Become a strong applicant
As you prepare to apply to occupational therapy programs, there are many steps you can take.
Learn More:
Research occupational therapy
- Learn more about careers in occupational therapy by visiting AOTA ‘s Careers page
- Learn more about Occupational Therapy here! https://whychooseot.com/
- Ask an occupational therapist for an informational interview and learn what a day in their work life looks like and ask if they can connect you to another occupational therapist in another area
Experiences
- Find job shadowing opportunities with occupational therapists in schools, community settings, clinical settings, nursing homes.
- Exceed the minimum observation hours: Complete an Introduction to OT class (OT 1003 or similar) and at least 20 hours of shadowing experience, up to 80 hours total.
- Apply for a job working in healthcare or with children or in a nursing home. It’s not required to have related experience but it can be helpful.
Extracurricular activities
- Join a pre-occupational therapy or pre-health club in college. If your school doesn’t have one, find out how you can start one!
- Join clubs or activities that feed your passion. They do not need to be healthcare related.
Volunteer
- Find a volunteer activity you love and stick with it. Volunteering does not need to be related to occupational therapy.
- Some hospitals or schools offer volunteer opportunities, which offers you a glimpse into healthcare fields.
Leadership
- Look for leadership opportunities in volunteerism, work, the classroom, or extracurricular activities.
- Volunteering long-term may provide opportunities for training new volunteers or doing more advanced work.
- Many student organizations at colleges and universities elect leadership positions such as president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, etc.
- If you work full- or part-time, discuss leadership opportunities with your supervisor.
- Take on a formal or informal leadership role in the classroom or lab; connect with your instructor on ways to lead.
Preparation timeline
- Begin your application in late July the year before you will start the OT program. If you meet initial prerequisites, apply before November 1 to be considered for priority admission.
- Prerequisites: Confirm that you are on track to complete your bachelors degree and all prerequisites by August 1 of the year you plan to begin the program.
- Spend time drafting and revising your short-answer essay responses before finalizing. Be sure to address the prompt thoroughly. Avoid surface-level responses.
- List all work, volunteer, observation experiences. Our program values transferable skills.
How the OTD Admissions Committee reviews applications:
The faculty admissions committee reviews all parts of your application:
- Academics
- Performance in prerequisite courses
- Short-answer written prompts
- Observation hours
- Work and volunteer experience