Monday, May 2, 2016

How to Choose an OT Program

It’s about that time of year when grad school shopping is at its peak. Finals are coming to a close, and summer is just around the corner. If you are interested in OT, it’s time to bust open your OTCAS apps and begin the treacherous task of applying!


I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it until I graduate, I do NOT miss the application process. But, it’s essential in order to get to the next steps of your future (and awesome) career. I have some personal tips/words of wisdom when selecting a graduate school. I have the tendency to get overly excited about future plans-- meaning I started looking at graduate schools freshman year. However, I did not know exactly what I was looking for in a school until I had graduated. So ya, lots of learning, and lots of growing happened. But here is my list of what I found very important in an OT program. Keep in mind, this is a subjective process. I had to find my right fit, and in return, my program also had to pick me. In all, I am SO happy with my decision to stay at the University of Utah. It’s been my home for the past six years, and I’m proud to be getting my degree here.


  1. High pass rates for the NBCOT. The NBCOT is the National Boards for Certification in Occupational Therapy. All graduating OTs take this exam before they become a fully licensed practitioner. It’s the ultimate final before you are considered competent enough to practice. Personally, I felt like it was a waste of time and money to attend a program that had a low pass rate. Also, I wanted to attend a school that would set the foundation for me to be the best practitioner possible. Some exams truly do evaluate competency, the NBCOT is one of them. Fortunately, the U of U has consistently shown a stellar pass rate for the NBCOT.
  2. In State vs Out of State Tuition. Initially, I was dying to go out of state. I’m a Utah girl, and as much as I love the Wasatch Front… I felt like I needed some space. I researched and visited many schools. I wanted to stay in the Western U.S. primarily because travel is expensive and I like being home for the holidays, however, money talks. I saw a lot of great schools, but got sticker-shock every time I researched the average student debt from these schools. Compared to any out of state school, going to the U is a deal. To pay half the price for the same degree of education, well, that’s a hard deal to pass up. Granted, I know many people who decided to go out of state. I’m kind of jealous of them, but ultimately, we all have to do what is right for ourselves.
  3. School atmosphere. I have toured a lot of graduate schools. There are a many great OT programs out there, and it’s hard to decide what fit is best for you. I highly encourage students to tour the schools you are interested in, whether it’s during a summer road trip, or on interview day. You can never truly understand the environment and atmosphere until you are there. I toured a few schools that looked amazing on paper, to then find out that they were not what I was looking for. It’s like falling in love, when you know, you know. Also, you are going to be spending AT LEAST two years in the program, it’s important to know that you like it.


Finally, I would recommend getting in touch with the academic advisor sooner rather than later. They are the experts on applications, and most of them are straight shooters and will tell you what the program is looking for. The U’s advisor, Kelly Brown, is a rockstar and calmed some serious nerves when I was applying. She also helped me put together a solid application, she's an amazing cheerleader to have.


Ultimately, the best advice I have to you is to sit down and decide what is truly important to you. Is it opportunities to conduct research? Design an occupational community outreach program? Go abroad for fieldwork? There are infinite choices, decide what is going to help you become the best practitioner. Then, do that.