Occupational Therapy program, anyone?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>My daughter, a junior in h.s. has shown interest in Occupational Therapy. USC has an accelerated degree program-- Bachelors to Masters in OT. (5 years). A few questions:</p>

<p>1.) Is anyone here familiar with this program or has there been any interest in Occupational Therapy as a profession on CC, in general? I know it's supposed to be one of the up and coming allied health careers...granted not as lucrative as medicine, pharmacology or non-medical fields. However, I also hear there is a high job satisfaction rate, albeit, no one is getting rich. Why does it have to be that way?? :(</p>

<p>2.) I also notice that the program isn't taught on the main University Park campus. It's 7 miles away at the Health Services Center in the Health Professions building. That complex also includes Medicine, Dental, Optometry, etc. There's a tram system from the Park campus. I'm wondering if this will be a good experience for her (if she chooses the BS/MA program), to be away from "the action" for most of her college years. Granted, she'll be taking Gen. Ed courses on the Park campus. But, I just wondered how this was or is for others who spent most of their classroom time at this other campus. Do they feel like they're missing out on those early college years? </p>

<p>Unless she is absolutely positive she wants to go into the OT field, my husband feels she should do her undergraduate work in a regular college setting. In other words, don't get locked into a pre-professional program as a freshman and spend a lot of time in the career training aspect. She can always do the traditional 2 year Masters program if she decides she still wants to be an Occupational Therapist. Her argument is that she might as well get started on it from the get-go and hopefully, knock off a year by taking the 5 year program. They offer this at other schools, as well. But it seems most of OT programs are out of state. Many are public schools which we refuse to pay more for. Several private, too. There is always Boston University which has the same dual-degree program. But, we would like to see her stay closer to home if possible. Besides that, BU doesn't look like it has much of a campus. The upside is the Boston is a lot nicer than L.A.</p>

<p>3.) I know she's mentioned wanting to experience life across the U.S. Another thought would be for her to do her undergraduate in California (public or private, depending on financial aid package and acceptance.) Then she could apply to out of state school for the OT Masters program. Washington University in St. Louis has an top rated program, as do others out of California. I'm just wondering if this would be a good compromise.</p>

<p>I can see where there are advantages to getting right into the pre-professional program. That way she's more apt to stick with it right through to her Masters. If she were to get a BS and then have to apply for her Masters, she might be tired of school by then and decide against it. And, especially if she didn't get her BS in Health Science or something related to OT. (She cannot practice as an OT unless she has her Masters, so the idea would be IF she were already on that track, she would be inclined to finish right through the grad. program.) </p>

<p>I'm thinking back when my 32 daughter was in school. Oh, she was going to get her PhD and teach at a college. Well, after she got her BS in Biology, she never looked back. Now she doesn't work in her field. A Master's would have helped. I just don't want this to happen to our 16 year daughter. It would be nice if she could actually train for a career that has many opportunities.</p>

<p>If anyone here knows of someone who has gone through an Occupational Therapy program whether a BS/Masters or just the Masters, I would love some feedback. Even more so if it's been in California.</p>

<p>BTW, as of now, it looks like my daughter might be getting her first B (since 6th grade) in AP History this semester. Her unweighted GPA as of right now is 4.0 and weighted 4.162. She hasn't taken SAT, ACT yet. Still waiting for PSAT scores. She's active in NHS and Key Club, Choir and Jazz Singing. Spent some time in Guatemala last summer volunteering, some with disabled people, hence one of the reasons she's interested in OT.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>U.S.News has rankings of the graduate schools of Occupational Therapy. These rankings can be controversial and subjective. However, it is something one might consider when looking for a college which is a good "fit". SC's program was ranked No. 3 in the U.S. Also, if she finds Physical Therapy of interest later it is ranked No. 1.<br>
I hope someone else in the health field can give a more detailed answer to your question.<br>
This week is finals week at SC, so I do not know if many students are on CC.</p>

3

<p>Thank you, Georgia Girl. I have those rankings and have been checking out the schools which might work with our finances, as well as location. Too bad there are so many PUBLIC out-of-California schools. I'm wondering, though, if they still might be less than a private university, even with decent financial aid. I'll check back after finals.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

4

<p>I personally like the idea of starting the OT program right out of high school because the competition can be fierce after getting your undergraduate degree. Also, your daughter would be around a lot of intelligent students in the dental and medical school, so I don't quite understand what you feel she would be missing. She can take the tram back to the main campus for various events, eating, etc. I suggest that your daughter talk to the school OT and get a better idea of the work to see if she wants to pursue it. If she is interested in OT, why not apply and see what happens?</p>

