5 Things I Wish I Knew Before OT School

As a second-semester MSOT student, I can say with certainty that this journey has been a wild ride and I am only just approaching halfway through the academic portion. As an undergraduate student, I dreamed of the day I was accepted into OT school, and the thought of it seemed so far away. Before you know it, you blink, and suddenly the first day of OT school has arrived. I remember feeling so excited, yet overwhelmed to start school. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Looking back as a second-semester student, I have some words of wisdom to share with any future OT students out there. Here are five things I wish I knew before starting OT school:

1. Don't overthink assignments.

This is a trap so many students fall into and, admittedly, I am still guilty of doing from time to time. Professors will generally say what they mean and what they expect. Don't assume that you have to go above and beyond and do all of this extra work that was not stated in the assignment guidelines. Sometimes simple is what is necessary.

2. Don't compare yourself to others.

As a cohort, everyone will have different strengths and weaknesses. Some are great at practicals, others are amazing test-takers, others will excel in fieldwork. Realize that all you can do is your best and that is all that needs to be done!

3. Know how you study.

Do you study best alone? At night or in the mornings? With friends? Personally, I do the majority of my studying best alone and then I like to mix it up right before an exam by quizzing and reviewing with a friend to fill in any gaps.

4. Have a good support system and know that you will have to make sacrifices.

You want people in your life who are supportive of your dreams and your hard work. There will be long weeks where it feels like you are studying non-stop. There will be events that have to be missed, milestones that you can't attend because an assignment is due the next day, and overall- a lot of sacrifices. I have to say, I knew I would be busy going into OT school, but I didn't realize juuuust how much of a time commitment OT school would be. You want people in your life that will lift you up, be understanding, and be a cheerleader for you no matter what.

5. Don't neglect mental health for grades.

This one took me some time to learn. I figured if I dedicated all of my time to studying, I would succeed guaranteed, right? Wrong. You need small breaks and you need time for you. Take care of yourself, exercise, eat as healthy as you can, and find a hobby that fills your cup. This could be music, gardening, yoga, meditation, running, writing, *blogging* (hey)- but whatever it is, don't neglect it for schoolwork. Don't throw everything else in your life away for schoolwork. Do what you need to for school and then enjoy the rest of your day with the free time you have left!

Any other OT students have any other tips to add? Does anyone else relate to this list? Let me know down below!