Looking for advice on my OTD application stats!
Hi everyone!! I will be getting ready to apply to VCU's OTD program in the Fall, and I'm looking for some advice on my stats/ ways I can improve. I am the first person in my family to finish college, so I've felt like I've lacked knowledge about how to properly prepare for graduate school (I do have backup schools in mind, but VCU is my dream program).
I just graduated from VCU with my bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Pre-Occupational Therapy in two and a half years (I'm very proud of this lol!) with an estimated Pre-OT / minor GPA of 3.75 and an estimated overall GPA of 3.79 (I did the math myself bc of transfer credits, so I may be a few points off based on OCTAS calculation) I'm a member of Psi Chi (International Honors Society in Psychology) and NSCS
I'm currently working full-time as a Registered Behavioral Technician and have been doing so for almost two years. I have really been struggling with finding shadowing opportunities and am currently on several waitlists. I just finally got into a clinic after waiting a year and have accumulated 19 hours total since last summer. It's been super hard despite sending multiple emails and call follow-ups :( With that being said, I have shadowed a mobile practice, OT groups specifically targeted towards neurodiverse toddlers and a group for young pre-teen girls, as well as in a clinic (and will hopefully be shadowing at another clinic soon!) I've also shadowed multiple co-treatment sessions with an SLP. It has primarily been pediatrics, as that is my main interest, but I have shadowed some adult sessions as well. My goal is to accumulate as many hours as I can before September, but I am really struggling in that area. As for my personal statement, I plan to write about my experience with OT and how it influenced me to join the field myself. My brother is on the spectrum and went to OT sessions while he was a toddler. In addition, he had an RBT. These experiences led me to the field, and I have absolutely fallen in love with it. I truly feel that I was put on this earth to do this job, and I worry that my lack of hours is going to be detrimental. I am only 20, so I do think that if absolutely needed, I will take some time to continue building my stats for a higher chance of getting into the program I want. Unfortunately, I have to work full-time as I live on my own and have to pay for school myself, so I don't have the luxury of taking a month or two to focus on getting my hours done. I really struggled with doing any after-school activities (clubs, etc.) due to working after school. Although I did do research for a semester in a PSYC class for the OT department, as well as completed a work study program. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! <3
Posted Jun 30, 2026, 2:48 AM UTC