occupational therapy personal essay

Write an Awesome Personal Statement for OT School

So you want to be an occupational therapist, but you still have to jump through the many hoops of applying for grad programs. One mandatory part of the process is writing a great personal statement specifically for occupational therapy school, which can be pretty intimidating when it’s time to put pen to paper.

Well, I’m here to help!

I personally spent quite a bit of time crafting the best possible personal statement I could for OT school, and have since read and edited many, many personal statements from pre-OT applicants. (Want me to edit yours? Sign up here !)

These are my top tips for you to craft a great occupational therapy personal statement that will help you stand out from the large crowd of pre-OT applicants.

First, the Do’s and Dont’s of Statement Writing

Do start early: Give yourself enough time to brainstorm, write, and revise your personal statement well before the deadline. This will really reduce your feelings of stress and being rushed.
Do show sincerity in your writing. It’s encouraged to let your positive emotions and enthusiasm shine through.
Do talk about why you want to be an occupational therapist. You want the programs to see that you are serious about this decision. You are not just applying because you can’t think of anything else to do for a career.
Do in one way or another demonstrate through your writing that you know what OT is and why it’s important.
Do showcase why you’ll make a great addition to their program, adding unique qualities that will differentiate you from the other applicants.
Do talk about your shadowing experience, volunteering and work experience that is relevant to the field of OT. Make sure you keep patient information confidential if you discuss certain cases you observed.
Do feel free to use the language of OT if you know it and are familiar with it (i.e. interventions, treatments, occupations, goals, evidence-based, functional treatments, etc.)
Do tie your personal statement together. If you make several different points, try to piece them together for the reader to show that you’ve really thought through the big picture.
Do have at least two people (but the more the better) read and proofread the final draft of your statement. Ask friends, family members, and someone at your school’s writing center. This can help spark ideas and ensure your application is completely free of typos or grammatical errors. The last thing you want is admissions to immediately notice any glaring spelling mistakes that you may have missed.
Do keep the length to 1-2 pages max. You want it to be short and sweet. If any sentence or paragraph looks unnecessary after you do a final read-through, get rid of it. As a general rule, personal statements run on average 600-800 words.

Don’t…

Don’t start your essay with clichés. In fact, leave them out of your statement altogether. An example of this is “I’ve always wanted to help people” (they see this all the time).
Don’t plagiarize. There are a lot of personal statement examples on the internet that you can absolutely use to guide your writing process. Do not use them word for word. Programs can find out and will exclude your application. U se the examples as templates of what kind of content you’ll cover in your statement.
Don’t try to be humorous in your personal statement. Even if you’re hilarious, this is not the time to show this.
Don’t just talk about your childhood. Focus on college and post college achievements unless something in your childhood or adolescence is what drove you to a career in occupational therapy. Remember that this isn’t an autobiography, it’s a statement on why you’ll be a great OT.
Don’t guess what you think the reader wants you to say. Be honest and don’t write in a way that is out of line with who you really are. Don’t just write something to try to impress people.
Don’t be a downer. Avoid going into detail about your dislikes, negative views, or problems in your life. If you have a low GPA or lack of experience, don’t mention it unless you can put a positive spin on it. Listing excuses for your low GPA or GRE score isn’t a good idea either, unless you really feel the need to tie in why your GPA is lower but how you’ll be an awesome therapist despite this.
Don’t mention specific programs in your statement if you’re using OTCAS . It will be sent to every school you apply to and therefore won’t make sense. If you apply to an individual school (not on OTCAS) then absolutely mention the school and why you’re passionate about their program.

Check out the How Get Into OT School Guide! It’s the most comprehensive resource that covers everything you need to know.

Ask yourself this question:.

A bonus tip I found while perusing the Student Doctor Network Forums while researching this topic, which is to ask yourself this question:

“Can you replace your personal statement with a degree other than OT? If not, it’s solid. If you can, then try to revise to make it only relevant to OT.”

And that’s a wrap!

If you have any other tips or tricks you’ve discovered while writing your personal statement for OT school, please feel free to add them in the comments section. I wish you the best of luck with your statement writing and your overall OT school application process!

Be sure to check out these other helpful resources:

Writing the Personal Statement (Purdue OWL)

Start Your Grad School Personal Statement in Just 1 Hour! (The Muse)

Writing a Personal Statement (Emory Pre-Health Advising)

5 Big Mistakes I Made When Applying to OT School (My OT Spot)

This post was last updated on May 12, 2023.

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As I’m working on my application essay this week, your article is very helpful! Thank you.

I’m so glad it was helpful for you 🙂 Best of luck with your applications!

Thank you for this article! I just wanted to know, do you offer services proof reading other people’s personal statements? That would be really helpful for me!

Hi May, I do offer personal statement reviewing that you can set up here . Instead of the traditional coaching call that’s linked, it will instead entail personal statement edits and feedback via email 🙂

Privacy Overview

Complete Personal Statement Guide for Pre-OT Occupational Therapy School Programs

Introduction.

This detailed guide will provide you with tips, do’s, don’ts, examples, and other helpful things along the way to write your personal statement for OT school.

You may be thinking:

Where do I even start with writing a personal statement?
Maybe I can look for some more examples online.
My story does not seem as exciting as these examples.
These examples don’t really relate to me.
I don’t like the writing style or “feeling” that these examples give me.
How do I even go about this?

Or maybe you didn’t have any of these thoughts and you are just looking for some extra tips to polish up your personal statement before you send it to the world. This guide will still help!

While this guide was written with Pre-OT’s for occupational therapy personal statements in mind, it of course can apply to other professions such as physical therapy, speech therapy, PA, RN, even undergraduate programs.

I am not part of any admissions committee or affiliated with them in any way. However, as a graduate of an occupational therapy program, I also read and edited many other personal statements for friends and family. This guide is not a guarantee that you will get accepted or a guarantee that you will produce the best personal statement. This is just my opinion and unfortunately, the writing is all up to you!

Fortunately, you already have the hard part done – building your education, experiences, personal character, and goals!

Not quite there yet, that’s okay too – this guide will give you a preview of how to prepare to write your personal statement.

The Process

The process of writing a personal statement may involve something like:

Reflecting, getting something typed on the screen, getting writer’s block, getting distracted, taking a break, editing it, reflecting, typing some ideas, deleting those ideas, repeat, have it proofread, reading it out loud, reflecting, make more edits, and you’re done! While this sounds like a lot, it’s doable.

Set-up and Preparation

Start Early

When you feel like you are ready to write your personal statement, start writing! Don’t wait until the last minute to write. Personal statements require editing, giving it some time for your mind to clear to re-read, having it proofread by someone else, and making more edits.

Install Grammarly

We use Grammarly as a browser extension for its spellcheck and grammar check. It is really good at catching mistakes as you go and the free version is all you really need to get some basic editing done. This allows you to focus on the writing and not the spelling. Software like Grammarly also helps if you especially have a hard time with writing in general. While it can suggest edits for errors, it is up to you to write the content. AI is not quite there yet, but we are close!

Cheating & plagiarizing

I just have to say it. Don’t cheat or plagiarize. Don’t hire someone to write for you. I hear stories of students cheating here or there, so it must still be happening. Grad school is not the time to jeopardize all the hard work you put in.

Have a back-up system for your document

It would be a huge set-back to lose all your hard work. These days, you can easily use the cloud such as Dropbox or Google Drive/Docs for storing your files. This goes for your personal statement document as well as your graduate school application files such as notes, deadlines, resumes, etc. All it takes is a coffee spilled on your laptop for you to lose all your hard work (it happened to my classmate in OT school). Better yet, back up all your data that is important to you. Lectures, recordings, assignments.

