Really need your opinions and guidance, guys and gals...

[TheSport78]

I've always wanted to become an Occupational Therapist, and unfortunately I was declined acceptance this year. I have been in contact with a dean at one of the schools, and he suggested I re-take some of the prerequisite courses, which I'm definitely open to doing.

However, I also applied to Montclair State's Masters in Physical Education/Health program, which I've qualified for an interview. Assuming I am accepted into Montclair, but OT was and always has been my #1 choice, what would you do?

1) Re-take the prerequisite courses and apply for OT again

2) Accept Montclair State's offer and complete their teaching program

I'm just looking for some guidance. I'm 27 years old, so I'm not a spring chicken anymore, but I've always believed in following your passion and never giving up...no matter what.

Thanks for reading this.

 

[Duane]

How many schools have you looked into for Occupational Therapy? If it was just a handful I'd broaden my search.

Also, how many courses are you talking about retaking? Will it be something that will take one semester or will it stretch out a year or more?

 

[Ren]

If occupational therapist is what you really want to do then re-take some of the courses you need, 1 more year is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Or to put it another way, if that is what you really want to do is it really worth settling for something else to save a year?

 

[TheSport78]

How many schools have you looked into for Occupational Therapy? If it was just a handful I'd broaden my search.

Also, how many courses are you talking about retaking? Will it be something that will take one semester or will it stretch out a year or more?

Thanks for the reply! I applied to three OT schools. I definitely have a set number of schools that I can apply to next time.

I would re-take most likely 3 courses: physics II, sociology and chem II

I could take all of those courses this summer, and then apply in the Fall.

What do ya think?

 

[Duane]

Thanks for the reply! I applied to three OT schools. I definitely have a set number of schools that I can apply to next time.

I would re-take most likely 3 courses: physics II, sociology and chem II

I could take all of those courses this summer, and then apply in the Fall.

What do ya think?

One Summer to follow my dreams seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[TheSport78]

If occupational therapist is what you really want to do then re-take some of the courses you need, 1 more year is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Or to put it another way, if that is what you really want to do is it really worth settling for something else to save a year?

Great points. Thanks so much for your insight.

 

[TheSport78]

One Summer to follow my dreams seems like a no brainer to me.

Thanks, bud.

 

[DFWJC]

I've always wanted to become an Occupational Therapist, and unfortunately I was declined acceptance this year. I have been in contact with a dean at one of the schools, and he suggested I re-take some of the prerequisite courses, which I'm definitely open to doing.

However, I also applied to Montclair State's Masters in Physical Education/Health program, which I've qualified for an interview. Assuming I am accepted into Montclair, but OT was and always has been my #1 choice, what would you do?

1) Re-take the prerequisite courses and apply for OT again

2) Accept Montclair State's offer and complete their teaching program

I'm just looking for some guidance. I'm 27 years old, so I'm not a spring chicken anymore, but I've always believed in following your passion and never giving up...no matter what.

Thanks for reading this.

Follow your dream.
That time spent is nothing vs what you can gain with long-term career fullfillment.
Go for it. You won't regret it.

Also, and this is a promise, you will for sure look back as 27 being very, very young in the near future. It's an ideal age to adjust a career path because you are old enough to understand what you want and plenty young to pursue it.

 

[TheSport78]

Follow your dream.
That time spents is nothing vs what you can gain with long-term fullfillment

Really appreciate it, DFWJC.

Hope your day is going well and thanks for the response!

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'm 27 years old, so I'm not a spring chicken anymore

:laugh2:

Sorry, don't mean to be critical here but honestly, this is funny. At 27, you are just starting my friend.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I'm just looking for some guidance. I'm 27 years old, so I'm not a spring chicken anymore,

Yes, you are a spring chicken, ... early spring.

"Grass hasn't started growing, trees aren't budding" early spring.

Sound like a good kid, keep busting your butt, someone will notice.

You will be a good OT.

 

[TheSport78]

:laugh2:

Sorry, don't mean to be critical here but honestly, this is funny. At 27, you are just starting my friend.

Haha I was speaking in terms of schooling and being in college but I totally get what you're saying! :laugh2:

Yes, you are a spring chicken, ... early spring.

"Grass hasn't started growing, trees aren't budding" early spring.

Sound like a good kid, keep busting your butt, someone will notice.

You will be a good OT.

Thanks so much. You guys have no idea how much your opinions and comments mean to me.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Thanks for the reply! I applied to three OT schools. I definitely have a set number of schools that I can apply to next time.

