Hi Sara,
I feel exaclty like you. I just turned 32 and have been a special education teacher for 9 years. I feel used to my profession, but at the same time had always longed for something which fuses education and healthcare. Life happened, a family stated and I am still teaching special education. I feel a stronger and stronger pull towards OT, but at this point felt it was impossible...until I strated reading in this forum. I have been looking into Mercy College in NY because it is a weekend program. Thanks for posting because you have helped me.
Hi Denise, when i was looking into programs it seemed like most just required certain prerequisites rather than starting out all over again. I hope you find a program that works for you! Good Luck! Lindsey
If it's what you really want, you'll find a way to make it happen. As stressful as school can be, I've always found that it's much more stressful to stay in a job that doesn't feel right anymore. The great thing is that you can usually find a program that tailors to your needs: I don't have a husband or children to worry about, so a full-time program works for me, but there are options out there for people who need a different kind of schedule. Even if you have to spread it out (only taking one class per semester, for example), and even if it feels like it's taking a long time, it's worth it. There are even online OT programs now. Best of luck to you, it sounds like you're heading in the right direction, taking steps toward a career that fits for you! : )
- Sara
Hello Spring Chickens!
I'm in my first year working as an OT, and I get senior discounts! I love this new field of work. I think my age helps me relate to my patients and their families. We can talk about old commericals and songs, and recognize that we all need to learn new habits. (I work mostly with stroke rehab.) And I tell them that I notice learning new habits takes me a little longer, so that they feel encouraged to keep trying.
When I was in school, I'd get scared because the other students were inserting video clips into their power point presentations. (I felt glad I could email and use word processing.) But then I told myself that I'd been to more job inservices, read more books, and solved more problems than they had, so I could do this!
In my first few months on the job, I'd introduce myself to staff members, point to the gray at my temples that the color just won't cover, and tell them that this was a career change for me. I wanted them to know that inspite of my mature appearance, I was still learning the ropes. Everyone has been very helpful, and supportive. I even heard the nursing supervisor talk about the new hires who are career changers in very positive way.
It is wonderful to finally work in a field that matches my skills and interests. I'm very glad I made the change. It sounds like others of you feel the same way.
I can't tell you how much your words of advice and encouragement have meant to me these past few weeks as I continue to explore OT as a career! Sara - I took your advice and looked into Wash. U. and SLU's programs (met with a SLU advisor today). I hope things are going well with your classes and you're starting to feel more at ease!
I still need to meet with someone at Wash U. in person, but both do have post-bacc. programs. But with the # of pre-reqs I need, it could still take 4+ years to complete. One thought is to work part-time while pursuing the OTA degree. I have enough transfer credits, the course load and tuition would be very manageable. If I decide to go for the OT degree, an online program might be an option b/c I could still work part-time to supplement our income, but be home more often - with the exception of weekend travel to campus. This path would obviously take longer, but with ADD, I'm used to things taking me longer anyway :) I'm curious to know your thoughts on Belmont's weekend MSOT program (feel free to send private message).
I'm also wondering if there's any likelihood of finding an employer as a COTA who might reimburse part of my tuition to pursue an OT degree?
I don't know much about Belmont's MSOT weekend program, except that you have to be either a COTA/OTA or have an undergrad degree in OT to apply. That's why I went for the entry-level degree. I do know that they have the same professors as I do, so they're in good hands. : ) That program also contains more older students (over the ripe old age of 25) than the OTD program does; a lot of students come into Belmont's OTD on a 3 + 3 (3 years undergrad, 3 years OTD) plan, a lot come right from undergrad... less than half of the students in my class are over the age of 25, and we've been told by the class before us that we are an "old" class. : ) My point is, there may be more people that you feel you can relate to and build a stronger support system with in a class with more life experience under its belt. I'll be honest, it's something I've been struggling with a little bit lately.
As far as being reimbursed by an employer, I keep hearing that that's a possibility, and I'm hoping that it's more of a possibility than a Holy Grail. Some employers will offer loan forgiveness (I love that phrase... like we did something wrong!) to new OTs; you don't have to have been working there already.
But, really, you should just focus on what you really want in your career. If you simply want to be a part of occupational therapy, than maybe pursuing an OTA or COTA is right for you. If you want to be a licensed OT, on your own, then I would look into the entry-level programs. It might take a little longer because of the prereqs, but it would probably take longer to become a COTA, find an employer who will pay for you to advance your degree, and then earn that degree. I don't know how it works, but if you become a COTA and search for a job that will pay for you to go back to school, it may not be a place that you want to stay at forever, and I'm guessing that they won't want to pay if you're not planning to stay on as an OT when you're done with school. It could end up backfiring, or just not being an option at all (with the economy the way it is and all)...
