Hi everyone!! I can't begin to explain how much looking at prospective OT's stats have motivated me and helped me prepare for when it was my time to apply. I am happy to share my experience in hopes of helping someone else.
Undergraduate University: University of North Alabama
Degree: Exercise Science
Concentration: Clinical Exercise Physiology
Cumulative GPA (not completed yet): 3.85
Prerequisite GPA (not completed yet): 3.67 (UAB) 3.76 (USA) 3.56 (Belmont) 3.82 (Nova OTD) 3.64 (UF)
GRE: 150 V 154 Q 3.0 AW (I'm awful at writing under pressure)
Tip/Motivation for those that aren't the best at the GRE: I took the GRE in January 2017 after studying (aka cramming) for a month and walked out crying because I did awful. I was so defeated and never thought I would earn a competitive score. I studied more effectively and retook it in September and I WENT UP 12 POINTS. If you struggle with standardized test here are the study materials I used that helped me soooo much.
1.
Kaplan GRE book (comes with tons of online full-length practice tests: Taking the GRE is A LOT about the endurance of taking a 4-hour test. The practice test is just like the actual test & it works every single question out for you to review at the end. I did this over and over.
2.
VictorPrep Vocab Podcast: OH MY GOODNESS this helped my verbal score soooo much. This is a podcast that I used to listen to every time I was in my car. A precious, British man explains vocabs word in such an understandable way. I enjoyed this so much that I STILL listen to them. I have come across tons of the words he goes over on the GRE (as well as life).
Applying to: University of South Alabama, Nova Southeastern University (OTD), University of Florida, Belmont & UAB.
Shadowing: 6 settings, Total: 233 hours
- Pediatrics (76 hrs)
- Skilled Nursing Facility (16 hrs)
- Outpatient Clinic (102 hrs)
- 2 Acute Care/ Hospitals (14 hrs)
- Locked Psychiatric Hospital (25 hrs)
- & will be doing a 200-hour internship at a pediatric clinic in the spring of 2018 (this went on my application as pending hours & I mentioned in my interview/personal statement)
Volunteer:
I was in a sorority, so we did tons of volunteering in different settings (5Ks, philanthropy events, university events, ect.)
Historian & VP of a minority scholarship group
Special Olympics chair of Human Performance Research Group
Reviewer for the International Journal of Exercise Science
Achievements:
Presider at the ASAHPERD conference
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
Gamma Sigma Alpha Alpha Gamma Delta
Dean's List (4 semesters)
The National Society of Leadership and Success
Vanguard Scholarship
Presidential Mentor's Academy Scholarship
Work:
I have been a tumbling instructor/cheer coach for 6 years
Misc:
I am a Mexican female, so I am hoping that being bilingual will give me an edge lol
References:
- 1 from a professor that is also the head of our Exercise Science Department
- 1 from an OT I shadowed nearly all summer
- 1 from a PT
Applying to: University of South Alabama, Nova Southeastern University (OTD), University of Florida, Belmont & UAB.
Interviews: Nova Video Interview (11/27), University of South Alabama (1/19)
Rejections: Belmont (received an email saying my application is deferred for future consideration, will update if I hear back from them)
Acceptances: NSU OTD, UAB!!!!
Attending: University of Alabama-Birmingham!!!!!!
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL MY FELLOW ASPIRING OTs <3
P.S if you have any questions I will be happy to respond