Making a Difference through Inclusive Admissions 

Reducing Admissions Barriers

Here at the PNWU School of Occupational Therapy (SOT) we do things differently. We challenge convention, we ask ‘why,’ and we re-imagine what is possible in occupational therapy education. When developing the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program the founding faculty wanted to re-envision what holistic admissions could look like. The goal was to create an admissions process that would reduce the most common barriers to pursuing graduate health sciences education.

The program desired a different approach to evaluating applicants. Instead of minimum GPAs, GRE scores, and prerequisite coursework, the program’s admissions process requires candidates to write several essays. “We still need a way to evaluate aspects of an applicant’s qualifications such as their understanding of occupational therapy as a profession and their ability to think critically. We do those through application essays that require synthesis and critical thinking,” says Dr. Nakamura, Associate Professor and Admissions’ Coordinator.

In addition to the admissions essays, applicants are given credit for certain types of life experience that the program believes contribute to the applicant’s character and their fit with the occupational therapy profession, such as paid work experience, experience as a caregiver, prior experience conducting research, or performing service to one’s community. Of course, given the program’s mission, the program is always interested in candidates who are from rural and or medically underserved areas.

Learn more about the inclusive PNWU admissions process here.