OTA School: Your Support Network Makes the Difference

UPDATED MAY 5, 2020

Taking that first step to a better work-life can be pretty scary, but if you look back at what you’ve already achieved in your life, you’ll know you can be successful in occupational therapy assistant (OTA) school. Getting a degree in a high-growth healthcare profession has its unknowns, but attending occupational therapy assistant school gets easier when you have a personal support network and school support services ready and waiting.

Building a Support Network for OTA School

Remember to not to go at it alone. Talk to your family and close friends about what you want to do, and why. Explain your plan to attend OTA school and ask them to support you in your career ambition to make a visible difference in the lives of those you will serve as an OTA. One way to include your family and friends is to invite some of them to tour the occupational therapy assistant schools you’re considering.

The more you let family members and friends who really know you understand your goals and needs; the more ways they can figure out how to help you. It may be pitching in with child care, helping with transportation, or offering emotional support after a tiring week of classes.

The number of people in your support network isn’t as important as the quality of support and encouragement they provide. If you feel you need to reach beyond your family and current friends, consider joining a local networking group that gives you the opportunity to discuss your challenges, generate ideas, and problem-solve with one another.

Available University Support Services

You already know occupational therapy assistant school is for you. Now make sure your OTA school gives you the support you need for career success.

Don’t assume every occupational therapy assistant school has a high-quality support system. Instead, ask about the student and academic support services each school offers. You will want to look for the following:

• A strong sense of campus community helps you feel at home. One of the best ways to determine this sense of community is by scheduling a personal campus tour. Feeling at ease and comfortable within the campus community can help you feel supported by something much bigger than yourself.
• Clubs and study groups provide you with the opportunity to get to know other students like yourself who are having similar challenges and experiences as you work toward your degree. Together you can talk things through, problem-solve, exchange ideas, and work as a team.
• Free tutoring and educational assistance are a must-have. Whether you feel like you need it or not, tutoring can help you to gain confidence in your understanding of course materials, which relieves academic stress.
• Full-time financial aid staff who can help you understand your school payment options. (For more about how to pay for OTA school, read this blog.)
• A provider network that offers a depth of clinical experiences is key to your OTA fieldwork. The number of providers isn’t as significant as the quality of connections you will make. Ask questions to learn about the relationships each occupational therapy assistant school has with its fieldwork sites.
• Emotional health services need to be readily accessible. Even people with a solid support network need someone to just listen or to provide confidential counseling services. Accessing these services is more than smart, it’s healthy, too.
• Other university support resources such as a fitness center and student lounge areas make a big difference in how supported you feel during your experience as a student. Make sure to ask about resources like these on your campus tour. Student fitness centers and lounges are excellent places to gather, connect with, and build your support network.

The OTA School Experience at CUKC

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private university in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of 190,000 residents within the metro Kansas City area. The spacious, green-space friendly campus has terrific access to shopping, entertainment, and housing options. CUKC is an ideal place to begin your health care education.

CUKC has a well-planned, comprehensive OTA program leading to the Associate of Applied Sciences (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree. In just two years, you’re prepared for national certification and employment as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

Each class size is limited in size to ensure personalized instruction, and you can select a spring, summer, or fall start date.

Connect with an advisor today or download this free ebook: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.