Write in a place you feel productive

It doesn’t have to be a quiet library. It just has to be what works. If it’s a coffee shop, then go there. Write in a place you associate with positive work (but also don’t get distracted too easily, e.g. a cat cafe) – like to your favorite study area.

It’s okay if it doesn’t seem perfect or even good at first

After all, you are writing something like this probably for the first time, with a unique set of experiences for a specific intention of impressing the OT’s admissions panel. It can be difficult for artists to create art or music, or write a book in one session. So don’t stress it!

Re-research the profession, job description, duties, etc. BLS.gov is my favorite go-to for profession research. We have a video on it here .
Follow the personal statement prompt and instructions. Read it several times to make sure. If there is a word limit, don’t go over. Double-check before you submit.
Pay attention to the file format that is requested from the programs. Word doc? PDF? Make sure your file actually opens after you upload it and is not corrupt, if possible. If you are uploading to a central application like OTCAS, make sure you meet those guidelines.
Write in the same tense and person throughout (“I”, first-person is fine).
Write in an order that makes sense and flows to the reader, e.g. chronologically.
Write with a purpose. Each sentence should be there for a reason and not be filler. Exclude extra information or too specific of information that doesn’t contribute to your story.
Example: Nowadays, I want to be an occupational therapist first and foremost because I want to help people and really make a difference in each of their lives.
Better example: My goal is to become an occupational therapist who makes a difference in people’s lives.
Warning : I wouldn’t you use this specific example in your personal statement because it’s probably been overused. Try to be creative by saying how you want to “help” people in other ways .
Be honest, try to copy an example’s voice, do not write over-the-top or fabricate the story.
Be politically correct and culturally sensitive.
My personal statement didn’t have big GRE words or fancy syntax. It told a great story that was (in my opinion) to the point, compelling, persuasive, and driven.
Describe your values and goals while highlighting your strengths.
In my opinion, it is best to talk about college, work, and other achievements and experiences in your “adulthood”.
Even traveling experience (shows cultural awareness) as an adult is more noteworthy than say winning a basketball game in high school (less relevant to OT)
Tip: think about when you first were motivated to become an OT and start from there, not earlier.
Don’t use cliches or minimize them as much you can. Readers see this a lot and it does not make a big impact on their impression of you.
Don’t use slang/informal speech, e.g. “sticking with it” -> perseverance.
Don’t make jokes and be careful if you decide to use humor (what may be funny to you may not be to the reader). It’s safe to leave humor out and just get to the point.
Avoid being sarcastic.
Pay attention to your use of OT – it can be occupational therapy or occupational therapist, but personally, I get confused when people use “OT” interchangeably.
In my final submitted personal statement, I only abbreviated “MSOT” and “EMT” and did not “OT” once.
Example: I got accepted to shadow at [facility] and was observing observed patients do their rehab exercises.
Pay attention to these verbs in sentences that run longer. Consider shortening them to make it less tiring to read, avoiding avoid run-on sentences. (see what I did there?)
Don’t abbreviate or hyphenate too often or incorrectly . If you do it one way, be sure you are at least consistent throughout. e.g. evidence-based, not evidenced based.
O ccupational therapist is capitalized like this correctly.
However, an Occupational Therapist is not correct if capitalized like this.
This is the correct capitalization for an occupational therapist.
The same goes for the field of occupational therapy.
O ccupational therapy is capitalized correctly in this sentence.
Abbreviations are always capitalized, e.g. OT.
Don’t write anything negative about anyone, organization, place, etc .
Don’t write in a negative tone, be a “Debbie Downer”
“OTs make a lot of money.”
“I will be the best occupational therapist because…”
“I am the best candidate because”
“Since I am… , therefore”
“Unlike others”, or
“Other professions” talking down, avoid talking about other professions in general. No one profession is better than another, the same applies to OT. Think about why OT over other professions leading to your decision to become one).
Think about how someone in another profession, say a PT would feel after reading your personal statement. They should not feel offended after reading your personal statement, but instead think, “wow, such and such would make a great OT.” Not that OT is better than PT, that kind of thing.
When I become an occupational therapist. If I become an occupational therapist.
Don’t repeat yourself, you only need to say something once in its context. Of course, the bigger message can be repeated, e.g. intro and conclusion. Just don’t sound repetitive.
Don’t use the same phrases (especially close to each other), try using different words. That doesn’t mean you should just look up words in a thesaurus. Really think about what’s the point you are trying to make.
Don’t use profanity.
In everyday speech we say things like, “that’s crazy”. Someone with a mental illness who really is crazy could be offended. I had a teacher whose pet-peeve was people who said things were crazy . Remove crazy from your personal statement.
“He probably was abused since he was in a recovery program/”
I would avoid using “ normal” too. “Occupational therapists help patients get back to their normal.” This implies the patient was abnormal before. Better words: recover, improve, rehabilitate, strengthen, adapt, overcome, etc.
Other labels: retarded, slow, crippled, mental, insane
You can include a facility name, e.g. Standford hospital – as long as you don’t talk about it in a negative context.
“Standford hospital treats a lot of poor patients.” Standford hospital is a valuable asset to the community for the underserved.
Don’t include anything that can be seen as a weakness, e.g. low GPA, took a semester off, DUI, unexplained career changes.
This is your chance to “say” what you want to say and include your story that is not apparent in the other pre-requisites. All the other candidates likely have high GPAs and had to take the same pre-requisite courses, but they did not shadow at your facility with your patient , so here’s your chance to distinguish yourself.
What experience may be unique to you ?
For example, I included my experience of being an EMT to make myself stand out.
This could backfire and show your lack of research into how broad OT can be. Don’t forget about mental health too! OT’s study to be generalists , not specialists.
While it’s okay to want to work with a specific population as a goal, don’t accidentally make it sound like you think OT’s only do one thing. Hope this one makes sense.

Question’s to address or reflect on

Reflect. Write. Take a break. Repeat.

What is your experience with other backgrounds and cultures in your pre-OT journey?
How did you realize that OT was for you? Why not PT? (Reflect, but don’t answer this directly.)
What or who were the influence(s) or influencers?
This is a rich opportunity to mention your specific OT shadowing experience at the stage in which you want to be an OT.
I would include at least 1 example from this, 2 is better, but not too much either.
Not just becoming an OT (graduating) but afterwards. e.g. 1 year post-grad, 5 years, where you see yourself 10 years out.
What challenges did you overcome in your pre-requisite pre-OT journey?
What sets you apart from other applicants? Why should I not pick person A or person B over you?
Tip: research the school’s website for their mission statement, OT program background, etc. to get familiar with the specifics. If you can include and relate to some of this, even better!
“My motivation to help others and my passion for occupational therapy will guide me to be successful in the [program].” or

Since [school] strives to “[OT program mission statement]”, I firmly believe that [school] will help me reach my goals of becoming a successful occupational therapist.

