General Admissions & OTCAS OT School: Chances?

[GoEaglesGo]

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Hi y'all!

I have some general questions about the likelihood of me getting accepted into an OT program. I started undergrad wanting to go OT, changed my mind, then went back to it my first semester junior year. Since I changed my mind, I'm behind on some of the prerequisite classes. I need three more, and I'l be taking two of them next semester.

Here are my stats:

• Rising senior biology major with a psychology minor
• GPA: 3.41
• 106 hours volunteering in a pediatric outpatient setting*
• Several jobs working with kids, from the summer between graduating high school until present; one of these jobs included working with children with special needs
• 400 hours research experience in a molecular laboratory by the end of the summer, and continuing said research into the next semester(s)
• Member of Beta Beta Beta (National Biological Honors Society)
• GRE to be taken in August/September (currently studying)

*I know I need another field/designation, currently waiting for confirmation from that place I requested that I can start.

Additionally, I have been accepted into a week-long program at a school that offers OT to basically get a feel of what to expect in a lecture/classroom setting and about this specific school's application process (the program is later in the summer).
I have an autistic sibling, who has essentially been my motivation for wanting to enter OT as a career field.

After coming on here, I'm actually scared that I'm just not competitive enough. Is there anything more I can do to make myself more competitive?

Thanks for reading!

 

[agingold]

I can really relate to your situation but I think we both will be fine!

Personally, I tried to compensate for my GPA with A TON of hand-on experiences relevant to OT (i.e. volunteer hours, shadowing/internship, and my current job of doing therapy with an autistic teenager). I'm also studying a lot for the GRE (planning on taking it in August as well) to prove I can handle the coursework and will be spending a lot of time on my essays once apps are available.

As far as other advice, the biggest thing I've learned is all you can do is move forward since we can't re-do our undergrad experiences beyond a certain extent. Definitely get organized this summer and use free-time wisely to shadow, study for the GRE and any classes you might be taking, etc. If you can, try and communicate with schools you are interested in and if you're able try and visit and talk with someone from admissions or a department head. They might have specific tips for your application and if all else, it shows your interest (especially with follow-up 'thank you' letters).

 

[Kidamnesiac]

It depends upon where you are applying. Some schools look at GPA, and some look at the whole application. I would definitely favor schools that have interviews, because those schools generally care about the person and not just the numbers. Also, make sure to stand out (shadow in a variety of settings, write a stellar personal statement). Use the search feature on this site to find tips on how to write your personal statement...there are a ton of great tips! Good luck!

Hi y'all!

I have some general questions about the likelihood of me getting accepted into an OT program. I started undergrad wanting to go OT, changed my mind, then went back to it my first semester junior year. Since I changed my mind, I'm behind on some of the prerequisite classes. I need three more, and I'l be taking two of them next semester.

Here are my stats:

• Rising senior biology major with a psychology minor
• GPA: 3.41
• 106 hours volunteering in a pediatric outpatient setting*
• Several jobs working with kids, from the summer between graduating high school until present; one of these jobs included working with children with special needs
• 400 hours research experience in a molecular laboratory by the end of the summer, and continuing said research into the next semester(s)
• Member of Beta Beta Beta (National Biological Honors Society)
• GRE to be taken in August/September (currently studying)

*I know I need another field/designation, currently waiting for confirmation from that place I requested that I can start.

Additionally, I have been accepted into a week-long program at a school that offers OT to basically get a feel of what to expect in a lecture/classroom setting and about this specific school's application process (the program is later in the summer).
I have an autistic sibling, who has essentially been my motivation for wanting to enter OT as a career field.

After coming on here, I'm actually scared that I'm just not competitive enough. Is there anything more I can do to make myself more competitive?

Thanks for reading!

 

[cb31]

Hi y'all!

I have some general questions about the likelihood of me getting accepted into an OT program. I started undergrad wanting to go OT, changed my mind, then went back to it my first semester junior year. Since I changed my mind, I'm behind on some of the prerequisite classes. I need three more, and I'l be taking two of them next semester.

Here are my stats:

• Rising senior biology major with a psychology minor
• GPA: 3.41
• 106 hours volunteering in a pediatric outpatient setting*
• Several jobs working with kids, from the summer between graduating high school until present; one of these jobs included working with children with special needs
• 400 hours research experience in a molecular laboratory by the end of the summer, and continuing said research into the next semester(s)
• Member of Beta Beta Beta (National Biological Honors Society)
• GRE to be taken in August/September (currently studying)

*I know I need another field/designation, currently waiting for confirmation from that place I requested that I can start.

Additionally, I have been accepted into a week-long program at a school that offers OT to basically get a feel of what to expect in a lecture/classroom setting and about this specific school's application process (the program is later in the summer).
I have an autistic sibling, who has essentially been my motivation for wanting to enter OT as a career field.

After coming on here, I'm actually scared that I'm just not competitive enough. Is there anything more I can do to make myself more competitive?

Thanks for reading!

Your GPA is actually not bad... I would say focus less on that and more on doing well on the GRE (try to get at least in the 50 percentile). Also, volunteer in more settings! Two settings is usually the minimum so do at least three... OT can be very different depending on the setting so being exposed to more settings shows that you are getting to know/understand the field as a whole. I agree with the above person that schools with interviews are slightly better especially when you are doubting your chances... interviews gives you a opportunities to really showcase yourself... I tended to get accepted/waitlisted at schools that I interviewed with and just straight rejected from the ones that I didn't have an interview with (keep in mind my stats were the same, and I applied to similar schools... I didn't really have reach or safety schools). So interviews can definitely help you. In-person interviews are also better than Skype/phone interviews. Best of luck!

 

[sngot]

As people mentioned prior, your overall GPA is quite decent. I would make sure you do the best you can to excel in the remaining prerequisite and GRE. Most difficult part of the application is that you need to make yourself memorable. We all have a story but if you can convey yours effectively while addressing what OT is, then it will go a long way. Apply as soon as you can with everything completed. Early application is a major factor in acceptance and interview offers. Best of luck.