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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SURVIVAL GUIDE

by Mary Gallagher.
With contributions from Lance DeGuzman & Jennifer Wiswall
Property of the Stony Brook University Pre-Occupational Therapy Society






















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Statement of Purpose:
The purpose of this document is to give Stony Brook University students a competitive insight
into the process of applying to Occupational Therapy programs in the United States.
How to be become an ideal OT candidate in 8 Steps
1. GRADES

Your grades are very important to admission into OT school. Most schools have a
recommended 3.0 GPA, but some require a minimum 3.0 to be considered.
Your best bet is to aim for at least a 3.3-3.5, which is around the average for
admittance to most OT schools. Better programs accept students with higher
GPAs (Columbia, NYU, Tufts, etc.) and vice versa. Remember that as years go by
and the profession becomes more popular, average GPAs are likely to raise. In
regards to your major, this is irrelevant as long as you have your pre reqs
completed.

2. OBSERVATION HOURS

You should aim for WAY above the required or recommended amount of hours.
Observe at as many diverse places as you can, for as long as you possibly can.
Some examples include but are not limited to: pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics,
hand therapy, sensory gyms, mental health clinics, adult rehab, etc. Every
summer and winter break you should aim to get at least some observation hours
in. You should also be observing during almost every semester. This will
guarantee you some letters of recommendation, show that you are committed to
the profession and rack up your hours. If a specific program wants 50-100 hours,
show them 100-150. Do this not only to impress admissions committees, but for
yourself. The more observation, the more knowledgeable about the profession
you are.

3. PRE REQ GPA/SCIENCE GPA

Your pre req GPA and your science GPA will be looked at the closest when
admission committees are making decisions. Try and make these very strong. If
that means taking science classes outside of Stony Brook at a community college
during a break, do it. It does not matter where your grades come from as long
as they are there. Science courses must be designated for science majors.



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4. EXTRA CURRICULARS

Have a lot of these. Seriously, show that you are more than just grades on a
transcript. Join a sport or intramural team, join an advocacy club, join the Pre-
OT Society

5. LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Gain an eboard position on a club, start a club, be an RA, organization a charity
event anything that will make you stand out as a leader among your peers. This
shows that you are mature, organized and responsible. Occupational Therapists
must make important calls about their patients treatment on a day to day basis,
and this type of decision making requires strong leadership and focus. Show that
you are ready to be a professional in the adult world.

6. SERVICE EXPERIENCE

This goes right along with leadership experience and just being a good person in
general. Occupational Therapy is a HELPING profession, so show that you love to
help. Volunteer at the Special Olympics, Row NY, the Paralympics or any other
health based volunteer organization. Even volunteering at a homeless shelter or
soup kitchen will work, but show that your reasons behind this are for the love of
helping others.

7. UNIQUENESS

What makes you different? What is special about what you do that is different
from what other OT candidates do? What aspect of OT are you most passionate
about? Go out and gain experience in your specific area of interest.

8. LIFE EXPERIENCES

Travel. Get an odd job. Join Americorps. Sky dive. Create a piece of art. Learn an
instrument. Perform at an open mic. Try juggling. Get more diverse work
experience. Participate in national novel writing month. Take a pottery class.
Learn a new language. Try something (ANYTHING!) new. See where Im going
with this? Have something interesting to write an essay about, be interesting. OT
is a very creative field. You will have to come up with creative therapy ideas all
the time! By gaining new experiences you are showing the ability to bring
creativity to the profession.

