FAQ

When can I expect a response from the Admissions Committee?
The Admissions Committee begins to review applications after the admissions deadline passes. Each application is reviewed carefully before applications are grouped and offers are extended. This process generally takes 1-2 months. The committee strives to communicate admissions decisions to applicants in early-mid March.

Why do I have to submit my transcripts to both OTCAS and the ISU Graduate School?
Applicants are required to complete both applications before the Admissions Committee can review the application. The applications use two separate systems, which are not connected and cannot be accessed by the other application systems and users. Please be sure to submit official transcripts to OTCAS for verification, and unofficial transcripts to the ISU Graduate School as well. Students will be required to provide official transcripts to the Graduate School if they are offered a seat in the program.

Do you require an interview as part of the admissions process?
No.

Are there any special requirements for international students?
Yes. If you are an international student, please reach out to the admissions team (ot@isu.edu) so we can connect you to the Graduate School and International Student Office.

What if I start the program and need to withdraw?
A student may voluntarily withdraw from the graduate entry-level program in Occupational Therapy at any time. A student who withdraws from the program will notify the department in writing, within five working days of making the decision. Students who withdraw may apply for re-admission to the program during the next regular admissions cycle following withdrawal. Additional information about withdrawing, including financial information, can be found within the ISU Policy on Withdrawal and Drop.

Can I be admitted to the MOT Program with advanced standing, or receive credit toward the degree for courses that I have taken at other institutions?
MOT Program policies specify that students desiring to substitute previous coursework for MOT degree requirements must petition the MOT Program Director after they have been matriculated into the program.

What do I need to do to successfully graduate from the MOT Program and be eligible for credentialing and licensure?

As detailed in the course catalog, students must complete all required courses with 80% or better, earn a satisfactory grade in all clinical coursework (fieldwork), complete a group professional project with satisfactory grades, and take a comprehensive written exam (the OTKE).
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.

Can I substitute any prerequisite courses?
No. The Admissions Committee has specified prerequisite coursework to ensure applicants are prepared for the MOT Program Curriculum and these requirements have been approved by the MOT Program faculty, the Graduate School, and our national accrediting body (ACOTE). We are not able to authorize any substitutions.

Can I use high school courses or classes I tested out of to fulfill prerequisite requirements?
If your college or university transcript shows that you earned college credit for the course or test, the MOT Program will accept the credits as a way to fulfill the entry requirements. If your transcript does not show that you earned credit for the courses, the MOT Program will not allow the credits to fulfill entry requirements.

Where can I take prerequisite coursework?
Applicants can take courses at any accredited college or university. Students who are returning to school after completion of a Bachelors degree are encouraged to take advantage of resources in their local community that fit their schedules and budgets, such as community colleges.

What undergraduate major do you recommend for students applying to the program?
We require students to have a Bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the MOT Program, but we do not require a specific degree to apply to the program. Students often pursue degrees in Health Science, psychology, or kinesiology as these degrees often contain many program prerequisites, but this will vary by college/university.

What grades do I need to achieve in the prerequisite courses to be offered a seat in the program?
The MOT Program requires that students earn a 3.0 or higher average within each prerequisite category. There are seven categories, some of which have one course and some of which have multiple courses. If the category has one course (for example, statistics), the student must earn a 3.0 in that one course. If the category has multiple courses (for example, anatomy and physiology), the student must earn an average of 3.0 in those courses. Students may find it helpful to use a GPA calculator to ensure they have a 3.0 average in categories with multiple courses. Applications that do not achieve this standard are considered to have one deficiency per category where this standard is not met. Applicants are grouped according to the number of deficiencies, and each deficiency lowers the applicant’s chance of being offered a seat. Applicants are selected on a competitive basis. Applicants should be aware that meeting minimum entry-level requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Offers each year are dependent on the applicant pool.

Can courses with pass-fail grades be used to fulfill prerequisite course requirements?
Yes. Classes with a “pass” grade do not factor into the GPA average, but classes with a “fail” grade do factor into the calculation.