Recommendations

Talk about why you want to be an OT, but not just to “help” people. How? Which population/community/background? Conditions? Why? Tip: three major categories of OT are: mental health, pediatrics, and adults/older adults. Nurses help people too. How is OT different for you?
Hint: occupations ! meaningful, client-centered.
Check out the OTDUDE Podcast and other podcasts for ideas; Episode 1: What is OT
Reflection tip: other professions may be based on the medical model or helping people become healthy, but OT is different because…
Check out AOTA.org for some phrasing of the profession to inspire you.
If you are comfortable, use OT related terminology or phrases, but don’t go overboard, e.g. occupation, intervention, treatment, activities of daily living, evidence-based, collaborative, interdisciplinary, client-centered, holistic, functional. Plain English is fine, you don’t have to sound like a journal article.
As mentioned, highlight why you would be a valuable candidate (fit) to their program. Think about not only your experience but your character and quality traits . Examples: creativity, leadership, patient, resourceful, reliability? Teamwork and communication?
Show indirectly through your stories or experiences why you will be successful in the program and not “drop-out”. Perseverance.
Psychologically, readers tend to remember the beginnings and end more than the middle.
How will being an OT help you achieve your goals, career? Not just short-term, but think bigger. While this sounds cliche – OT is not just a job, it will become your life. A person’s job (and career) is a large part of their identity.
The reader should feel like they read about a person they would want to meet in the program and in real life, someone who can contribute something to the cohort, school, faculty, alumni – long term relationship. You will not only graduate as a student but a colleague in the field of occupational therapy to the faculty.

Here is a template I created to get you started. This is of course not a magic template that works for everyone or neither was it created by any OT entity for students. Copy & paste this into your favorite word processing program and write away.

Paragraph 1

Sentence 1: Attention-grabbing sentence. Hook into your story.

Supporting sentences: Support the above story with specifics.

Concluding sentence: “Thesis statement” stating why you chose (or) may be a successful OT.

Body Paragraphs (2, 3, 4, 5, etc.)

Opening sentence: As a , I [did this, and that] at [place or company or school]

Supporting sentences: strengthen your narrative in the opening sentence. These sentences should not deviate from the opening sentence topic or story, otherwise start a new paragraph. Should answer a [ Question’s to address or reflect on] section (see above).

Concluding sentence(s): wrap everything in this story up, optionally include a transition sentence.

Concluding Paragraph

Opening sentence: restate why you will be a successful OT.

Supporting sentences: start wrapping things up. Big picture. If applying to a specific program, consider answering why this program (e.g. does its mission statement appeal to you?).

Final sentence: end strong stating that you want to be an OT. Mention because it is in your long-term goals. Consider ending everything with the words “occupational therapist” (identity), e.g. “…be a successful occupational therapist” OR “occupational therapy”, e.g. “… to pursue a career in occupational therapy”.

Here are some examples. All identifying information and some facts were fabricated for example sake.

After graduation, I did a lot of soul searching in terms of the career I wanted to pursue. Did I want to appease my parents and pursue [career]? Should we expand [business name] and take it to the next level? I knew I wanted a career that could help people in my day-to-day, but none of those paths fulfilled that desire. After my [family member] injured her arm and was unable to return to work or help out around the house, I saw her frustration and loss of dignity. Our family took a significant financial toll. When my [family member] finally saw an occupational therapist, I motivated her to do the exercises from her care plan and she eventually regained upper arm function. My [family member’s] perseverance inspired me to become an occupational therapist to help people develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living, working, and leading active lifestyles .

This excerpt, although really did happen, sounds cliche with phrases like soul searching, take it to the next level.
While the reflection part and figuring out what to do may seem important, it can be shortened to and still get the message across.
Using the family member is a good example especially since it related to a story with an occupational therapist.
The last two sentences highlight that I know what OT is (and why I want to become one) but can be cleaned up.

I was inspired by a personal experience with an occupational therapist when my [family member] suffered a rotator cuff tear and was unable to perform her activities of daily living . My [family member] became discouraged and did not do the recommended home exercises , but I saw the value in them and helped my [family member] complete them daily to recover. I learned the value of occupational therapy and how important it is to take a holistic approach by involving caregivers .

Mentioning ADL’s shows I know what OT’s do.
Shows my direct involvement with OT intervention.
Shows my understanding of OT’s holistic approach.
Words like “value” are strong. The word caregiver is often used in OT documentation.

I was hired as a EMT at [employer] in [city] for a small business that reminded me of our own [business name]. My role as a EMT at [employer] involved caring and treating for the sick and injured that involved tasks such as CPR or patient comfort and advocacy. As an EMT I again found that I was a valuable asset to the company having known how to speak some Spanish. Patients and staff members challenged me and tested my patience. My contact with patients out in the field was a unique experience that exposed me to the reality of what a healthcare profession involved. Due to the physical demands of the job and the high stress environment, many EMTs “burned out” and quit. I admit that I have thought about quitting, but I found the interactions with my patients far more rewarding and continued to work close to two years as an EMT. Working closely with these patients taught me to be sensitive to each person and their unique experiences. As an EMT, I developed my critical thinking skills to adapt the environment to my patients in order to safely transfer care, as well as educate patients on how to minimize hazards and prevent further injuries. Hearing my patients personally thank me for my care and education reassured me that I was pursuing the right career in helping patients resume their activities of daily living and accomplish their own goals.

How would you improve this example?
Lots of specifics can be taken out like employer name, city.
Role as EMT is well-known, better to include more significant things such as experience, outcome, or relevance to OT.
Being bilingual is nice, but more for a resume than a personal statement as it does not add to the story.
Leave out specific thought process of thinking about quitting (weaknesses). Perseverance was also already shared in a previous example – talk about another quality instead, e.g. stress management, working with diverse population, fast-paced environment, patient education as an EMT and how it translates to OT.
Reflect on how one story can share multiple strengths you have not mentioned so far in previous examples.
The example does not translate or relate back to OT in a clear manner, but alludes to the qualities of one. This can be written to be more obvious because EMT and OT have very similar qualities that are needed to be good practitioners.

As an EMT, I developed my critical thinking skills with my patients in order to safely transfer care and educate patients on how to prevent further injuries. Hearing my patients personally thank me for my care and education reassures me that I am pursuing the right career by helping patients resume their activities of daily living and accomplish their own goals .

Much shorter, to the point, and use of effective words that highlight what OT’s also do – educate, doing it safely, prevention of disease and injury, and meeting client’s goals.

FAQ and Self-Doubt

Addressing negative self-talk and negative beliefs about yourself.

“This is my 100th time applying…”

Maybe it will be your 101st that you get in. You see this all the time with graduates taking the board exam who fail X number of times. Don’t give up!

“I was never good at writing.”

Writing takes practice. I never liked writing in grade school. Now I enjoy writing about OT. So use your resources, e.g. spell-check, someone to proof-read, reading other examples. You CAN do it.

“My experience is not that special.”

Not everyone did CPR on their patient, observed a miraculous rehab recovery, etc. It’s what you make of the moments, how you interpret it, become inspired by it, how it changes you, and make you want to be an OT. It’s all from YOUR perspective. You can take 2 people who watch the same movie. One person could be moved by it and the other not be interested, right?

“The more I read this, the more I feel like it is not good enough.”

Take a break, put it down, and come back to it. Have someone else read it and get their opinion. Sometimes, we get stuck in our own thoughts and they can trick us and lead us down a negative path of thinking.

“I have the opposite problem, I have too much to write about and not enough room.”

You can probably take our your younger experiences. Leave the “resume” stuff out. Try to pick the most “OT” related or healthcare moments. If you do not have these examples to draw from, choose ones that fit the characteristics of a good OT. Each example should not be a repeated theme of another and highlight something profound.

“Now I am not so sure what OT’s do anymore, after writing all this.”

Go on BLS.gov for OT’s, listen to OT podcasts (to become inspired), watch some YouTubers on OT.

“I am having doubts about OT vs. (other profession)”

Avoid reading forums, facebook groups, Reddit for OT. These are often skewed towards OTs who may be burned out (which could happen for any other profession on social media). Dig deep into why you wanted to be an OT in the first place! If still in doubt, maybe you should observe some more, talk to some more OT’s and listen to some OT podcasts (because they are positive about the profession usually). I would avoid YouTube as many who are burned out could make videos.

