typical applicant freakout post. AKA HELP! I'm having a nervous breakdown

[dee823]

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Hey guys. It's my fifth year at a local university. I started of pre-med my first two years, took a few science classes and did NOT do well...that was in gen chem,precalc, cell bio, and bio 101. i literally failed those classes. Then i changed my major to education, did pretty well in those classes, but decided I wanted to back to a healthcare profession, so I took a few Speech Therapy courses. I did well in those too, but now, being my fifth year, I'm leaning towards OT after doing some shadowing and talking with a few close OT friends. My cumulative is a 3.01 (due to my terrible freshman and sophomore years), and I'll probably graduate with around a 3.1-3.2. I wasn't planning on taking the GRE but the more I look around, it seems the GRE is a great idea.
I worked as a salesperson until a week ago for about a year and half. I have PLENTY of volunteer experience, I plan on having plenty of observation hours (at least 100+) and I'm in the psychology honors society. Psychology is my major.
With that said, I have a few options. I can finish up my degree and graduate with my BS in Psychology in May of 2013, as I have been planning, knocking out one or two OT prereqs by then-A&P, Stats, maybe neuroanatomy (which I plan on, and will ace). And then take a couple others over the summer as a post bacc student (Physics, Med Terminology, A&P II), and then the GRE at some point between that.

A few questions. One, the gen chem and cell bio classes that I failed my first two years of school...I know those aren't pre-reqs but considering they are science classes, do you recommend I retake them? I also ended up with a C in Basic Bio but I know with even minimal effort I could definitely get an A in that class. I've taken my academics more seriously over the years but unfortunately my science GPA is suffering. Also, do you think that is going to be a serious handicap to my application or as long as I do well in the majority of the pre-reqs I should be okay? Also, does it look bad for grad schools if I took five years to graduate with a BS in Psychology, with 3-4 different majors being changed (I never declared them, but you can see by the courses I chose to take)? And finally, if I take the following summer to complete some prereqs as a post-bacc or guest student at a University, is that unappealing as well?
I'm not looking to get into ANY top schools. Just anything AOTA accredited. Location doesn't matter to me either. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[jewel11786]

Here's a few ideas before you graduate.
1. If you retake those classes you failed can you get a grade replacement if you do well (meaning that F will get replaced with a B, or whatever if you do well, on your transcript)? If so, I recommend doing that to get rid of the bad grades and boost your GPA. Of course schools will consider that you've significantly improved your grades in other classes, but why not take the time and do that if your school gives you that opportunity. And if you still have classes to take, take some prerequisites before you graduate and then go ahead and take the rest of the classes as a post-bacc or extend graduation until you finish all the pre-reqs, this can also boost your GPA.

2. Most OT schools don't care how and when you took the pre-reqs as long as they are equivalent to the same courses offered at their schools, so you can even get away with taking them at a community college near your home once you graduate. More convenient and cheaper.

 

[dee823]

Here's a few ideas before you graduate.
1. If you retake those classes you failed can you get a grade replacement if you do well (meaning that F will get replaced with a B, or whatever if you do well, on your transcript)? If so, I recommend doing that to get rid of the bad grades and boost your GPA. Of course schools will consider that you've significantly improved your grades in other classes, but why not take the time and do that if your school gives you that opportunity. And if you still have classes to take, take some prerequisites before you graduate and then go ahead and take the rest of the classes as a post-bacc or extend graduation until you finish all the pre-reqs, this can also boost your GPA.

2. Most OT schools don't care how and when you took the pre-reqs as long as they are equivalent to the same courses offered at their schools, so you can even get away with taking them at a community college near your home once you graduate. More convenient and cheaper.

Thank you. Yes, the F will get replaced. However, since I am graduating next semester, I don't have the option of retaking those classes and boosting my GPA since I have other pre-reqs that I need to take. I'm thinking I will graduate and then do a post bacc where I finish up a few other prereqs, ace them, and then apply the following year.
Do you think it matters to OT school in that case that technically I took a semester off (since I will be graduating in May, taking summer classes as a post bacc, and then applying in the fall?) Thanks again!

 

[affa]

gen chem is a prereq for everywhere I applied.

 

[jewel11786]

Not at all. I was out of school 2 years before I was accepted into OT. Taking a semester off is a good opportunity for you to volunteer and get your observation hours in if you haven't already done so. They'll most heavily weigh your GPA, grades in pre-req classes, letters of recommendation, essay, and volunteer hours. Of course most schools require interviews, so don't be surprised if they ask you about past grades and whatever, the school I applied to had my transcript out the whole time I was interviewed. Other than that, alot of people in my program are working adults who have been out of school many years so when you take your pre-reqs is not an issue.