Frequently Asked Questions for Pre-OT Majors

Q: Is there a minimum GPA requirement for admission into the Professional OT program?
A: The minimum GPA that is necessary to obtain an admission interview is 3.00 both for overall GPA and Pre-requisite GPA. Although 3.0 is the minimum students are highly encouraged to maintain a higher GPA. The average GPA of people admitted to the program is 3.5.

Q: What is the difference between overall GPA and pre-requisite GPA?
A: Overall GPA is the students GPA for all courses taken at all institutions since high school graduation. The Pre-requisite GPA is the GPA for courses listed as pre-requisite requirements for the professional OT program. These courses would be ENGL, PHYS, BIOL, STAT, SOC, PSY, PSIO, etc.

Q: I got a "D" in a class and D/F repeated the course and got an "A" the second time. Will the first grade hurt my chances of admission? A: No, As long as you have completed the course and the D/F repeat form so the original grade is not included in your GPA calculation it will not hurt your chances for admission. We will only consider the second grade in the Overall GPA and Pre-requisite GPA.

Q: Can I D/F repeat a course at a college near my home?
A: The only institutions at which you can D/F repeat a course taken at WVU are other WVU institutions such as: Potomac State College of WVU, WVU at Parkersburg or WVU Institute of Technology.

Q: Do I have to have all of my pre-requisite courses completed before I can apply to the OT program?
A: No, students may have one or two outstanding courses that they need to complete when they apply. Students should be enrolled in those courses during the Spring semester that they are applying to the program. The admission committee may choose not to interview or accept applicants who they feel have too many outstanding courses to complete.

Q: Do I need to satisfy all of my general education curriculum (GEC) requirements before I am eligible to apply to the program.
A: No, You may have some outstanding GEC courses to complete at the time of admission. However, the courses must be completed prior to beginning your first class in the OT program. The pre-requisite courses required for OT meet GEC Objectives 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. Students will need to select courses to complete objectives 3, 5, 8, & 9.

Q: Can I take some of my Pre-requisite classes and GEC classes at a college or university near my home over the summer?
A: Yes, it does not matter where the courses are taken. However, the student is responsible for assuring that the course will transfer into WVU as an equivalent course to the Pre-requisite or GEC course. Students can check this for West Virginia Schools by going to http://www.arc.wvu.edu/tes/index.php and clicking on view course equivalents at the bottom of the page. Students may also consult with Brenda Wolfe, Academic advisor by calling (304) 293-1690 or via e-mail bwolfe@hsc.wvu.edu.Students are responsible for obtaining, filling out, and submitting a transient Application form to admissions and records to have the course credit transferred.

Q: When can I apply to the occupational Therapy program?
A: The program has one application period that begins in mid November for the class of OT students that will start the following summer. Students traditionally apply during their sophomore year. Admission packets can be picked up at the Health Science Admission and Records Office starting in Mid November. Packets are due either in Late January for students applying for direct admission or in mid February for students applying for traditional admission.

Q: What is accelerated admission?
A: Accelerated admission is a process available to students with a overall and pre-requisite GPA of 3.65 or above. To apply for direct admission students must have only two outstanding pre-requisite courses, have a completed application including recommendations turned in by the late January date, and have completed all of their OT contact/volunteer hours by the time of application. Students who are accepted for direct admit will be notified of their admission in mid February. Students who are not accepted through the direct admit process will be scheduled to participate in the traditional admission process including an interview and completion of an essay. The traditional admission process is outlined at http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/ot/Traditional-MOT-Program/Admission-Process.aspx

Q: What are OT contact hours?
A: OT contact hours are the hours that pre-OT students who are applying to the professional program must complete by working or volunteering with an OT. Each applicant must complete a minimum of 60 hours under the supervision of and OT. These hours need to be completed by the time of application to the professional program. The student will also need their supervisor at one of their OT sites to complete a recommendation. The contact hours can be volunteer or paid work. Students are encouraged to obtain more than 60 hours and to gain exposure to OT in multiple settings.

Q: Who can complete my recommendations for the admission application? A: Each applicant must submit a recommendation from an OT who supervised some portion of their contact hours. The second recommendation must be completed by a professor or instructor who has instructed the student. We do not recommend that Lab Teaching Assistants complete recommendations for application.