (including pre reqs) of random classes that have so usefullness in OT. This will bump your last 60 unit gpa above the 3.0 mark. Many schools really only care about this.

Take the GRE seriously. I honestly hated the test. I feel it's a useless test and used to weed out people from OT school (though some people may believe it has merit). Check the minimums for schools and exceed the minimums. Aim for the 60%+ percentile.

Imo: the amount of volunteer hours an applicant has really has no correlation to if an applicant will get accepted, it's about the letter of rec (LOR) you get after it (or how detailed the volunteer evaluation is depending on the school). Make sure the person writing your letter of rec makes the best damn letter of rec possible. Get to know your recommenders as if they were your personal friends. This makes your LOR much better imo. This can take a while, but it will be worth it. Get multiple OTs to write a LOR on your behalf in multiple settings.

The next step is simple yet quite complicated: develop your story and make it believable, and live this story. Ask yourself truthfully and honestly: why OT? Where was that 'spark' that started it all? I noticed many people who also apply really don't have this developed. Think of it as an elevator speech. You'll need this answered for interviews. Your goal right now is to score an interview, and prove them wrong about your undergrad Gpa.

Look for unique experiences working with people across the lifespan. Get paid experience in these fields. Many schools allow you add a resume. These experiences can really help your resume and make things easier during interviews when explaining "how this experience relates to OT". Real paid experience in something OT related looks better then just volunteer hours (and can lead to a LOR from a manager!). Get paid experience working with people or patients in some sort of healthcare setting, it can be really anything. Although, aim for experience working with people to become more functionally independent, as this is what OT is pretty much about.

For schools, don't loose hope! There are many schools in CA that only look at the last 60 units of GPA. Realistically, you won't get into CSUDH, USC, Loma Linda. BUT, look into Samuel merit, SJSU, Dominican and Stanbridge. These schools ONLY look at the last 60 units!

West coast only looks at your pre req gpa, so with 3.8 you qualify. ST Augustine seems to look at applications as a whole when I applied.

Now I can give you a little background about myself: I had a 2.69 undergrad gpa, 2.31 science gpa. I graduated and had no idea what I wanted to do and I didn't learn about OT till after I graduated. Yeah I felt depressed. Yup I failed multiple courses. I worked part time in home health with developmentally disabled adults and scored a job in a hand therapy clinic alongside OTs. I volunteered in a school based system and added hours from the hand therapy clinic. I also finished a clinical internship at a hospital as a CCE and scored an awesome LOR from the manager. Memorized at least 600 new vocabulary words to bump my verbal score up to a competitive range and probably forgot them all by now. I applied with a 3.4 last 60 unit gpa.

I received three interviews from the schools I mentioned above and accepted into two. I'm glad to say I have a seat reserved for fall in an OT program.

Show your determination. Build a story. Hope this helps! Gpa is important, but it's just a number.

I'd like to comment on the West Coast comment only looking at your pre-request GPA. This is not accurate. I was denied admission to West Coast due to low GPA and had a 4.0 pre-request GPA. However met the GPA requirement and was accpeted to Belmont, Dominican, Loma Linda, USA, Huntington, etc. It all depends on how they calculate your undergrad GPA.

 

[LAtoSDtoOT]

I would heavily consider schools that interview vs those that do not. It gives you a chance to shine, show your knowledge about OT, you renewed motivation to succeed, and create a personal connection with your interviewer.

I was accepted to every school that allowed me to interview. Even with a low GPA (2.9ish) 4.0 pre-req, hundreds of volunteer/observation hrs, strong letters of rec.

 

[csulbhssa2009]

.

 

[occupationalguy]

Google - schools that look at last 60 credit hours - that's the ticket.

West Coast is a for profit school, as if OT schools in Cali aren't expensive enough, there's that situation. My advice is to start a COTA program and keep applying if you don't get in on this round, and take courses in addition to your prerequisites.

Best of luck!~