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Choosing Where to Apply
Location
Do I want to stay in state or move out of
state? Do I want to live at home or live
on my own? Do I want to be in a city,
suburb or more rural area? Location will
be a big part of your decision on where
to attend OT school. Schools located in
bigger cities will generally be more
expensive and harder to get into than
schools in more rural areas. Keep this in
mind when applying, and do extensive
research on the area the schools you are
applying to are located.
Tuition and Fees
What am I willing and able to pay to
attend a particular institution? Can I be
awarded scholarships or financial aid to
attend? How foreseeably long will I be in
debt after attending this institution?
There is a large gap between the costs of
private vs. public institutions for OT
school. The information about tuition
and fees is easily found on any particular
schools website, but keep in mind cost
changes annually.
Pre reqs
Do I have all the prerequisites met? Am
I still in the process of completing pre
reqs while applying to this program?
Will the in progress classes affect my
chances of admission? Do my courses fit
the description listed by the program I
am applying to? Prerequisite checklists
are available on all program websites
and a general one will follow in this
guide book.
Type of Programs
Bachelors/Masters
Entry Level Masters
Entry Level Doctoral
Accreditation
OTCAS is essentially the common
application for OT programs that is run
by the AOTA, The American
Occupational Therapy Association. The
AOTA monitors OT programs
educational structure around the
country with regular checkups every 4-5
years. An accredited program refers to a
program that has been shown to meet all
of the AOTAs standards. If a program is
not accredited, they have not met these
standards and therefore upon
completion of the program there is no
guarantee that you will become a
certified OT. The best advice would be to
only apply to accredited programs.
Personal fit
How do I feel walking around this city,
town or campus? Is the program size a
good fit for me? Do I feel like this
program will give me what I am looking
for in learning how to be a good OT?
Visit your schools of interest multiple
times to a get a feel for what you want!
Youll be spending the next 2-3 years
there, so figuring it out now is essential!


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The Application Process
1. Make a realistic list

Applying to OT schools can be costly. Application fees range from around $60-
$100 per institution. So consider applying to ten schools the equivalent of
approximately $1,000. Making a realistic list will save you money and time on
writing essays and filling out applications. Shoot for a reach school, a safety
school and several in between. Definitely apply to more than one program at a
time.

2. OTCAS/Non OTCAS APPS

Schools that do not participate in OTCAS require separate applications and
different essays. Keep this in mind when setting aside time to complete the
application process.

3. Letters of Recommendation

You will need about three of these. Generally one should come from a practicing
OT, one from a professor and another from any other professional reference you
might have. Try and maintain contact with the recommenders you select, not only
for future job opportunities, but to decrease the awkwardness of maybe having to
request a recommendation again. If you apply to programs on OTCAS and are not
admitted the first time, you must upload your letters again. The same applies for
schools not on OTCAS. Some require physical copies and others electronic, make
sure to check the format specifications!

4. Essays and personal statements

These can be time consuming and thorough. OT schools admit small class sizes
out of large applicant pools, so make sure that your essays and personal
statements stand out from among other applicants. Talk about your passions,
aspirations and make every sentence unfailingly sincere. UTILIZE THE
WRITING CENTER AND CAREER CENTER ON CAMPUS. These are people
paid by your tuition to assist you in writing, so even if you arent struggling with a
particular essay have them look yours over for something that could be phrased
better or elaborated further on. Delve into your own observation experiences and
personal attachment to OT as a field in order to make a good impression.


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5. The interview

Best advice youll ever get: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

Interviews can be nerve wracking, but not if youre prepared. Learn as much
about the program you are applying to as possible. Admissions committees want
to see that you want their school above all others. Again, UTILIZE THE CAREER
CENTER. There are people paid by your tuition to help you get gain jobs and
academic success, so set up a mock interview utilizing the following questions.

In addition, be sure that when they ask you if you have any questions that you
take the opportunity to ask well informed questions showcasing your knowledge
of their program. Seem genuinely interested!

This list of possible interview questions from actual OT school interviews was
provided by Jennifer Wiswall and Lance DeGuzman. No guarantees that youll
get any of these, but as a prospective OT student you should be ready at the drop
of a hat to answer these!

"What is OT?" "Compare and
contrast it with another medical
field."

"What are your weaknesses and
strengths?"

"How would you handle a situation
in which you feel strongly about a
therapy but the rest of the team
decided on a different therapy?"

Think of the different professions in
the healthcare team. Name them,
and explain what the occupational
therapist brings to the table that is
different from the rest of them.

What aspects of communication do
you think may cause a conflict
between you and a future patient?
How would you solve this conflict?

