FIRST STOP: Set Your Destination
It’s always very frustrating when you are trying to figure out what you want to do with your future. Everyone keeps telling you how you need a plan, and sometimes it’s not that simple. So I’m here to help other future occupational therapists, like myself, find their final destination, also known as “your plan”. I want to make sure you have all the tools you need to prepare for your future as an occupational therapist.
Look at your plan like a road map. Your final destination is graduating OT school and all the yield signs and stoplights in between are your steps to accomplishing that goal. My blog is going to help you figure out those pit stops along the way.
The first thing you need to decide is what OT schools you want to apply to. Really think hard about this, too. All OT schools and programs are different, so you need to choose based upon your preferences and where you think you you’ll fit best. It’s a very smart idea to look at all of the requirements of the different programs, this will help you decide which school you want to attend as well.
Some OT schools require the GRE, some require over 100 observation hours, etc. You’re just going to have to buckle down and really decide how much effort you want to put into it all. If you don’t want to have very many observation hours, I would look at the smaller OT programs or OTA programs. Also, each OT school has a different requirement on GPA, so you’ll need to make sure you are keeping your GPA up throughout your undergraduate degree or make sure you have all of the prerequisites for that program. If you look at the chart provided by AOTA, it will show you the occupational therapist GPA requirements.
All of this sounds super overwhelming, but having a plan is the best thing you can do to ensure your path is a great one. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance or help. NETWORKING is key. Talking to the right people is what is going to land you your golden opportunity. Asking too many questions is NOT a thing. Use your resources!! If you need any advice or guidance at all, go to the American Occupational Therapy Association, and there is a list of directors and an email address to contact for any questions you may have about your journey.