I would re-take most likely 3 courses: physics II, sociology and chem II

I could take all of those courses this summer, and then apply in the Fall.

What do ya think?

I think you're getting lots of good advice; just wanted to make one point.

You need to be really honest with yourself about whether you can follow through on this plan. Taking three courses all at the same time, courses you're presumably retaking because you struggled with them the first time through, will not be easy, especially if you're also working or have other time constraints. Will you be able to commit the time and effort you'll need to make sure you succeed in all of them? If you can honestly say yes, then go for it. If not, think about slowing down a bit, putting one or two of them off to the fall.

 

[TheSport78]

I think you're getting lots of good advice; just wanted to make one point.

You need to be really honest with yourself about whether you can follow through on this plan. Taking three courses all at the same time, courses you're presumably retaking because you struggled with them the first time through, will not be easy, especially if you're also working or have other time constraints. Will you be able to commit the time and effort you'll need to make sure you succeed in all of them? If you can honestly say yes, then go for it. If not, think about slowing down a bit, putting one or two of them off to the fall.

Great insight.

The good thing about the summer sessions at my local college, is that they're split in 3 different semesters, so while it's a possibility I would have to take sociology along with physics, I wouldn't have to take all three courses at the same time.

Like you said, work, other obligations and all 3 courses at the same time would definitely be too rigorous for me, and possibly for others as well.

I appreciate your comments!

 

[Gemini Dolly]

Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do.

Thats what I wanted to do. But I just wasnt cutting it with the Science courses, so I gave up and got into teaching.

Sometimes, I do have the "what if I would have continued trying and applied", and every once in awhile I do get the urge to go back to school and try again, but now that 30 is very near, I think its too late for a career change and should just stick with getting masters in education.

Anyways, good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[danielofthesaints]

If you're not familiar with studentdoctornetwork, they have an OT specific forum....http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=513

Try posting there and see what they have to say. I'm taking Phys 2 right now :bang2:

 

[TheSport78]

Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do.

Thats what I wanted to do. But I just wasnt cutting it with the Science courses, so I gave up and got into teaching.

Sometimes, I do have the "what if I would have continued trying and applied", and every once in awhile I do get the urge to go back to school and try again, but now that 30 is very near, I think its too late for a career change and should just stick with getting masters in education.

Anyways, good luck in whatever you decide.

Thanks for the insight, man. I hope you're happy in whatever you ultimately decide to do, whether it's staying in teaching or going into OT.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you teach, and how has your experience been thus far?

 

[WoodysGirl]

30 isn't the crossroads to death, ya know. :laugh2:

Speaking, in general. If you have a passion for something and truly want to pursue something, then I say go for it. I have an aunt who took a class at the local JC for years, but never really worked toward a degree because she thought she was too old. My advice to her is that the only thing stopping her is her. Eventually she took my advice and not only pursued her bachelor's, but got an MBA at the ripe old age of 43.

TheSports78, you've gotten some really good advice in this thread and I don't have much to offer towards that. My only suggestion is if you struggled the first time in those classes, then prepare to invest in a tutor to help you get through those classes the next time.

Don't do like I did and re-take classes only to end up with the very same grade. Nothing more disheartening to re-take a class to try to improve only to fail in that effort.

 

[LoveMeSomeCowboys]

Whatever you do, please follow your heart. I learned a long time ago that if you don't, life sucks.

 

[TheSport78]

If you're not familiar with studentdoctornetwork, they have an OT specific forum....http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=513

Try posting there and see what they have to say. I'm taking Phys 2 right now :bang2:

Good luck and thank you!

30 isn't the crossroads to death, ya know. :laugh2:

Speaking, in general. If you have a passion for something and truly want to pursue something, then I say go for it. I have an aunt who took a class at the local JC for years, but never really worked toward a degree because she thought she was too old. My advice to her is that the only thing stopping her is her. Eventually she took my advice and not only pursued her bachelor's, but got an MBA at the ripe old age of 43.

TheSports78, you've gotten some really good advice in this thread and I don't have much to offer towards that. My only suggestion is if you struggled the first time in those classes, then prepare to invest in a tutor to help you get through those classes the next time.

Don't do like I did and re-take classes only to end up with the very same grade. Nothing more disheartening to re-take a class to try to improve only to fail in that effort.

Great stuff and I really appreciate your insight. A tutor should and will absolutely be a consideration!

Whatever you do, please follow your heart. I learned a long time ago that if you don't, life sucks.

Thanks so much.