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How to get an OT degree
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amother
Rose


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 3:08 pm
I am interested in becoming an OT.

I do not have any college credits. What is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to earn credits towards anot occupational therapist program?
I prefer online though I live in Brooklyn so I can possibly go down to a local college for exams. Also I like prefer multiple choice testo to discussion boards and writing assignments.

Also for any OT on here. Is the masters degree difficult? How much did it cost you?
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cnc




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 3:14 pm
There are many Science classes required which have a lab component to them. No reputable program will allow you to do these classes online. ( note that I said reputable - because I do know of one program that did the Labs through Skype and kits, but most people don't want an OT that didn't actually sit through class for their child.)

Most OT programs require about 90 credits worth of prereqs. That's between 20 and 30 classes. Testing methodology depends on the class instructor and I don't think that you would be able to pick a college based on that.

I am not an OT but I looked into it and the schooling is quite intense.
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amother
Rose


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 3:55 pm
Thanks cnc!!

I very strongly want to do this. But I don't have unlimited time money and resources.

Where should I look around? touro? Do you know of any other program.

What made you decide against it?
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cnc




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 3:58 pm
amother wrote:
Thanks cnc!!

I very strongly want to do this. But I don't have unlimited time money and resources.

Where should I look around? touro? Do you know of any other program.

What made you decide against it?


Do you mind PMing me?
I can give you all the information that I currently have - I'd rather not post it all here.
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amother
Slateblue


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 4:02 pm
As an OT I can tell you that you do not sound like a good candidate for an OT program or career. The schooling is long and intense, and time intensive as well. There are really no shortcuts, and it is all onsite. Once you are in the Masters program, you can expect to be out of the house either in class or in clinicals at least forty hours a week. There is a huge amount of writing...Papers, essays, reports. You will have to do a lot of report writing and documentation as a therapist. If you prefer multiple choice exams and do not do well with heavy writing, this is the wrong career choice.
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amother
Aubergine


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 4:04 pm
I got a masters in OT and then became a SAHM Wink. I personally found it very difficult. That being said there were people in my class who already had families and pulled it off. As already stated, you need to get prerequisites. In the New York Area- there are also programs at Downstate, NYU and Columbia and I think LIU? If you are a New Yorker Downstate will probably be your cheapest bet since it's a public program. I've been told that it's hard to get in to now but I don't know. There might be "Jewish" programs like Reizel Rite who have one, I have no idea but that's a whole different ball game and I am completely unfamiliar with how things work in those type of programs.

Just so you know there was plenty of writing in the master's program. You have to be ready to write papers and not just take multiple choice tests.

I'm not trying to discourage you, I have good friends who did great in school and enjoy their work now, just trying to be realistic.

Hatzlacha!
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amother
Aubergine


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 4:06 pm
I crossposted with slateblue but I see that she said the same thing.
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DVOM




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 5:20 pm
Hi all!

Slateblue and Aubergine, I'd hope its ok if I go off on my own spin here. I've got tons of questions for you guys!

My husband just got into OT grad school, and is starting in May. We have loads of questions. I dont want to take over Rose's thread... If either of you wouldn't mind chatting with a OT student and his wife (DH and me!) we would love to get some insider info.

Thanks!
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amother
Slateblue


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 5:31 pm
DVOM wrote:
Hi all!

Slateblue and Aubergine, I'd hope its ok if I go off on my own spin here. I've got tons of questions for you guys!

My husband just got into OT grad school, and is starting in May. We have loads of questions. I dont want to take over Rose's thread... If either of you wouldn't mind chatting with a OT student and his wife (DH and me!) we would love to get some insider info.

Thanks!


I will be happy to answer any questions here.
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happy1234




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 10:10 pm
I'm an OT as well. I went to NYU.
U can pm me any question as well.
I did queens college got my ba in psychology then I went to NYU for masters in OT.
Really no shortcuts.
Ppl do do touro as a bachelor/master combined (I think). Schooling is intense and after u need to take the boards to become licensed. There is a lot of papers and it helps to get the mesorah from previous students.
Good luck.
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amother
Plum


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 11:40 pm
Stern and Columbia have a joint program, I know people who have done it. That would be 5 years total no online.
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amother
Rose


 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 11:51 pm
Ladies thanks for the info.
I have to decide if it's worth it for me to go through all that schooling.

I don't mind learning but I have a family to take into consideration. Also, I don't know if I could handle all that student debt especially since I will want to be working part time.

I find it ironic that ots go through so much school. Do you really learn relevant information to your field all those years?

With my experience with ots for my dd child I did not find that any of them had major expertise or training. A lot of it is common sense and creativity is much more important.

Also I am very into neuromovent type of therapy. Can I ethicly incorporate those ideas into my practice if it is not part of the schooling?

One last question, what is the salary range like in NY?
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cnc




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Dec 26 2016, 11:58 pm
amother wrote:
Ladies thanks for the info.
I have to decide if it's worth it for me to go through all that schooling.

I don't mind learning but I have a family to take into consideration. Also, I don't know if I could handle all that student debt especially since I will want to be working part time.

I find it ironic that ots go through so much school. Do you really learn relevant information to your field all those years?

With my experience with ots for my dd child I did not find that any of them had major expertise or training. A lot of it is common sense and creativity is much more important.

Also I am very into neuromovent type of therapy. Can I ethicly incorporate those ideas into my practice if it is not part of the schooling?

