After You Apply
Accreditation
UIC’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (E-OTD) program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, C/O AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
You’ve applied and submitted your application. Now what?
Attend a Program Preview Session
We encourage applicants to learn more about our department and the entry-level OTD program. Dates for Program Preview Sessions will be posted in November 2025. Attendees must be applying for Fall 2026.
Application status
Log into your OTCAS application at any time for an application checklist to ensure that your items are correct and complete.
Check your application status
Text
Departmental review
Admission is selective and competitive. Completion of requirements does not guarantee admission. The admissions committee considers many factors, including:
- work, volunteer, observation, extracurricular, leadership, and research experiences
- community service
- overall GPA for baccalaureate and graduate coursework
- GPA for required prerequisites completed by the time of application (including fall courses)
- OTCAS- and UIC-specific personal statements
- letters of recommendation
- answers to UIC-specific questions regarding international experiences, language fluency, presentations, and recommended supplemental statement regarding prerequisite grades below a B-minus (if applicable)
- other relevant experience and expertise
- TOEFL scores (for applicants whose native language is not English)
- applicant’s potential to make unique contributions to their class and the profession
After a decision has been made
You will be notified of the admission decision via email by March 15. Strong applicants may be notified as early as December.
You will also receive an official letter from the Office of Admissions. OTCAS will be updated throughout the application cycle, December through March 15.
If you’ve been admitted
Congratulations! Access the Department of Occupational Therapy Admitted Student Checklist for the next steps.
International students: see the Office of International Services application checklist.
If you must defer admission
Admitted students can ask to defer their enrollment for a maximum of one year by contacting the department.
If you’ve been waitlisted
Applicants who were slightly below the admission point cut-off are placed on a ranked alternate list to be contacted if positions become available, probably after April 1. In late spring, you will be updated on the number of alternates who have been admitted. Contact us if you are considering another offer and need to know your status.
If you’ve been denied
Admission to the UIC OT program is competitive. Unfortunately, we’re unable to respond to individual questions about the reasons an application was denied. We hope the information provided in your letter will help you understand the rationale for our decision.
Questions?
Questions?
We’re here to help. If you have questions about what to do next, contact Maria Larson-Juat.
You can contact Maria Larson-Juat at:
Email mlarso1@uic.edu
Phone 312.413.0124
Address 1919 W. Taylor St.
317A AHSB, MC 811
Chicago, IL 60612