I think it's important to realize that you do not need to go into substantial amount of debt for this career. The cost of one semester of her program is over half of the cost of my in-state 2.5 year MSOT program that is also a top 20 school, is extremely reputable and established. Just because you're not alone with your massive amount of debt does not mean that you should be fine to take it all on - avoid it as much as you can. In the video, she says she would do it all over again to become an OT, but she was still a student when she said that. I would really love to know if this still stands now that she's graduated and working. No shade at all, really just trying to give some info to hopeful students!
I am also thinking of OT school. I am torn between MSOT or OTD?? Although MSOT is shorter, I have read that they are transitioning out of MSOT and into OTD now. Any thoughts?
@@kathywolfe1641 The OTD mandate has failed MULTIPLE times in large part due to the backlash from the OT community themselves saying that there is no reason for this career to be a doctorate degree and it is not in effect and has no plans to be. They're trying to keep up with PT but many PTs will tell you something similar, that the doctorate is not worth it. The rising cost of the degrees with no increase in pay is enough for the doctorate to not be worth it. If you earn a Master's and in however many years they eventually turn it into an OTD degree, you will be grandfathered in. This degree used to be a Bachelor's degree and some of the best, most knowledgeable OTs I've shadowed have that as their highest degree level since they have a substantial amount of work experience, they were all grandfathered in and haven't needed to go back to school. Choosing the right school for you is not a super simple decision, it's largely about finding what is the best program for you (curriculum, your budget, reputation in the community, etc) but a Master's program is a perfectly great option. If anything you'll be out of school faster and able to start working sooner!
@@kathywolfe1641 I'm glad!! it's important to know that if you ever decide that you want to get an OTD for whatever reason, you can enroll in a post-professional OTD program or a PhD program any number of years into your career when you have more of an idea of what really strikes your interest. Many practitioners find their passion well into their careers!
@@oranjjetofu4054 That is what I want to do first, find what my interest are in this field. This feedback helped me more than you can imagine. I have been back and forth for a few months now. Thank you so much 😊 .
Love this video! Thank you so much for being brutally honest and sharing this information. I am currently deciding if this is the right career path for me and I really resonate with your outlook "I just want to live comfortably and do some good in the world."
Thank you so much for this video! This calmed my nerves being recently accepted into an expensive program that I love but am worried about having to pay for! Definitely a lot to think about.
No problem, I'm glad you found it helpful! haha I don't think you'll ever truly feel calm about how much money you're spending for an OT degree but it's absolutely worth it :)
Thank you! I actually have a video where I interviewed some of my OT classmates and one of the questions was "can you work while in OT school". Everyone had a different take on it so I recommend taking a look if you're interested. I personally did not work, and do not recommend working full time unless you are a part time student :)
A $100,000 for an OT degree wow! I feel like a lot of therapist will be living paycheck to paycheck. I hope you make a video on how you plan on tackling this debt.
haha I will when I get to that point :) I'm not too worried though because I've talked to a lot of OTs and they've never seemed to complain about not having enough money.
@@itscristalj6447 I agree it's definitely manageable and for the majority fafsa does make a little difference. Can anyone tell me if it's true that by 2027 we would need a PhD just to become an OT? I was interested in masters but a PhD would suck
@@soyajones7690 ughhh I only applied to schools around my area to stay close to home at the time, but $40,000 would have definitely put me on a plane! lol
Jen I went to UF. We have 1 of the few programs that have the “pre-OT” to MOT blended program. So 1/2 of my program I completed in undergrad and only had to take out loans for the 5 semesters of graduate school
I'm a sophomore in high school in dual enrollment, and I will graduate hs also with an associates all fully paid for (freaking awesome opportunity). I'm also poor poor so when I do complete my FAFSA, I'm hoping to nearly have my next two years paid for to complete my bachelors.