Can someone review my transcript to tell me if I meet the entry requirements?
Members of the Admissions Committee are happy to meet with applicants for advising sessions to review any questions or concerns they have, including questions about if a course would fulfill the requirement. Please email ot@isu.edu to inquire about setting up a virtual advising visit.

How many courses can I have in progress at the time of application, and still be eligible for admission?
Students who have courses in progress at the time they submit applications will be grouped lower than students who completed all prerequisite courses. Having courses in progress lowers the chance that an applicant will be admitted. Students who have more than 4 courses in progress at the time of admission will not be considered.

What details about observation hours do I need to know?
The MOT Program requires a total of 10 observation hours. The hours can be with an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. Applicants may count paid hours (for example, if they are aides in a therapy clinic), but only those hours they spend directly with an occupational therapy practitioner.

How can I find observation opportunities?
There are occupational therapy practitioners working in almost every community! We recommend potential applicants reach out to places the commonly employ occupational therapy practitioners and ask to be connected to them. Some places that commonly employ occupational therapy practitioners include: hospitals, school districts, skilled nursing facilities, home health care agencies, pediatric therapy clinics, and hand therapy clinics.

Does ISU have a form I need to use to document my observation hours?
No. Applicants are expected to track their observation hours as they will need to include the name of the facility, type of setting, and hours within their OTCAS application. Students may be asked to provide this documentation or additional information about their observation experiences as part of the application process if the Admissions Committee needs additional information or clarification if there is a concern about the reported hours.

What is the Admissions Committee looking for in a personal statement?

The personal essay serves two main functions: providing the committee with a way to evaluate an applicant’s written communication skills and giving the applicant an opportunity to showcase personal information that shows interest and dedication to the profession as well as traits of leadership and community involvement.
On a structural level, the committee looks to see whether the applicant exhibits a level of English composition skills appropriate for graduate study. Reviewers expect to see an essay that presents information about the applicant in a coherent and satisfying total composition rather than a collection of seemingly unrelated paragraphs. The best essays begin with an overall statement setting the plan and the tone for the composition (a thesis statement) and follow with concise paragraphs emphasizing key points supporting that statement. Paragraphs should be tied to one another by logical progression and by the use of transitional words and phrases and should lead to an overall conclusion that is in accord with, yet not repetitious of, the opening statement. Of course, the composition should be errorless in regard to grammar and spelling as well as in regard to punctuation and other mechanics.

Can I apply to just one campus location?
Students complete one application for the program. When applicants have been accepted and they have confirmed their acceptance with a seat deposit, they are invited to share their preference for campus assignments. The Admissions Committee meets to review preferences and assign students to a campus. The committee strives to honor preferences, and extenuating circumstances (such as child custody or access to a medical provider) will be considered, but we cannot guarantee everyone will be placed on their preferred campus. Applicant groupings may be factoring into campus location decisions, so students with stronger applications may be more likely to be assigned to their preferred campus.

Does the MOT program accept late applications?
The MOT Program can accept late applications. However, a late application is considered a deficiency, meaning the applicant will be grouped into a lower group than if the application was submitted on time, which may affect the applicant’s chances of being offered a seat. Additionally, if applications are received after a full class is seated, the application cannot be considered. Finally, late applications with coursework in progress that is unlikely to be completed before the start of the program will not be considered.

Can I apply to the MOT program early?
The OTCAS application opens in late July each year, and students may begin the application process as soon as it opens. However, if students have prerequisite coursework in progress during the Summer or Fall semester, they are encouraged to wait to apply until after their grades are posted on their transcript. This is because students who have courses in progress at the time they submit applications will be grouped lower than students who completed all prerequisite courses.

How does the admissions committee evaluate applications?
Applicants are grouped according to the number of prerequisite courses completed and the achievement of minimum standards specified in the entry requirements. Applicants who meet all minimum standards and have completed all prerequisite courses are grouped in the highest group. After applicants are placed within groups, offers are extended starting with the highest-ranked group and proceeding until all seats and positions on the waitlist have been extended.

Do you allow virtual observation hours, or any exceptions related to COVID?
Because the public health emergency has ended, the MOT Program has returned to the pre-COVID policy which requires in-person observation hours.