One last question, what is the salary range like in NY?


It's really really not common sense and creativity. Not at all. Maybe if your child has handwriting issues a therapist with common sense can help them learn how to gasp a pencil properly- but for a child that has processing disorders or can't keep their balance for some reason or another , common sense and creativity is not going to cut it. Creativity may be an added bonus but a very good understanding of the sciences , the human body and brain and many other things is more important than creativity.
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amother
Red


 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 12:55 am
Hi I'm an OT in NY. The salary depends on what area of the field you are interested. The most money is in pediatrics and early intervention. Another major facotor is if you are hourly, per case or salary employed. Working for the board of ed is about $62k/yr starting salary and benefits. Early intervention is per case and I believe starting salary is about $52 per case (half hour). In peds (depending on which agency you work for) per case can range from $65-$75/hour. If you work with adults in rehab the pay is less- about $55-$60/hour. I don't know salaries for hospital enployess, hand specialists, and other specialities. It's an awesome field! Good Luck
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amother
Khaki


 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 1:02 am
amother wrote:
Ladies thanks for the info.

Also I am very into neuromovent type of therapy. Can I ethicly incorporate those ideas into my practice if it is not part of the schooling?
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DVOM




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 10:41 am
Hi all! I'm the one who posted that my husband is going to start OT grad school in May. Thanks so much to those of you who said we can post our questions regarding OT school here. We have lots of them!

First, I think it will help me (and my husband) to know exactly what to expect in terms of the hours he'll be in school and internships. Someone mentioned 40 hours a week... that sounds so scary! If thats really what it is, so be it (we've come to far to back out now! plus, my husband is in love with this field) but it would help me to be mentally and physically prepared. What are the hours in class? In internships?

Next, my husband would like to know more about the coursework. He's worked really hard in his undergraduate classes (4.0 prereq. gpa! go hubby!) but he was able to take the classes slowly, at his own pace. My husband is Israeli, so english is not his first language. He puts in loads of hours studying, and writes his papers very slowly, sometimes in hebrew first and then translates them to english. He was considering asking if he could take the coursework more spread out, for example over the course of 3 1/2 years instead of 2 1/2 years. I know this was very common when I was in grad school (social work), but we dont know if this is 'done' in OT grad school, and he doesnt want to ask if he'll look silly asking for something that just isnt done.

Last, were both wondering when/how to bring up the time he might miss for short fridays/holidays. I went to YU, so this wasnt an issue. In undergrad school his proffessors were all really undersanding and nice about it, but he was also careful to never take classes that met late on firdays. Now the program he was accepted to does have some friday classes... We'd love to know what your experience is with this

Any and all answers would be so helpful!

thanks!
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happy1234




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 3:33 pm
A quick reply about the schooling
They usually give the classes a certain time and it needs to go in order. If he wants to take it slow he can but it could take him a long time like 4 years instead of 2.5.
Girls in my class that had babies and failed a class or just couldn't do it had to wait a year to retake that class and graduated a year later.
I had a baby right when I started graduate school and it's not easy but it's doable.
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amother
Aubergine


 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 4:19 pm
Does your husband know anyone in the school he will be going to-these questions might be program specific.

my answers are from a number years ago but Downstate had a part time option that some people chose. If you failed a course you were forced to take the part time option. Part time was less courses but the courses weren't necessarily clustered so while it gave you time to study more or do some freelance work it wasn't like you could get an office job in the morning or afternoon. No one my year had chosen to do it from the get go but I believe that the part times from the previous year were part timers from the beginning.

In terms of shabbos and yom tov... Downstate took all that in to consideration when making the schedule- we got off from all yom but not chol hamoed.... so I didn't really have to deal with it.
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DVOM




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 4:34 pm
Thanks for getting back to me guys!

Wow, so lucky Aubergine that Downstate took jewish holidays into account! My husband is still waiting to hear back from lots of programs, but the one he got accepted to is University of the Sciences, in Philadelphia. We heard that its a very tiny program with only one class. We've asked around, but dont know anyone who attended the school. If either of you know of anyone who is a USciences graduate, we would love to get in touch with them. With such a small school, and not in the NY metro area, were both a little nervous that they wont have much prior experience with a shabbos and yomtov observer...

Happy, its good to hear that you were able to manage the coursework with a baby. We have four kids, so my husband is definitly an 'adult student'. Anything either of you can tell us about the work load, or hours spent in school in a full time program? They actually just sent DH his summer semester schedule, which doesnt look too bad. 8-4 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and 10-12 on wed with no class on friday. That would be totally managable, but maybe the summer schedule is lighter than the year round schedule.
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amother
Slateblue


 

Post Tue, Dec 27 2016, 4:48 pm
You can expect that each semester will be different in terms of hours, and of course it is each program specific. Also, the schedule they sent you probably didn't include clinicals which are done during semesters as well. The hours for the clinicals are completely dependentt on the facility he will be placed in. The main Thing you need to know going into this is that he will need to be completely flexible to show up to wherever he is asked to be. He has to show a positive can-do attitude to roll with the punches and this includes with the semester by semester schedule changes. Grad school for the health sciences can be taxing on the spouse. If he has a lot of trouble writing, I am not sure how well he will do with the full time option. There is a lot of writing required throughout the program. Hours and hours every week, based on my memory, and that doesn't include straight studying.
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