“No one can proofread my personal statement.”

Try writing workshops, a school or public library, or similar resources. A simple google search could help and you won’t necessarily need to pay. Avoid suspicious websites and uploading your work to avoid others from plagiarizing you. Use people or resources that you trust.

“This is my 100th draft, it’s not perfect yet”

Deadlines will often help with this. Don’t let them catch you off guard. Consider going back and making an outline and seeing if you covered everything you want to talk about. A timer may help. Get the approval of at least 2 readers to give you support for how awesome your personal statement is.

“I don’t know where to start in writing”

That’s okay, start writing about a story or experience you have in mind and build around it. Start in the middle as intros and conclusions can be very difficult to begin writing.

Read some other examples online, but don’t stress about it. If possible, have someone who may have been accepted to a graduate program send you theirs. You can use it as a template or for inspiration to the types of stores, tone, conclusion paragraph used, etc.
Set a timer (e.g. Pomodoro method) so you won’t stress out and remind yourself to take breaks, move-on, just get something out and fix it later. Exact grammar, spelling, and other “writing” can be fixed later – focus on content.
Get into a habit of writing, set a schedule …or do it randomly, no-schedule (whatever works for you ). Maybe it’s writing every other day in the morning, after a nap, after playing video games, after a meal, after walking your dog, or whatever sets you up for success.
Have at least 2 people read (and edit) your personal statement. Don’t take it personally and not all suggestions are necessarily correct.
In the earlier stages of writing, if deciding between two stories or segments in your writing, consider having two drafts and see which one your proof-readers prefer.
Read your personal statement out loud, spaced out, e.g. 1 week later (when it is no longer fresh and you forgot some of what you wrote). Make edits as needed.
Candidates come from all walks of life, have different personalities (e.g. type-A vs. B), extroverted vs. introverted, outspoken vs. quiet – so some of these tips (or your editor suggestions) may not appeal to you or seem unnatural, etc. This can be your strength. Follow your gut. It’s not like OT schools are only looking for outspoken, extroverted candidates. It’s how you use those qualities to better the world with OT. This is what makes you unique, special, and distinguished. Highlight those features!
Take care of yourself – eat well, exercise, manage your stress, breathe.

Thank you for reading this long guide. I wish you the best in your journey to becoming an occupational therapist (or whatever career). See you all in the field!

Health Professions Advising

Health Professions Resources

Personal Statements

Health Professions Advising CBB 203/205 (Second Floor) E: [email protected]

Schedule a Health Professions Advising Appointment

Mailing Address: University of Houston ATTN: Health Professions Advising Center University Classroom & Business Building Room 215 4242 Martin Luther King Boulevard Houston, TX 77204 Google Maps

uh-phac-personal-statement-handout-7.2020_page_1.png

Although most applicants focus on GPA and test-scores, the personal statement is a very important component of your application and should be carefully composed. This is your opportunity to highlight things about yourself that may not be mentioned in other sections of your application and to distinguish yourself from other applicants.

You should have several different people objectively read your personal statement and provide constructive feedback. In addition to the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) , your letter writers are often a great option. There are also resources on campus that can assist you, such as the UH Writing Center , University Career Services , and your major advisor. Consider the feedback you receive carefully, but be sure that the personal statement is still written in your voice!

Below we have outlined some advice and general guidelines to consider while writing your personal statement. Keep in mind that these recommendations are not restricted to medical/dental applications, but can be applied while writing essays for any healthcare professional program.

See also UH University Career Services Personal Statement Tips
Sign up for the UH Writing Center Personal Statement Workshops

Types of Prompts

Before beginning your personal statement, it is important you carefully review the specific question (or prompt) that is being asked and the character-limit, as there can be distinct differences between the application services.

TMDSAS ( 5000 characters ):

Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.
Explain your motivation to seek a career in dentistry. You are asked to discuss your philosophy of the dental profession and indicate your goals relevant to the profession.
Personal Characteristics Essay - Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others. The personal characteristics essay is required to all applicants and limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.
Optional Essay – The optional essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. The essay is optional, however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Consider briefly discussing any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented. Optional Essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

AMCAS ( 5300 characters ):

Why have you selected the field of medicine?
What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
What do you want medical schools to know about you that has not been disclosed in other sections of the application?

AACOMAS ( 5300 characters ):

What motivates you to learn more about osteopathic medicine?

AADSAS ( 4500 characters ):

Explain a defining moment that helped steer you toward a career in dentistry. Consider using that moment as the focal point of your essay.
Be colorful, positive, imaginative and personal when discussing why you are a good candidate for dental school. Ask yourself—in a pile of 100 applications, would I enjoy reading my statement? Be sure to convey your passion for dentistry in your statement.
Be yourself. Don’t use jargon, clichés or big phrases that you would not use in daily conversation. Remember, dental schools want to know about the real you.
Be original and thoughtful: Discuss how you would contribute to the profession and patient care, all of which will help you stand out from other applicants.

AACPMAS (4500 characters):

State below why you are interested in becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. Provide information about your development for a career in Podiatric Medicine

CASPA (5000 characters):

In the space provided write a brief statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant.

OptomCAS (4500 characters) :

Essays can be customized for each individual Optometry program. Most Optometry schools include this as their main essay question:

Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career.

OTCAS (no character limit):

Your Personal Statement should address why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

PTCAS (4500 characters):

Prompt: Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that "help" others, please go beyond your initial interaction or experiences with physical therapy and share the deeper story that has confirmed your decision to specifically pursue physical therapy as your career.

PharmCAS (4500 characters):

Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career. How the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. You should describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

VMCAS (1000 characters):

There are many career choices within the veterinary What are your future career goals and why?
In what ways do veterinarians contribute to society and what do you hope to contribute?
Consider the breadth of society which veterinarians What attributes do you believe are essential to be successful within the veterinary profession? Of these attributes, which do you possess and how have you demonstrated these in the past?

When should I start writing?

You should begin working on your personal statement early in the spring semester prior to your intended application year and submitting your application materials to HPAC (if applicable). Remember that the people who are helping you with your statement will need time to review it and you will need time to work through multiple drafts before submission. In addition, some of your letter writers may want to see a copy of your personal statement before they write your letter, so you should strive to have a competent draft by mid-March.

What should be included?

It is important to treat the personal statement as an answer to a question (i.e., the prompt), rather than the opportunity to flex your creative writing muscles. Indeed, most applicants are STEM majors without much experience in creative writing; therefore, it is recommended that you avoid using the essay to practice your creative writing skills and stick to simply addressing the prompt in a direct, concise way. Some questions you may want to consider while planning your essay are:

Why have you selected the field of medicine, dentistry, or other health profession?
What motivates you to learn more about medicine, dentistry, or other health profession?
How have you demonstrated your interest and commitment to your decision?
What experiences have allowed you to develop the skills necessary to be successful in this program and to become an effective physician, dentist, PA, etc.?
Did you have any exposure to role models who influenced your decision? Which of their attributes inspired you?
Are your perceptions of this profession realistic?
What are your professional goals?
Is there anything you wish for your chosen health professional schools to know about you that has not been disclosed in other sections of the application?

Depending on the nature of the prompt, you may also wish to include information such as:

Unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

What should NOT be included?