I just think that if you want to be a licensed OT, then go for it. If you want to be a COTA, then go for it. I know that money makes everything more difficult, but it's worth those loan payments in the end if you have a career that you love and are making more money.
Best of luck to you, Denise! Write anytime, and also feel free to send private messages (I have no idea how to do that, that sounds way too technologically advanced for me).
-Sara
Hi everyone -- I am another 49 y/o career changer who just graduated and passed the exam! I am now looking for my first position and I am really excited. My family and friends have been amazed to watch me go through the process, becoming much happier with my life and showing how confident I feel that I have chosen the right path.
I am also excited to share that I will be presenting my thesis research at the OTAC conference in Sacramento in October. I would love to connect with other career changes while I am there.
I remember the learning curve in my old career path and I expect it in this one as well. Actually, I think it will be helpful to have been through that confidence-building learning phase before. You go into to it expected it... and knowing you will move through this phase and continue learning throughout your career.
From: karenwilhoite <bounce-karenwilhoite@aota.org>Subject: Re: [careerchangers] thought I'd get it startedTo: brownda56@sbcglobal.netDate: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 5:32 PM Hi everyone -- I am another 49 y/o career changer who just graduated and passed the exam! I am now looking for my first position and I am really excited. My family and friends have been amazed to watch me go through the process, becoming much happier with my life and showing how confident I feel that I have chosen the right path. I am also excited to share that I will be presenting my thesis research at the OTAC conference in Sacramento in October. I would love to connect with other career changes while I am there. I remember the learning curve in my old career path and I expect it in this one as well. Actually, I think it will be helpful to have been through that confidence-building learning phase before. You go into to it expected it... and knowing you will move through this phase and continue learning throughout your career. From: Sara Best <bounce-bests30@aota.org>Sent: 7/17/2009 10:58:30 AM I don't know much about Belmont's MSOT weekend program, except that you have to be either a COTA/OTA or have an undergrad degree in OT to apply. That's why I went for the entry-level degree. I do know that they have the same professors as I do, so they're in good hands. : ) That program also contains more older students (over the ripe old age of 25) than the OTD program does; a lot of students come into Belmont's OTD on a 3 + 3 (3 years undergrad, 3 years OTD) plan, a lot come right from undergrad... less than half of the students in my class are over the age of 25, and we've been told by the class before us that we are an "old" class. : ) My point is, there may be more people that you feel you can relate to and build a stronger support system with in a class with more life experience under its belt. I'll be honest, it's something I've been struggling with a little bit lately. As far as being reimbursed by an employer, I keep hearing that that's a possibility, and I'm hoping that it's more of a possibility than a Holy Grail. Some employers will offer loan forgiveness (I love that phrase... like we did something wrong!) to new OTs; you don't have to have been working there already. But, really, you should just focus on what you really want in your career. If you simply want to be a part of occupational therapy, than maybe pursuing an OTA or COTA is right for you. If you want to be a licensed OT, on your own, then I would look into the entry-level programs. It might take a little longer because of the prereqs, but it would probably take longer to become a COTA, find an employer who will pay for you to advance your degree, and then earn that degree. I don't know how it works, but if you become a COTA and search for a job that will pay for you to go back to school, it may not be a place that you want to stay at forever, and I'm guessing that they won't want to pay if you're not planning to stay on as an OT when you're done with school. It could end up backfiring, or just not being an option at all (with the economy the way it is and all)... I just think that if you want to be a licensed OT, then go for it. If you want to be a COTA, then go for it. I know that money makes everything more difficult, but it's worth those loan payments in the end if you have a career that you love and are making more money. Best of luck to you, Denise! Write anytime, and also feel free to send private messages (I have no idea how to do that, that sounds way too technologically advanced for me). -Sara
From: Sara Best <bounce-bests30@aota.org>Sent: 7/17/2009 10:58:30 AM
I'm glad to read of everyone's story here. For me, I enjoyed a life as an admin assistant by day/musician by night for nearly a decade. Though the schedule afforded me lots of freedom with time and finances, something inside yearned for a professional life of more meaning. OT was suggested by my sister-in-law as a possible career change, and after a few observations, I was psyched to enter the field.
What I was NOT psyched about was prerequisites, and ended up putting off that process for two years. In the end, I made the move and as if by some stroke of magic, I'm a graduate student at 34 years of age - one year of the program down and 18 more months to go. Time definitely flies...even the prerequisite part.