Name 2-3 accomplishments that
you are most proud of (does not
have to be awards or recognitions),
why you are proud of them and how
could they relate to the OT field?

How would you describe and define
personal maturity. Do you think
personal maturity and
professionalism go hand in hand?
Why?

What aspects of occupational
therapy do you like the most, and
why do you think you are a good fit
for the field?

What do you think will be the
biggest challenge as an
occupational therapist? Why?


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From your different volunteer
experiences, name something that
the OTs worked on from each place,
and explain how they are related/or
explain how they are different from
each other. Why were they
important for the patients?

Explain the difference between
occupational therapy and physical
therapy.

What made you choose (insert
school)s program?
It is your first day of fieldwork, and
you see your colleague is doing
something wrong. How would you
go about handling the situation?

What made you choose the field of
occupational therapy?

Describe how you would keep
personal conflicts from interfering
with your academics in the
program.

With these questions fully prepared, you can feel confident about having a stellar
interview. Also, smile
What to wear: formal professional wear. Ladies should wear either a dress, or a blouse
with skirt or nice slacks. Gents should be in a shirt, tie and slacks.
What not to wear: jeans, sneakers, hats, low cut blouses or dresses, 6 inch heels or
overly done makeup. If you have tattoos, do your best to make sure these are not visible.
Make sure everything fits nicely without tightness or bagginess.











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Pre req Checklist
This list is not perfect and will vary by
school. However, completing all of these
will cover just about any U.S. OT school.
Most courses usually must be designated
for science majors.
Sciences:
Anatomy and Physiology I&II with Labs
or Anatomy with Lab & Physiology with Lab
General Biology/Lab
General Chemistry/Lab
Physics/Lab
*Generally all labs must be hands-on labs,
this means no online labs will be accepted.
Social Sciences:
English Composition (or intensive Writing
course)
Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to
Anthropology
Philosophy (generally a reasoning class
works best)
Psychology:
Introduction to Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Lifespan Developmental Psychology (can be
taken as one course or a combination of
developmental courses across the lifespan)
Extra:
Introduction to Statistics
Medical Terminology
Kinesiology
Public Speaking
Introduction to Computer Science (rare but
is emerging in west coast schools)
*Occupation:
The occupation prerequisite is rare but to
elaborate: some OT schools may encourage
you to partake in a 3D skill you have never
tried before such as pottery, woodwork,
needlework, photography, painting,
performing, etc. This is because some
schools believe students would benefit from
knowing what it feels like to engage in a
novel task that seems challenging, as this is
what most patients must accomplish. It is
an exercise in understanding, patience and
in some ways, empathy.
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
basically its the SAT of graduate schools. All
information about the exam is available on
the tests website. Schools that require the
GRE generally have a mean score that they
use for admissions purposes. Make sure
you know this score when studying. The test
is administered about 4-5 times a month in
NYC and other metropolitan locations.



