If you have ever wondered, “How the heck do I even get into OT school?”
So I asked Instagram:
Have EVERYTHING together. Shadowing, paperwork, pre req’s, etc. Make it easy for the director of the program to let you in for an interview. And know what OT really is and why you wanna go to OT school! – Breanna Noel Tarpley @breannatarp
Make connections; offer to help professors with research at the university you’ll be attending if you’re local. Fill your application with a wide range of volunteer and shadowing experience! – Heather Fox @heather_fox_ot
Know what OT is and what it is NOT! I’ve seen so many people who go through the motions of the application and have all their eggs in a basket but they turn out looking blah on paper because there isn’t anything that speaks to their passion for the field. I didn’t even have a 3.5 GPA or an outstanding GRE score. What I did have was a lot of experience shadowing, working, and volunteering. The only way you can truly see what OT is to the core is to shadow and not just one or two clinics. Shadow at multiple clinics, in multiple settings, and under multiple people because each OT will teach you a new perspective/style that contributes to the creative and holistic field that is OT! OT Schools want to see your heart for the field. They want to see that you’re not just another resume with outstanding accolades. We’re getting to the point where so many people know exactly what is required to get in on paper, for OT, PT, and even Med programs. So bring something to the table that speaks to your calling for this field. **also I’m not saying that good grades and GRE scores don’t help bc they definitely do ???? ** But leave them with something that makes them say, “he or she would be a great OT” – Megan @proudtobeot of ProudtobeOT.com
I had a unique background with a dance major so I believed that was instrumental in making me stand out! – Ericka @joy.energy.time of JoyEnergyTime.com
Having strong recommendations for sure! Also, any experience via shadowing an OT, working with kids with disabilities, volunteering at a nursing home, or being a rehab tech definitely helps ???????? I think people get caught up in thinking if they don’t have a 3.5 or higher they can’t get in, which is TOTALLY not true! You need the kind hearted care centered personality (that most OTs encompass) during the grad school interview to really shine through to make up for some lack of GPA factors if that’s the case. – Emma Bennett @emmagbennett
Treat your interview like a conversation, not an oral test. If you can back your responses with experience that applies to what your interviewer is asking and reflect your character, you’re more likely to stand out! Don’t compare your experiences to someone else’s – everybody gains different knowledge and skills along the way which makes a more more dynamic class and future set of colleagues. Remember, everyone is in the same boat! – Danielle Longfellow @danielle_longfellow
I had a music performance degree and didn’t even know about OT until I was being medically discharged from the Army at 32. I think that my experience with disability and treatment at the Walter Reed AMC, followed by becoming a Red Cross Volunteer in their clinic while taking prerequisites made me a strong candidate, very well prepared for the program, and life-long OT advocate. I had family members in the medical profession, but had no clue about OT. Once you’re in the program, act professionally and responsibly! I was disappointed by the behavior demonstrated by some of the students in their 20s in my program. If you’re going into OT because you couldn’t get into PT school, you may need to do more inner reflection to become a holistic OT practitioner. OT is a distinct field that looks at individuals like no other profession does. Having the highest GPA doesn’t mean that you will become a successful OT if you don’t have the passion. – Deborah Kratz @ot4me
