Hi guys, I’m looking for some words of advice.
First of all, I am going to be graduating with a BA in Psychology this June.
I am currently 19 years old. I skipped a grade in elementary school and graduated from high school a year early. And I am graduating from college in three years.
I recently got accepted to grad school, specifically 2-year Masters of Occupational Therapy program that is out of state. I only applied to graduate schools that did not require the GRE, because I honestly did not think I would get into any program on my first try, so I just applied to schools to see if I get in or not.
Now that I actually got accepted, I am feeling very anxious to start graduate school at such a young age, especially when the average age to enter OT programs usually ranges from 24-25 years old. I feel like I do not have enough experiences to share or feel connected to other students. I think I definitely have the fear of not fitting in. Lately, I’ve been having trouble falling asleep and focusing in class due to anxiety.
Also, the graduate school I got accepted to is in a rural area where there is nothing around the campus, and I have always lived in big cities so I am not completely sure whether I can successfully adjust to these big changes or not. Moreover, I do not have a driver’s license so I would have to rely on my roommate for driving, which does not give me any freedom at all.
So I was thinking about taking a gap year and applying to Occupational Therapy schools in my home state. Especially the university I am currently attending for undergrad right now has a very prestigious MOT program that is ranked in the top 15, but this program is very competitive to get in, and I do not think that my chances are high. As of right now, I have a 3.8 overall GPA and 3.7 GPA in prerequisites. I have been volunteering in multiple settings, from hand clinics to the trauma, and children’s hospitals for about a year. I have about +200 hours of volunteering and +100 shadowing hours overall. I do understand that going through the whole application process all over again is a hassle because that means I would have to study for the GRE and ask for the letters of recommendation again.
Do you think it’s worth taking a gap year or should I just head straight to graduate school?
I would like to hear your guys’ perspectives, thank you!
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You kind of answer your own questions in your post. You don’t feel ready to go to graduate school. Obviously it is not because you aren’t academically ready, because you wouldn’t have been admitted otherwise, but perhaps you aren’t developmentally ready. If you were my kid, I would advise you to take the year, work, get that driver’s license and maybe even your own car if you can afford it. Take the GRE, reapply next year to schools located in places that suit you better. Maybe you can also find an OT to shadow in order to learn more about the profession. Your sleeplessness is telling you something, maybe to slow down. Life isn’t a race.
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Hi, there. Thanks for sharing your perspective. I do agree that I may not be developmentally ready, especially I don’t know if I’m mentally prepared for graduate school. Thanks for your thoughtful advice, I would consider taking the GRE and reapplying next year. I do think that I need more life experiences before I go to graduate school.
Only you can really know whether you are ready. But I will say that one of the things I wished I did differently was take a few years before I went to graduate school to do some things I always dreamed of - teach abroad, travel, see the world, discover myself a bit - and I was more traditional-aged when I went (I turned 22 just before I began). Even at 22, which was a pretty normal age to go to grad school, I was lightly/lovingly teased for being very young and I was the very youngest of my cohort (and thus most of the people in my department).
If you only applied to graduate schools to see if you could get in, and you are feeling super anxious…you don’t have to go now, if you don’t want to. You can take a few years in between to go do other things. Graduate school will always be there.
You also do not want to go to an environment in which you have to rely on a roommate to be mobile. Either you should get a driver’s license or you should choose a location where you can get around on public transit and/or walking.
I think it’s worth taking the gap year.
Why do you think you are not competitive? You have a GPA nearly as high as you can get it, many hours of volunteering and many hours of shadowing. What is holding you back?
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Depends upon the individual. In my case, I couldn’t get to graduate school soon enough.
OP: You have already answered your own question; it is clear that you do not feel ready for graduate school.
Can you delay graduating from college (perhaps, if you have a 4-year scholarship), spend Fall semester abroad, and take complementary classes + internship in the Spring?
Then, if you still feel too young, volunteer to teach English in another country, or apply to TFA (both would likely have an early selection process so check out deadlines) or go woofing in France or Whv in Australia…
And in any case, take the GRE.
You don’t feel ready and the opt school you got into doesn’t sound like a good fit. With more experience and a GRE score you’ll likely get into a school that’s a better fit and you’ll go when you’re ready.
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My guess is that you probably felt the same way when you went off to college for undergrad at a young age and look at what you accomplished. Agree that you know yourself best and will need to decide if you are ready for OT grad school or not.
On a side note, if you decide to go to this school, it’s probably time to get a drivers license as you can’t expect to depend on others to get around.
Re this specific program - if it’s a good program and affordable, I would lean towards going vs. waiting for next year. Given the competitiveness of getting into solid OT programs - especially limited lower cost instate option(s) - I don’t think you can count on getting into a certain school in another admissions round. 3.7/3.8 GPA’s, excellent GRE and shadow hours are pretty much a given at top ranked programs - you are competitive but don’t count on any single OT dream school (especially public instate).
My own D passed on doing an accelerated OT program and is taking your approach - 3 years undergrad at a school she loves and then onto her MSOT. She will be a yr older than you so that’s a factor but similar approach. She is going to do some summer abroad programs and who knows maybe even take 6 months off after OT school to travel. This may be a good approach for you as well!
Good luck - look at this as a cup half full - you have done well and may have a good problem to deal with.
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I am 22 and I personally don’t feel ready to go to graduate school. I also probably have anxiety. I want to give myself some time to adjust better to my anxiety before making that big of a commitment. If your goal is OT, there may be some volunteer or internships available that you could use to strengthen your resume. Please take as much time as you need with these decisions because you deserve the best!
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There are people ready to grad school at 19, and there are people not ready for grad school at 91! It is very individual.
My D started her PhD at 19. She was also a GSI that summer. Most students in her class were sophomores, probably older than she was. But noone cared about her age.
One of the top students in that class was an 18 yr old girl, having already graduated but taking the class “just for fun” before she headed to a PhD program on the East coast.
Her advisor graduated at 19, then spent 3 years working in the industry before going back to school for his PhD.
BTW, my D got her driver license at 20, and still doesn’t (feel the need to) own a car.
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No you are not too young - however when you become bored do yourself a favor and leave - you can always come back