Apply | Doctor of Occupational Therapy in Downers Grove

Individuals applying for admission to the College of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program must submit documentation for the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Grades of C or better for prerequisite coursework; grades of C- are not acceptable.
3. Completion of the minimum number of prerequisite courses in the prescribed subject areas at regionally accredited colleges or universities.
4. Satisfaction of the standards set forth by the Admissions Committee (including documentation of academic and professional promise in prospective students).
5. Completion of the Occupational Therapy Program's interview process. On-campus interviews are by invitation only. Applicants are invited to an interview based on evidence supportive of excellence in:
   • Academic achievement
   • Oral and written communication skills
   • Articulation of the domain and scope of OT practice
   • Community service
   • Leadership in extracurricular or other activities
6. Demonstration of a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
7. Motivation for and commitment to healthcare as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
8. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with clients and colleagues.
9. Commitment to abide by Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
10. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.

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PREREQUISITE COURSES

Students must complete these courses with a grade of C or better; grades of C- are not acceptable:

1The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses.

2Human Anatomy must be completed successfully within 5 years of admission to the Program. The lab component with cadaver experience is strongly recommended.

A course in child development, and a course in the sociology or psychology of aging, are highly recommended. Additional courses in the sciences and mathematics are also recommended, including chemistry, physiology, physics, and biology. General education electives are also recommended to demonstrate competency in English composition, oral communication, problem-solving behavior, logic, and ethical theories.

What is the minimum GPA required for admission?

·         You are required to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Grades of C or better are required for prerequisite coursework; grades of C- are not acceptable. The average GPA of our applicants is 3.6.

Do I need to take the GRE?

·         No, GRE scores are not required to apply.

What prerequisite courses do I need to take?

·         You can view all required prerequisite courses, and all other application requirements, at https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/il_occupational_therapy/admission/apply.html#requirements.

Do I have to complete all of the prerequisite courses before I submit my application?

• You do not have to have your prerequisites completed prior to applying to the program. All of your courses must be complete before matriculation into the program.

Does it matter when I completed my prerequisites or when I obtained my baccalaureate degree?

• It does not matter how recently you earned your degree. In fact, we encourage people to apply who are considering a career change, or may be returning to graduate school after an absence. However, it is required that the Anatomy and Physiology courses have been completed within the previous five years.

What are the undergraduate majors of your students?

• There is no specific major required for our program, as long as all of the prerequisite courses are completed. Our students have baccalaureate degrees in all areas, with the most common being psychology, kinesiology, and exercise science. We encourage students from diverse academic backgrounds to apply; many of our students majored in areas such as business, art, and English. 

What are the most important qualifications that you look for in an applicant?

• We look for applicants who are well-rounded and have a strong history of academic excellence, a commitment to service, and experience in leadership roles. We look for applicants who are person-centered and who are sensitive to individuals or groups who experience disability, social stigma, or limited access to healthcare.

Are there certain settings you prefer my OT observations to be in? How many hours of observations do I need?

• We do not require a certain number or type of OT observations.  We prefer applicants to observe or experience OT in diverse settings to ensure that the applicant understands the variety of settings and practice within OT. We also encourage applicants to consider opportunities to observe in other healthcare and social service fields where they will encounter diverse populations.

To be considered for admission to the Occupational Therapy Program, applicants must submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

1. OTCAS Application

Applicants are required to submit their applications to OTCAS at http://www.otcas.org by February 1, 2021. Please refer to the OTCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. The OTCAS application should be available for applicants beginning in Summer 2020. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their OTCAS application early in the cycle.

2. Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation from professionals to OTCAS (http://www.otcas.org). The Office of Admissions will only accept letters of recommendation received directly from OTCAS. It is preferred that one of the submitted letters is written by an occupational therapist who has supervised or mentored the applicant or a professional who can speak to the applicant's motivation, experiences in occupational therapy, or readiness for entering the Occupational Therapy Program. The second letter can be written by either a college professor who actually taught the student or a pre-health advisor who knows the applicant well. The applicant should refer to the OTCAS application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation.

3. Completed Applications

The Office of Admissions will send letters verifying receipt of OTCAS applications with all required materials to all applications who meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 3.00. The letters will also include instructions on checking the status of the required application materials online. Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and ensuring the submission of all required documents. Only applicants who submit completed applications with all required application materials will be considered for potential entrance into the Program.

Please note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All application withdrawal requests must be made in writing via email, fax, or letter to:

Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
555 31st St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Fax: 630/971-6086
admissil@midwestern.edu

Students selected for an interview will be notified of available interview dates and invited by the Office of Admissions to schedule their on-campus interview. A typical interview day involves participation in the following activities, which are coordinated by the Office of Admissions: an interview with two occupational therapy interviewers, lunch with current Midwestern University occupational therapy students, a campus tour, and an opportunity to meet with counselors from the admissions office and the financial aid office.

During each interview session, the interviewers question the applicant about their academic, personal, and professional aspirations and preparedness for admission to the Occupational Therapy Program, and rate prospective students on a standard evaluation form. These evaluations are included in applicant files provided to the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee. The Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee meets approximately one to two weeks after the interviews. The Committee reviews the full application file for applicants who were interviewed and then formulates and submits a recommendation to the Dean for action. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies each applicant in writing of the admission action/decision. Applicants are extended acceptance to the program based on the aggregate qualitative and quantitative data gathered from the application, interview process, and the completion of all published admissions requirements.

The matriculation process begins after applicants receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process, applicants must:

1. Submit the matriculation agreement and required deposit monies by the date designated in the matriculation agreement. Deposits are applied towards the first quarter's tuition.
2. Submit official final transcripts from all colleges attended post-high school by the deadline of two weeks (14 days) prior to the first day of classes. Students who are accepted to MWU less than one month prior to the first day of classes will have 30 calendar days from the date of their acceptance to submit all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Any special circumstances or requests for exceptions to this policy must be sent to and approved by the Office of the Dean of the college. Students who fail to submit all official final transcripts by the stated deadline may jeopardize their acceptance or continued enrollment in the College.
3. Submit completed medical files documenting completion of a physical exam, immunizations, tuberculosis and titer blood testing as instructed by the Office of Student Services and detailed in the Student Handbook.
4. Meet the Technical Standards for the College.
5. Submit proof of medical and disability insurance coverage. Students may select either a plan offered by an MWU-approved carrier or a comparable plan offered by an outside carrier of their choice, as determined by the Office of Student Services. Insurance must be maintained throughout the entire period of enrollment.
6. Submit additional documents as requested by the Office of Admissions or College.
7. Students who are requesting an F-1 visa or who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must prepay tuition and in some cases other mandatory program fees for the first year of their educational program 6 weeks before the first day of the first quarter of each academic year. Furthermore, the student must prepay tuition and in some cases other mandatory program fees for each successive year at the start of each academic year on the University’s stated due date.
8. Submit a signed Credit Policy Statement.
9. Authorize and pass the MWU criminal background check and/or fingerprinting background check as required by the specific College/School/Program.
10. Submit a signed MWU Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy Statement.

Applicants who fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or who omit or falsify information required on official admission documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Any individual accepted for admission to the college/program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials receives no further notification from the college regarding the forfeiture of their seat.

Students who receive denial or end-of-cycle letters may reapply for the following year's admissions cycle. Before reapplying, however, individuals contemplating reapplication should seek the advice of an admissions counselor. To initiate the reapplication process, prospective students must complete and submit a new application and proceed through the standard application process.

Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)