OT SCHOOL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | My interview experience + tips

In this video I share my interview experience and walk you through the questions that were asked during my OT school interview. I was accepted into the program but I ended up going somewhere else. If you have any questions feel free to reach out :) you got this!
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[@nadialynn_OT]

I prayed before my first interview LOL!!! Good luck to people applying(: after the interview process, the hardest part is over

[@kaylashin6444]

listening to worship music and praying before the interview is A MOOD hahaha. Praise God for getting you through it! Thanks so much for all the tips in your video, all super helpful!

[@karinaarismendiz4519]

I remember being sooooo nervous during my interviews too! I had two interviews in person and one was virtual and they asked me similar questions to yours. They asked me why I wanted to go into OT, to talk about a time when I was criticized and what did, what would I do if I found out that someone from my cohort was being academically dishonest, and there was another one that I can't remember anymore, but it was kind of a hypothetical question where they also wanted to know about my thought process and problem-solving. Hope this helps anyone applying soon!! Good luck!!

[@cheriejo2727]

I have my first OT school interview next week!! This was very helpful! Thank you so much!

[@itscristalj6447]

Cherie Jo so glad I could help! Good luck, you got this! :)

[@LLCoolBeans86]

How did it go Cherie Jo?

[@christianatunni]

Lunch is a sacred time, but the fact that you respected that, I'm sure she appreciated!

[@yianna4505]

people like you who upload these kind of videos are literal angels, thank you so much for the insight!

[@itscristalj6447]

thank you so much! 😭best of luck!

[@Laner77100]

Thank you for this! I can relate to how you were feeling. I just received my first rejection letter right before my first interview on Friday. I’ve been struggling a lot with my confidence but this video helped calm my nerves :) new subscriber here

[@annamedel9509]

Hi Cristal! Thank you for your VERY helpful video. My interview is tomorrow via Zoom. I am honestly very excited but also nervous. Your video calmed me down and brought me back to earth. I am such a big overthinker, and just hearing you talk about what to expect really helps. I've been reviewing interview questions for awhile now and I'd have to say your video was the most helpful!!

[@itscristalj6447]

Thank you so much, I'm glad I could be helpful!! Did your interview go well? Rooting for you! :)

[@brandonfranklin975]

My OT interview is Thursday, thank you so much! This really helped.

[@Taliooo21]

Thank you so much for this video! Im applying to OT school now, and I'm so nervous!

[@itscristalj6447]

haha definitely remember being in your shoes! You got this!! Best of luck :)

[@crystalsmiles14]

Thank yoU so much !! This helped me allot, I’m starting the process of getting all of my requirements for applying and I’m just so nervous. This was very helpful !!!

[@itscristalj6447]

no problem! Good luck on applications!!

[@gaurideshpande5430]

I have my first interview for OT school tomorrow morning!! THANK YOU for this

[@baeklizi3826]

What were your interview questions please?

[@zeexoxo4583]

I’m applying for a doctor of occupational therapy program. I’m so nervous. I think I got this though.🥰

[@itscristalj6447]

you definitely got this!! Rooting for you! :)

[@madtayows]

Thank you so much for this video!! I’m currently applying to OT school and I’m nervous! Would it be okay when answering the why OT question to include the specific specialization that drew me toward the profession? For example, mental health is very important to me and I want to be someone that can make someone’s every day life easier when dealing with simple tasks may become difficult for someone struggling with mental health issues!

[@itscristalj6447]

Madison Owens honestly that would be a perfect answer 💕 when interviewing they’re more interested in getting to know YOU and YOUR passions.. not so much what you think they want to hear. As long as you can let your passions shine through I’d say it’s a solid interview!

[@madtayows]

ItsCristalJ thank you so much!

[@AleeyahAtwater]

I have my first interview in an hour! Im so nervous, thank you so much for this.

[@karleepritchard926]

This is very helpful!! Im hoping I get a call back for an interview this year!

[@itscristalj6447]

You got this!❤

[@alexamontalvo9300]

Hi girl! You are god sent! I been watching your videos, I loveeeee everything your doing on here! I wanted to know how much was the application for the application at Kean?