5

<p>I am assuming your family lives in California. Many of the out of state public colleges have very high standards for students coming from other areas. The competition is much stiffer for a limited number of spots.</p>

<p>Some of the parents of students have posted here with scholarships and financial aid it was less expensive for them to send their senior to SC than to one of the UC universities. </p>

<p>On CC there is a forum for Paying for College. There are threads that explain how to estimate a family's probable amount of financial aid. </p>

<p>If your daughter is admitted, there are opportunities to change her major. Other health related majors which may interest her are Psychology, Dental Hygiene, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Kinesiology and Physician Assistant Practice. Worth investigating is the unique SC Davis School of Gerontology. As the baby boomers age this is an expanding health field. </p>

<p>Minors which are available: Cultural Competence in Medicine, Health Communication, Health Policy and Management, Medical Athropology, Neuroscience, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Public Health and Psychology and Law.</p>

6

<p>Occupational therapy is a fabulous profession. Check the website of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) for more info and to check out the job sites of OTs. There are specialities in pediatrics, physical disabilities, teaching, research to name a few. If your daughter is a good problem solver, likes to work with a team, and enjoys neuroscience, OT could be a very good match. Contact OTs who are working in the field to see if they would like your daughter to shadow them at work. That way she could determine if this is a suitable field. OTs frequently work with other therapists, physicians, teachers, biomedical engineers. We often have students shadowing us at work. I think it is an excellent idea to check these areas out before applying to the program. If your daughter is convinced that OT is for her, then I would suggest applying as a freshman and planning to complete the masters degree at USC.
On the other hand, if she does not enjoy the major, USC offers so many others that she would have plenty of opportunity to find another major. I majored in kinesiology and psychology, got a masters degree in PT. There is a lot of job satisfaction in the therapy professions. Employment includes sites such as universities, hospitals, schools, private practice.</p>

7

<p>In answer to mdcissp:</p>

<p>You have some excellent points. I agree once she's on the OT track if she keeps up her grades it will be a lot easier to get into the Master's program. Or sometimes they're automatically in if they've met all the criteria. A big plus.</p>

<p>And, you're right, she'll have the opportunity to mingle with a smart group of students all with the medical field in common. Then she can go back to the main campus and hang out with even more great kids.</p>

<p>My daughter is going to contact the program director about an information session in our area next fall.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your good thoughts.</p>

<hr>

<p>mdcissp replied:</p>

<p>I personally like the idea of starting the OT program right out of high school because the competition can be fierce after getting your undergraduate degree. Also, your daughter would be around a lot of intelligent students in the dental and medical school, so I don't quite understand what you feel she would be missing. She can take the tram back to the main campus for various events, eating, etc. I suggest that your daughter talk to the school OT and get a better idea of the work to see if she wants to pursue it. If she is interested in OT, why not apply and see what happens?</p>

8

<p>Thank you for your positive input. This is good feedback and I plan to show it to my daughter. I like the idea of all the variety within the OT profession, itself. I'm sure that appeals to her, too. And I can also reassure my husband that IF, for some reason, she decided to go with another major, there are definitely other options right there at USC.</p>

<p>Again, I appreciate what everyone has posted here. It really helps!</p>

<hr>

<p>Replied from windbehindwings:</p>

<p>Update from a therapist </p>

<hr>

<p>Occupational therapy is a fabulous profession. Check the website of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) for more info and to check out the job sites of OTs. There are specialities in pediatrics, physical disabilities, teaching, research to name a few. If your daughter is a good problem solver, likes to work with a team, and enjoys neuroscience, OT could be a very good match. Contact OTs who are working in the field to see if they would like your daughter to shadow them at work. That way she could determine if this is a suitable field. OTs frequently work with other therapists, physicians, teachers, biomedical engineers. We often have students shadowing us at work. I think it is an excellent idea to check these areas out before applying to the program. If your daughter is convinced that OT is for her, then I would suggest applying as a freshman and planning to complete the masters degree at USC.
On the other hand, if she does not enjoy the major, USC offers so many others that she would have plenty of opportunity to find another major. I majored in kinesiology and psychology, got a masters degree in PT. There is a lot of job satisfaction in the therapy professions. Employment includes sites such as universities, hospitals, schools, private practice.</p>