Student Blog
Admissions

Writing a Personal Statement ⟩
March 24, 2025, by Kimberly Rochin

Admissions

Applying to graduate school was no joke! It took lots of planning, researching, asking questions to both professors and students, and writing (and LOTS of rewriting) my personal statement.

Like many others, especially first-generation college students pursuing a graduate program, I did not have a clue of how to write the “perfect” personal statement for an OTD program. Leveraging the style I had once used for undergraduate writing, I wrote in a very fluffy manner. Too many metaphors, unnecessary filler words, and honestly a bunch of story-like conjugations.

At first, I approached the personal statement through an extensive metaphor of a broken landline, where I highlighted different discrepancies in healthcare within my family, where health and seeking therapeutic measures are often seen as taboo. But this version, while creative, did not allow me to delve into my journey as a prospective OTD student.

Although when I had sought out advice, my ego took somewhat of a strike, I realized that the writing style that had once worked would not make the cut in admissions. Application readers do not necessarily want to read metaphor-filled narratives but rather understand what prompted you to pursue a career in OT, why OT, and what you plan to contribute to the growing field.

Here are some tips that worked for me:

1. Be direct and concise: OT programs receive hundreds of applications. Make your points clear without excessive storytelling.

2. Connect personal experiences to professional goals: Instead of just telling a story about healthcare disparities, explain how those experiences shaped your specific interest in occupational therapy.

3. Show, don’t just tell: Rather than stating “I’m passionate about OT,” demonstrate this through concrete examples of relevant experiences or observations. I started my statement with a conversation or setting up a scene to intrigue the reader to continue reading.

4. Highlight your unique perspective: For instance, I am a first-generation student, so my background provides me valuable insights, not many may encounter. Make sure to frame this as a strength rather than a limitation.

5. Research each program thoroughly: Tailor your statement to address specific aspects of each program that align with your goals. Generic statements are easy to spot!

6. Get feedback from multiple sources: Seek input from professors, current OT students, and writing centers. Be open to constructive criticism (even if it hurts your ego!)

7. Demonstrate understanding of the profession: Show that you comprehend what OTs do and how the field impacts healthcare.

8. Balance personal and professional: While your statement should be personal, it should also demonstrate professionalism and readiness for graduate-level work.

9. Revise, revise, revise: My final statement looked nothing like my first draft, and that’s a good thing! Give yourself time for multiple revisions. I found that roughly writing my ideas on a scratch piece of paper and connecting my experiences and identities, helped me create my narrative/brand.

10. Stay authentic: Find the balance between professional writing and your authentic voice. Admissions committees want to know the real you.

Remember, the personal statement is your opportunity to showcase not just your writing abilities but your critical thinking skills and genuine commitment to the field of OT. Good luck with your applications!

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Grad Application . . . Let’s Talk About It ⟩
December 18, 2024, by Cara

Admissions Life Hacks

Since deciding to pursue a career in OT, I knew that graduate school would be an eventual part of my academic journey. I’ve recently finished the graduate school application process and while it’s fresh in my mind, I have some tips to share!

1. Choosing Programs — What Do You Want Out of It?

When selecting a program, it’s important to consider what you want to gain from the experience. Each program is unique in its own way, so here are some factors I considered when choosing the right fit for me:

• Curriculum
  Does the program offer a good balance between theory and clinical work? Think about whether you want to understand more of the theoretical foundations of what you’re doing, or if you’re someone who prefers to jump into clinical work and learn as you go.
• Opportunities
  What resources does the program offer? Look into opportunities beyond lab and fieldwork, such as community clinics where you can gain experience early on. Additionally, research the fieldwork placements — are they local or global?
• Diversity
  As OT helps people from various backgrounds, consider a program that values diversity. Research how diverse the student body, faculty, and the community outreach are. Exposure to different perspectives in your cohort helps you grow your empathy and awareness. And with the guidance of faculty across diverse subjects, you’ll learn the necessary skills to help people holistically.

