Iapplied for the Graduate program in Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University.

[elliebellie]

Can any applicant's from 2013 please share your stats and please let me know how long it took for you to receive your acceptance or denial letters?

I just graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science, Cum Laude my final semester gpa placed me at Summa Cum Laude with a 3.8 overall gpa. I have over 200 hours of job shadowing at 5 different facilities. I worked for 2 years with an elderly gentlemen in his home helping with basic ADL's and various other tasks. I also worked with the senior Dual diagnosis population for 6 months. Nervous in Michigan!

Edited February 8, 2014 by elliebellie

[Love4OT4444]

I just applied to WMU's Occupational Therapy program for 2014 too! I'm a nervous-wreck waiting on the letter.  We just turned them in the 1st and I've already been checking my email and mailbox like crazy.  I don't think Westerns grad program looks at overall GPA though.  When I talked to the adviser I was told they only look at the last 60 credit GPA.  I think WMU also sends out their denial and acceptance letters in chunks.  I have heard of some of my classmates getting denial letters as fast as 2 weeks, while others didn't get there letters for a month.  

 

My stats-

Last 60 credit GPA- 3.8

Pre-req GPA-3.9

Shadowing- 30 hours in acute care, 30 hours in inpatient rehab, 100 hours in outpatient neuro recovery, 40 hours in hand therapy, 40 hours in vision rehabilitation. 240 total hours.

 

I work as a Patient Care Tech with pediatric patients right now.  I have also worked as an in home caregiver to an elderly woman for 2 years working on ADL's with her.  I did my internship for the Health Science degree at a facility working with mental health patients doing ADL's and other things as well.  I also was a note-taker at a community college for disabled students.

 

I have done volunteer work as well, various camps for children with disabilities, etc.

 

You sound like you have a good chance getting into the program  

[WMUOT89]

Good luck to both of you!

I also applied for Fall 2014.  Just out of curiosity, do you guys have research experience?  What did you put for the research section? Or did you leave it blank? I struggled with what to do for this section.

[elliebellie]

Wow, thanks so much for answering me back I didn't think anyone would! Your stats look amazing, better then mine although we do have a lot of similarities I have noticed so maybe we will both get in:-) You seem to have a lot more volunteer and hands on experience then I do which makes me even more nervous! I applies at 2 other universities as well as a back up but really want to get into Westerns program since I have lived here for more than 4 years now. As for research I experience, I have none to speak of and I didn't have a clue as to what to put there so I just stated that I did not have the opportunity to gain any research experience as yet but am trying to find something at this time. That probably looks really bad. Please keep me posted on anything you 2 here and good luck to you both!!

[WMUOT89]

We really do have very similar stats! I'm so curious to know how many people have applied this year to the program.  I was denied 2 times in a row to their 4+1 program so I can't help but be nervous that I won't get into their MSOT program.  As for research experience, I really don't have much besides casually helping a researcher for a week with surveys and the occasional research paper during undergrad.  I asked Sarah (advisor) if I should just leave it blank and she said to make sure to write something.  As long as you have done extensive research on a topic then put it down.  So I just used an example of a previous research paper I did in the past.  I guess it's not much of a help now that apps were already due.  I'm sure we will be fine.  They can't possibly expect that everyone has research experience in undergrad.  It is extremely hard to find research assistant experience. It would be pretty sad if that section was worth a significant amount of points. I'll definitely keep you guys updated! I'm going nuts waiting on this letter.  I wonder if the acceptance letter will be an actual packet of info or if it will just be an acceptance letter in a thin envelope just like the denial letters.  Do either of you happen to know? 

[WMUOT89]

Anyone hear any news back yet?

[Love4OT4444]

Update: They should be sending out their admissions decisions via mail TOMORROW! Goodluck guys.