Your stats are stellar. I know it's hard to know what the future holds but I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. We see people with "low" stats get in all the time so your GPA and GRE are already setting you apart. Your PT hours shouldn't raise any eyebrows in my opinion. If anything it's going to be a good talking point for why you eventually did choose OT after seeing both fields (if you do go this route) and you'll have that aspect to mention in your statement which should help too. Just do your research on programs and choose ones that fit your stengths. My only recommendation for improving is to get another population such as geriatrics to show diversity but there's nothing wrong with knowing what population you want to work either either. Good luck
The PT hours are great and I am sure they gave you a chance to also observe OT and how the disciplines work together. I do think it will lead admissions boards to think that you chose OT second to PT. I would hold that off the application for OT if I were you. To me, I think it seems that you would rather do PT. If you applied to both and were excepted to both, would you still choose OT? Other than this, the stats are great!!
That is amazing! Can you offer any study tips you used for such a great improvement?!
July is right!! I wish it opened earlier! July is when it opens but check the websites for the schools you are applying to sometimes they have specific dates that their apps open on OTCAS!
Our stats are quite similar! I am wondering if the lower prereq GPA is to blame for your last round? Its great you retook both A&P and the GRE! Congrats on the improvement! I think your professional & observation/volunteer experience is very impressive! My advice would be to possibly look at schools like Towson that focus on your last 60 credit GPA or do not require the GRE! Maybe try tweaking your personal statement as well if you think that could've been a factor?! Nonetheless, good luck!!! Second time is a charm!
I think as long as you get enough hours and a decent score on the GRE that you have a fighting chance! Use your current career and experiences to your advantage and try to apply them to field of OT if possible in your statement!
I would definitely include your PT hours. Many OT applicants start out with PT because they don't even know OT exists and then later switch when they connect more with OT. It will also show your understanding of PT and how the two fields connect, which is important since the two work together a lot.
Im glad to hear you've chosen OT, its truly a great profession and Im excited to pursue it as well! I would definitely include the PT hours if you are wanting to show your experience in those settings. Id suggest mentioning the hours in the personal statement and maybe connecting those hours with how you discovered OT and how to learned how the disciplines work together!! You definitely have a great shot!!
Thanks for the feedback!!! I think you're right... I just struggle to get hours as I work FT and am taking 10 prereq credits on top! I will make it work somehow... Please share the GRE pointers -- all are welcome! Haha.
WOW - Thank you SO much! This was very reassuring! I mentioned my lower grades/situation in one or two sentences but was sure to keep it at a minimum. I will have to check out Magoosh! I used Kaplan the first time and really did not feel that it was helpful at all. I am currently taking my prereqs and so far so good...! Thank you so much for the advice!!Hi! Just to give you some piece of mind, I got into my first choice school with an undergrad gpa of 3.22 and my major was Retail Merchandising and Product Development. I had a similar situation as you - I started as an exercise science major, but a lot of my family's biggest problems occurred during my freshman and sophomore year. My grades suffered and I settled for an easier major to graduate on time. I ended up having to go back to school after graduation to finish up the OT prereqs I needed.
My advice is to make sure your prereq gpa is as high as possible - this will show that you have the knowledge where it counts. Also, don't mention your lower grades or make excuses in your personal statements. You don't have much room to explain why you want to be an OT, so use all of that space to talk about OT and make it 100% positive. Highlight your strengths.
I would also suggest retaking the GRE. I used Magoosh to study and it was awesome. You want to have a higher GRE score than the average applicant so that you can compete against their higher undergrad gpas.
I would look for programs you like that have an face-to-face interview process. I think it is so beneficial to be able to speak to each program face-to-face and present yourself as a worthy student. They will be able to get a sense of who you are and look beyond your past grades. Confidence and preparation are key.
Lastly, show your top choices that you are interested in their school. Visit the schools you like and take a tour. Make sure you talk to someone in the department directly, ask questions, and attend information sessions if they offer them. They will take note of your interest.
Good luck!!
Yeah it is a struggle! I am hoping to find a job as a therapy tech but then am torn as I would take a pay cut and probably commute further. I am trying to figure it all out though!!You really have SO much on your plate! I am not surprised you are having a hard time fitting in volunteering. I can see how something has to give. If you think volunteering will harm your success in your classes, maybe it isn't as important?
GRE tips:
I did well on the Verbal and AW (167, 5) parts, but only okay on quant (153), so I guess you know which advice will be better.
