Profile of Accepted Students
We look for applicants with a blend of academic ability, experience working with people, and an understanding of occupational therapy. As with any health care field, multi-cultural experience is an important factor in becoming an effective practitioner. The admissions committee reviews all of the completed applications and seeks to create a cohort of classmates with different backgrounds and experiences and who can learn from one another as well as from faculty and instructors.
Learn more about our accepted students:
Undergraduate Degrees & Academic Preparedness
Our successful applicants have undergraduate degrees in many different fields including psychology, sociology, anthropology, biology, exercise science, languages, art, music, architecture, and education, to name a few. Academically, the average undergraduate GPA is typically above 3.5, but students with GPAs lower than that are admitted. Some of our admitted applicants are still completing their undergraduate degrees during the application process and start their Graduate Studies shortly after their graduation. Other applicants have worked for two or more years and complete any prerequisites that were not part of their undergraduate degree before entering Graduate School in the fall. In each class, there usually are one or more students with partners and/or children who successfully balance academics with family obligations.
Experiences in Occupational Therapy
We do not require a specific number of volunteer experience in occupational therapy but do value applicants who have thoroughly investigated the profession and the variety of ways occupational therapists work with people. In developing a solid understanding of practice, witnessing a variety of settings is just as important as the number of hours. Most of our accepted applicants have developed their understanding of the profession by observing occupational therapy as it is provided for people of a variety of ages, with a range of diagnostic issues and/or life challenges, and in a variety of practice settings. Our most successful applicants move beyond traditional hospital-based settings to observe therapists who provide services in the schools, community settings, or the person’s home. The typical accepted applicant has visited 4-6 different OT settings, spending significant amounts of time in 1 or 2 (30+ hours) and observing for multiple hours in the others.
Prospective applicants can also get experience learning about OT by attending OT conferences, webinars, workshops, etc. Taking direct observation hours and OT conference/workshop hours together, most accepted students have between 60 and 100 hours of “OT experiences,” and many have more than that.
Experiences with People Different from Oneself
The ability to work enthusiastically with people from a variety of different walks of life is essential for effective occupational therapy. Our admitted applicants have worked or volunteered with people different from themselves in a variety of ways. These differences included working with people who had disabilities, individuals of different ages, or people of varied racial, ethnic, cultural, spiritual, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
For example:
- Some were employed as life skills trainers, mental health aids or teacher’s aids.
- Successful applicants who did not have experience with different types of people in the workplace typically had volunteer experience such as working as camp counselors, attendants in shelters for people who are unhoused, or assistants for special activities in nursing homes (these are just some examples).
- Other applicants had first-hand experience from living in a culture that was different from their own or are members of a historically minoritized or marginalized group themselves.
- Some successful applicants also found these experiences closer to home as the primary caregiver for a family member with a disability.
Communication Skills
Admitted students can communicate* their (beginning) knowledge of occupational therapy in a clear, organized way, and describe how the UNC OT program is a good match for them and their career goals. Successful applicants are also able to reflect on and communicate about their experiences in learning an occupation that was new to them, and what that experience taught them about occupation and occupational therapy.
Considerable attention is given to the application essays, which are evaluated for how well the applicant directly answers the question/prompt, how they organize and express their thoughts, and how well their perspectives on occupation and occupational therapy align with those of those of the MSOT program. A visit to the program prior to application is not required but applicants are always welcome to request a visit to sit in on a class and talk with current students. More information about requesting a class visit is available on the “Prospective Students” page of the Division’s website.
*With or without augmentative/alternative written or oral communication methods