[@dvill30]

Hi Cristal! thank you so much for this video it was so informative and helpful. im a nervous sweater too LOL so i related to this so much!! im applying to OT schools right now and im pretty nervous about the interviews, especially now that theyll be over zoom instead of in person

[@itscristalj6447]

Ahhh girl I feel you haha! I can’t imagine how nerve wracking it must be now to do interviews through zoom but you got this! Rooting for you ❤️

[@dvill30]

@@itscristalj6447 thank you so much! i love your page and content its so awesome

[@cthescientist]

This is such an awesome video! Thank you for sharing! You have a great sense of humor too! I was wondering what questions you had for the interviewer. If you could share, it would really help me come up with ideas for my upcoming OT program interview. Thank you!

[@itscristalj6447]

Thank you, that means so much :) And of course! I asked 3 questions 1. I volunteered at an autism center where resources were scarce. Does this program teach on how to come up with creative interventions for low-income areas? 2. How is the faculty/student relationship at this program? 3. Does this program provide their students with fieldwork opportunities or do students typically find them on their own? How much of an input do students have when choosing their fieldwork placements? Best of luck on your interview!

[@cthescientist]

@@itscristalj6447 Thank you SO SO SO much for taking the time to reply to me! Thank you for your question suggestions! All the best to you on your OT journey!

[@itscristalj6447]

@@cthescientist Thank you, you too!! :)

[@LLCoolBeans86]

@@itscristalj6447 that sounds like an awesome volunteer opportunity. My bachelor's degree was in psychology. I loved working with children who were diagnosed with autism. I will search for a volunteer program in that area.

[@ot_lifehacker]

Thank you for sharing!!! That sparks an idea for me that I made a list of potential interview questions for one of my friend’s cousins by asking a bunch of other ot students. So I wonder if I should share it!🤔

[@itscristalj6447]

I don't see why not? I was a bit hesitant to share this as well but I've seen so many blogs write about common interview questions and no interview is going to be exactly the same so I say the more knowledge that is put out there the better haha

[@sommie4261]

Waiting on the questions 😭

[@LLCoolBeans86]

Thank you so much for your videos!! I'm about to apply to OT school and I'm nervous

[@itscristalj6447]

No problem! Good luck, you got this! :)

[@alinalieu6521]

Hi Cristal, Thank you so much for posting this video. I am waiting for a potential interview invitation at the moment and I am sooo nervous. I don't know what to expect since interviews will now be online via Skype due to COVID-19. By the way, I love the humor in your videos :D!! Could you also let me know how you found out your program focuses more on mental health? Where can I start to find this with my progran? Thank you in advance :)

[@itscristalj6447]

Hey Alina! You're so kind!! Good luck in your interview, you'll do great! As for finding out what your program focuses on you can look at this through their website! They should have their curriculum somewhere on their page and if you look through all of their classes, just by the titles you can kind of get an idea of what to expect :)

[@alinalieu6521]

@@itscristalj6447 Ahhh okay I will do that and see what I can find :) Thank you for your advice! Hope you are doing well!

[@itscristalj6447]

@@alinalieu6521 Anytime!! And thanks, you too! :)

[@everythingattachedtomewins]

My interview is November 20th. Takes several deep breaths

[@itscristalj6447]

Best of luck!! You got this! :)

[@janicechen6811]

My interview is on the same day! Good luck to us tomorrow!

[@everythingattachedtomewins]

@@itscristalj6447 I got in ! Thank you ❤️🙏🏾

[@itscristalj6447]

@@everythingattachedtomewins so awesome!! congratulations!!

[@jaemeymatherly7598]

My interviews today girl I feel you!

[@itscristalj6447]

haha hope they went well!!

[@jaemeymatherly7598]

@@itscristalj6447 it was so much easier than I thought. Now I'm just waiting on an email. Sorry you had to graduate during covid but congrats none the less!

[@itscristalj6447]

@@jaemeymatherly7598 Thanks so much! and yes! Once you get passed the initial nervousness you realize its suuuper casual :) Hopefully you here back soon! Rooting for you!