Avoid clichés and over-using/mis-using terms : How many times do you think admissions committees have read the phrase, “I want to become a physician because I like science and I want to help people”? Similarly, words like empathy and passion are, while applicable, can become empty in meaning when overused or misused. Consider exemplifying these terms, rather than simply stating them.
Avoid unnecessary drama: While you may feel compelled to "hook" the reader with a dramatic opening to your statement, doing so may detract from the overall purpose (i.e., describing your decision to pursue medicine/dentistry) and may induce many an eye-roll by committee members.
Avoid being vague : "[Insert experience] was challenging and rewarding." What does that mean? Be specific about what was impactful and how it affected you.
Avoid brash decision-making : Your decision to become a doctor/dentist should be the result of a series of thoughtful, conscious, and reflective decisions. NOT an instantaneous realization or epiphany. Similarly, you have not “always known” that you want to be a physician/dentist. No one is "born to be a doctor." Nothing is innate, you have to work for it.
Avoid excuses : In general, there are better uses for your personal statement than explaining away and justifying poor grades, incidents of misconduct, etc. Indeed, TMDSAS offers additional essays and opportunities to discuss these issues. However, if you choose to address these subjects, be sure to focus on what you have learned from those incidents and how your experiences have made you a stronger person. Always accept responsibility and avoid blaming anyone else for your decisions or mistakes.
Avoid restating your resume or activities section : Choose ONE or TWO significant and distinguishing experiences to elaborate upon when outline the reasons behind your decision to pursue a career in healthcare. There is no need to narrate completely your 4+ years of college or carefully detail your activities from year to year; indeed, there are other sections in the application where you can detail your experiences and what you learned from each.
Avoid grandiosity : Claiming that you plan to cure cancer (or HIV, or healthcare disparities, or anything else) shows a grave lack of understanding of whatever problem you are planning to solve. Similarly, avoid “I know what it is like to be a physician/dentist from [shadowing/clinical volunteer experience].” No, you do not. That is precisely why you are hoping to go to medical/dental school.
Avoid inflammatory or controversial topics : You do not know the values, beliefs, and background of the committee member reading your essay. For these reasons, you are advised to avoid making any strong statements regarding politics, religion, and other polarizing topics. Be extremely cautious to avoid expressing any views that could be construed as derogatory to any group. Additionally, your beliefs are not the only “correct” beliefs.
Do not lie : Honesty and ethical behavior are the hallmarks of being a healthcare professional. Do not include details anywhere in your application or essay that you are not prepared to talk about or that are simply untrue.

Additional Recommendations

Use simple formatting : Avoid the use of bullet-points, italics, and symbols.
Read your statement aloud : As you draft your statement, reading what you have written aloud can help you determine whether your writing "flows" well and is an easy read for a reviewer.

Student Good Guide

The best UK online resource for students

Occupational Therapy Personal Statement

Read our real example of Occupational Therapy personal statement to be able to work on your application for university.

Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example

To me, occupational therapy’s guiding principles – above all, equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to lead full, rewarding lives – strike a chord as the best way to restore health. It would be a privilege and an enriching experience to be part of a profession based on these ideals that could improve the lives of others.

As a result of my diverse upbringing, I have excellent communication and empathy skills. After living in various countries throughout my childhood, my family and I finally settled in the United Kingdom. Living temporarily in several different places, often overcoming language barriers, has helped me to appreciate communication and to strive to improve it. I have also encountered people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds by living in such a diverse range of places.

My experience completing the first year of a BSc in Biomedical Sciences, which I believed did not suit my career goals or academic interests, demonstrated my aptitude for higher education and suitability to work as an occupational therapist. I left the course after feeling that course did not suit my interests or career goals. The position I held as a course representative required me to communicate effectively with fellow students and assist in formulating proposals that would improve the quality of the course for them. These skills are relevant to the work of occupational therapists, in my opinion. In addition, the experience of taking an unsuitable course has taught me not to make big decisions lightly and to pursue a career I am genuinely interested in. I feel confident that occupational therapy is the right course for me, and I look forward to completing it with full enthusiasm.

As a result of shadowing an occupational therapist, I have gained a deeper understanding of this fascinating field. The experience of eyeing the work of the therapist and seeing how the central goal of everything that they did was orchestrated at helping people to lead fulfilling lives, whether through coaching people on techniques to control problems such as anxiety or assisting individuals to develop plans for themselves, was inspirational. I was positively impressed with the therapist’s ability to understand people’s conditions through a combination of talking to them and keeping an eye on them as they went about their business, not to mention the importance that the therapist attached to assessing each individual thoroughly to ensure that the help that they offered would benefit the individual and their circumstances.

I recently spent four weeks volunteering at a local school, where I worked daily with the children. I spent a considerable amount of the time on the placement working with a disabled girl, in the form of helping her and keeping her company during breaks and lunchtimes. Being able to help children in this way was a great pleasure, and working with kids from a variety of backgrounds made me realise the significance of the role that occupational therapists can play in helping children who come from troubled families. Indeed, the rewarding experience of working with children has made me develop an interest in working as a paediatric occupational therapist one day. I was inspired to carry out this work experience through the sense of accomplishment I derived from helping to organise a Christmas party for a group of disabled children whilst I was at college. The experience made me realise that helping people was something that drives me to make the most of my skills and abilities. I believe that qualifying as an occupational therapist would be an ideal profession for me to be able to do this.

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Occupational Therapy Tips & Resources

OT School: How to Write a Personal Statement

Check out the OT Latina Personal Statement Guide for Occupational Therapy School! Follow the OT Latina Blog for more content.

Applying to OT school can get a little overwhelming. On top of the list of pre-admission requirements, you are also probably required to provide a personal statement.

If you need help to get the ball rolling on your essay, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s my guide on how to write an occupational therapy school personal statement, hope it helps!

What is a personal statement?

It’s an essay. Your standard essay style with paragraphs, double-spaced, and brief. Try to keep it at about 1-2 pages, but no more than 2 pages.

What should be included in a personal statement?

The personal statement is your chance to tell the admissions board about yourself, who you are, what occupational therapy means to you, and why they should admit you into their program.

Introduction

Briefly introduce yourself with a bold and captivating intro statement. For example, in my personal statement, I began with “As a first-generation Latina who was raised by a strong and empathetic woman, it came naturally that I wanted to pursue a career in occupational therapy.” Start building a short introduction.

You can mention a few hobbies you enjoy, and what degree you earned in your undergraduate work. You can tie it all together in relation to occupational therapy. Example: I earned my degree in Exercise Science because I found interest in the way the human body functions. I hope to couple my passion for learning about anatomy and exercise with holistic occupational therapy methods to provide the best quality of care to others.

Focus on a theme.

You can choose to write about what inspired you to pursue a career in occupational therapy, write about what potential you have in this career, what new ideas or interests in research you can bring to occupational therapy, etc. In my personal statement, I decided to focus on writing about my potential in the career and how my experiences (research, volunteer, education, personality traits) will help maximize the potential in others.

Describe what traits, extracurricular activities, and/or leadership opportunities you had in the past that would transfer well into the occupational therapy career. I participated in many research groups and labs within my undergraduate major in exercise science, so I decided to include those experiences. Since occupational therapy is advancing toward more areas of research within the profession, admission committees may find it appealing to have a student who already has experience in research methods.

Why occupational therapy?

Why did you decide to pursue a career in OT?
How have you helped others in the past and how does it translate to OT?
How has your volunteer experience helped you choose a career in OT?
How will you help engage others in occupational therapy?
What attributes or traits do have that will make you a great therapist?

Make sure you research what occupational therapy is and that you have a clear understanding of the field. The OT field has so many career pathways, definitions, and niche subjects embedded within, it’s your job to describe your understanding of occupational therapy, what it means to you, and how you will contribute to the profession.

Feel free to explore different writing styles and themes. One piece of advice I was given was to write freely on a piece of paper or on your laptop. Let the words flow with no limitations. Once you have a good chunk of information, you can sculpt your essay the way you want it to look.

