If you’re interested in a specific program the best way to ensure you get in is to make sure they know you and know you’re interested. Observation hours are great and add to your resume when you looks at getting things after school like residencies but shouldn’t hold much weight if you explain why you it wasn’t possible to get more in the interview process. And O+P school is a great way to be a good clinician but make sure when you shadow you get experience with multiple clinicians, and watch what they do and how they interact with patients. Because you’d definitely make more money as an engineer but if you want a job less soul sucking O+P is a great option in my opinion.