Joseph Said:

What is it like being an occupational therapist?

We Answered:

I have been an OT for almost 10 years now - man that makes me feel really old!!! Anyway - it is a great career - it is so diverse so you can switch settings when and if you want a change. You can work with children in their home with early intervention and home health, in the school systems, in hospitals with children from preemies and all the way up, you can also see children in an outpatient clinic. You can do consulting work - wellness, workplace -- such as ergonomics, etc. You can see adults in hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, mental health settings, home health, and outpatient. It can be very rewarding. I think being an OT requires the person to be an excellent problem solver - figuring out what it is that is stopping your patient from performing a certain task and how you can teach the patient an alternate method or how you can adapt something so that the person can acheive the goal.

As far as school - it was difficult, but fun. I went to a school that was a 3 year program with summers off. For the first 1.5 years I was in school a full day M, W, F and I think it was a half day Tuesday and THurs, but we had a lot of outside work. It was difficult, but if you are willing to apply yourself you will do fine.

Volunteer work shouldn't be too hard to find. Call up a local hospital, nursing home, or outpatient clinic and let them know you are trying to get volunteer hours. Most were pretty helpful when I was looking. I did most of my hours in a hand therapy clinic and was then offered a job as an OT aide a few days a week and the PT dept hired me as an office worker, so that was nice. I ended up getting paid doing the same thing I volunteered doing!

Make sure you have a good understanding what OT is - about 1/3 of my graduating OT class is now pursuing other jobs. Many didn't have the full knowledge of OT and once they did their fieldworks, didn't like it much. OTs work with bathing, dressing, toileting (yes, wiping your tush!) and a lot of people don't like that. THere are lots of other settings where you don't do that - that is why it is important to have a good knowledge base of OT before going to OT school.

Good luck!

Cody Said:

optometry vs occupational therapy? what do you think?

We Answered:

you will make a lot more money in optometry.

Kelly Said:

Deciding between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy?

We Answered:

Both are problematic.

Occupational Therapy is not intellectually stimulating. A lot of it has to do with arranging arts & crafts sessions for seniors.

Physical Therapy has been accused recently of loosening its grip on scientific evidence-based therapies, and tolerating altmed baloney.

Nicole Said:

Which career option is better - physical or occupational therapy?

We Answered:

The PT one looks better to me.

Helen Said:

Master's Occupational Therapy?

We Answered:

Occupational Therapy programs are very competitive and usually have criteria regarding what your GPA must be before applying to a specific program, GPA of prerequisite classes, and what it must be while in the program. If you get an application packet, it usually lists all criteria needed to apply.