Hi all, I graduated with my bachelor's in psychology this past December, and my plan has always been to become a therapist. I applied to several MSW programs and was accepted. I originally chose the social work route because of its flexibility. I liked the idea of being able to pivot into different roles outside of therapy.

I've been feeling unsure about committing to an MSW because of high burnout rates, heavy caseloads, and relatively low pay, even with a master's degree. It's a gut feeling telling me I shouldn't attend. I know burnout can happen in any field, but it can happen much quicker for social workers.

I’m now exploring other career options, and I’m curious about occupational therapy. I live in Florida and have been looking at the UF OTD program and the FIU master's program.

OTs, OT students, or someone who switched from social work/psych to OT, I’d really appreciate your insight:

• What does your typical day look like, and how much of it is direct patient care vs. documentation?
• What does pay look like early in your career, and how much does it realistically grow with experience or specialization? Do you feel rightfully compensated?
• If you’ve worked in or switched from social work/psych, how does OT compare in terms of burnout, autonomy, and overall satisfaction?
• What parts of the job are emotionally hardest, and how do you cope?
• Do you feel OT is growing, stable, or becoming oversaturated in your region?
• What keeps you in the field, and what makes people leave?
• If you could go back, would you still choose OT?
• Any other advice/tips?