Verbal:
Flashcard apps. Do them daily.. even just 20 minutes when you're waiting for something. Use multiple apps, because they all have their faults, and they also all have different words. The best apps track your progress. Flipping a card does nothing, you need an app where you can log somehow if you knew it or not, otherwise you'll just stare blankly and keep forgetting. Magoosh has free GRE-specific flashcards, and those are great. Do all the lists, twice. If you want to practice words in context, which will really help, use the vocabulary d0t c0m app. I can share my GRE word lists with you, they don't have their own GRE lists so I compiled some which was SUPER time consuming. There are some weird mistakes or awkward phrasing in the questions sometimes due to being made my robots, but this app is sooo helpful. During your day-to-day life, try to use the words. This somehow helps you remember.
Analytical writing:
There are lists on the GRE website of all the possible essays prompts they could give you. Do a handful of these from both types of essays, TIMED. The key with these essays is to get an understanding of what types of things they'll give you, and how to approach each, because otherwise you will flounder. Argument essays are easier, because there will always be either holes in the argument prompt, or at least alternative explanations for their assumptions.
Try to do this for argument essays:
1) restate the premise of the argument made in the prompt in your own words. Follow this with a sentence such as "The conclusions drawn, however, are based on assumptions that are not entirely warranted, which I will outline below". This isn't perfect, but you can tweak this IF you have enough time. Your first task is just to finish the thing.
2) The body of the essay should be 2-3 paragraphs, ideally 3. Each paragraph is about poking a hole or casting doubt about the prompt. Usually, it's an assumption made in the argument, or some other faulty reasoning. You don't have to say the argument is wrong, just that there is no reason to assume based on the given information that the conclusion drawn by the prompt is valid.
3) The last paragraph is the conclusion, which should sort of restate what you've laid out, which is that the argument made was based on false reasoning, and before such a conclusion, or any conclusion, can be made regarding <insert subject here>, more data must be gathered. Something along those lines applies most of the time.
4) IF you have time, you can make this better and more creative or smooth, but having a framework allows you to relax when you get to the end, because gettting to the end is important. Editing comes later. The point is, you learn how to write this clunky 5 paragraph essay in middle school, then in college you learn how to write more creatively and shed that clunky style. Forget college, go back to middle school, because you only have 30 minutes.
Issue essays are harder, because they're asking for your opinion and you could go anywhere with that. My advice is to do this:
1) pick the stance on the issue that you can quickly think of multiple points about. As long as it isn't a deplorable, amoral opinion, it doesn't matter if it is your actual opinion. Your actual opinion may make you too thoughtful and actually slow you down while you reflect on life and truth and what you stand for... you don't need that right now. Pick AN opinion, and get on with it.
2) Restate the prompt in own words, and finish with a brief allusion, or even a strong statement, that refers to your own opinion, which you will now elaborate on.
3) 2-3 paragraphs, each with a point supporting your opinion, or whatever opinion you have adopted.
4) re-describe the issue as stated at the beginning, end with a something that draws your previously stated opinions together into something making the larger point your 2-3 paragraphs were getting at. If you can't do that, then just sort of summarize what you already said in strong tone.
Quant:
Like I said, not my strong suit, but I would have done much worse without proper prep.
Use practice books. Use them TIMED. Use flashcard apps- magoosh is also great for quant. But don't stop there, when you're doing practice problems, if you come across a solution that contains a rule/formula that you don't know/have memorized, make your own paper flashcard. These rules and formulas are just as much a part of quant as actual problem solving.
Overall:
Do as many practice tests as possible, do them timed, do the whole thing at once. Don't avoid thinking about the GRE as it approaches just because it makes you nervous, face it before it happens or it'll jump out at you the day of and throw you off.
Oh wow! Yeah I was not sure about the letters...thank you for the info!!! I am so anxious I wish it was July already so I could begin the real thing!!!
I don't think being a patient counts at all, but it could be a good thing to based your SOP around!
I would do the SN school because it fills two requirements: shadowing + community service; whereas if you went with the SNF you would still have to find time to do community service. While talking to an admissions counselor for a school I am applying to they said hours are set so they know that you have observed the day-to-day of an OT and what the profession entails, not so much for anything else. I think having 2 peds is fine!
You will be fine with your GPA.
Hi there!
This gives me so much hope being that I was also a business major with a 3.27 GPA. Congrats on your successful admission
This gives me so much hope being that I was also a business major with a 3.27 GPA. Congrats on your successful admission
Thank you so much for the confidence boost!
Thank you so much!!!
I increased my score by 5 points when I took it the second time! Try going on Kaplan's website, they offer free webinars that seriously help. It teaches you tips and tricks to make the GRE go better. Honestly that is what helped me the most because the books just were not cutting it. Good luck! You can do it!