Keep it clear, brief, and professional. Admission committees want to see how well you can express yourself in a professional manner and how you articulate yourself in a brief essay.

Have someone proofread your essay before submitting it. You can ask peers, previous mentors, professors, or OTs you’ve shadowed in the past to proofread your essay. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors, and that the person proofreading is able to understand your themes, ideas, and content.

Lastly, don’t stress too much. I get it, I’ve been there, but you will get through it. I hope these tips help you craft your personal essay. I wish you luck on your journey to becoming an occupational therapist!

Personal Statements For OT

Ot personal statements online advising.

The OT personal statement can seem like the most daunting and difficult part of your application.

Silver lining, though: a well-written essay can:

Wake up a bored admissions committee (most essays they'll read are extremely similar)
Convey your real personality and make you come alive to your readers
Depict your experiences in movie-like clarity and detail
Show your best qualities and values
Help the reader see why you and their program are such a great fit

Simply put, the essay is not a to-do; it's a powerful tool to help you get accepted!

Lauren Hammond is our OT application essay expert and has been helping people write their Occupational Therapy personal statements for several years. Whether you just want some feedback on a draft, or you're staring at a blank Word doc and don't know where to begin, she is happy to help!

Contact Lauren directly at 951 -395-4646 (phone or text), or send us an email .

She works with people online via Zoom and via email / Google Docs.

P.S. We offer GRE prep!

Lauren Hammond

Lauren: I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and Writing, with a concentration in Writing, at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and my Master’s Degree in English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University (SDSU). I recently completed my PhD in English at the University of California Riverside (UCR) in September 2023. Upon graduating, I began my current position as UCR's Graduate Writing Center Specialist and Fulbright Program Advisor last summer.

I have been a writing consultant for nearly 10 years now, and I've helped people with research writing, thesis/dissertation projects, rhetorical and literary analyses, writing in the humanities, grammar/sentence mechanics, and more. My focus for VKTP centers on graduate school application materials– including personal statements, diversity statements, and research statements– as well as job market materials for academic and alt-academic positions– resumes, CVs, cover letters, etc.

During my downtime, I love hanging out with my husband, 2-year-old daughter, and our two dogs, Link and Leia! My favorite activities are going on the boat, cruising on the golf cart, and making our way through all of the local eateries. When we aren’t out and about, I typically enjoy reading and watching movies.

Working with Lauren is $225 per hour or $995 for a package purchase of 5 hours. You can reach her at 951 -395-4646 (phone or text), or by sending us an email .

Love For Lauren

"I had about 6 sessions with Lauren Hammond to go over my personal statements for PhD/PsyD Clinical Psychology applications. I had different goals for each of my statements (e.g., trim, content development, brainstorm ideas), and she tailored each session to meet my needs. An hour might seem short, but she was very productive and sometimes went over two short statements in one session. She was also available via text for any brief questions or concerns. I am very happy with her service and recommend it to anyone who wants to craft a stand-out personal statement. I thought my writing skills were already good, but the final product, including her revisions, turned out even better than I expected. "

- Fiona Wang ( see review on Google Maps )

Lily Annino

Lauren helped me out SO much with my MFT graduate school essays. I've already gotten an interview from two schools, and I was incredibly happy with the essay results. 110% would recommend her! Thank you so much Lauren.

" Very happy to have worked with Vince on my GRE prep and Lauren on my personal essay writing. Both were integral to my success in getting accepted to my ideal grad school. Vince had a very straightforward and understandable approach toward taking the test which helped remove the test anxiety I definitely would have otherwise felt. I knew exactly what was coming weeks before I sat down to take it and managed to score about 10-15 points higher than I would have without his help. Lauren was equally helpful in editing my essay - both on the finer details as well as big picture ideas and concepts. I wholeheartedly believe their assistance throughout the GRE and grad school application process is what pushed me over the edge and got me accepted into my ideal program at my ideal school. 5 stars, no question."

- Clifford Grant ( see review on Google Maps )

"I worked with Lauren Hammond on my personal statement and she was amazing!! I spent a couple months working with her and it was one of the best decisions that I feel elevated my grad school applications. I came into the first meeting with a draft essay that was basically my resume and was all over the place. Lauren helped me nail down my story and what I am passionate about. I ended up writing an amazing personal statement with great feedback from Lauren that I felt really showed readers who I am. She was super flexible with the times we met and I ended up getting into my TOP choice schools (Johns Hopkins, Brown, etc). I would definitely work with her again!"

- Aster M. ( see review on Google Maps)

"Lauren Hammond was so incredibly helpful with my personal statements for grad school. I really needed help with organization, staying focused on a coherent narrative and content-building, which she was phenomenal with. She's also a really sweet person and a pleasure to work with! Can't recommend her enough."

- Mira Park ( see review on Google Maps )

" As I was applying to PhD programs, I was struggling to write my personal statements. I searched online for hours to try and find something or someone that looked worth spending the money on and I came across Lauren Hammond at Vince Kotchian Test Prep. I was only planning on doing maybe one session to help get me started but Lauren was SO good that I continued working with her for weeks. She gave such valuable feedback and felt like she truly cared about making my work the best it can be. I even recommended her to my other colleagues who were applying to grad school and they felt the same way. I currently have 3 interviews for grad school and I couldn't have gotten those without her help!"

- Mikayla Haas ( see review on Google Maps )

"Lauren Hammond was amazing. She provided me with thoughtful feedback that structured and strengthened my graduate school application essays. She was great at asking questions to push me to be a better writer. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students and wants to see you succeed. Additionally she is flexible in scheduling and will make deadlines work with your timeline. I was accepted into my top school choice and appreciate Lauren for her help in the process. If you or someone you know is looking for an essay tutor for graduate applications, Lauren is definitely the best!"

- Renee Begin ( see review on Google Maps )

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I spend writing my OT personal statement?

We generally recommend about 4-8 weeks - 6 weeks is a good sweet spot. It takes time to come up with ideas and get those ideas onto paper in a compelling form.

Where can I find some good examples of personal statements?

Other than Google, I really like the sample admissions essays in Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher. If you're a DIY kind of person, Asher's advice for the entire graduate admissions process is very good.

Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links and I earn a commission if you purchase things through them. However, any commission I earn comes at no additional cost to you, and you pay nothing extra. My recommendation is based on extensive experience using this book's advice with dozens of people over the years, and I recommend it because it's helpful and useful, not because of the small commission I receive if you choose to buy it.

How can I make my personal statement stand out?

MOST personal statements are BORING! Not because the person writing them is boring, but perhaps because:

Their focus is too broad. They try to cover everything they've done, and nothing ends up standing out.
They're impersonal. It's a personal statement - the reader needs to get a sense of who you are and what you're actually like - not some sanitized "professional" version of you.
They're too safe. Ironically, a statement that takes no risks can be the riskiest thing you can do. We're not applying to a program with the intent of blending in with all the other applicants!

Granted, the above things can be overdone, or done wrong. But most statements make no impact, so it's worth thinking about how yours actually can.

For more personal statement tips, check out Vince's video: 7 Ways to Write a Crappy Graduate School Personal Statement.

What are the basics of applying to an OT program?

Gaining admission into an Occupational Therapy (OT) graduate program is like preparing for a complex dance — it requires a combination of technical knowledge, practical skills, and a deep understanding of human movement and daily living activities. Here's how the process usually unfolds:

The journey often begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as health sciences, psychology, or kinesiology. Key coursework often includes anatomy, physiology, psychology, and sociology. Doing well in these courses is crucial because they form the foundation of understanding how to assist individuals in improving their daily living and working skills.