2. Observation / Volunteer Experience

Some programs may require 40–80 hours of relevant experience, which may seem daunting, but it’s totally doable! I gained mine by networking through family friends and reaching out to clinics I found through Google. Even if experience is optional, I strongly encourage you to still do it. Such experiences helped me see all the ways I can make a difference as an OT, discovering the settings and specialties that resonated most with me, and reaffirmed my passion for the field. If you’re unsure where to start, check out our list of volunteer and observation opportunities across the US and internationally.

3. Letters of Recommendation

Most OT programs require three letters of recommendation from a professor, an OT you’ve shadowed or interned with, and an employer. It’s important to be intentional about who you ask and what they can add to your application. For example, my professor emphasized my work ethic, compassion, and introspection. An OT I shadowed focused on my time alongside them and how I was as their shadow. My employer commented on my creativity, communication, dependability, and teamwork skills, drawing from my role as a Student Ambassador. In short, don’t select recommenders solely based on their titles — consider how each can showcase different aspects of your strengths to make yourself a more well-rounded applicant.

4. Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement is undeniably one of the most challenging yet vital parts of the application process. While it’s easy to think you need to fit an “ideal student mold”, remember that programs value individuality. Unlike most applicants, I never had a direct experience with OT that inspired me to pursue the career. Rather, my “aha” moment was from my former job as an elementary after-school aide. While not directly related to OT, I was able to reflect on this experience to demonstrate essential OT principles such as empathy, problem-solving, and supporting others in overcoming challenges. Often, the experiences that seem trivial or we initially take for granted teach us the most about who we are and what we’re meant to do. So, don’t underestimate those unique experiences — they may provide the most meaningful insights into what you can offer to the field.

5. Interview

Interviews are a double-edged sword. I was excited when I got one, thinking, “Yes, I’ve made it to the next round!” But then the anxiety kicked in – “What kind of questions would they ask? What if I blanked out completely? What if I say the wrong thing?” Here’s how I overcame the jitters.

• Prepare
  Anticipate common interview questions, including why you chose OT, why you chose that specific program, and experiences about teamwork and problem-solving. Some programs may even have you role-play as an OT to assess your empathy and communication skills.
• Mock interviews
  As they say, “practice makes perfect!” I suggest doing mock interviews with those experienced in the process, like professors or TAs. For me, I prepared with my dad, thanks to his extensive experience on hiring committees. I admit that I cried three times out of nerves (haha!). Nevertheless, by the day of the actual interview, I made it through without any tears. Also, some programs provide the opportunity to virtually meet with the admissions director to answer any questions you may have. If offered, I suggest taking it, as it helped me get a better sense of what the school was looking for and allowed the program to familiarize themselves with me.
• Ask questions
  As my dad advised me, “Don’t stay silent — you might miss your shot.” While it may sound blunt, speaking up by asking questions shows you’re invested in the program while helping you determine if it’s the right fit. Most interviews include a Q&A with current graduate students, giving you a chance to learn candidly about the program’s strengths and weaknesses. Ask about what’s important to you, whether it’s student-student support, student-faculty relationships, fieldwork, or capstone projects. Remember, there’s no such thing as a stupid question!
• Relax
  During the actual interview, remember that the interviewer is there to get to know you, not to judge you. It’s easy to get caught up in thoughts like, “Do I have enough experience?” or “This program is so prestigious — am I good enough?” But, remember you earned the chance to be there, and that says a lot about you having something valuable to offer. Take a deep breath and know that you can do this, because you can.

The application process can be daunting, and perfectionism often makes it feel even more stressful. I overthought a lot, but I had to remind myself that getting through it is better than perfect, and that everything will fall into place as it’s meant to. Even when it feels uncertain, remember, it’s not about where you are now, but who you’re becoming along the way. I hope these tips help you feel more prepared and confident as you approach application season. If you ever want to talk more about the process, feel free to reach out. Good luck!

