Occupational Therapy School Resources

Occupational Therapy 101 Links to an external site. (Courtesy of AOTA)

Occupational therapy is a career for individuals who care about people and have a desire to learn, achieve, and contribute their best to society and the profession.

What is an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. 

Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.

What does an Occupational Therapist do? Links to an external site. (Courtesy of BLS)

  • Review patients’ medical history, ask the patients questions, and observe them doing tasks
  • Evaluate a patient’s condition and needs
  • Develop a treatment plan for patients, identifying specific goals and the types of activities that will be used to help the patient work toward those goals
  • Help people with various disabilities perform different tasks, such as teaching a stroke victim how to get dressed
  • Demonstrate exercises—for example, stretching the joints for arthritis relief—that can help relieve pain in people with chronic conditions
  • Evaluate a patient’s home or workplace and, on the basis of the patient’s health needs, identify potential improvements, such as labeling kitchen cabinets for an older person with poor memory
  • Educate a patient’s family and employer about how to accommodate and care for the patient
  • Recommend special equipment, such as wheelchairs and eating aids, and instruct patients on how to use that equipment
  • Assess and record patients’ activities and progress for patient evaluations, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other healthcare providers
Ready to Learn more about Occupational Therapy? Check out these resources:

Ready to Pursue Occupational Therapy School?

  • Contact your advisor to add the Pre-Occupational Therapy Advising Guide (able to add to any major, based on the requirements at CSU, not a major or minor)
  • Join the Pre-Health Society on campus to meet other students interested in health careers (they also have admissions reps from different professional schools come in, host a MCAT prep session, and do volunteer work)
  • Start reaching out to occupational therapy providers for shadowing. Look at different environments (private practice, school, etc.). Keep a log/journal of your shadowing including the date/time, provider, a brief summary of what you experienced, and any reflections. This will be useful when filling out your application and writing personal statements and application essays.
  • Get occupational therapy experience. Do you have the bandwidth to become an occupational therapy assistant? If so, this a great way to get experience and get paid! If not, look for webinars from the schools you are interested in, attend events/webinars from AOTA, watch relevant videos on YouTube, and follow related social media accounts. Keep track of what you do. You'll need it for your application.
  • Review the requirements for the occupational therapy schools you want to apply to and meet with your advisor early to make sure these courses are in your degree plan or can get worked in.
  • Community service is crucial as it shows your commitment to service and occupational therapy is a service-focused profession. Choose an interest you are passionate about and look for opportunities to volunteer. Occupational therapy schools look for longevity, not one-off experiences. Focused on your academics during the school year? Use your summers! Keep track of what you do. You'll need it for your application.
  • Is the GRE required for the schools you want to apply to? Figure out when you're going to study and take the exam. Make sure it aligns with the application deadlines for the schools. The UCCS Graduate School hosts GRE prep sessions several times during the fall and spring semesters; check their website or Mountain Lion Connect for more information.
  • Connect with the Pre-Health Career Coach in the Career Center. Interviews are a common piece of the application process. The Career Center can facilitate a mock interview and give you feedback.
  • Have the Writing Excel Center review your personal statement and any additional application essays.

 

We wish you the best on your pursuit and look forward to working with you on this journey!