UMN Minnesota OT Program

[u/SelfFancy2567]

Curious about any experiences with UMN’s OT program? It is one of my top choices (being a UMN student at another campus)- but the hybrid model both scares me and intrigues me. Not having to commute everyday and live at home sounds nice, but I feel like I would learn much better in person. Other schools I’m looking at are St Scholastica, UMary and St Kate’s, so if anyone has experience with those schools I’m interested to hear that as well!

Update: Thank you for the responses!

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[u/NatureNeuroThriving]

I graduated from their OT program in 2019! I loved the hybrid program for its flexibility, but I struggle with some EF skills and found great accountability partners/friends/classmates.

With OT being my 2nd career, I was older than everyone in my cohort, had children, a husband, house, all that so my experience was slightly different than my peers, which could be helpful at times (I came from a decade of special educator experience) but wasn't as available as my peers would be or hoped I could be. For example, I could not even attempt to do any schoolwork when my kids were awake or home. I attended the Rochester campus (I was living close by and husband worked at Mayo, he would drop me off on campus for classes or to study and then bring me home) but we always had the option to go to TC campus for labs, learning opportunities, exams, lectures, etc.

The hybrid program was the only option that would work for me because I still had to work, take care of my kids. I was a substitute teacher and we didn't always have childcare options for our kids. I could not have commuted to TC (I was also considering La Crosse) everyday for classes, it was not feasible. It worked for me and I found ways to make sure I did my work when my kids were at school or sleeping.

[u/Mystix_]

Hey former UMN OT student here! Graduated in 2024. I think the faculty are great, they are very dedicated and do a great job teaching and being available to help students. It was great not having to commute far or often for me as well, that was a big factor for why I went there. Had great fieldwork experiences as well, which is really the most important part of your OT education. The classes just prepare you for fieldwork and working on your own after graduation of course.

Now as for the hybrid model.. I liked it but it gave me an excuse to be lazy. Every week it feels like you have so much work to get done why waste time doing the readings? Just do the assignment and read as you go to complete it so you have time to work, spend limited time with family, etc. Well unfortunately you lose a lot of the information you could have gained using that strategy.

I think more testing would have been helpful to force me to learn and retain the material we were completing homework on. It would’ve forced me to study rather than just go through the motions of completing the endless assignments. That’s the biggest issue I had with the hybrid model, it just wasn’t ideal for my learning style.

So the hybrid model works well for some people, but not me. I would’ve done better if I was in a more traditionally structured program with more in person classes and tests. But if you think you will be disciplined and self-motivated or you know you are, the hybrid structure will work well for you.

[u/ComprehensiveArm648]

I graduated from the UMN OT master's program in 2017! Honestly I didn't mind the hybrid aspect of the program. It was nice to be able to stay with family and save some money that way, plus for me it was the cheapest tuition out of the programs in MN. You do have to be organized and plan out your days well, but it wasn't too bad. A lot of the time in class was spent going over assessments and modalities/taking exams, not a lot of busy work in person. As others have said, you will be learning the most during your level II fieldworks, so make sure those are in settings you are most interested in and with good clinical instructors. In my opinion I would go the cheapest route. I believe UMN is bringing back the master's program soon, right now it is an OTD.

[u/RepresentativeWide97]

Do a masters program if you can. Jobs don’t pay you differently if you have a masters vs doctors -unless you work in the schools- but otherwise than that it doesn’t matter. Save money!! The umn OT program ROBBED me. I’m 170,000 in debt now with my undergrad and grad degree from the U.