Hi Cristal! first, just wanted to say how helpful you and your videos are, I just got accepted to my first OT school and you have seriously helped me so much throughout the process, so THANK YOU!!!! I was hoping you could give me some advice. I got accepted into NYIT and I have until the 13th to accept my offer, however, I applied to five other schools and my interviews with them won't be until after the 13th. Would you recommend me to accept the offer and pay the $1500 nonrefundable deposit, or wait for my other schools? The main reason why I'm having a hard time deciding is bc NYIT is on the more expensive side ($109,000 and not including cost of living:( ) Did you find the costs of Columbia worth it in the end? I have never been so stressed about a school acceptance lol, any advice would be appreciated!!!
Hi Amy! First off congratulations!! Being accepted into OT school is a huge accomplishment ❤ With that being said, it really depends on what your goals are. Do you like NYIT? Do you feel like the program would be a good fit for you? If not, would you be okay with taking a gap year if you don't get into the other programs? Personally, I did not want to take a gap year so if I were in your situation I would put the deposit down to hold a seat. OT school is super competitive and unless you are 100% sure you're going to receive an acceptance from the other schools you are waiting on then I suggest you secure your spot (if you aren't willing to take a gap year)! Now to answer your question on whether I thought the cost of Columbia was worth it... no lol. My education should not have been that expensive, but it got me where I am today so I have not regrets.. just a little salty lol
@@itscristalj6447 Thank you so much for your response, so helpful!!! I agree i think the best thing for me to do would be to put down the deposit bc i def don't want to take a gap year. Its not my first choice school but it is a backup. Thanks!
In Canada, tuition is a lot lower. For an MOT degree, it's about $8500 CAD for tuition (at least for my uni but it's pretty similar cross Canada for the most part) and other payments. If you include fieldwork and textbooks (not housing) at the end of the two years, I only expect to have like a max 25k CAD debt. For those in America, I would consider looking into Canadian schools. Even our international student tuition rates are lower than normal American rates.
I'm actually not sure yet haha. I'll cross that bridge when I get there and keep you guys updated. But I do want to pay off my loans as soon as possible.
I have an interview with University of St Augustine Health sciences this week for their OTD Program. I keep coming across videos like this. And it’s making me want to choose MOT over OTD. Simply because I don’t want to go in debt. Now my problem is.. how do I tell the school if I get accepted that I no longer want to be in their 109k OTD program and would like to move down to their 88k MOT program. I won’t say it at the interview of course lol
hahah I feel you. Was the MOT program a separate application? And is this the only OT program you applied to? I'm sure that after you're accepted you could explain your situation and they would understand. After being accepted my program allowed students to switch from full-time to part-time. Totally not the same thing but based off this situation I don't see why changes can't be possible
What did you decided on @stac? MOT or OTD? I am also applying to that school and did the OTD application. I am now considering changing to MOT because of price also.
Hello. Your videos are really informative. Lots of positive vibes and support your way, all the way from India. I am in the last phase of applying to Columbia fro MSOT. I would like to talk and connect with you on Instagram, is that possible?
I think it's important to realize that you do not need to go into substantial amount of debt for this career. The cost of one semester of her program is over half of the cost of my in-state 2.5 year MSOT program that is also a top 20 school, is extremely reputable and established. Just because you're not alone with your massive amount of debt does not mean that you should be fine to take it all on - avoid it as much as you can. In the video, she says she would do it all over again to become an OT, but she was still a student when she said that. I would really love to know if this still stands now that she's graduated and working. No shade at all, really just trying to give some info to hopeful students!
I am also thinking of OT school. I am torn between MSOT or OTD?? Although MSOT is shorter, I have read that they are transitioning out of MSOT and into OTD now. Any thoughts?
@@kathywolfe1641 The OTD mandate has failed MULTIPLE times in large part due to the backlash from the OT community themselves saying that there is no reason for this career to be a doctorate degree and it is not in effect and has no plans to be. They're trying to keep up with PT but many PTs will tell you something similar, that the doctorate is not worth it. The rising cost of the degrees with no increase in pay is enough for the doctorate to not be worth it. If you earn a Master's and in however many years they eventually turn it into an OTD degree, you will be grandfathered in. This degree used to be a Bachelor's degree and some of the best, most knowledgeable OTs I've shadowed have that as their highest degree level since they have a substantial amount of work experience, they were all grandfathered in and haven't needed to go back to school. Choosing the right school for you is not a super simple decision, it's largely about finding what is the best program for you (curriculum, your budget, reputation in the community, etc) but a Master's program is a perfectly great option. If anything you'll be out of school faster and able to start working sooner!
