what’s going on with OT school applications

Here’s an update on what has been happening with DC’s planned career change to occupational therapy.

 

December / January – He finished applying, which was a surprisingly grueling and expensive process. He applied to 7 schools: 2 in the West (UNM, CSU), 4 in the East (VCU, Kean in NJ, East Carolina in NC, Sacred Heart in CT), and 1 here (UCA).

 

January – He was invited to interview at Sacred Heart, and we flew him out there. He had a great time at the school, it went well, he spent the night in Laguardia airport, and came home. A few days later we had an acceptance letter from them in the mail, with a hand-drawn smiley face on the envelope! :0) This was very happy and exciting.

They wanted an answer asap along with a deposit, and so we sat down and crunched the numbers, finding that Sacred Heart would be the most expensive option out of all 7 schools. We rested on his laurels, waiting to give our answer because we just didn’t know if we should commit until we heard back from the other less expensive options.

He was rejected by East Carolina, due to their not receiving his graduate school transcripts from FSU by their “firm deadline.” (This was a bit irritating, considering how much we spent on their dadgum application fees and we had little control over when FSU sent the transcripts, which by the way WERE received by the time they sent the rejection letter. grrr.)

 

February – I was waiting for Exacto outside seminary one early morning, and as is my current habit, studying the scriptures while I watch the sun rise. :0) I was reading a talk by Pres. Eyring from the last conference and pondering our situation with the graduate school choices. Wondering where on earth we will be living in a few months. I received a very clear impression that we would not be near family and that it was okay. I am grateful for the Spirit helping me feel that that is okay, because without that, just in my normal Michelle mind and heart, that is NOT okay. But really I felt super peaceful and that all will be well.

A few days later he was invited to interview at UNM, which is located only 4 hours from my parents’ house and about 20 minutes from my sister’s! Interesting, no? Well, of course it would be silly not to try, even though I was pretty darn sure it wasn’t going to happen. We flew him out there, he had a great time at the school, it went well, he spent the night at my sweet sister’s family’s house, and came home. A few weeks later, we still hadn’t heard.

Meanwhile we had to give an answer to Sacred Heart and we gave an ambiguous no.

We finished February having not heard a thing from any of the other 4 schools.

 

March – He was rejected by UNM via email.   gulp.

As of this writing, we have only heard from one more school, VCU, who informed us yesterday that he is on their short waiting list.

He is working super hard on his 16 credits of pre-requisites for this semester and keeping a stiff upper lip (he probably even knows the medical term for the upper lip. :).

 

My lip is sagging a little. Prayers are appreciated!