General Admissions & OTCAS What are my chances of getting into OT school?

[OTnv46]

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Hi! I am currently a senior (graduating May 2021), and I am planning on applying to OT schools during the 2020-2021 cycle. I'm pretty nervous about the low number of hours/experience that I have, especially since it is difficult to gain shadowing and volunteer hours during COVID-19. I would appreciate any advice on how to improve my application as well as any insight on what my odds are of getting in/what schools I should apply to. Thanks! Here are my stats:

University: Michigan State University
Major: Human Biology
Overall GPA: 3.95
GPA for 60 credits: 4.0 (as of now, I still have to finish up 2 summer courses)
Pre-Req GPA: 3.9-4.0
GRE:
- Verbal: 158
- Quantitative: 159
- Writing: 5.5
Extracurriculars:
- 1.5 years in a Professional Foreign Service Sorority (a member of the sisterhood and philanthropy committee for 2 semesters)
- 1 year of Junior Class Council (Student Government), planning on doing Senior Class Council as well
- 2 Summers working in retail
- 2 Summers working as a ABA behavior technician (about 250-300 hours)
- 20 hours as a client care volunteer at a Brain Injury Rehab Center (got cut short due to COVID-19)
- 30 hours as a volunteer at a hospital environment rehab center
- 2 summers as a camp counselor for kids with special needs (about 120 hours, it was one week, 2 times each summer)
- 2 years as mentor in a program that found internships for adults with developmental disabilities (50 hours)
- member of Student Council for Exceptional Students (1 year)
- 2 years as a member of the pre-PT/OT club
- Various One-Time Volunteer Events: Night to Shine (2 years), Dance Marathon, Step Up for Down Syndrome (Do you recommend adding these to my application or is it better to leave them out?)
Research:
- volunteer research assistant at a lab at MSU for 1 summer (about 20 hours, directly interacted with kids with ASD)
- 3rd author to two manuscripts that are currently under review to be published in the journal adapted physical activity quarterly
Shadowing Hours:
- 20 hours in Hand OT
- 25 hours in Pediatric OT
Letters of Recommendation: Anatomy/Anatomy Lab Professor, Research Supervisor, and Pediatric OT I shadowed
Potential Schools: UIC, UPitt, Tufts, OSU, St. Catherine's Quinnipiac, Wisconsin-Madison, Rush University, Western Michigan, Midwestern University (Downers Grove), University of Minnesota, Sacred Heart, Chatham University, MCPHS, Kean University, Grand Valley State, and Davenport (I know this is a long list. I still have to attend more info sessions to narrow the list down.)

 

[OThopefully183]

Wow honestly your stats are impressive so there isn't much else to say. I think as long as you put the time in your personal statement you'll knock it out of the ball park.

I wouldn't worry too much about hours as I'm sure most schools are going to be pretty understanding. For the most part, I feel schools just want you to be sure you know what you are getting into and that you are serious about this field. It seems you at least have two settings which is good and you can use that on your personal statement!

 

[Thughey]

I actually am in the MSOT program at Sacred heart! I love our program and if you have any questions about the curriculum or the interview process you can ask me! I am very happy I chose to attend SHU! Feel free to message me with any questions!

 

[OTnv46]

I actually am in the MSOT program at Sacred heart! I love our program and if you have any questions about the curriculum or the interview process you can ask me! I am very happy I chose to attend SHU! Feel free to message me with any questions!

Hi! Thank you for reaching out to me. I do have a few questions about the program at SHU and the application process, which I have listed below:

1. What is the most important thing you learned during the application process/important advice you have for future OT applicants?
2. Do I have enough hours (volunteer, shadowing, etc) and how do you recommend gaining more hours during a time like this?
3. How is OT school different from undergrad?
4. What do you like about SHU and what set SHU apart from the other schools that you got accepted into?
5. Lastly, are the professors and faculty in the OT program approachable and available for students?

Thanks again! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions.

 

[OTnv46]

Wow honestly your stats are impressive so there isn't much else to say. I think as long as you put the time in your personal statement you'll knock it out of the ball park.

I wouldn't worry too much about hours as I'm sure most schools are going to be pretty understanding. For the most part, I feel schools just want you to be sure you know what you are getting into and that you are serious about this field. It seems you at least have two settings which is good and you can use that on your personal statement!

Thank you! That is very helpful.

 

[Thughey]

Hi! Thank you for reaching out to me. I do have a few questions about the program at SHU and the application process, which I have listed below:

1. What is the most important thing you learned during the application process/important advice you have for future OT applicants?
2. Do I have enough hours (volunteer, shadowing, etc) and how do you recommend gaining more hours during a time like this?
3. How is OT school different from undergrad?
4. What do you like about SHU and what set SHU apart from the other schools that you got accepted into?
5. Lastly, are the professors and faculty in the OT program approachable and available for students?

