What are the requirements to enter a master's program in occupational therap!
Question: On average, how selective are the programs? I have a year left of school and want to do occupational therapy now. I am a junior in college and have a 3.94 GPA, but my major is in history. Does my major matter a lot if I take all the prerequisites? And does one need A LOT of experience with patients, or will a little suffice? What kind of experience is good to have? Thanks so much for the info.
Answers: On average, how selective are the programs? I have a year left of school and want to do occupational therapy now. I am a junior in college and have a 3.94 GPA, but my major is in history. Does my major matter a lot if I take all the prerequisites? And does one need A LOT of experience with patients, or will a little suffice? What kind of experience is good to have? Thanks so much for the info.
You sound like your grades are good. How selective they are depends on the school.
Your major shouldn't matter if you've taken all the prerequisites & done well in them.
No you don't need a lot of experience with patients but it would probably help.
There are 2 branches of OT: Psychiatry & Physical Rehab.
In psych you do a lot with Activities of Daily Living (ADL); assessments, evaluations; work readiness. etc.
Rehab includes specialization with the hands & compensatory exercises or devices to have person adapt to their new impairments.
Try to get volunteer work where you can be supervised by
a Registered OT.
You also may prefer working with children, adults, elderly.
Think of who you might be interested in working with. If there is a large hospital near you...see if they have an OT dept. either under psychiatry or in physical rehab.
Any experience will help. You will have experience with patients as part of your education.
The best to you