What are my chances?

[nikkacap]

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Hey everyone! I'm new on the website and if this post/thread has already been posted, I apologize!

I recently discovered my interest in OT (last semester) and I am a little frightened.
I am a Junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Community Health major with a concentration in Rehabilitation counseling
GPA: 2.89 (took chemistry, calculus, physics, and all these other hard classes for no reason)
Pre-req: 3.2
GRE: didn't take them yet

Extra Curr: Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, pre-OT club, minority association of pre health students, students for choice, independent study research for a professor, my job (event management), internship (mental health education/rehabilitation/counseling setting)

Volunteer/hours: I only have ~50 so far at an acute/inpatient setting at a hospital, I will soon have around 100 hours by the end of the summer because I'm starting an internship at a children's home that offers rehab/therapeutic counseling, etc. But my goal is to complete at least 200 hours in different settings


Since I am a junior and I SHOULD be applying Fall 2012, I don't think I have a good chance of getting into any programs. My plan is to take a year off once I graduate and get more observation hours since my GPA is pretty low. 🙁

Do you think this is a good idea?

I live in the Chicago area, does anyone know if there are any good clinics/rehab programs/outpatient settings that would help me with my hours? A place that would hire someone in my major?
What could increase my chances of getting into a program? Since I'm a junior and the semesters over, I don't know how I could ever get my GPA to be above a 3.2.


trying to stay positive!

 

[OTisMe]

Is there any way to bump up your GPA some more, like maybe take some extra classes before you graduate? Some schools won't even let you apply unless you have a certain GPA- most I have seen are around 3.0.


Good luck and don't give up hope!

 

[STHERE]

I would definitely try taking a couple classes like maybe some art and psychology... (Something that is relevant to OT, but easy enough to get A's in.) You are so close to the minimum GPA. Also more observation hours wouldn't hurt either. That's what I would do, take a year off an prepare yourself with a stronger application. The year will show your dedication and organization.

 

[FutureOT2013]

I was sort of in the same boat. My undergrad GPA was a 2.7 and by the time I took all the prereqs and other courses that could help in OT, I was able to get the cumulative up to a 3.00. Some programs require other courses like descriptive physics which I took to pad my GPA and as a requirement to apply to USC I believe. I also took a Nutrition course which isn't required, but could be helpful somewhere down the road and the A I got in that class also helped boost my GPA. The program I am actually in now (San Jose State University), looked at my last 60 which was up to a 3.7 and really helped me out. There are a few programs out there that also look at what you have done lately.

 

[JQ353]

I'm actually in the same exact boat you are. I am a junior too and I am applying next fall. I recently decided to pursue OT and I have a pretty poor cumulative GPA because I messed up my freshman year. My solution was to apply to schools that only look at your last 60 credit GPA. If most of your bad grades were from earlier courses than it'll help a lot. I have a 2.5 cumulative GPA but if I measure my last 60 I have ~3.4.

Unfortunately when it comes to schools that only look at the last 60 there isn't a large pool of schools..
These are the schools I am applying to:
University of Dominican
Eastern Washington
D'youville
Towson
University of St. Augustine
Nova
New York Institute of Technology

But if you do decide to take a year off just boost your hours and retake some prerequisites, that's what I plan to do if I don't get accepted.

 

[OTgal03]

you really want to try to bring up your GPA, they really factor that into your overall applcation socre. Also, you really want to aim for a high GRE score, it may balence out. I know some schools tend to look at your GRE scores more than your overall GPA (like VCU, they still consider your GPA but if you have at least 3.0 and a really high GRE score you're good!) I was on the other side when apply (high GPA/low GRE), I was very lucky to be accepted to a program for Fall 2012. As for the other requirements, you really want to have amazing letters, 100/200+ observation hours, even regular volunteer/work experience. I think the best advice I read on here was to get in touch with the schools you're applying to, attend open houses, work with the program director or whoever is in charge for applications, get your name known in a good not annoying way. Good luck to everyone!

 

[teamaudio]

I'm in the same boat looking at schools in Chicago too! My question is I already have a bachelors in audiology so I still need a couple of pre req classes, but since I already have a degree when they look at "last 60 hours" will they only look at my degree last 60 hours or last 60 including the new classes I'm taking?

 

[JQ353]

I'm in the same boat looking at schools in Chicago too! My question is I already have a bachelors in audiology so I still need a couple of pre req classes, but since I already have a degree when they look at "last 60 hours" will they only look at my degree last 60 hours or last 60 including the new classes I'm taking?

I was talking to the admissions guy at dominican and this is what he said about how they evaluated the last 60 credits, "I will evaluate your last 60 units, which is just the last 60 units you have completed (including your prerequisites you have done in the last couple of semesters)."

So maybe the last 60 plus the new classes you're taking? It's best to ask the school to be sure.