General Admissions & OTCAS OT 2017-2018

[mep1234]

I know there are a handful of posts about this already up, but I wanted to start a new one so people could update, compare, and of course support each other! Feel free to add to the thread.

Undergraduate University: Roanoke College
Degree: Health and Exercise Science
Cumulative GPA (not completed yet): 3.42
Prerequisite GPA: 3.32-3.41 depending on school
GRE: 159 V 150 Q 4.5 AW

Applying to: Chatham, Belmont, Emory & Henry, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, VCU, ECU, Radford, and MUSC.

Employment:
-Student Assistant to Admissions Counselor in college Admissions Office
-Student Assistant to Director of Student Activities
-Pharmacy Technician

Extracurriculars:
-Vice President of sorority
-Vice President of Panhellenic Council
-President of Order of Omega
-President of Omicron Delta Kappa
-Executive member of Student Government (2 terms)
-Freshman Orientation leader

Misc: CPR/AED certified

Observation experience:
-60 hours OT shadowing at SNF
-70 hours OT shadowing at outpatient
-20 hours pediatrics

References:
-Occupational Therapist from SNF
-Professor in Sociology department
-Professor in Health and Human Performance department

Heard back from:
-No interview at Chatham

Super excited nervous about my chances but I'm ready to start hearing back!

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[OT2323]

Did you apply to VCU early or regular decision?

 

[mep1234]

Did you apply to VCU early or regular decision?

Regular decision! I honestly had no idea they even offered Early Decision...and I started applying in early August.

 

[BD17]

Hi!

I applied to VCU regular admission. My GRE scores, aside from my analytical writing which was 4.5, weren't the best they could've been unfortunately. However, I'm hoping my GPAs will help me out.
Current Overall GPA is a 3.5 and my prereq GPA potentially could be a 3.8 or 3.9.
I have a 4 year background as a PTA.
I've worked in the SNF setting and mainly with the geriatric population.
Completed 200 OT observation hours.

I attended their open-house last year and I remember the director of admissions saying applicants with high quantitative scores have been declined admission due to low qualitative scores on multiple occasions. So there might be a chance for those who don't have the best GRE scores to still make it if they're qualitative portion of the application is competitive!

Fingers crossed!

 

[Deadlifts&Pizza]

Undergrad: MSU
Cumulative GPA: 3.35
Pre-REQ GPA: 3.8-3.9
GRE: 153:155:5
Applied: LSUSHC -- St. Augustine -- LSUNO -- Allen College -- AIC -- UT Health -- TTU and a few others

Offered Seat: St. Augustine, LSUNO, Allen College, AIC, UTHealth (San Antonio)

Accepted Allen College because they're staff impressed me a lot with their hands on teaching applications. They also have a passion there for mental illnesses and prosthetics which is what I am aiming for (for now at least!).

I know what you're thinking, that cumulative GPA is not that competitive to be accepted to so many places, and you are absolutely right. HOWEVER, I do extremely well in interviews and I made them understand that I started off rough in college and after a certain point, (left for the marines) I had all straight As. Freshman year had a GPA of 1.1, graduated with a 3.35. They all liked that once I explained it. These people interviewing you (besides some of the bigger schools) have been trained in psychology and they want to see you holistically and not just a GPA. Those of you with lower GPAs and are nervous about getting in, theres lots of ways to make your application more appealing than a 4.0 students and if you get an interview, SMASH IT.

Feel free to ask anything!

 

[Beansprout_33]

Undergrad: MSU
Cumulative GPA: 3.35
Pre-REQ GPA: 3.8-3.9
GRE: 153:155:5
Applied: LSUSHC -- St. Augustine -- LSUNO -- Allen College -- AIC -- UT Health -- TTU and a few others

Offered Seat: St. Augustine, LSUNO, Allen College, AIC, UTHealth (San Antonio)

Accepted Allen College because they're staff impressed me a lot with their hands on teaching applications. They also have a passion there for mental illnesses and prosthetics which is what I am aiming for (for now at least!).

I know what you're thinking, that cumulative GPA is not that competitive to be accepted to so many places, and you are absolutely right. HOWEVER, I do extremely well in interviews and I made them understand that I started off rough in college and after a certain point, (left for the marines) I had all straight As. Freshman year had a GPA of 1.1, graduated with a 3.35. They all liked that once I explained it. These people interviewing you (besides some of the bigger schools) have been trained in psychology and they want to see you holistically and not just a GPA. Those of you with lower GPAs and are nervous about getting in, theres lots of ways to make your application more appealing than a 4.0 students and if you get an interview, SMASH IT.

Feel free to ask anything!

That's quite impressive! Congratulations!! Do you have some advice/guidance to offer on how to succeed in interviews?

 

[Deadlifts&Pizza]

That's quite impressive! Congratulations!! Do you have some advice/guidance to offer on how to succeed in interviews?

Be confident, try not to seem very nervous. Make them believe that you are calm because you know this is what you want to do. Don’t be cocky, they are professors and you are not even a student yet, so have questions ready. Don’t ask mundane questions either, prepare specific and interesting questions. The more fun they have in the interview, the better it’s going to seem. You have studied psychology at this point, use it.

These people want to see more than the statistics at this point, they want to see how mature you are, how focused you are, and how dedicated you will be as a student. Spots are scarse, they are only going to give them to ones they believe are going to contribute to the field. Listen extremely careful to what questions they ask and be sure your answers are to the point and actually answer the question. Make them laugh. Comedy is going to be a big part of this job, you have to keep these people in a good mood while they exercise through pain. Conversation is about 70% of this job. And making a few jokes keeps the mood light and keeps their spirits up.

 

[OpTimistic18]

Hi there! New to these forums, but have found them so helpful in collaborating with other students applying to OT school!

Undergraduate University: Radford University
Degree: Major in Psychology, Minor in Biology
Cumulative GPA (graduating in May so just current): 3.76
GRE: 150 V 145 Q 3.5 AW

Applying to: Radford University (putting all of my eggs in one basket, but I know that I love it here)

Employment:
-Student Programming Board Director of Operations
-Outdoor Programs Office Manager (I teach rock climbing and outdoor yoga)
-Ropes Coordinator at an outdoors summer camp
-Summer camp supervisor at local aquatic center
-Yoga teacher on campus

Extracurriculars:
-Neuroscience research team, presented at the Society for Neuroscience
-Note taker for our center of accessibility for four semesters (~180 Hours)
-Volunteer at adult day Center
-Psychology club historian

Misc: CPR/AED certified

Observation experience:
-21 hours with a outpatient OT hand specialist
-18 Hours in assisted living with an OTA
-25 hours pediatric OT

References:
-Pediatric OT
-Professor in Psychology department who I have done research with
-Supervisor for Group Fitness (yoga


Thankful to have a place to connect with other students! Wishing everyone good luck and calm nerves