@@oranjjetofu4054 Thank you for your insight. This was very helpful in making my decision.
@@kathywolfe1641 I'm glad!! it's important to know that if you ever decide that you want to get an OTD for whatever reason, you can enroll in a post-professional OTD program or a PhD program any number of years into your career when you have more of an idea of what really strikes your interest. Many practitioners find their passion well into their careers!
@@oranjjetofu4054 That is what I want to do first, find what my interest are in this field. This feedback helped me more than you can imagine. I have been back and forth for a few months now. Thank you so much 😊 .
Love this video! Thank you so much for being brutally honest and sharing this information. I am currently deciding if this is the right career path for me and I really resonate with your outlook "I just want to live comfortably and do some good in the world."
Glad I could be helpful! Wishing you all the best! ❤
Thank you so much for this video! This calmed my nerves being recently accepted into an expensive program that I love but am worried about having to pay for! Definitely a lot to think about.
No problem, I'm glad you found it helpful! haha I don't think you'll ever truly feel calm about how much money you're spending for an OT degree but it's absolutely worth it :)
This seriously made me feel so much better. Thank you so much ❤️
You should do a video of how grad school works with working. Are you able to work full time? How practical is that? Love the video btw! Super helpful!
Thank you! I actually have a video where I interviewed some of my OT classmates and one of the questions was "can you work while in OT school". Everyone had a different take on it so I recommend taking a look if you're interested. I personally did not work, and do not recommend working full time unless you are a part time student :)
Girlll ! With undergrad and grad im over the 180,000 , so happy im done this year cause lawd😭😭😭 , I completely understand girl💕
And yess EOF , education opportunity fund! Definitely did that for my undergrad and it saved me so much money compared to now lol
MarcieeeTheFutureOT yassss EOF saved my life lol I can't even imagine how much debt I would be in without it 😭
Girl I feel you. You’re not alone!
Girl!!!!!! Thank you so much for this video!!! I just got accepted for grad program at Columbia SPS and I'm freaking out about costs!
congratulations!!! and I feel you the price isn't pretty but if you really want to do it know you're not alone haha
A $100,000 for an OT degree wow! I feel like a lot of therapist will be living paycheck to paycheck. I hope you make a video on how you plan on tackling this debt.
haha I will when I get to that point :) I'm not too worried though because I've talked to a lot of OTs and they've never seemed to complain about not having enough money.
@@itscristalj6447 I’ve talked to other OTs and they say the same thing
@@itscristalj6447 I agree it's definitely manageable and for the majority fafsa does make a little difference. Can anyone tell me if it's true that by 2027 we would need a PhD just to become an OT? I was interested in masters but a PhD would suck
@@sincerelyme6178 Yes, it's one extra year for OTD, so if you only want the Master's, get in before 2027.
Thanks for being so open! You are so generous to share!
Thanks for watching! ❤
You are so helpful!! Thank you for sharing your experiences!!
Girl!! You should have come to Florida!! I graduated with my Masters with LESS than $40,000
You are right though about grants/scholarships. They ALL come with strings attached
@@soyajones7690 ughhh I only applied to schools around my area to stay close to home at the time, but $40,000 would have definitely put me on a plane! lol
Soya Davis what school did you go to? 😳
Jen I went to UF. We have 1 of the few programs that have the “pre-OT” to MOT blended program. So 1/2 of my program I completed in undergrad and only had to take out loans for the 5 semesters of graduate school
Soya Davis wowww that is smart! lol thank you
im so lucky that with a phd at cornell, i get a stipend and dont have to pay for grad school!
