HI! I'd very much agree with the previous person's response too about shadowing and not being able to compare an MSOT and DPT. Like someone said before, the transition to entry level OTD is not a requirement coming in 2027 anymore, AOTA voted against making that move in the summer of 2020 I believe. However, many programs had already started the transition to an entry level OTD, and decided to continue this route. By the time your daughter looks at applying, it seems feasible that there will not be many in state master's programs left. And yes, this is the trend across the country. That being said, there are still plenty of masters programs around currently that do not have plans to transition to an OTD. As well, many, many schools offer a post professional OTD. This would be a doctorate following completion of a master's and sitting for board certification. I'd recommend discussing with your daughter why she thinks a master's is preferable to a doctorate for OT, when the biggest difference is one year of schooling. the doctorate generally has a stronger focus on research and leadership than a masters, as well as the additional year lends itself to advancing deeper into advanced topics. In some programs this additional time allows for completion of a certificate program within the graduate program (such as a certificate in hand therapy- meaning those who earn the certificate are more knowledgable and advanced in hand therapy than those without the certificate. think similar to having a minor in undergrad).
Also, there is nothing to say that taking a gap year between undergrad and grad school is a downside. In fact, in my cohort within the OT program at USC, the # of students right out of undergrad is less than those who took a year or more off in between. Many of my peers had other careers between undergrad and grad school. They took time in between to work, start families, take prereqs, and get shadowing hours. If going straight through is important to your daughter thats great! but know that it is not the expectation. The reason I bring this up is that choosing which field and gaining shadowing hours is a big deal. Many schools I applied to did not accept hours if they were not specifically occupational therapy hours. Also, the prereqs are very different, as is the grad school curriculum. I'd recommend your daughter talk to students and professionals in both fields to help get a sense of which field she actually prefers. The scope of practice and the ideology behind OT and PT differs pretty greatly and affects how the professions are taught. If you're daughter doesn't have an idea of these differences, her decision will be relatively unguided, and she runs the risk of not having an answer to "why did you choose OT" in her applications and her life. Hope this helps you guys!
