(HELP) My OT battle

[dobber]

I am a junior in college. I have a 2.5 GPA.
As a freshman and as a sophomore, I didn't care about school. I was going through some turmoil, I lost my financial aid, I didn't go to class, and I partied a heck of a lot. I came to college being forced to do something I didn't want to do (Nuclear Med Tech) and an experience that failed horribly (Computer Science) so my college experience was a mess from the beginning. I actually took Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II and botched them both.

From the get-go, I wanted to be a Psychology major. That was my passion. But my mom threatened to pull the plug paying for my tuition which is why I tried everything until I changed my major without telling her. My original plan was to become a college professor and teach. But I didn't want to stay in school for that long. I realized then I wanted to help people while helping them get better, but I wanted to be in the medical field. I found PT and OT, being that OT fit my strengths better (ironically, my sister is doing PT). At first I was iffy about OT, so I shadowed an Occupational Therapist for 33 hours who made me LOVE the profession. I was fascinated by the exercises, the interaction with the patients, the toys/gadgets, and all the lessons I learned. I LOVED my experience shadowing this woman. She even got me involved with the work by teaching me what was wrong with the people and telling me to do the grunt work. But I loved every second of it.

After my shadowing time, I started researching some schools I would love to attend. Due to my low GPA, I have to steer away from OTCAS schools because they will kill my GPA (they don't count re-takes or something).

For now, the schools I'm applying to are:
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Chatham University
East Carolina University
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Jefferson College
Kean University of New Jersey
Bay Path College

After I found OT, I worked really hard and I got a 3.5 last semester (which bumped my GPA to a 2.5). I knew I could do it because I have something to fight for. I got the Dean's List and an ALANI award for minorities.

I have two people OTs in my college town who are allowing me to shadow them, plus a pediatric place is letting me shadow them over the summer. I want to have anywhere between 100 - 150 hours by the time I apply.

I hope to find a few more. I am currently taking A&PI (busting my sorry butt) and I plan to get most of my pre-requisites out of the way along with the GRE over the summer. If I do well in A&PI my GPA will sky-rocket because the F will be substituted by whatever grade I get. IF everything goes nice and dandy - I think I can crack a 3.0. The problem is, by the time I start applying I will be in the fall of my senior year, still taking A&PII. The school year ends in the middle of December, which is about the same time most application deadlines are.

Essentially, what are my chances if everything works out?

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[dobber]

I don't know if it helps but I am super good with computers, lead my rec sports bowling team to the championship (as the captain), own two successful YouTube channels, and I speak three languages. I can also code very well.

 

[SamuraiIAmurai]

Someone posted on SDN today about getting into SMU and SJSU with a 2.8. My friend was also accepted to SJSU, and she had a rough first two years also. If by Jefferson College, you mean Jefferson College of Health Sciences rather than Thomas Jefferson University, they only accept 15 applicants a year and get 150+ applicants.

It sounds like you're doing a great job turning everything around, and I think OT programs are really sympathetic to difficulties and want people who are hard workers and are passionate. Good luck!

 

[HigginsRan]

I don't know if it helps but I am super good with computers, lead my rec sports bowling team to the championship (as the captain), own two successful YouTube channels, and I speak three languages. I can also code very well.

You sound kinda like me tbh. I just ended up getting a information tech degree (which has some business and some coding) it was a lot easier than pure cs and I landed a cs job pretty easily. Not to push you away from ot just saying if you love coding there's other ways to get into it rather than just pure cs.

 

[jewel11786]

Since you haven't graduated yet, if you can I'd advise you to retake some of the courses you failed to see if you can get some grade replacements and bump up your GPA. You don't have be in a rush to apply, I waited 2 years after I graduated with my BA before I applied for grad school. Take a good look at your transcript and see if there is anything you can do to improve your GPA even if it means retaking some courses or taking a few extra courses and make sure you ace the pre-reqs. You've recognized your mistakes in the past, now you have to do everything you can to correct them. The thing is that OT is becoming more and more competitive every year that even if you have above a 3.0 there's no guarantee of getting in. I go to a small school that almost no one has ever heard of and they are getting more applications than they ever have before for OT. Work on your GPA for now, get those observation hours in and volunteer with an OT if you can so you can get a good letter of recommendation. Get more volunteer hours in other areas such as working with people with disabilities, at a nursing home, kids summer camp, etc. in areas of occupation such as in the recreation department or with activities, this will look really good on your resume. Also use your previous mistakes to write an awesome essay about how you've improved yourself. Consider taking the GRE as well, which will open up more options for schools to apply to.