I love this video 😂💕
haha thank you! :)
I'm a sophomore in high school in dual enrollment, and I will graduate hs also with an associates all fully paid for (freaking awesome opportunity). I'm also poor poor so when I do complete my FAFSA, I'm hoping to nearly have my next two years paid for to complete my bachelors.
Hi Cristal! first, just wanted to say how helpful you and your videos are, I just got accepted to my first OT school and you have seriously helped me so much throughout the process, so THANK YOU!!!! I was hoping you could give me some advice. I got accepted into NYIT and I have until the 13th to accept my offer, however, I applied to five other schools and my interviews with them won't be until after the 13th. Would you recommend me to accept the offer and pay the $1500 nonrefundable deposit, or wait for my other schools? The main reason why I'm having a hard time deciding is bc NYIT is on the more expensive side ($109,000 and not including cost of living:( ) Did you find the costs of Columbia worth it in the end? I have never been so stressed about a school acceptance lol, any advice would be appreciated!!!
Hi Amy! First off congratulations!! Being accepted into OT school is a huge accomplishment ❤ With that being said, it really depends on what your goals are. Do you like NYIT? Do you feel like the program would be a good fit for you? If not, would you be okay with taking a gap year if you don't get into the other programs? Personally, I did not want to take a gap year so if I were in your situation I would put the deposit down to hold a seat. OT school is super competitive and unless you are 100% sure you're going to receive an acceptance from the other schools you are waiting on then I suggest you secure your spot (if you aren't willing to take a gap year)!
Now to answer your question on whether I thought the cost of Columbia was worth it... no lol. My education should not have been that expensive, but it got me where I am today so I have not regrets.. just a little salty lol
@@itscristalj6447 Thank you so much for your response, so helpful!!! I agree i think the best thing for me to do would be to put down the deposit bc i def don't want to take a gap year. Its not my first choice school but it is a backup. Thanks!
@@aaaaammmmmyyyyyy no , problem!! Best of luck and hopefully you get your first choice! :)
This vedio you is very helpful and informative! Thank you
thank you! Glad I could help :)
In Canada, tuition is a lot lower. For an MOT degree, it's about $8500 CAD for tuition (at least for my uni but it's pretty similar cross Canada for the most part) and other payments. If you include fieldwork and textbooks (not housing) at the end of the two years, I only expect to have like a max 25k CAD debt. For those in America, I would consider looking into Canadian schools. Even our international student tuition rates are lower than normal American rates.
yeah, the price of a college education in the US is ridiculous /:
Are you planning on doing income-based repayment when you start paying your loans back?
I'm actually not sure yet haha. I'll cross that bridge when I get there and keep you guys updated. But I do want to pay off my loans as soon as possible.
When you realize undergrad got included in 45k a year ot school....
this is a little off topic but for OT school, do you take Anatomy and Physiology classes? and like biology, etc..?
yes! You usually take Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Neuroscience your first year as foundation courses
I have an interview with University of St Augustine Health sciences this week for their OTD Program. I keep coming across videos like this. And it’s making me want to choose MOT over OTD. Simply because I don’t want to go in debt. Now my problem is.. how do I tell the school if I get accepted that I no longer want to be in their 109k OTD program and would like to move down to their 88k MOT program. I won’t say it at the interview of course lol
hahah I feel you. Was the MOT program a separate application? And is this the only OT program you applied to? I'm sure that after you're accepted you could explain your situation and they would understand. After being accepted my program allowed students to switch from full-time to part-time. Totally not the same thing but based off this situation I don't see why changes can't be possible
What did you decided on @stac? MOT or OTD? I am also applying to that school and did the OTD application. I am now considering changing to MOT because of price also.
😘❤❤
same, idk where that money went
still searching 😭
Were you an out of state student ???😭
I was but even if I lived in NY I don't think the cost would have changed since Columbia us a private school 😕
Hello. Your videos are really informative.
Lots of positive vibes and support your way, all the way from India.
I am in the last phase of applying to Columbia fro MSOT. I would like to talk and connect with you on Instagram, is that possible?