Hands-on experience is highly valued in OT applications. This can come from volunteer work, internships, or employment in settings like rehabilitation centers, hospitals, or clinics. It’s not just about clocking hours; it's about showing genuine interest in and commitment to the field of occupational therapy. This experience is crucial in demonstrating an understanding of the role of OTs and their impact on improving patients' quality of life.

Many OT programs require the GRE, and a good score can be beneficial. It serves as an indicator of your readiness for the academic rigor of graduate studies.

Applications typically include essays and letters of recommendation. The essays are an opportunity to share your passion for OT, your understanding of the profession, and your future career goals. Recommendation letters should ideally come from individuals who can speak to your abilities and potential in the field of OT.

Interviews are often a part of the application process, allowing you to demonstrate your communication skills, empathy, and professionalism — all essential qualities for an OT.

Going above and beyond, such as participating in OT-related research or being involved in relevant organizations, can enhance your application.

In summary, getting into an OT graduate program involves demonstrating academic strength in relevant subjects, gaining practical experience in the field, articulating a strong understanding of and commitment to occupational therapy, and showcasing personal qualities vital to the profession. It’s a journey for those dedicated to helping individuals lead independent and fulfilling lives through therapeutic interventions.

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Consider These Occupational Therapy Personal Statements

Table of Contents

Personal statements are a standard encounter in professional and student life. They give recruiters a glimpse into our personalities and help them understand our goals. While an occupational therapist personal statement might seem like a daunting task, there are tips and examples you can use as a guide. Read til the end to learn more about them.

But first, we need to establish a few fundamentals.

What is an Occupational Therapist?

An occupational therapist is a healthcare specialist who works with patients of all ages to help them develop, recover and maintain daily living skills. Through creative activities and purposeful engagements, the OT helps people overcome physical or mental limitations in order to lead satisfying and productive lives.

An OT’s clients include any person whose mobility and mental faculties have been impaired by birth defects, accidents, and developmental issues.

OTs strive to enhance the quality of life for clients across numerous settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practice.

The Importance of Personal Statements

Personal statements are standard requirements for job applications and special course applications. They are special essays that allow candidates to introduce themselves and highlight the key aspects of their professional and educational background .

Personal statements outline an applicant’s experience, skills, values, and commitments relevant to their intended venture and give a holistic view of their character. They focus on demonstrating an individual’s ability to be a productive member of an organization and show how they are suitable for a role.

The true value of personal statements lies in their ability to create impressions. They influence a recruiter’s perception of an applicant, allowing candidates to showcase their individuality.

Tips for Writing an Occupational Therapist Personal Statement

Writing an occupational therapist personal statement is a straightforward task that relies heavily on your exposition and word choice. You can simplify your task by following these tips:

1. Highlight your unique qualifications and experiences relevant to occupational therapy – this could include any related work experience, internships, research, or other special interests.

2. Utilize storytelling techniques to describe how you became interested in the field of occupational therapy and what drove you to pursue it.

3. Focus on conveying your passion for helping people with physical disabilities while demonstrating knowledge of evidence-based practices and modalities.

4. Incorporate specific examples that illustrate your strong communication skills and empathy when working with patients.

5. Be concise and make sure every sentence contains a vivid image, descriptive word, or phrase that sets it apart from others.

If you need a bit more help applying these tips, check out the examples from our Hey INK tool in the following section.

Occupational Therapist Personal Statement Examples

As a seasoned occupational therapist, I am passionate about empowering my clients to reach their full potential. Through evidence-based practices and experiential interventions, I strive to enhance the lives of individuals in need by providing meaningful and impactful care.

My collaborative approach helps me foster trusting relationships with clients, enabling them to build confidence and resilience as they navigate life’s challenges. I devise innovative solutions tailored to each individual and combine treatment with entertainment to maximize their effectiveness.

By leveraging my expertise in neurodiversity, disability studies, and cognitive rehabilitation, I ensure all participants receive holistic treatments and personalized support throughout the journey.

I have been working in occupational therapy for several years and am passionate about helping those in need. During my career, I have had the privilege to shadow some of the top therapists and observe their techniques first-hand.

This experience gave me a greater appreciation for how important quality care is when it comes to treating patients. Additionally, through college courses and seminars, I learned different ways to apply my knowledge to help people heal.

I believe that my education, volunteer experiences, and personal dedication make me an ideal candidate for any position related to occupational therapy. It is my great pride to be part of a profession that offers so many rewarding and meaningful benefits.

I feel fortunate to be part of such a respected and meaningful profession. I am confident that I can bring a lot to the table when it comes to providing high-quality healthcare. My goal is to use my skills and knowledge to offer a level of service that exceeds expectations. Ultimately, I want to continue pursuing my career aspirations in this exciting and ever-changing industry!

I have always enjoyed being able to help others. When I decided on a career path as an Occupational Therapist, it felt like a natural fit. I am committed to providing the best care available to assist patients and their families through the process of reclaiming health and well-being.

On any given day, I’m looking for ways to read a patient’s progress. I teach them how to use different resources and look at how the family can work together to create contentment in life.

It is truly rewarding to be able to think back on all the people I’ve been able to assist and complete this journey with. Working as an occupational therapist has been one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever had.

An occupational therapist personal statement is a descriptive essay that shows recruiters and admissions board representatives who you are . They can affect how recruiters perceive you and your suitability for a job or course.

Take the time to practice writing your personal statements, and remember to apply our tips. They can help you crystallize good habits that will serve you in every aspect of writing.

Consider These Occupational Therapy Personal Statements

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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>> >> Admission Essays and Personal Statements for Occupational Therapy School

The following are some key points that may have been neglected while writing your occupational therapy school admissions essay or personal statement.

One of the biggest problems that people have is writing unclearly. It is often difficult to understand what these people say without reading it very slowly. Exceptional writers, though, write so well that it is a breeze to read through their passages. Therefore, aim for clarity when writing your admission essay.

The other major stumbling block is the overall organization of the occupational therapy school essay. Often, people forget about the overall organization of an essay - the general outline of the essay. Look at the entire essay by paragraphs and see if you have organized it well.

For help with editing your occupational therapy school essay, click on .

Last reviewed May 21, 2011

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My main reason however is that I believe that you can not reach your maximum in life, live life to the fullest if you do not know your talents. Some people's talents may be more dominant than others, but in the end if we look hard enough, we can all find that hidden power inside ourselves, the thing that makes us unique from the billons of people on this earth and gives us the power to reach our goals in life.

I had experience with teaching two children that both had varying cases of attention deficit disorder. I would sit and talk to them and then devised two different ways of teaching Arabic to both of them that I found very effective. I got far with them and both their families and I were very happy with their progress.

I have faced a lot of discrimination trying to find work experience in a health institution, owing to the fact that I am not a local. My spirits were never dampened, quite the contrary it made me want to fight harder to get what I wanted to do.

After much searching doctor Anwar Jehan kindly allowed me to shadow her in her gynecologist clinic. She let me watch and help while she looked after her patients. I loved to watch the patients of varying ages and think of ways that I could help or talk to the doctor after about there various complications.

I am also excited because I found work in the institution for Down syndrome children in Riyadh which they told me I will be able to start in a couple weeks time.

I am an independent student and self taught myself, biology, English, Islamic studies, chemistry and English literature, with slight help with the two latter a month before the exam, as having a tutor to help me through all these subjects was financially impossible.

I also did my igcse's on a part time basis owing that I was studying full time in Arabic school, which graduated from at the end of last year. I therefore have a year to dedicate to my A levels which I hope will be fruitful. I have also been chosen as the exemplary student of the year for my last four years in school, and helped to translate the school magazine from Arabic to English.