Hi All
To add to the group of 'alternative route' students, I am now 54 and graduated with an MS last year from D'Youville in Buffalo and as a COTA from a community college in Pa in 2000. My undergrad was in Sociology a looong time ago...I went back to be a COTA cause the program was closer and I wanted to see if I'd like OT since I hadn't really heard about it before...I went back for the MS because eventually, I want to work on aging in place and thought I'd need the qualifications to do that. I was able to work part time and go to D'Youville part time mostly because I had a flexible boss and supportive coworkers. As a COTA, I had to join the union at the hospital and they gave me some help based my my part time work (in fact, the union was more dependable than the college). There is some "forgiveness" in a Perkins loan but I'll be paying for this adventure for some time. I looked at a few programs to go weekends but the drive in wintere in upstate NY just didn't seem too safe.
Good luck to those of you thinking of starting in OT..I think it's a great career choice with lots of flexiblity...and no end of the things you can learn!
I would love to work in acute rehab for physical disabilities with adults. But, it looks like I will be starting out in a SNF to get some early experience. That's OK, you can learn from any experience -- you just work on making the most of each opportunity.
My research study focused on older driver safety, surveying about 100 older drivers in Marin County, CA, to find out what adaptations they were making to continue driving safely as they age. It was a great, interesting project and we had some good support from an OT who is a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist as well as the Marin Count Council on Aging.
I can't tell you how much your words of advice and encouragement have meant to me these past few weeks as I continue to explore OT as a career! Sara - I took your advice and looked into Wash. U. and SLU's programs (met with a SLU advisor today). I hope things are going well with your classes and you're starting to feel more at ease! I still need to meet with someone at Wash U. in person, but both do have post-bacc. programs. But with the # of pre-reqs I need, it could still take 4+ years to complete. One thought is to work part-time while pursuing the OTA degree. I have enough transfer credits, the course load and tuition would be very manageable. If I decide to go for the OT degree, an online program might be an option b/c I could still work part-time to supplement our income, but be home more often - with the exception of weekend travel to campus. This path would obviously take longer, but with ADD, I'm used to things taking me longer anyway :) I'm curious to know your thoughts on Belmont's weekend MSOT program (feel free to send private message). I'm also wondering if there's any likelihood of finding an employer as a COTA who might reimburse part of my tuition to pursue an OT degree? From: Sara Best <bounce-bests30@aota.org>Sent: 6/30/2009 10:40:29 PMIf it's what you really want, you'll find a way to make it happen. As stressful as school can be, I've always found that it's much more stressful to stay in a job that doesn't feel right anymore. The great thing is that you can usually find a program that tailors to your needs: I don't have a husband or children to worry about, so a full-time program works for me, but there are options out there for people who need a different kind of schedule. Even if you have to spread it out (only taking one class per semester, for example), and even if it feels like it's taking a long time, it's worth it. There are even online OT programs now. Best of luck to you, it sounds like you're heading in the right direction, taking steps toward a career that fits for you! : ) - Sara--View this message online at: http://otconnections.aota.org/forums/p/2074/34273.aspx#34273 Linda M. Hetue, OTR/LAOTA / HKOTA / WFOT86 755 2681 7090Shenzhen, China (Hull, MA USA)
From: Sara Best <bounce-bests30@aota.org>Sent: 6/30/2009 10:40:29 PM
I started OT school 6 months before my 50th birthday. I went to Philadelphia University. I had worked with adults with developmental disabilities for 20 years. In a few weeks I'll be starting my 3rd year in school based OT. I love it. Although I often felt I would never make it through , and I often found myself older than the professors, I have no regrets. I'm very glad to be an OT.
Wow, this thread is a godsend! I am 51 years old and have been working in the computer field for most of my career (and my degree is in music, go figure.) It has gotten to the point that I dread coming in to work each day, and I've been exploring my options. After taking some tests and working the exercises in What Color is Your Parachute, OT is a field that has risen to the top as a potential good fit for me.
So now I'm in the process of learning more about the field, hoping to do some informational interviewing with local practitioners and/or students, and seeing what my educational options are regarding going back to school while keeping the cash flow alive.
It is incredibly encouraging to read these stories of others who have taken the plunge and have landed squarely in the middle of their intended path. Thank you for the hope.
I am currently 58 years old and am looking forward to graduating from the OTA program in May. I also felt the need for a change and began taking prerequisites for this program about 4 years ago. My bachelors degree is in English, so I had no idea how going back to school would be, let alone taking science and math courses - but I really liked it. Now, I've finished the course work for this program and am currently working in Level II Fieldwork. I love this field and look forward to working in it. Who knows, may go on in school eventually to become an OT!