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A Story You Won’t Forget ⟩
November 8, 2024, by Mason

Admissions

College admissions can be stressful, in fact when I think back about my high school years I can say without a doubt that the college search and application process was one of my most stressful moments. One of the hardest parts about it, at least for me, was the sheer number of people telling me different things to focus my energy and attention towards. I had my parents whom I desperately wanted to make proud, my older sister who was already succeeding in college, high school ‘college counselors’ who thought I shouldn’t tunnel vision my aspirations solely on occupational therapy, and of course all of those supposed “admission experts” on youtube describing ground breaking news on how to get into a top school. Everyone always had something to say, some magical advice, and having to sift through all of it was exhausting. College applications often force you to define yourself in a few short pages, and I for one was often left feeling inadequate putting my whole life down on a page.

A little about me, I had the privilege of earning a paid work study job at USC’s Office of Admissions. There I served as a student ambassador and tour guide for all 4 years of my undergraduate education. There were many great benefits and takeaways from my experience in the position, but for the sake of staying on topic I will stick to what’s relevant. Across my years in the role I was able to work directly under several fantastic admissions counselors who not only acted as my bosses and mentors, but also openly shared with me an honest window into the college admissions process at USC. My supervisors were some of a large number of USC counselors who directly read applications and played a key role in the admissions process. I cannot speak for other universities, but I think the most interesting thing I realized throughout my time learning from them is how human the college application process really is. When you are in high school and applying to these big trailblazing universities it’s easy to forget that at the end of the day there is a human being reading your application. A real person who feels, empathizes, and hopes to connect with each and every student they learn about. When any of my co-workers or myself would ask our supervisors what is the best advice we should give to prospective USC students on an application or college essay, they would always tell us the same thing:

Tell us a story we won’t forget.

So what is my magical advice you might ask? What secret golden ticket am I offering to you today. The best advice I can give to anyone about applying to USC or any college for that matter, is to be your most honest and authentic self. It’s so easy to get swept up in the narrative of trying to make yourself into a person that college’s “want” to see. Whether it be through the extracurriculars you engage in, the classes you take, or the essay you use to paint a picture of yourself, let your true narrative and story guide your application. If you take the time to create something that reflects the beauty and passion of your unique human experience I guarantee you it will stick with a person better than trying to model some unattainable paradigm.

My favorite thing about occupational therapy is that each and every patient you see has a different story, a different meaning that they derive from the activities that fill their life. Let your meaning shine through your work, and always remember that there is never just one path to your future goals. If the first path you choose closes, take a deep breath and head down the next one that comes your way.

That’s all for now, and Fight On!

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How to Find Scholarships (yes, you qualify!) ⟩
November 5, 2024, by Avery

Admissions Life Hacks School/Life Balance

Let’s be honest — education is expensive, especially at USC. That first time you open your financial aid report can be scary and overwhelming. The weight of potential debt and student loans is daunting, and for many of us, staying in school requires tough sacrifices and working multiple jobs just to make ends meet.

One thing that many students don’t realize however, is just how much free money is available to them in the form of scholarships! I’ve heard it all:

“Oh, I don’t think there’s a chance I would actually win the scholarship.”

“I didn’t realize that I qualified!”

“Wait, I didn’t know this many scholarships were out there!”

“I don’t want to take the time to apply when I could be doing other things or just working a job instead.”

In reality, there are numerous independent organizations that WANT to give you their money so that you can pursue your education. Sometimes, it just takes a little digging to get there! I’ll be honest, taking the time to write the essays, figure out the deadlines, and get letters of recommendation is time consuming. This can feel overwhelming and exhausting, especially with the constant demands of schoolwork as a full-time student. However, at the end of the day, the rate of return on these awards is HIGH. Let’s say you spent 3 hours applying for a $500 scholarship. That equates to earning over $160 an hour. Now imagine if that is a $1,000 application? $5,000? It quickly begins to feel like the time applying for scholarships is being much smarter spent than working a few extra hours at a minimum wage job.

