General Admissions & OTCAS OT Program - Interviews

CMS22 · Feb 17, 2015

Hello everyone, I wanted to start a thread to hopefully get some insight and suggestions on interviewing for an OT program!

I was waitlisted for Eastern Michigan last fall but didn't apply again. I recently found out I have an interview for Grand Valley State (hooray! Top choice) for their hybrid program. My interview is March 14! I believe they interview 40 and accept 20 or 24 people. I'm very, very nervous!

Has anyone had interviews for OT programs before and can you offer any advice, even if it's general, on what I might expect or what faculty looks for?

Thanks, and I hope this thread can be helpful to others, too!

OTGonzagaa · Feb 17, 2015

I was also really nervous for my interview (not at GVSU). I kept telling myself, "Agh, I'm nervous", and I noticed it caused me to be even more nervous and I would give off this face of worry . So I began to tell myself, "I'm excited!". Every time I told myself I was excited, I would smile and feel good about myself. I would tell myself, "You got this! You've worked hard to get to this stage. Show them that you are a good candidate for their program and not someone that is nervous all the time." My nervousness was going away and by the time I got to the interview, I felt comfortable. Even during the interview, I was nervous at times and told myself, "I'm excited!"

Just notice that when you say, "I'm excited!" you don't frown right? haha, you smile! 🙂

Just something that helped me, and could help you. Good luck!!

CMS22 · Feb 17, 2015

That's great advice 🙂 Were you accepted to their program? I am a big believer in a positive attitude (and not freaking out) making a HUGE difference in things! But, as you know, sometimes it's hard to follow our own advice! I AM excited so even if I have to say that during my interview to calm myself down, can't hurt, right?

Thanks a billion for your thoughts! :laugh:

OTGonzagaa · Feb 17, 2015

Yes, I was. I have also done it for job interviews and it has helped. And yes, showing them that you can maintain a positive attitude during a stressful situation, shows that you may be able to cope with stressful situations positively.

Aside from that, show the school you are a team player and a leader. If you are interviewing with others, remember that there is a possibility they will be your classmates. So don't make yourself look arrogant, socialize with others and if there aren't other interviewees, greet everyone you see.

CMS22 · Feb 17, 2015

You have great advice. Your success speaks volumes. Thanks again and I will begin my extra-positive thinking now so that I'm brimming with it come March 14 🙂

OTkatie · Feb 17, 2015

I started a similar thread titled "OT Interview Tips." I don't know how to attach the link to it, but if you search that title I think you will find it! I highly recommend checking it out, people left me some GREAT advice that really helped me feel more prepared for my interviews.

I've had 2 interviews so far at Tennessee State University and Rockhurst University. I know these aren't the same programs you are interviewing at, but I'm going to leave you with a few questions I was asked in hopes that they help you in some way. I found that making a list of possible questions and thinking of my general answers really helped me get in the right mindset for my interviews. But that's just me!

TSU
1. Define Occupational Therapy
2. How do you feel about technology in the classroom?
3. What do you feel the student's role is in learning? The faculty's?
4. Tell me about a time when you were flexible in solving a problem

Rockhurst
1. Define OT (again- I would be prepared for this one!)
2. Tell me about some of your experiences that stood out during your observation hours
3. What moral dilemmas do you anticipate facing with changes in health care
4. How experienced are you with technology and foreign language?
5. Why do you want to attend our program?

Rockhurst also gave me situations and asked me how I would respond. I'll post more as I think of them but these are a few that stood out in my mind.

CMS22 · Feb 17, 2015

Eek, those are tough ones! But great info to have and will help me prepare for sure. Thanks so much!

gottabeOT · Feb 17, 2015

@CMS22 - Congratulations on getting an interview! I'm a first year OT student and I write a blog about occupational therapy. I recently wrote a post on OT school interviews that you might find helpful, which you can read here: https://gottabeot.wordpress.com/201...-school-part-vi-gotta-have-a-great-interview/

Additionally, the questions that @OTkatie described, in which she was given a situation and asked how she would respond, are called behavioral interview questions and here is a good guide to the kinds of behavioral interview questions you might encounter: http://www.wm.edu/offices/career/articles/interviews/guide/typesinterview/behavioral/index.php

Finally, I agree with all of the above advice -- go in there confidently and prepare well, and you'll be fine! 😀

CMS22 · Feb 18, 2015

gottabeOT said:
@CMS22 - Congratulations on getting an interview! I'm a first year OT student and I write a blog about occupational therapy. I recently wrote a post on OT school interviews that you might find helpful, which you can read here: https://gottabeot.wordpress.com/201...-school-part-vi-gotta-have-a-great-interview/

Additionally, the questions that @OTkatie described, in which she was given a situation and asked how she would respond, are called behavioral interview questions and here is a good guide to the kinds of behavioral interview questions you might encounter: http://www.wm.edu/offices/career/articles/interviews/guide/typesinterview/behavioral/index.php

Finally, I agree with all of the above advice -- go in there confidently and prepare well, and you'll be fine! 😀

Thank you for your votes of confidence and excellent resources! 😀

jka252 · Feb 22, 2015

When prepping for interviews, I found this website's questions extremely helpful. If you are applying to Indiana U's program, then I'm sure you'll find it necessary.

http://hpplc.indiana.edu/ohp/Interviews_PA-OT-PT.shtml

LMP816 · Mar 9, 2016

CMS22 said:
Hello everyone, I wanted to start a thread to hopefully get some insight and suggestions on interviewing for an OT program!

