Occupational therapy schools are looking for applicants who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to serving others. If you plan to apply to occupational therapy school, you should gain experience serving your local community through volunteer activities. There is no list of preferred activities; however, activities through which you develop your interpersonal and communication skills and work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds are especially relevant.
When you are preparing to apply for admission, occupational therapy schools will be interested to know the following: What did you gain through volunteering? How did volunteering change you? Why was the experience important or meaningful to you?
Volunteering in Bloomington #
A central location for volunteering activities in the Bloomington Community can be found on the Bloomington Volunteer Network website. There are also a number of student organizations actively focused on community service in Bloomington, and you can locate these through beINvolved.
Consider joining the Occupational Therapy Club, a student organization which meets several times each semester. Among other activities, a variety of professional speakers share their OT expertise with club members. To join, attend a meeting and talk to one of the club officers.
Volunteer opportunities to consider
- Autism Mentoring Program - https://beinvolved.indiana.edu/organization/AMP
- Best Buddies at IU - https://beinvolved.indiana.edu/organization/bestbuddies
- Bradford Woods - https://bradfordwoods.iu.edu/index.html
- Brain Exercise Initiative - https://beinvolved.indiana.edu/organization/brainexerciseinitiative
- College Mentors for Kids - https://beinvolved.indiana.edu/organization/collegementorsforkids
- Kesem at IU - https://beinvolved.indiana.edu/organization/kesemiu
- People & Animal Learning Services (PALS) - https://palstherapy.org/
- Family and Social Services Administration First Steps (contains Agency Contact Information for children’s therapy providers) - https://www.in.gov/fssa/firststeps/first-steps-offices/first-steps-cluster-g/
- Bloomington Parks & Recreation Inclusive Recreation Program -
https://bloomington.in.gov/parks/inclusion - Special Olympics at Indiana University - https://beinvolved.indiana.edu/organization/specialolympics
- Area 10 Agency on Aging - https://area10agency.org/volunteer/
- Bell Trace Family-first Senior Living - https://cardon.us/communities/bell-trace/volunteer/
Volunteering and academics #
You are encouraged to participate actively, but not to become so involved that your academic performance suffers. An extensive list of community service activities cannot overcome a weak academic performance when you are applying.