Request for Phone or Virtual Interview

Applicants to Washington University’s Program in Occupational Therapy are encouraged to do what they are able to get OT-related experience. While we hope you can get some direct interaction with health professionals and people with disabilities, we are also providing you opportunities to do phone or video interviews with our alumni during the COVID-19 situation.

Please fill out the form below and submit. Your information will be provided to at least two of our alumni who will follow up with you within a week to schedule something that works at a mutual time.

Contact Information

* First name:

* Last name:

* Email:

* Phone number:

* Best days/times to contact you:

* Current or last school:

* Year you will graduate/graduated:

* Year you plan to apply to OT program (usually the year before you matriculate):

* Are there particular areas of OT that you are interested in (e.g., pediatrics, hand therapy, geriatrics, acute care, etc.)? Please list them below:

We cannot guarantee that we can match you with your exact interest but will do our best. Please note that the Admissions Committee likes to see that you have explored a breadth of areas within OT.

Documentation Required

Please write a summary of your interaction with your host that you will upload to your OTCAS application as evidence of OT-related hours. You may count the time you spend directly interfacing with your host (e.g., one hour on the phone) but not the time it takes to arrange the meeting. You may also count time that it takes to write your summary, which should be at least one to two pages, double-spaced. Please include the following:

Your name
Date of interaction
Mode of interaction
Name of host
How many OT-related hours
What questions did you ask? What are summaries of the host’s responses?
Reflection: What did you learn from this interaction that you did not know before? How did it deepen your knowledge of occupational therapy? How did their perspective confirm or challenge your assumptions? What are actions you are going to take as a result of what you learned? Etc.

Tips for a Successful Interaction

Address your host formally unless otherwise directed.
Please confirm the exact date, time, and mode of interaction with your host.
If you are doing a video chat, please test your interface (e.g., Zoom, Skype, Facetime) before your meeting.
If you are planning to record or take notes, please let your host know ahead of time and ask permission.
Be respectful of the host’s time and establish beforehand how long they have.
Please prepare open-ended questions that encourage an exchange of information. For example:

What did your career path look like?
What did you learn in graduate school that was particularly useful in the real world?
How did you decide on your specialty area?
What does a daily routine look like for you?
What are highlights and challenges do you find in your work?
If I am more interested in _________, what advice do you have for increasing my knowledge?

Thank the host at the end of the interaction and also in writing afterwards.
Try to write up your summary and reflection as soon as you can after your interaction while it is still fresh in your mind.
If you are unable to give attention to this in a timely fashion, please send a quick note back letting the host know that you are especially busy and will be back in touch later. Try not to leave them hanging.