is my stats good enough? need some realistic advice

[hotpebbles]

---

Members don't see this ad.

GRE: 154 V, 161 Q, 4 writing
undergrad GPA: 2.7 (molecular cell bio major)
grad GPA: 3.8 (2yrs of bio major. but didn't finish)
pre-req: 4.0 (finished)
vol: ped 80hrs, geriatric 55hrs,


This is my 2nd time applying. After being rejected from all 3 schools i've applied last year, I lost confidence in my judgement. The stats weren't too different from above last time i applied. Just a slightly lower GRE. I would like to believe the main reason for rejection was due to applying right on the deadline. But, of course, i may be wrong.


I really need to get in somewhere this time. Please help and advise me how to get there. All advice are welcome. Maybe you can tell me list of schools mostly likely to accept applicant w/ this stat, or maybe i need to retake GRE, more vol, .....etc.

 

[BHSUStudent]

GRE: 154 V, 161 Q, 4 writing
undergrad GPA: 2.7 (molecular cell bio major)
grad GPA: 3.8 (2yrs of bio major. but didn't finish)
pre-req: 4.0 (finished)
vol: ped 80hrs, geriatric 55hrs,


This is my 2nd time applying. After being rejected from all 3 schools i've applied last year, I lost confidence in my judgement. The stats weren't too different from above last time i applied. Just a slightly lower GRE. I would like to believe the main reason for rejection was due to applying right on the deadline. But, of course, i may be wrong.


I really need to get in somewhere this time. Please help and advise me how to get there. All advice are welcome. Maybe you can tell me list of schools mostly likely to accept applicant w/ this stat, or maybe i need to retake GRE, more vol, .....etc.

Never apply right on the deadline, especially if they have rolling admissions. It doesn't give them a whole lot of time to consider your application, and they might get the impression that you do things at the last minute.

 

[mlc54]

I agree with BHSUStudent, applying right before/at the deadline definitely does not help your chances with getting into programs, especially since some schools start reviewing applications a month or so before the deadline (the program/cohort could have already been full and you might not even know it).

I would recommend applying to more than 3 schools if you're determined to get into a program this time around. I applied to 9 (which was definitely over-excessive) but from other people on this forum, the average number of schools applied to seems to be between 5-7. Just something to keep in mind 🙂

OT programs are becoming more competitive (especially the past few years), so don't let rejections get you down! I had to go through 2 application cycles as well before I finally got into my first choice school this time around. Look into other schools and try to get your applications in well before the deadline and hopefully this time around will be different. Good luck!! 😀

 

[Johann00]

Did you call the schools you got rejected from and ask them what you could do to make your application stronger?

 

[hotpebbles]

johann00,

Of course i did. However, they (baypath) kept giving excuses like i'm not in the office, i'm busy so will get back to you in a week. Then, when i asked the 3rd time, they never replied back. I gave 1~2 weeks in between those 3 e-mails, so that they don't feel like i'm bugging them like H***. Even in the rejection e-mail they explicitly stated to ask Lynn for reasons for rejection, and she kept avoiding my e-mail.

Extremely unprofessional.

For USC, my application wasn't complete until 2 weeks after their Feb deadline due to late GPA verification at OTCAS. I was surprised that USC put me in a waiting list when my application was fairly late.

For Kean, did interview, but rejected. This one was a bit predictable, because I kind of bombed the 30min. timed essay at the interview. Also, i was out of state.

 

[hotpebbles]

BHSUStudent,

All 3 schools, USC & kean & baypath, weren't rolling. But i guess it is detrimental if submit right on the deadline.

 

[hotpebbles]

mlc54,

yup. i am definitely applying early (at least by the end of August) & more like 10 schools this time. It was kinda impossible last time to apply to many schools due to financial reasons. But, i'm just going to take out loans or something since it's not worth to save some $$ and have to go through another round of rejections.

 

[Sunny324]

Hi Hotpebbles,

Your biggest hurdle is going to be your undergrad GPA. Schools will often have a certain cutoff GPA and if yours falls below that number, your application won't be considered. See this thread for an example of how this is done at one school (5th post down).

Your graduate program GPA is fantastic but depending on the school, it it may not be considered in your application.

Do you have an upward trend in your undergraduate GPA? If your last 60 credit GPA is much higher than your overall GPA, you could try applying to schools that only look at the last 60 credits. Another thing you can do is to take some courses at a community college or do a post-baccalaureate program to boost your undergraduate GPA.

More volunteer/observation hours in more settings might help.

Great job on that pre-req GPA.

Good luck!