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Admissions

Application Period: Mid-July – October 31

Cost to apply is $140.

OPCAS charges $140 for the first program you apply to and $45 for each additional program.

Important Dates

  • Mid-July: OPCAS Application Portal Opens
  • October 31, 2024 – Applications must be submitted in OPCAS for May 2025 start (December 2026 graduation)
  • November 30, 2024 – Applications must have status of Verified in OPCAS for further consideration
  • Mid-November - Mid-December – Interviews for selected applicants
  • Mid-May: New cohort begins its studies 

We encourage you to apply early if all of your materials are ready as interviews begin in mid-November. The Admissions Committee is not able to review applications that arrive late or are incomplete, so be sure to apply on time. The Committee reviews applications after we receive them. You can view your application status on OPCAS.

Due to COVID-19 precautions the following changes to our admissions process are in place:

  • GRE: The GRE is still required.  You may choose the Test at Home Option if you prefer.   
  • Prerequisite Courses: Pass/Fail grades will be accepted for courses taken during the Spring 2020 semester.  Online courses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with covid-19 taken into consideration.  If taking online courses, it is preferred that they are taken at your primary University as part of your regular degree plan.

Equal Opportunity

We welcome applications regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. Our commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Requirements

To be considered for our Master of Prosthetics-Orthotics Program, students must:

  • Complete a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution by the end of May of the year you apply. (We recommend a prosthetics and orthotics-related major, such as biomechanical engineering, biomechanics, biology, or applied physiology.)
  • Earn a recommended GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in science and overall.
  • Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • Complete and submit an online application with OPCAS available July 19 – December 31. The application will require:
    • Three letters of recommendation from instructors, employers, undergraduate advisers, volunteer supervisors, or academic/research mentors
    • Original transcripts from all of the colleges you’ve attended
    • Your GRE scores. (Scores are acceptable within five years of taking the exam.) Our GRE school code is 6686.
    • TOEFL or IELTS scores if you’re an international student
  • Demonstrate that you have visited, shadowed, volunteered, or worked in a prosthetic-orthotic practice. Recommended minimum of 80 hours 
  • Transfer credits are not accepted for academic credit toward the MPO degree. 

Holistic Applicant Evaluation

As you prepare your online application, your goal is to demonstrate an unshakable work ethic, a strong desire to join the prosthetics-orthotics profession, and the life, work, and academic experience to handle a demanding curriculum. The Admissions Committee takes a broad range of factors into consideration as we select candidates, including:

  • Quality and quantity of academic preparation
  • Evidence that you have thoroughly researched and understand the profession
  • Service and leadership, including awards and honors
  • Superior interpersonal skills
  • Enthusiastic letters of reference
  • A mature, insightful essay

Competitive Candidates

Competitive applicants will have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 science GPA.  The average GPA for admitted students is 3.6 overall GPA and 3.6 science GPA. These two GPAs are very important when we select candidates for interviews. Competitive GRE scores are 155 verbal, 155 quantitative, and 4.0 analytic writing. We consider your entire application including your knowledge of the profession. We cannot make any predictions regarding a student’s chances of being accepted as there is no formula. Your academic performance is important, but the pool of candidates every year is unique and the selection process involves many factors beyond grades.

About Transcripts

  • Required from ALL Colleges and Universities You Attended

    Applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities where classes were taken even if the courses are not a prerequisite.

  • Must Be Submitted to OPCAS, Not UTSW

    All transcripts must be submitted to OPCAS. Do not send transcripts to UTSW. Transcripts that arrive at UTSW are discarded and cannot be forwarded to OPCAS. OPCAS applications without official transcripts will be considered incomplete.

Timing Your Application

  • Taking classes in the fall? Go ahead and apply.

    Submit your application and all current official transcripts to OPCAS early in the fall semester. Do not wait until the end of the semester to submit your application. Clearly indicate the courses you have in progress. At end of the fall semester update your application by sending the official transcript(s) to OPCAS showing completed courses and degree conferral (if applicable).

  • Taking classes in the spring semester right after the application deadline?

    You are encouraged to apply. However, complete applications and those with minimal outstanding prerequisites may be given priority. Submit your application and all current transcripts to OPCAS during the fall semester. Do not wait until the end of the semester to submit your application. Clearly indicate the courses you have in progress in the fall and the courses you will be taking in the spring. At end of fall semester update your application by sending the official transcript (s) to OPCAS showing completed courses.

In-Person Interviews

After reviewing applications, the Admissions Committee selects the group of candidates to be interviewed. If you’re selected, we’ll contact you to arrange a convenient interview time. During your visit, you’ll tour the program, and meet with faculty and current students. Interviews begin in mid-November and mid-December.

In the meantime, please check out this virtual tour of our campus and check back for more updates.

Acceptance Decisions

After the interviews, our Admissions Committee will make final decisions shortly after the last interviews in December. Offer letters will be sent via email. We accept up to 16 students each year.

Scholarship Opportunities

Each year, the department offers specific scholarships opportunities, which are available to qualified candidates. More information regarding scholarship opportunities and qualifications will be provided during the application and admissions process. 

A man adjusts an orthotic on a woman's leg
 
 
 
 
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