Thanks again! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions.

1. In your application, I would say that pay attention to detail in everything that goes into OTCAS. Also, I learned how to think of anything I could for awards. And lastly, choose your letter of recs wisely. Choose people who know you academically and know you as a person.
2. With whats going on, OT schools now not everyone is going to meet the required hours. I know SHU is changing the hours needed/
3. OT school is definitely more intense and required me to increase my studying
4. I love that at SHU we are all one big family. I have met some people that have become best friends. What set SHU apart was the facilities that SHU has. We have a driving simulator which not many schools have.
5. I love our professors and they all care about us as people and not just students. They are always there if you need to talk and just have a conversation. I have walked into their offices so much just because I am stressed and need to talk. I am so glad I chose SHU, and the faculty is really what sets this school apart.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask!

 

[OTnv46]

1. In your application, I would say that pay attention to detail in everything that goes into OTCAS. Also, I learned how to think of anything I could for awards. And lastly, choose your letter of recs wisely. Choose people who know you academically and know you as a person.
2. With whats going on, OT schools now not everyone is going to meet the required hours. I know SHU is changing the hours needed/
3. OT school is definitely more intense and required me to increase my studying
4. I love that at SHU we are all one big family. I have met some people that have become best friends. What set SHU apart was the facilities that SHU has. We have a driving simulator which not many schools have.
5. I love our professors and they all care about us as people and not just students. They are always there if you need to talk and just have a conversation. I have walked into their offices so much just because I am stressed and need to talk. I am so glad I chose SHU, and the faculty is really what sets this school apart.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask!

Thank you so much! This is super helpful information, and I will definitely contact you if I have any more questions.

 

[OTnv46]

I actually am in the MSOT program at Sacred heart! I love our program and if you have any questions about the curriculum or the interview process you can ask me! I am very happy I chose to attend SHU! Feel free to message me with any questions!

Hello again! I hope you are doing well. I wanted to let you know that I recently got an interview at Sacred Heart! Thank you for answering my previous questions. They played a huge role in my decision to apply to SHU and helped me during the application process. Do you have any advice for the group and individual portions of the interview? I have never been in a group interview before, and I am a little nervous.
Thanks again!

 

[Thughey]

Hello again! I hope you are doing well. I wanted to let you know that I recently got an interview at Sacred Heart! Thank you for answering my previous questions. They played a huge role in my decision to apply to SHU and helped me during the application process. Do you have any advice for the group and individual portions of the interview? I have never been in a group interview before, and I am a little nervous.
Thanks again!

Congrats on getting an interview! Will yours be online or in-person? For the individual portion, do your best to not talk too fast, keep eye contact with the professor, and don't ramble too much haha. For the group portion, don't be an over talker in the group, but also don't under share. When you are going off someone's ideas try to acknowledge them and use their name. For example, "Johnny that was a great idea, it made me think of..." It shows the professors you are listening to everyone in the group and not just thinking about yourself! You are gonna do amazing, and if you have any questions feel free to message me!!

 

[OTnv46]

Congrats on getting an interview! Will yours be online or in-person? For the individual portion, do your best to not talk too fast, keep eye contact with the professor, and don't ramble too much haha. For the group portion, don't be an over talker in the group, but also don't under share. When you are going off someone's ideas try to acknowledge them and use their name. For example, "Johnny that was a great idea, it made me think of..." It shows the professors you are listening to everyone in the group and not just thinking about yourself! You are gonna do amazing, and if you have any questions feel free to message me!!

Thank you very much! I appreciate the advice! My interview will be online (through Zoom I believe), and I will definitely message you if I have any more questions.

 

[Kimboslice12]

Hello again! I hope you are doing well. I wanted to let you know that I recently got an interview at Sacred Heart! Thank you for answering my previous questions. They played a huge role in my decision to apply to SHU and helped me during the application process. Do you have any advice for the group and individual portions of the interview? I have never been in a group interview before, and I am a little nervous.
Thanks again!

Congrats on your interview! I just wanted to know when you applied to SHU. I haven’t heard anything yet and I’m getting a little nervous since others are hearing back already. I applied at the end of August.

 

[OTnv46]

Congrats on your interview! I just wanted to know when you applied to SHU. I haven’t heard anything yet and I’m getting a little nervous since others are hearing back already. I applied at the end of August.

Thank you so much! I applied to SHU around the middle/end of August as well. I don't have the exact date written down, but I am sure you'll hear back soon! Best of luck with the application process