The University of Minnesota Program in Occupational Therapy offers an Early Assurance Program in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Morris and Rochester system campuses.
The University of Minnesota Program in Occupational Therapy offers a specific Early Assurance Program in collaboration with the Kinesiology major on the Twin Cities campus. Early Assurance is available for Kinesiology students when they declare their major.
About the program
The University of Minnesota Early Assurance Program provides an opportunity for highly-qualified students to receive conditional admission to the OT program at the top ranked University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.
For students with a clear goal to pursue an OT degree, the Early Assurance Program can reduce the stress of the OT application process and provide extra support and preparation for successful matriculation into the OT program. Benefits include:
- Conditional admission to the OT program, pending completion of program entry requirements.
- Access to occupational therapy advising to assist with course and extracurricular planning.
- Access to faculty and graduate student mentors.
- Special workshops on topics such as occupational therapy career exploration, study skills, and other OT topics.
- Invitations to OT community events.
- OTCAS application fee waiver in the year of application to the OT program.
There are two pathways for this program, one for students who are applying for admission to one of the University of Minnesota campuses as an undergraduate student and one for students who are already enrolled as an undergraduate student.
How to apply to the Early Assurance Program
Incoming College Students
High school students or transfer students applying to the University of Minnesota Morris, or Rochester campuses may apply to the Early Assurance program. Following admission to the Early Assurance program, students have up to four years to fulfill the program entry requirements.
- Apply through the undergraduate application process by December 1.
- University of Minnesota: Morris
- University of Minnesota: Rochester
- When applying, students should indicate “pre-occupational therapy” and respond to the short answer questions specific to this program.
- Students will be reviewed for admission to the early assurance program.
- Students will submit a simplified OTCAS application by September 1 one year prior to OT entry.
Current College Students
This program is only available to current students at the Morris and Rochester campuses, and newly declared Kinesiology majors at the Twin Cities campus.
- UMM and UMR students are recommended to apply for this program before completing 60 credits at their current institution (including transfer credits).
- UMTC Kinesiology majors apply in the term that the major is declared.
- Please complete an interest form and we will be in touch!
- The application is due by December 1 for Rochester, Morris and our fall-admitted TC Kinesiology applicants
- The application is due by the first week of spring semester for UMTC Kinesiology majors declared for Spring semester.
Entry requirements
Students complete their undergraduate degree at their system campus, working with their Success Coach or Advisor to ensure completion of all requirements for the Occupational Therapy program, which include:
- Successfully completing their bachelor’s degree requirements.
- Completing all OT program prerequisite courses (that were required at the time of admission) at their current institution with a minimum grade of B-; with permission, up to a maximum of 2 courses can be taken at another institution.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Maintain a full-time course load each semester.
- Meet once per semester with a pre-occupational therapy advisor.
- Submit a simplified OTCAS application by Sept 1 in the year prior to entering the OT program.
After graduating from their institution, students complete their Occupational Therapy degree at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.
Questions?
Contact Caitlyn Nygaard, PharmD Recruiting Coordinator, at [email protected].