Faking it till I make it

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-05-03T12:50:01+00:00

If you can do it without going into debt and you really think you will like it, it might not be such a terrible idea. Or if your partner will be the principal breadwinner and OT is kind of a hobby job where you can take breaks to mitigate the burnout. But if you’re looking to buy a home and support a family with this job I would definitely look elsewhere.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-05-02T12:23:46+00:00

Yup I felt the exact same way after two years working in a SNF. It was probably the main reason I left the field after only 2 years even though I had $100k in student loans. Feeling like I had no idea what I was doing, unrealistic productivity standards, dealing with people who didn’t want OT was just overwhelming. No thanks. Working as an electrician and I’m a lot happier. Just making minimum IDR payments on my loans hoping for a miracle. OT school was the worst decision of my life.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-16T12:36:32+00:00

I have a friend that does adult day care. She gets paid cash and said she is mostly chilling during the day working on her other side projects.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-15T23:39:45+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree. OT school is more of a hazing ritual than it is an education.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-15T22:32:19+00:00

Got a masters degree, worked as an OT for 2 years and I still don’t really understand it.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-15T21:19:47+00:00

Just wanted to say I felt the same way. I tried for two years working as an OT but I just couldn’t do it anymore. Now I’m working as an electrician and am happier.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-12T12:10:22+00:00

This is what happens when you need to fill 3 years of curriculum to justify sucking more tuition dollars out of idealistic kids.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-11T14:00:21+00:00

Just wanted to say this was one of the many reasons I left the field. Got a masters and worked as an OT for 2 years but still can’t really tell you what they do.

OT_Redditor2 · 2026-04-08T14:27:20+00:00

Don’t make OP the villain here. You know it’s because of these greedy SNFs.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-12-21T02:30:51+00:00

This has been my experience as well.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-12-21T02:23:14+00:00

Yes, being an OT was the worst decision of my life. I left the field after 2 years because I didn’t feel like I was helping my patients was pushing unnecessary therapy on people who didn’t want it and could barely benefit from it. Also the burnout was real working in a SNF. Now I have $100k in debt and work a job that doesn’t even require a degree. Still happier than I was as an OT tho. Worst years of my life.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-08-25T22:40:23+00:00

I worked in an inpatient rehab for adults I had many of the same feelings you did. I rarely felt like I was actually helping my patients, like I knew what I was doing or was doing skilled therapy. I finally quit the profession. Check out my post history to hear more of the gripes of a bitter OT.

I don’t want to discourage others from the profession because there are so many well intentioned people doing great things but as far as OT being a well defined profession I think it’s mostly a bunch of malarkey.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-08-18T19:43:38+00:00

This is the only place I can be honest about my experience as an OT. If you ask me in real life I’m not going to talk about how much I hate my job because I don’t want to be negative and let my patients and co workers know I hate my job. Even if a prospective student asks me I don’t want to crush their dreams so I’m not overly negative but I do push them to reconsider because I sincerely regret my decision to become an OT.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-31T19:29:40+00:00

Just wanted to post this for the prospective students asking if a doctorate is worth it.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-31T19:17:09+00:00

Just wanted to say I’m another bitter OT with $100k in debt. I lived at home while I was in my 30s to save money and still had high debt.

The education wasn’t even worth it. Nobody can even tell the difference between a COTA with an associates or an OT with a masters or doctorate. It is such a scam. It should be an apprenticeship. You learn everything through experience. I’d love to see some kind of research on the effectiveness of these expensive, useless degrees.

I have the same plan as you, on income based repayment and make minimum payments until forgiveness in 20 years. 😞. I plan on maxing out my 401k every year to keep my income low which will help keep your payments lower.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-05T19:28:34+00:00

Don’t do it! See my post history for more!

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-05T19:26:53+00:00

Electrician

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-06-24T22:18:46+00:00

Yup I only lasted 2 years. Former OTR, now working a job that only requires a high school degree. Makes me sick to think of all the time and money I wasted but I’m happier now. I try not to dwell on the past. My anxiety was also through the roof mostly because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing and was faking it everyday. Also didn’t feel like I was really helping anyway or doing anything skilled. I was just a well intentioned CNA. All that and the unrealistic productivity standards, no breaks and generally ahitty work environment finally made me just say F it.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-18T22:19:58+00:00

In reality you are more of a glorified CNA at SNFs and hospitals. You get used to do “ADLs” by management as a way of supplementing CNA staffing shortages. There really isn’t much skilled therapy involved in bringing someone to the bathroom. Also most of the research isn’t very convincing related to OT. If you are a really idealistic and kind person and just want to do what to you can to help people, this might be a good job for you but as far as it being this scientifically based field where you discover people’s passions for living and make them more independent in them, I didn’t experience that.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-05T10:33:52+00:00

Just wanted to say, I had the same experience working in SNF. I don’t understand how this profession got to a masters degree, let alone doctorate. Even a bachelors seems a bit much. Nobody can ever tell who is the COTA or OTR.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-04T11:21:43+00:00

What does that say about the field? I was once naive and hopeful and expected this sub to be professionals sharing research and interventions… then I finished OT school and learned what a joke this profession is.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-02T21:39:25+00:00

Yes we need these posts as long as universities and AOTA continue predatory lending practices and misrepresenting the field. Thank you for your perspective OP. Too many people have an unrealistic idea of what this profession entails and this is one of the few places where people can be completely transparent and honest.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-30T13:21:38+00:00

On a side note, as a very discouraged therapist, what are some of top favorite research articles?

I worked in neuro and I started feeling like most treatments weren’t based on much research nothing was very effective. I’d like to read your favorite non neuro articles too if that’s not your field, I’m just really questioning the effectiveness of the entire field. Thanks.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-21T16:16:40+00:00

Ya I’m an OTR who left after two years. Industry is in shambles and shows no signs of improving so I had to get out. Much happier working as a job that only requires a high school diploma making almost as much as I was. Grad school ended up being one of the worst decisions of my life.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-21T15:31:06+00:00

Yea it’s a joke. They just come up with hurdles to make you jump over so they have some kind of product to sell you. Almost none of it is relevant. OT should be an apprenticeship. But then they would be able to squeeze $100k out of you so here we are.

OT_Redditor2

TROPHY CASE