[@jaemeymatherly7598]

@@itscristalj6447 class of 23 I made it thanks for your video!

[@itscristalj6447]

@@jaemeymatherly7598 woot woot!!! Congrats!!

[@carlosbardales6543]

Hi , I applied to only one school and got waitlisted. I don't know if I should keep trying with the same school or seek other options, what schools would you advice me to apply? Thank you.

[@taylorviker6488]

How many ot schools do you recommend applying to? Right now I’m thinking three or four, should I do more?

[@AznInvazon]

I don't know if this is late but I would say it depends on how well you think your "profile" is; pre-req grades, test scores, extracurriculars, services hours (volunteer, shadowing), etc. Volunteer, work, and shadowing hours are pretty important. It might also depend on how popular the school is in terms of ranking. Can you get a good OT education from schools that aren't ranked as high? Sure. But also consider that many people (like myself) will look up top OT schools (in the US) and go off from there so you're likely competing with other students who may have "better" test scores or pre-req grades and all. You also want to apply to some safety schools but not a bunch because application fees stack up. Hope that helps!

[@zaidnaji9962]

Hi I want to ask question What are the latest standing orders and actions regarding the splinting practices within the occupational therapy managements?

[@itscristalj6447]

Hi there! I'm not sure I understand your question.. Are you asking who is allowed to splint? I am an OT student and in school they do train us in splinting but it is something you'll need more practice in if it is what you want to do. Splinting is mostly done by Certified Hand Therapists (CHT) and in order to be certified you need to either be an occupational therapist or physical therapist and complete 4,000 hours working directly under a CHT. You then have to take the CHT exam to be certified! Hopefully this helped.

[@zaidnaji9962]

@@itscristalj6447 thank you so much for your answer, I'm also occupational therapy student 3rd year, this question is for assignment that I should do and give it to my teacher, so please if you can share this question with your teachers then give me the answers that they will give it to you 🌺

[@itscristalj6447]

@@zaidnaji9962 Hi! Since we switched to remote learning due to everything going on I don't have the same access to my professors like I used to.. but if this is a school assignment I'm sure the answer could be found in your lecture slides :) Sorry, wish I could be more help!!

[@zaidnaji9962]

@@itscristalj6447 thanks a lot, you were so kind and helpful, I'm sorry for disturbing

[@itscristalj6447]

@@zaidnaji9962 no problem!

[@amandadelossantos925]

Hey girl I have an OTA interview and I’m so nervous 😩 and I have to write an essay while I’m in the interview 😭

[@tstapleton953]

My fingers are crossed for you. My OTA interview is next week.

[@amandadelossantos925]

@@tstapleton953 omg yesss I hope we both get in keep me updated 💖

[@tstapleton953]

@@amandadelossantos925 I just had my interview today. Mine went great. Did you have yours yet?

[@amandadelossantos925]

@@tstapleton953 no I haven’t had mines😭 it’s on Monday.... but omg I’m so happy for you😩💖

[@tstapleton953]

@@amandadelossantos925 Don't be nervous. You got this. Just be yourself and answer from your heart. They will ask you to define OT so be ready. Keep me posted. You gonna rock it!

[@alexbarinque8309]

Have you done a group activity interview before? I have one this week and I have no idea how it’ll be

[@itscristalj6447]

I've never done one for an OT interview but I've done one to become an RA for my college :) They usually have you work together to solve some sort of problem (for us it was a puzzle). With this they just want to see how well you communicate/work with others so be sure to make your voice heard and give your opinions, but also be polite, listen to others and a team player :)

[@alexbarinque8309]

ItsCristalJ thank you so much!!

[@alexbarinque8309]

@@itscristalj6447 I got in to OT school!! I still have another interview for a different school tomorrow but your advice helped me so much THANK YOU

[@itscristalj6447]

@@alexbarinque8309 so happy for you!!!

[@kathynguyen3182]

did you have a written portion in your interview?

[@lexiwilson8578]

I did

[@reinaperez1498]

excellent

[@itscristalj6447]

thank you! :)