Any occupational therapists out there?

[gnargle2988]

I posted this a few weeks ago but it only got a few responses and got lost pages back. So I am hoping if I repost it and make it shorter I might get a better response.

I graduated in may with a BA in communications. Shortly after my junior year I had some volunteer and personal experiences that made me realize that I really wanted to pursue Occupational Therapy. I needed to get a bachelors degree anyway so I used some electives I still had available to take pre-reqs for my OT (masters) degree. I only applied to two local schools that did not require the GREs (because with work and 19 credits I did not have time to prepare for them). The one local school was UB and after getting in I realized/it was explained better to me and I realized it would take 4 years to graduate from their program. So I chose the other school, D'YOuville (Buffalo, NY).

Now I start class next Monday and I am worried this was a bad choice and I should have tried to apply elsewhere (did do research, but the GREs were a big issue). Some concerns I have - the program at D'Youville has functional anatomy and most of the programs I am looking at now seem to have gross anatomy. Does this make a big difference? Also, the school has a large amount of Canadian students and from the orientation I attended it appears that most of them treat D'Youville as their fallback school which makes me wonder if the program is really good? Any opinions would be really appreciated.

Just to add....if I do not go to D'Youville this semester I will be able to get 100% of my tuition back (until the first week of classes is over) and I will have a full time job. I would also continue to look for other schools and take the GREs. Just trying to figure out if this school is going to be a mistake when it comes time to look for a job.

 

[mariolatry]

I don't think the functional anatomy thing is a deal-breaker. I took gross anatomy. What do I need as a general occupational therapist working in physical dysfunction 13 years later? My neuroanatomy is most important. The anatomy of the shoulder joint for both neuro and ortho concerns. Spinal cord levels, if you're planning on working with SCI patients. The full on gross anatomy is a good base but it probably won't handicap you completely not to have it.

I've found that the only people who care which OT program you came from are people who are less than 5 years out of school. If you have good grades and a broad range of experience from your clinicals, you'll be fine. It's not like getting an MBA from Harvard vs. North Dakota A and M.

The only concern you might experience is whether the college has a broad enough range of fieldwork contracts so you can get the best training experience.

 

[gnargle2988]

Thank you so much!! Can I ask, do you think it makes sense to wait a year and then go to grad school or go straight through. I think going straight through might make me burnt out on school, especially after my undergrad experience (4 years of school in 3 years, including summers and a full 18 credit course load most semesters- I felt dead by the end). I also wonder if I wait a year will I be out of the college/learning mode? This is the first summer I have not had to take classes and I am really enjoying that freedom. I was wondering what your opinion (or anyone else's) is?

 

[huey duey & luey]

I don't think the functional anatomy thing is a deal-breaker. I took gross anatomy. What do I need as a general occupational therapist working in physical dysfunction 13 years later? My neuroanatomy is most important. The anatomy of the shoulder joint for both neuro and ortho concerns. Spinal cord levels, if you're planning on working with SCI patients. The full on gross anatomy is a good base but it probably won't handicap you completely not to have it.

I've found that the only people who care which OT program you came from are people who are less than 5 years out of school. If you have good grades and a broad range of experience from your clinicals, you'll be fine. It's not like getting an MBA from Harvard vs. North Dakota A and M.

The only concern you might experience is whether the college has a broad enough range of fieldwork contracts so you can get the best training experience.

I am also an OT and completely agree with this. As long as you graduate from an accreddited program and pass your certification you will be fine. Coursework is essential for a knowledge base, clinicals are extremely important. If you know which are you would like to specialize in, I suggest finding a great placement in that area.

Good Luck, almost 15 years later and becoming an OT was definitely one of my best decisons

 

[mariolatry]

It depends on how fast you want to get out an make money! I'd hate to burn out.