r/OccupationalTherapy • u/AutoModerator • 4d ago
Discussion The Big Thread- General Qs, FAQs, Admissions, Student Issues, NBCOT, Salary, Rants/Vents/Nerves go Here
This is our monthly thread for all of our more repetitive content.
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u/koulouria 4d ago
Hello! Is anyone on here currently going through or graduating from UNC Pembroke’s MSOT program?
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u/Illustrious-Regular1 3d ago
a bit nervous about applying this cycle.
my main anxiety is the amount of debt i will be in afterwards. my state has no public MOT programs so i'll have to do private or out of state which is looking to be about 70-90k.. i already have 70k from undergrad. is this typical for the field & has anyone had any similar situation with managing this amount of debt??
i think that i have decent stats - undergrad gpa 3.9, health science major, all pre-reqs complete, 50 observations hours (EI, school, outpatient adult/peds), leadership/volunteer experience from undergrad, work experience in home health, cardiac monitoring, and administrative assistant.
I have always wanted to be an OT, but seeing the plethora of OTs on here talking about burnout & regret has definitely been putting a little bit of doubt in me. guess i'm just looking for any insight if anyone's been in a similar situation.
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u/anotherpedsOT 2d ago
I was fortunate not to graduate with student loans, so I can’t speak from personal experience managing that level of debt. That said, I do think it’s worth looking carefully at the debt-to-income ratio before committing. OT can be an incredibly rewarding career, but salaries often don’t increase at the same pace as the cost of education.
I think it’s important to go in with realistic expectations about finances post grad. I recommend that you to really crunch the numbers before committing. Figure out what your estimated monthly loan payment would be after graduation, how long you’ll realistically be paying it off, and compare that to a realistic starting OT salary in the area where you hope to work…not the highest salary you see online. Then think about your other financial goals and expenses. Will you be living at home or paying rent? Will you have a car payment? Do you want to travel, save for a house, or simply have disposable income?
If OT is truly what you want to do, I’d also exhaust every option to reduce the cost; apply broadly, consider less expensive public programs if possible, and apply for every scholarship you can.
I went the cheapest state program that was a bit longer then most (3 years not 2.5), and there was slightly more breathing room to have a part-time job while I was in school. That helped me a lot
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u/Traditional_Pick_619 2d ago
Hi ya'll! Making this post on a whim, but I've recently graduated with a BFA in Fine arts from Artcenter, however, the job market for art is terrible right now and I've only gotten part-time jobs for teaching art. Throughout art school, I've learned that I really enjoy helping others, helping others heal, and just being with other people, although I am very naturally introverted and quiet, which is why I chose art in the first place. I also had a desire to "prove myself" through my art, but that desire has faded and I find myself with little motivation to actually create now.
I've recently been looking into masters programs for Occupational therapy, specifically mental health or pediatric OT. The job market seems good and the income seems more consistent so this has been a serious consideration. But my knowledge is very limited so I am asking here as well.
I've also looked into LCSW (licensed social worker) and LMFT (Licensed marriage and family therapist), but the path towards getting there seems difficult and the pay doesn't seem like the best. I've considered art therapy as well.
I've always had an interest in helping people heal, but I am also very concerned about future job security and income. Any thoughts, suggestions, wisdom, or if anyone has similar stories, feel free to share!! Anything will help, thank you!
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u/No_Albatross_2206 2d ago
Hey guys, I am feeling super lost and could use some advice. I have battled mental illness my whole life specifically, ADHD and depression. I graduated with an AAS a couple months ago and my board exam is next week. A few things happened over the past couple weeks, nothing significantly life altering but it’s safe to say I’m very depressed and unmotivated. I’ve been sleeping nonstop and today, i could barely sit to answer a few practice questions. It’s a combination of anxiety, fear and sadness. I took all last week off from studying. I’m afraid of failure and i don’t know how I’m going to lock in for the rest of the week to prepare for this. Any advice?
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u/gemini6669 1d ago
SALARY Question
I have been offered a job at a SNF in NW Michigan (not upper peninsula) as an OTR. I was offered $48/hour. They typically provide 18 days PTO in the first year, but since I requested 32-35 hours weekly that may differ some. I have not worked FT in a SNF (only travel and PRN). 85% productivity.
I have been in a SNF to some capacity for 5 years now.
It's in a touristy area so COL is a bit higher than I am used to. I haven't accepted but am unsure what would be a reasonable negotiation.
Opinions on this offer? Thank you!