I have a great many hobbies that included playing badminton, cooking, swimming and reading classic stories and poems in both Arabic and English. I also love different languages and hope to learn many more in the next few years.

I always try to keep my life balanced between my studies and recreation, as I believe that a good mind needs a good body and that can only be enhanced through a good life and healthy living.

Your skills and hobbies are one of the things that puts all the beauty in life. We must balance that scale so that we can reach our full potential and then we will be able to help others as well as ourselves.

I hope that I have balanced my scale well enough to be able to help myself and if honored by being chosen to study in your university I will do all in my power to help balance out the people who put their well being into my hand. To make them see the power that they own, this beautiful picture that they have been put into, that becomes more colorful and detailed every day, their lives.

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This personal statement was written by ace_justncase for application in 2006.

Related Personal Statements

I think the word.

Thu, 27/11/2008 - 20:36

I think the word 'overshadowed' in the 1st sentance is inappropriate - suggests the person who wrote this was forced to do the caring...!

..and it should be 'sentence'

Thu, 27/11/2008 - 20:39

..and it should be 'sentence'..oops!

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Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Examples
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 5. "All you have to do is know where you're going. The answers will come to you of their own accord.". - Earl Nightingale. For the longest time I wasn't sure where I was going. I was beginning the last year of my undergrad and was apprehensive about what do to next...
PDF Personal Statement -OT
Personal Statemen. -OTcolleges people . If I what have you were P. I dec figured ded to outmajor logical was way I began at occupational not to work therapy with University of Illinois as a Psychology major because it seemed. occupational for the therapist me (OT) and and began then I have been able to shadow I and found I immediately Shortly ...
Write an Awesome Personal Statement for OT School
These are my top tips for you to craft a great occupational therapy personal statement that will help you stand out from the large crowd of pre-OT applicants. ... Don't start your essay with clichés. In fact, leave them out of your statement altogether. An example of this is "I've always wanted to help people" (they see this all the time).
Complete Personal Statement Guide for Pre-OT Occupational Therapy
Consider ending everything with the words "occupational therapist" (identity), e.g. "…be a successful occupational therapist" OR "occupational therapy", e.g. "… to pursue a career in occupational therapy". Examples. Here are some examples. All identifying information and some facts were fabricated for example sake. Example 1
PDF Personal Statement
well. I see Occupational Therapy as a rewarding career in which each individual case deepens the understanding of a limitation or disability, and the accumulation of these . experiences helps each succeeding patient. My personal work with Kyle drove me to explore the possibility of working with children
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 6
I am looking forward to the challenges I will face at university, meeting new people, making a new start and to learning the skills that will eventually take me into an interesting and incredibly rewarding career in occupational therapy. This personal statement was written by coatmanwest for application in 2012. coatmanwest's Comments.
Guide to a Better Personal Statement for Occupational Therapy
When writing your personal statement, begin by introducing yourself. Provide an overview of why you are interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy. Use this section to explain what you have learned about the field and why you are passionate about it. Then, discuss your skills, experiences, qualities, and values that make you a good ...
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 5
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 5. "All you have to do is know where you're going. The answers will come to you of their own accord.". - Earl Nightingale. For the longest time I wasn't sure where I was going. I was beginning the last year of my undergrad and was apprehensive about what do to next.
Personal Statements
Your Personal Statement should address why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals. ... Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a ...
Lesson 28: The Occupational Therapy Program Personal Statement
The Essays are the main opportunity to tie activities and experiences together as a means of truly connecting with the people who read your application. Ultimately, you want to write an essay that makes the reader want to become your future professor or colleague. The OTCAS application requires one 7,000-character, or about 1300-word essay.
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example For UCAS
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example. To me, occupational therapy's guiding principles - above all, equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to lead full, rewarding lives - strike a chord as the best way to restore health. It would be a privilege and an enriching experience to be part of a profession based on these ...
OT School: How to Write a Personal Statement
The personal statement is your chance to tell the admissions board about yourself, who you are, what occupational therapy means to you, and why they should admit you into their program. Introduction. Briefly introduce yourself with a bold and captivating intro statement. For example, in my personal statement, I began with "As a first ...
Occupational Therapy Personal Statements
Simply put, the essay is not a to-do; it's a powerful tool to help you get accepted! Lauren Hammond is our OT application essay expert and has been helping people write their Occupational Therapy personal statements for several years. Whether you just want some feedback on a draft, or you're staring at a blank Word doc and don't know where to ...
Consider These Occupational Therapy Personal Statements
Writing an occupational therapist personal statement is a straightforward task that relies heavily on your exposition and word choice. You can simplify your task by following these tips: 1. Highlight your unique qualifications and experiences relevant to occupational therapy - this could include any related work experience, internships, research, or other special interests.
OT Personal Statement : r/OccupationalTherapy
I want a strong personal statement to help stand out. Thanks so much in advance! Personal Statement. Hi, I am a current OT student as well. I think your experience is super strong. Couple things to make your statement even stronger: Be explicit on who you shadowed/worked with in your 55 hours and their background.
Any advice on personal statements? : r/OccupationalTherapy
Every applicant has good grades and they'll see that on your academic record so not worth discussing that in your personal statement very much. If you have a personal story that involves OT definitely use that as a hook. Then talk about your journey through undergrad. What stood out to you in your classes or clubs.
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 2
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 2. For as long as I can remember, I have been brought up in a loving environment and encouraged to care for others. I have always been taught, 'treat others as you want to be treat yourself', no matter what I do in life. It has only been in the past 8 months that I have truly known what career ...
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Essay
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Essay. Decent Essays. 1195 Words. 5 Pages. Open Document. Statement of Purpose. When I worked as an occupational therapist in Asan Medical Center, one client said to me. "Therapist Lee, I feel depressed when I think of myself after discharging from this hospital. I already know that my new life which I ...
PDF WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT
PTCAS (Physical Therapy): "Reflect on a meaningful experience in your life and share how that experience influenced your personal growth, such as your attitudes or perceptions." - 4,500 characters PharmCAS (Pharmacy): "Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career; how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
How to write a personal statement for OT SCHOOL
Here's an example of how we might structure your personal statement. Remember, it's essential to make it personal and unique to your experiences and aspirations. Introduction: Start with an engaging opening sentence that indicates why you are interested in Occupational Therapy. Follow this with a brief personal background and an overview of ...
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 1
This personal statement was written by otstudent for application in 2013. Degree Occupational Therapy at Oxford Brookes University. otstudent's Comments. Applied to: Northampton - Offer recieved Oxford Brookes - Offer accepted (I now attend) Derby - Offer recieved Canterbury - Offer recieved. Ratings. This personal statement is unrated. Related ...
Admission Essays and Personal Statements for Occupational Therapy School
Therefore, aim for clarity when writing your admission essay. The other major stumbling block is the overall organization of the occupational therapy school essay. Often, people forget about the overall organization of an essay - the general outline of the essay. Look at the entire essay by paragraphs and see if you have organized it well.
Transitioning from an occupational therapy student to a clinically
Introduction. A national study from 2014 found that occupational therapists in Sweden experience increased work-related stress [Citation 1], with 60% thinking about changing their workplace and 35% thinking about changing profession altogether [Citation 2].One identified challenging aspect of working as an occupational therapist has been in the transition from being an occupational therapy ...
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 4
Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Example 4. My life has been overshadowed with caring for people and a healthy living. Ever since I was a child my mother always instilled in me the importance of health and caring for my younger sisters and brothers. From a very young age I wanted to go into health care, as that is the one profession ...

Write an Awesome Personal Statement for OT School

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..and it should be 'sentence'

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