putting PT experience on an OT application?

[bing12]

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I am unfamiliar with this field. Curious due to a friend that has had PT experience, but they might be interested in applying to OT programs. Would PT experience still help the application of an OT applicant?

Is applying right before feb 1st with unfinished pre-reqs considered OK? My friend will not take the GRE, and has about a 3.0 overall, with 3.0 sgpa(upward trend).

Any suggestions to this situation? ( my friend has not applied to OT schools yet, but might want to matriculate by next year, so is applying right away still give them a good chance of acceptance? or is it similar to dental schools in that if you apply this late, you have a very slim chance?).

What is the recommended amount of hours shadowing an OT?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a masters or doctorate?

Any schools that would be recommended to apply to on the east coast( given their stats/time of application)?

Thank you for your help

 

[eagle88]

go to aota.org and check each schools' application deadline. Some schools require different OT observation hours as well as prereq guidelines. Some schools say you must have all prereqs completed and some will say as long as you have them completed before classes start. having PT shadowing hours won't hurt, but a lot of schools have specific forms for logging observation hours so it must be directly with an OTR. The OTR has to sign these forms as well and most if not all schools require a minimum of 20 hours in two or more DIFFERENT settings/populations. I would recommend at least 80 hours of observation. The PT hours could be stated in the personal statement portion but I don't really think you can use it for actual documentation.

Also, a lot of schools are using the centralized application known as OTCAS. I really don't think your friend will make the deadline because OTCAS takes a couple weeks to process and they send the centralized application to the designated schools you of your choice. On top of that, schools may require supplemental materials outside of the OTCAS application.

 

[bing12]

Thank you for your feedback.

But there are several schools that have later deadlines than Feb 1st:
A.T STILL uni(may 1)
Creighton University(march 1)
KEUKA COLLEGE(march 1)
BayPath College ( march 1)

Do you think march 1st would be enough time to complete everything?

 

[eagle88]

yes thats plenty of time. Just make sure the OTCAS is done a few weeks prior to the deadline so it gets verified.

 

[veggieswirl]

Absolutely put PT experience on an OT application! i know a PT that has supervised level 1 OT fieldwork students.