So, where to start? I like to begin by researching scholarship opportunities specific to the area where I am from. While many of these local scholarships are only available for high school seniors, I was really surprised to find out my freshman year that quite a few of them have money available for those already in college as well. These awards are great as they are designated only to a specific area or field, meaning less people can apply = you have a better chance of receiving the money.

Now let’s look towards USC specifically. To begin, when applying to USC (undergrad or OT school), be sure to hit that November 1st EA deadline so that you can be considered for the large merit-based scholarships that are available.

The Chan website has links to resources of external scholarships. The list is long, which means there have to be at least a few you qualify for. My advice is to open a Google Spreadsheet, make columns to label the due date, amount, name of award, link, and basic things needed to apply (essay, letter of rec, transcript, etc). Then, go through every award and add any to your spreadsheet that you meet the criteria to apply to. This will keep you organized and will help to not let any deadlines sneak up on you.

Chan has a page with resources for their internal scholarships. Add these to your spreadsheet as well.

USC also has several scholarships for those engaged in unpaid research. Check out Dornsife’s SOAR-SURF-SHURE scholarships, as well as Chan’s Occupational Therapy Student Research Fund. These can be incredible opportunities to learn and be involved in something that interests you academically, add to your professional resume, and get ‘paid’ simultaneously.

Next, put together a list of companies you have ties to. Think about places you work, shop, where your family and friends work, where you do your banking, non-profits you volunteer at, etc. There’s a good chance one of these organizations has an annual scholarship award.

Finally, many scholarship search engines exist such as scholarships.com and fastweb.com, where you can filter your search based on your area of study and demographics.

Keep track of those deadlines, and happy applying!

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From Rejection to Redemption: My Second Attempt ⟩
August 15, 2024, by Patricia

Admissions

Getting rejected the first time creates some type of feeling. For me it was sadness, questioning what went wrong, and thinking about what to do differently applying a second time around. Here are some of the areas I revisited and hope it helps you if you are applying a second time:

Meet with an Admissions Representative:
Set up an appointment to meet with an admissions representative, it truly makes a difference. Ask them questions about your application like, “what can I do to strengthen my application?” I had the opportunity to know what disqualified my application, and that was that one of my prerequisites was passed the seven years when I applied. If you have a question about your prerequisites or want to request a waiver you can do so by visiting this link: https://chan.usc.edu/education/entry-level-otd/admissions/prerequisite-inquiry.

Letters of Recommendation:
Asking for a letter of recommendation from people that don’t know about occupational therapy can be a little challenging. I composed and provided a brief written description of “What is occupational therapy (OT)?”, a list of attributes an occupational therapist has, and why I was interested in occupational therapy to the people I was asking for letters of recommendation from. This can help the individuals writing your letters of recommendation know and learn about OT and how your skills and work experience relate to OT. Also, give them a due date and do check-ins with them as the application window comes to an end.

Personal Statement and Other Prompts:
Writing the personal statement along with the other program prompts for me was an opportunity to reflect on why I was applying for OT. It was a time of vulnerability in sharing my story and I felt nervous when I asked them to read my statements. And with that said, I do recommend asking people that you feel comfortable with to read your personal statement. Also, if you need to redo your personal statement that’s okay. I redid my personal statement three times before I felt true and confident in my written statements and this wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t share them and receive feedback. Lastly, if you don’t know where or how to start writing, I would suggest writing down all your thoughts and experiences to give you a guide on what you want to talk/write about.

These are the three areas I focused the most on when applying a second time around to OT programs. Whether this is your first or second time applying, I hope these suggestions help. If you have any questions or would like to contact me, please reach out. I wish you the best in your application process and as always, Fight On!

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