PRE-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Admission to occupational therapy (OT) school is a highly competitive process. It is vitally important that students who want to pursue an OT degree thoroughly prepare themselves to be competitive applicants during the undergraduate years.

Occupational therapists help people who have mental or physical disabilities gain or regain the ability to live independently. OTs may work in hospitals, assisted living centers, or clinics, to name a few. There is a great demand for OTs and the job outlook is excellent. Patients may include people who have undergone amputation, recent paralysis or an extended illness as well as other mental or physical limitations. Go to explorehealthcareers.org and www.aota.org for additional information about occupational therapy.

GPA AND GRE

GPA is a vital part of your application to OT school. Many applicants accepted into OT schools have a GPA of 3.2 or higher.

The GRE general test is a standardized examination required by many OT schools as part of your application. Specific information on the exam is available at www.GRE.org. The GRE is administered via a computer-based format. There are 5 test sites in Utah: 1 in Orem, 2 in Salt Lake, 1 in Logan and 1 in St. George. Students select their preferred test site when they register to take the test.

The GRE general test measures:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Critical Thinking
• Analytical Writing

Three scores are reported on the general test: a verbal reasoning score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments; a quantitative reasoning score on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments; an analytical writing score reported on a 0-6 score scale, in half-point increments.

Students should plan to spend a minimum of 3-4 months studying for the GRE. You may consider taking a prep course or studying on your own.

PREREQUISITE COURSES

A Bachelor's degree is required before matriculation into an OT school. OT schools do not consider one major as better than another. Your major should be chosen based on your interests and strengths and can be in any discipline, science or non-science. It is important to select a major that suits you. Keep in mind that you may use your undergraduate degree to fall back on if you are not accepted into OT school or if you choose to pursue alternate options.

NOTE: OT schools determine their own individual requirements. The courses listed below are a general guideline to help you prepare for application to these schools. Refer to www.aota.org and the individual school's website to determine the specific requirements for each institution.

Required by most OT schools with a grade of C or better:

• Introduction to Writing: ENGL 1010
• Intermediate Writing: ENGL 2010/20
• General Biology: BIOL 1010
• Human Anatomy: ZOOL 2320
• Human Physiology: ZOOL 2420
• General Psychology: PSY 1010
• Human Development Life Span: PSY 1100
• Abnormal Psychology: PSY 3400
• Introduction to Sociology and/or Cultural Anthropology: SOC 1010 and/or ANTH 1010
• Principles of Statistics or Stats for Behavioral Sciences: MATH 2040 or PSY 3010

In addition, some schools require the following courses:

• Principles of Chemistry I with lab: CHEM 1210/1215
• Physics I with lab: PHYS 2010/2015
• First Aid: HLTH 1200 or Advanced First Aid Certification
• Medical Terminology I: HLTH 1300
• Public Speaking: COMM 1020
• Technical Writing: ENGL 4310
• Upper Division Developmental Course
• Studio Arts Course

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

It is extremely important to be involved in activities outside of the classroom in order to be competitive for admission into OT school. GPA and GRE scores are important, but they do not make you unique. Extracurricular activities are a chance for you to set yourself apart and display your motivation for pursuing occupational therapy and dedication to serving the community. Admissions committees want to know that you are willing and able to learn in any circumstance and/or environment.

The activities you should be involved in and the recommended hours are listed below:

• OT Experience: 50-75 hours in at least 2 different settings. OT experience can be done be shadowing or volunteering in an OT clinic or working as an OT Aide. Students should gain exposure to occupational therapy and have a clear understanding of what life as an OT entails.


• Volunteer Service: 45 hours during each of the pre-OT years including the year of application. To be a strong applicant for OT school you must show dedication to serving the community, specifically working with people who are mentally or physically disabled. Volunteer service can be done with any group or organization and does not have to be medically related. Being involved in 2-3 service opportunities over a length of time will benefit you more than having several brief experiences.


• Leadership: 2 different leadership positions during the pre-OT years. These should be experiences that have lasted at least 3 months or more. This includes experiences as tutors, mentors, coaches, teachers or leaders in campus clubs and organizations as well as employment and church leadership.

CHOOSING AN OT SCHOOL

Because all OT schools vary in their admissions requirements, it is recommended that students choose 5-10 OT schools they would be most interested in attending and make note of those schools' admission requirements. This does not mean that these are the only schools you will apply to, but you will be well prepared for your first choice schools.

Go to www.aota.org for additional information on OT schools.