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General Admissions & OTCAS How can I prepare for applying to OT schools?
- Thread starter chef30
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Hello! I am graduating in the spring with a B.S. in Psychology. I have been hard-pressed to find other Psych people looking at OT.
I was accepted into Wash U's OTD program and will start next fall. So, the only comparison I have is my own experience. This is a long post. Bless you if you read it all. 😉
Pre-reqs: I would say if you were able to take a Child Development or Psych of Child class, or even a Lifespan class, that would be a pretty common requirement for most schools. You will also have to take Anatomy and Physiology with lab for probably every school. My school only offers a 5 credit hour combined course, so I had to supplement with Physiology of Exercise, which was not accepted as a valid pre-req at some programs. I just started emailing every program with my concerns; most were extremely helpful and even looked over my unofficial transcript.
LOR: Most schools require a letter of recommendation from an OT. I completed about 52 hours of observation. 30 was the requirement for Wash U and 50 for the other school I applied to. I observed at an assisted living facility, home health, NICU, and pediatrics. I contacted OTs through friends and family who worked with them. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful setting up anything by simply cold-calling OTs through a hospital website.
Time Frame: I was looking to matriculate Fall 2017. I began entering in my information to OTCAS and getting in verified as soon as it opened in July 2016. I had already sent my CV and all that jazz to my letter writers, so they could upload their letters when they got the email from OTCAS. I officially submitted my application when I received my GRE score in late August 2016. The first priority deadline was November 1, but for Wash U it wasn't until December. However, I was accepted at the end of November. So, as soon as you can get that puppy verified and submitted, the better.
Psych Stuff: It seems to me that many people on this particular site have backgrounds in Exercise Science, Biology, Pre-Med, or Kinesiology. Due to that fact, there were some things that were psych-specific about my application that I think were helpful. I have a lot of research experience, and Wash U is pretty research oriented so I highlighted that. The projects I have worked on have been thematically related to OT (infant visual perception, exercise intervention for older adults, attitudes toward disabilities, etc.), but not necessarily within the field. I think the technical experience I got working on those projects (experimental design, stats, writing skills, and bits of coding) was a unique part of my application. Also, if you have presented research at a conference or have been published, I think this is very important to include, especially if you are going the research route.
Acceptance: Everything I have read has indicated that admissions committees are looking for applicants that come from diverse backgrounds, but are passionate about OT and bringing their eclectic set of skills to the profession. I think having a really strong academic background like you have, the required observation hours, and a sincere, demonstrative personal statement that communicates your passion for the field will be more than enough to help you get accepted.
End of ramble. Let me know if you have more questions! Best of luck!
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First of all, Sawyer95 did a really great job answering most of your questions. A few things I learned from the experience:
1) GRE: While I only took the exam once, I had some friends who didn't perform well the first time. I would recommend taking your GRE in the late spring if possible, so that if it doesn't go well, you have time to address your deficiencies and take it again before turning in your applications. From what I can tell, schools tend to prioritize the analytical writing section above the other two. If possible, start preparing with timed writes now, and it'll make the whole process go easier. That said, the GRE is just one component of your application!
2) Recommendation letters: You will need at least one OT for virtually every program you apply to. I would suggest that you ask an OT you get to spend some significant chunks of time with (at least 15-20 hours) if possible.
3) Volunteer Hours: While most schools have a minimum hour amount, the breadth of experience can also help strengthen your application. For me, getting into a hospital was also tricky. That said, even if a site can only accept you for one business day (between 4-6 hours), I would recommend taking that experience! I was able to shadow an at-home OT for a day and in a hospital for a day... While 15 hours between the two sites may not seem like a lot, being able to speak to several different types of OT in my personal statement was helpful! I would also try to be at one site for a longer period of time -- this ties into the rec letter question as well as helping give you be a little more comfortable in a given setting. I think if you can get to somewhere greater than 50 hours before August of 2017, you'll be a competitive applicant from that standpoint.
One last thing I'd like to tell you is that comparing yourself to others is really tempting during the application process. But, I would try to limit your comparisons -- notice that I say limit, because it will still happen! You will bring a unique set of experiences/goals with your application, and if you do a good job in demonstrating those in your writing/interviews, you have a chance anywhere. While I submitted my OTCAS in mid-August of this year, it's okay if it takes you up to the deadline for a school in order to submit your best application. Also, be friendly with the admissions people from programs you're interested in. They'll be a lifeline for any questions you have from their websites, and 99/100 times, they are genuinely interested in your success in having a completed application to their school!
Good luck!