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Local Places to Observe OT:
Long Island State Veterans Home (geriatric/rehab; Stony Brook)
Sagamore Childrens Psychiatric Center (pediatric/mental health; Dix Hills)
Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center (mental health; Brentwood)
Huntington Hills Center for Health and Rehabilitation (short-term rehab/geriatric;
Melville)
Building Blocks Developmental Preschool (pediatric; Commack)
Little Flower Nursing Home (geriatric; East Islip)
There are also hospitals on the island and in Manhattan that offer spots for students to
observe. These include but are not limited to:
Stony Brook University Hospital
North Shore University Hospital
New York Presbyterian Hospital
New York University Langone Medical Center
Helpful Hints:
Lance DeGuzman:
Promote the strong points on your resume and answer some questions using help
from past experiences! The interviewers will not have (and will not ask for) a copy of your
resume in front of them. It is important to stand out and make sure they recognize your
experiences during the interview. An excellent way is to relate questions to personal stories from
your volunteer and/or various experiences.
TAKE YOUR TIME IF YOU NEED TO! Almost all the questions have multiple parts, and
they will be very challenging that require you to think on the spot. If you need a few seconds to
gather your thoughts, TELL THEM (nicely of course) and they will understand 100%. It is
definitely better to give a more thoughtful answer than a quick one. In addition, they will be
happy to repeat the question again if you ask.
Relax and be yourself! It is normal to be nervous, and they will definitely understand that
during the interview. Just remember to be confident in your skills, and think of all the hard work
youve put in. Youve already gotten this far by being yourself!
Jennifer Wiswall:
Start the process early. It takes a while to fill out OTCAS (a least a couple days to finish
everything completely.) Make a list of all potential programs you are interested in and make a
check list of the prereqs. Start strength/weight training. OT can be a very physically
demanding job what with transfers and moving patients around for treatment. Make sure before
entering a program youre prepared for this.
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OTCAS/Non OTCAS Schools
Schools that use OTCAS:
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Alabama State University
Belmont University
Boston University College of Health and
Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College)
Brenau University
Brenau University Atlanta Campus
College of St. Scholastica
Colorado State University
Concordia University Wisconsin
Dominican College
Dominican University of California
Duquesne University
Eastern Washington University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
University
Governors State University
Howard University
Idaho State University
Keuka College
Long Island University Brooklyn Campus
Midwestern University
Midwestern University-Glendale Campus
Milligan College
New York Institute of Technology
Nova Southeastern University
Ohio State University
Philadelphia University
Quinnipiac University
Rockhurst University
Rush University
Sacred Heart University
Saint Louis University
Samuel Merritt University
Shawnee State University
Shenandoah University
St. Ambrose University



St. Catherine University
Stony Brook University
Temple University
Thomas Jefferson University
Touro College
Touro College-Manhattan
Touro University Nevada
Towson University
Tuskegee University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Central Arkansas
University of Findlay
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Kansas Medical Center
University of Minnesota
University of New England
University of New Mexico
University of Pittsburgh
University of Puget Sound
University of South Alabama
University of South Dakota
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee Health Science
Center
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Utica College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Washington University
Winston-Salem State University




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Schools that do NOT use OTCAS:
Alvernia University
American International College
Baker College Center for Graduate Studies
Barry University
Bay Path College
California State University Dominguez
Hills
Chatham University
Cleveland State University
College of Saint Mary
Columbia University
D'Youville College
East Carolina University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Michigan University
Elizabethtown College
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida International University
Gannon University
Georgia Health Sciences University
Grand Valley State University
Husson University
Indiana University
Ithaca College
James Madison University
Jefferson College of Health Sciences
Kean University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Loma Linda University
Louisiana State University Health
Sciences Center New Orleans Campus
Louisiana State University Health
Sciences Center Shreveport Campus
Maryville University
Medical University of South Carolina
Mercy College
Misericordia University




Mount Mary College
New England Institute of Technology
New York University
Pacific University
Radford University
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Sage Colleges
Saginaw Valley State University
Saint Francis University
Salem State University
San Jose State University
Seton Hall University
Spalding University
Springfield College
State University of New York Downstate
Medical Center
Tennessee State University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center
Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University Dallas Center
Texas Woman's University Houston
Center
The University of Mississippi Medical
Center
The University of Texas Pan-American
The University of Utah
Tufts University-Boston School of
Occupational Therapy
University at Buffalo State University of
New York University of Florida
University of Indianapolis
University of Mary
University of Minnesota Rochester
Campus
University of Missouri
University of New Hampshire
University of North Carolina at Chapel
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Hill
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota at Casper
College
University of Oklahoma at Schusterman
Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center
University of Puerto Rico
University of Scranton
University of Southern Indiana
University of Southern Maine at
Lewiston-Auburn College
University of St. Augustine for Health
Sciences San Diego Campus
University of St. Augustine for Health
Sciences University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio
University of Texas Medical Branch
University of the Sciences
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wayne State University
West Virginia University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University Grand
Rapids Campus
Western New Mexico University
Worcester State University
Xavier University
York College The City University of New
York
(Data from OTCAS website; this list may
change slightly on a yearly basis.)