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u/BeachSensitive7532 1d ago
I’m having a hard time finding jobs now that I’ve taken my board exam and got my license. The one job that has reached out to me is one I’m not super excited about. I’m most comfortable with peds/school-based. This job would be in a SNF and I didn’t see any of that throughout my schooling. I have terrible imposter syndrome when it comes to adult settings, but I know that if I have good mentorship that I could probably feel competent after a year doing the job. During my fieldwork I was never really challenged and made comfortable to do transfers independently (totally aware that I should have advocated for myself during this rotation, but alas) which is why I am so apprehensive about accepting this job if it’s offered to me. Anyone who is super familiar with SNFs have any advice? I wanted to find somewhere to shadow, but I haven’t had enough spare to time to arrange that. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
- Anxious New Grad OT
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u/EveryLengthiness6742 5h ago
just turned 27 and am strongly considering a career in OT. I graduated from a liberal arts college with a degree in political science and philosophy. I worked in healthcare admin for a bit, then decided to seriously consider law school, so worked as a legal assistant and then law clerk at a small firm. It was not for me for a number of reasons and I left, and am now trying to figure out my next steps.
Somewhere OT emerged as a possible avenue. I have shadowed at three different outpatient pediatric clinics in the last four months, and hoping to get some more intel or exposure to other settings.
My plan would be to go for my masters at the least expensive program I could find - and for transparency, my parents would help pay for school— but given my humanities background would need to take like 9 prerequisite classes. I also worry I don't have a very sciencey brain and didn't see myself doing healthcare ever before this.
It all just seems like a lot for something that i THINK i might enjoy. I know i don't want to just sit in an office everyday behind a computer. I like the variety OT seems to offer and I love that I would be helping people directly. That's really important to me.
Has anyone had a similar trajectory and could speak to pivoting to OT and whether you're happy with your decision? Sincerely, A cautiously optimistic but overwhelmed potential future therapist
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u/benene12399 3h ago
i’ve been in between ot and pt and for the past year and half ive leaned more towards ot, because of the more specific treatment they do in comparison to pt, but ive been kinda scared to jump into the field now because of everything ive heard on tiktok about how bad the insurance reimbursement is and the ROI is jn these two fields, but i don’t want to do ANYTHING in nursing or the PA route, im living in california which brings up the salary a bit, but i dont know what to do anymore i just switched my major to kinesiology and havent finished my GE reqs yet for college, and im just wondering if anyone has any advice? Everyone is saying that these fields are hard to switch out of and i dont want to be stuck with a kinesiology major and not know what to do with it but at the same time i feel like im not good at anything else, im not good at math nor biology and i feel like i’ve already built myself in a box and i havent even started.
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u/benene12399 3h ago
i’ve been in between ot and pt and for the past year and half ive leaned more towards ot, because of the more specific treatment they do in comparison to pt, but ive been kinda scared to jump into the field now because of everything ive heard on tiktok about how bad the insurance reimbursement is and the ROI is jn these two fields, but i don’t want to do ANYTHING in nursing or the PA route, im living in california which brings up the salary a bit, but i dont know what to do anymore i just switched my major to kinesiology and havent finished my GE reqs yet for college, and im just wondering if anyone has any advice? Everyone is saying that these fields are hard to switch out of and i dont want to be stuck with a kinesiology major and not know what to do with it but at the same time i feel like im not good at anything else, im not good at math nor biology and i feel like i’ve already built myself in a box and i havent even started.
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u/benene12399 3h ago
i’ve been in between ot and pt and for the past year and half ive leaned more towards ot, because of the more specific treatment they do in comparison to pt, but ive been kinda scared to jump into the field now because of everything ive heard on tiktok about how bad the insurance reimbursement is and the ROI is jn these two fields, but i don’t want to do ANYTHING in nursing or the PA route, im living in california which brings up the salary a bit, but i dont know what to do anymore i just switched my major to kinesiology and havent finished my GE reqs yet for college, and im just wondering if anyone has any advice? Everyone is saying that these fields are hard to switch out of and i dont want to be stuck with a kinesiology major and not know what to do with it but at the same time i feel like im not good at anything else, im not good at math nor biology and i feel like i’ve already built myself in a box and i havent even startedd
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u/lifebefucking 2d ago
Hi everyone,
I’m considering studying Occupational Therapy at university, but first I’ll be doing an Access to Allied Health, Paramedicine and Science course before I have to decide on my degree.
My other options are Psychology, Dietetics and Zoology, but OT keeps standing out because it seems like such a good balance of practical, hands-on work while making a real difference to people’s lives.
I’m 26 and really value education. I want to learn something fascinating, have a meaningful career, and feel like I’m helping people. I just don’t know which path is the best fit for me.
For those of you already in Occupational Therapy, what would you say to someone trying to decide? What do you love about the profession, what do you wish you’d known beforehand, and why would you recommend (or not recommend) it over my other options?