Some Tips to Survive OT School

Life has been a little crazy but wonderful, but here is the entry I promised to post! I was finally able to work on it during a bus ride when I toured the Rocky Mountain area with my family after graduation. Better late than never, right?

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Make the most of your grad school career!

1. Take good care of yourself. Eat healthy, sleep well, and exercise regularly. Don't sweat the small stuff. Easier said than done, but try your best!

Experience: I was often stressed... exhausted during classes. I hate to admit that I nodded off a bit during a few lectures although I tried to remain alert the entire time, but I discovered that coffee did help! Also, I gained 10 pounds, but I'm working on shedding the extra weight by working out regularly.

2. Manage your time wisely. Show up on time. It'll help manage the stress.

Experience: As a commuter, I was often late in the morning because I didn't give myself an extra 15 minutes. The countless train delays during rush hour didn't help. I fixed that problem by setting up two alarm clocks.

3. Schedule time for family, friends, significant others. It is so easy to get swept up with classes, fieldwork, assignments... you catch my drift...

Experience: I'm spending more time with my family now. Also, I do my best to make it to all family dinners which often include drinking wine and singing karaoke. :)

4. Figure out your learning style and utilize it! It'll help you study more efficiently.

Experience: I'm a visual learner, so I spend more time studying and drawing out diagrams and being able to explain them. I also love using colored pens highlighters. Whatever I don't understand, I spend more time on these topics and write things down... Plus, I turned to YouTube videos to view demonstrations of different types of tests, etc.

5. Find a study buddy or form a small study group. Two brains are usually better than one. Just keep in mind that understanding the material and thinking like a clinician are more important than getting straight A's on your exams.

Experience: I had a lot of trouble finding a consistent study buddy... but I was really fortunate to have classmates who posted their notes before exams during my final semester.

6. I may be doing some free advertising for Google... but Google Drive does make life a lot easier, especially when you're working on group assignments. You can create, share, and edit files.

7. Use at least two sources of backup, since a flash drive is so easily lost. 

Experience: Once, I forgot to take out my flash drive when I left the library. I was extremely fortunate that a PT student found it and handed it to one of my classmates who returned it to me. Since I use Google Drive and Dropbox, I don't rely on my flash drive as much.

8. Remember, what worked for you in college may not necessarily work in grad school... such as memorizing or cramming! Courses at the grad school level cover greater breadth and depth of material in a shorter period of time.

Experience: I have a terrible habit of procrastinating until the last minute. During my final semester, I forced myself to complete the first draft of my term paper a week before it was due, and I met with my professor to see what I needed to focus on before submitting it. I was very pleased to receive an A-.

9. Take charge of your learning. Communicate with your professors and peers. Ask questions.

Experience: I pestered my professor with questions... Also, I scheduled appointments with him to review questions I had gotten wrong on the exam. He didn't seem to mind since I did not ask him many questions when I had him last year.

10. Personal growth is important. Make time for yourself. Explore new interests.

Experience: I took advantage of Groupon and Livingsocial to try dance (Afro-Caribbean, etc.), kick boxing, archery, painting. I also discovered the joy of playing pool, and I'm improving my skills.

Closing remarks:
It is very important to be focused and on top of your game by not letting your personal life interfere with your professional life. I would hate to see you experience what I went through last year.

*** I will post a new entry about Fieldwork soon! ***

What to Expect in OT School

After waiting a couple of months to hear back from the schools you have applied to, you should have heard back from most of them. Got accepted? To at least one or more programs? You may have had a tough time deciding whether to accept, decline, or defer... but you finally made your choice. Congratulations!! All your hard work paid off.

Now that you have a little more time to relax and catch your breath, you are now thinking about what life would be like as an OT student. This is a brief survival guide based on my experiences... that could help you succeed when you begin graduate school career.

Reminders:  
- Fees: make sure all fees (i.e., deposit) are paid before you are enrolled
- Financial Aid: make sure all forms are filled out and are submitted on a timely basis
- Health/Immunizations: all health forms should be completed and up-to-date 
- Transcripts: all transcripts should be mailed from your school(s) to your program once you complete your course(s)

Before the program begins:
Open House: It is not required to attend Open House, but this is a good opportunity to meet some of the program's faculty and prospective classmates
My experience: I did attend Open House. My parents were kind enough to drive me, but we ended up getting lost... and I was half-an-hour late. Oh well!

Living Arrangements:  
- Commuters: Familiarize yourself with the public transportation routes and get a feel of how long it would take for you to travel during rush hour and off hours. This also applies to those of you who choose to drive, but you may have to decide whether you should pay for a parking spot or try your luck and find parking on your own.
- Dorm/Campus Housing: This is the ideal setting because it is usually close near where you'll take classes... and you'll have more time to study, sleep, and socialize with other students on campus. However, convenience does come at a cost. It would be wise to have a budget.
- Housing: If you decide not to get campus housing or you were unable to, you may be on your own in your search for an apartment. Give yourself plenty of time to find something that suits you, but do ask around. There will be other people who are in the same boat as you are. Consider cost, distance, and other factors. Again, have a clear budget!
My experience: I am a commuter, so I save on housing costs. However, it takes me an hour to get to and from school... No, I don't enjoy it at all.

Books: You may already know what your schedule would be like for the first semester, so there is a good chance that you can find out if you can get the names of the required textbooks you will need for the first semester.
Tip: Books are very expensive... so try to purchase them online as early as possible. If you can, get used copies that are in good condition.
Experience: I saved a good deal on my books by searching on DealOz and buying most of them from websites such as Amazon, textbooks.com.

Orientation: This may take one or more full days. You will be overloaded with information about the program, the courses you would be taking, financial aid, what is expected of you, etc. etc. etc. Also, you probably will be handed your new ID, lots of paperwork (i.e., schedule, student handbook, program's bulletin, etc.). Well, you and your classmates may be divided into groups and do an activity and get to know each other.
Tip: Be well rested. Even though there may be food, bring water and snacks. Also, carry a backpack or bring extra bags for all the extra stuff! Yeah... be open to just about anything!
Experience: Orientation took two full days. Honestly I only remember being exhausted! However, I met some students who were already enrolled in the program.

Coming Soon: Tips to Survive OT School!