I was waitlisted for Eastern Michigan last fall but didn't apply again. I recently found out I have an interview for Grand Valley State (hooray! Top choice) for their hybrid program. My interview is March 14! I believe they interview 40 and accept 20 or 24 people. I'm very, very nervous!

Has anyone had interviews for OT programs before and can you offer any advice, even if it's general, on what I might expect or what faculty looks for?

Thanks, and I hope this thread can be helpful to others, too!

LMP816 · Mar 9, 2016

CMS22 said:
Hello everyone, I wanted to start a thread to hopefully get some insight and suggestions on interviewing for an OT program!

I was waitlisted for Eastern Michigan last fall but didn't apply again. I recently found out I have an interview for Grand Valley State (hooray! Top choice) for their hybrid program. My interview is March 14! I believe they interview 40 and accept 20 or 24 people. I'm very, very nervous!

Has anyone had interviews for OT programs before and can you offer any advice, even if it's general, on what I might expect or what faculty looks for?

Thanks, and I hope this thread can be helpful to others, too!

Hello CMS22! I know you posted this a while ago but I came across your post a few weeks before my own interview for Grand Valley's OT Hybrid program!! It's March 19th! Did you get accepted into the program? Also, any advice for the interview?? What were the interview questions and essay like?? They emailed me the 2 articles used for the essay..just wondering what the questions were regarding them.

Rachm127 · Mar 14, 2016

LMP816 said:
Hello CMS22! I know you posted this a while ago but I came across your post a few weeks before my own interview for Grand Valley's OT Hybrid program!! It's March 19th! Did you get accepted into the program? Also, any advice for the interview?? What were the interview questions and essay like?? They emailed me the 2 articles used for the essay..just wondering what the questions were regarding them.

Hey there! I also have an interview on the 19th for gvsu. I have no idea what to expect, best of luck to you!!

LMP816 · Mar 15, 2016

Rachm127 said:
Hey there! I also have an interview on the 19th for gvsu. I have no idea what to expect, best of luck to you!!

Thank you!! Best of luck to you also 🙂 Is your interview for the hybrid or traditional program??

Rachm127 · Mar 18, 2016

LMP816 said:
Thank you!! Best of luck to you also 🙂 Is your interview for the hybrid or traditional program??

It's for the hybrid.

OT57 · Mar 18, 2016

One question that I got asked in an interview that surprised me was "if you were to attend an OT conference, do you know what issues might be discussed?" I didn't prepare for this question but like any other interview question, if you stop and think for a moment before answering, you can probably reason your way through it.

I was also asked about the differences between OT and PT.

Good luck!

Rachm127 · Mar 21, 2016

Thank you! I was asked a lot of interesting questions, why OT and not PT? What made you want to pursue a career in OT? I was also given a paper clip and I had 2 minutes to come up with ways to use the paper clip. Fingers crossed. I'll know in 3 weeks

FS8927 · Jan 30, 2019

Hi there! I am anxiously waiting to hear back about GVSU’s Hybrid program for 2019! Did either of you end up getting into their program? What is it like, if you did? Thanks!

DanceQueen66 · Feb 19, 2019

FS8927 said:
Hi there! I am anxiously waiting to hear back about GVSU’s Hybrid program for 2019! Did either of you end up getting into their program? What is it like, if you did? Thanks!

Hi, How was your interview with GVSU. I am attending their interview this week. What kind of questions they ask. How was the writing exercise? Are we asked questions from the articles we received or are we suppose to write similar to that.Please let me know.

cedles · Feb 23, 2019

Different schools, ask different questions.
The interview at Mercy was the usual questions (why OT, why mercy, describe conflict & solution) and while LIU asked questions like (whose your hero, if you were the president wwyd, best advice v.s. worst advice & why).

So I asked my friend, who aced almost all of his med school interviews for some advice.
He said, of course, prepare for the usual questions, but remember your 5 strengths.
Drill into yourself the 5 strengths that make you a great OT, 5 strengths that make you a standout candidate.
If you are hit with any questions, even the super unexpected, you relate it to your 5 strengths.

Even "What's your weakness?" my weakness is caring too much (caring is your strength), and then talk about how to balance it perhaps using another one of your 5 strengths.
If you were asked to describe yourself as a fruit (which we were both asked before actually in interviews), you can talk about I'm like an orange, I'm caring to people who eat me and to my own seeds. I am sweet and nourishing to people who eat me and I will protect my own seed with my skin and flesh (unlike Mr. Strawberrry)

p.s. looking up your schools curriculum and mission statement is quite helpful ;D

General Admissions & OTCAS OT Program - Interviews

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