 

[dobber]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the support. I have a couple of D's I could retake, along with A&PI and A&PII. I feel like if I can pull it off and retake all those classes, I could bump my GPA to the 3.2, 3.3 range. I am also going to start working on my GRE and stuff.

Any other suggestions?

 

[jewel11786]

That's great. I wish you best of luck. Like I said my biggest piece of advice is to just not rush it and send in an application when you're not really ready. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you apply so you don't waste time on an application and fee. I think retaking courses will be a good start and of course just do your research.

 

[dobber]

I am going to retake some classes in the fall to bump my GPA. I'm taking A&PII and I will fight to earn this.

 

[ag1876]

I graduated with around a 2.7 GPA from my college and this is the advice I have gotten (and am currently taking) from some schools:

Get a second bachelors degree.

I graduated with about a 2.7 GPA from my university and was devastated when I didn't get into grad school.. After talking to several advisers and program directors they said i should get a second degree and, with most schools, the highest grade would count in their evaluation. Currently I am almost done with my second degree (the degree being in psyc, which most of the pre-recs are in, only took me 2 semesters to get) with a 3.6 pre-rec GPA (including some of the classes I was not able to retake) and a 3.87 over all GPA. If you do this, most universities will see that there is effort to do better and dedication on your part.
Best of luck!

 

[dobber]

I'm actually pursuing another degree. I am currently majoring in Psychology. I am also pursuing an associates degree in Liberal Studies and a minor in Spanish. But thanks for the idea 😀

 

[dobber]

ag1876, what are your stats by the way? and where do you go to school at?

 

[ag1876]

ag1876, what are your stats by the way? and where do you go to school at?

Currently, I'm in an unique situation! One of the schools that I applied to received the wrong information (the information from my first degree without any of the new grades from my second degree). I notified them of this today and they will be reviewing my application again and hopefully granting me an interview (especially since it was the university's fault!). I will know within the next couple of days!
I went to Texas A&M and UTEP 🙂

 

[prodigiousflame]

I graduated with around a 2.7 GPA from my college and this is the advice I have gotten (and am currently taking) from some schools:

Get a second bachelors degree.

I graduated with about a 2.7 GPA from my university and was devastated when I didn't get into grad school.. After talking to several advisers and program directors they said i should get a second degree and, with most schools, the highest grade would count in their evaluation. Currently I am almost done with my second degree (the degree being in psyc, which most of the pre-recs are in, only took me 2 semesters to get) with a 3.6 pre-rec GPA (including some of the classes I was not able to retake) and a 3.87 over all GPA. If you do this, most universities will see that there is effort to do better and dedication on your part.
Best of luck!

Ag do you mean a 3.8 when not combined with your original GPA? I thought we had to combine all our GPA's. I've basically taken more than two semesters of classes since I graduated university because of my crappy GPA and if I combine the two I definitely do not have a 3.8 even though I've done well.

 

[ag1876]

Ag do you mean a 3.8 when not combined with your original GPA? I thought we had to combine all our GPA's. I've basically taken more than two semesters of classes since I graduated university because of my crappy GPA and if I combine the two I definitely do not have a 3.8 even though I've done well.

It depends on the program. Some of the ones I applied to accepted the higher GPA. Also, by getting a second bachelors you are also able to bring up the last 60 hours GPA (which some school go by if you've already received a degree.) It just all depends on the school, talk to them and ask what you can do to make you as competitive as possible.

 

[prodigiousflame]

did you get your second bachelors at your university or at a community college after graduating?

 

[ag1876]

At a university and I was able to get it in two semesters. This university's requirements for a second degree were to have 30 hours at the institution and to fulfill the major's requirements. Since most of the pre-res for OT school are psychology, it was easy to retake those courses and still be able to fulfill the psychology department's requirements.