Does CSU require an interview?

Live interview or invitation-based review Interview format is not published; assume a traditional by-invitation interview and treat the current invitation as the final authority on timing and format.

What questions should I prepare for CSU?

Intervly includes 15 CSU-specific occupational therapy practice questions. Three examples appear publicly here. Exact questions and formats can change by interviewer and cycle.

How should I answer why CSU?

Choose two program or Chicago details, explain why each matters to your development as an occupational therapist, and connect both to evidence from observation, service, work, or academic preparation.

Can I practise CSU prompts with Intervly?

Yes. Intervly includes 15 CSU-specific prompts and spoken practice with feedback. The first three mock interviews are free.

Chicago, IL

Chicago State University OT Interview Questions

CSU applicants in Chicago, IL should prepare to connect their occupational therapy motivation, relevant experience, and program fit in a clear, evidence-based conversation for Chicago State University. Review 15 focused prompts, current admissions context, and a program-specific preparation plan.

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01Format

CSU Occupational Therapy Interview at a Glance

Every line is labelled by how well supported it is: stated by the school, reported by applicants, or an Intervly estimate based on what comparable programmes do. Estimates give you a realistic baseline to prepare against, and your invitation email is always the final word.

Admissions processApplicant reported: Live interview or invitation-based review
Interview format is not published; assume a traditional by-invitation interview and treat the current invitation as the final authority on timing and format.
Preparation focusApplicant reported: Live response practice
Treat the current admissions instructions as the final authority. Practise concise examples about patient interaction, teamwork, resilience, and professional judgment.
ProgramSchool stated: Occupational Therapy (OT)
LocationSchool stated: Chicago, IL
Practice bankApplicant reported: 15 CSU-specific prompts
Three questions are shown publicly. Confirm current details in your invitation.

02The room

What to Expect in the CSU Occupational Therapy Interview

CSU's researched process and question set suggest that applicants should be ready to explain their occupational therapy motivation, observation experiences, teamwork, and response to demanding client situations with specific evidence.

CSU is listed in Chicago, IL under the full program name Chicago State University. Use the current admissions materials to verify prerequisites, deadlines, campus expectations, and any interview requirement before applying. Preparation for CSU should reflect its current admissions process. A useful starting prompt from the program bank is: "Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?"

The 15 prompts in Intervly's CSU bank reveal useful preparation themes, but they cannot predict the exact interview. Practise clear reasoning and adaptable examples instead of memorising scripts.

What CSU Asks About Most

Of the 15 CSU questions in the Intervly bank, 3 (20%) fall under why this profession, followed by patient and clinical experience with 2. Why this profession comes up noticeably more here than across other OT programs we track, so do not leave it to chance.

Why this profession3 of 15 questions (20%)+3 pts vs. average
Answer why this field and not the adjacent ones, with evidence from what you have actually seen.
Patient and clinical experience2 of 15 questions (13%)
Bring two or three patient encounters you can describe in detail, including what you noticed and what you would do differently.
Program fit and mission2 of 15 questions (13%)
Know the curriculum structure and mission language, and tie at least one of them to something you have already done.
Stress and resilience2 of 15 questions (13%)-4 pts vs. average
Describe your actual system for managing load, not the word 'balance'.
Academics and study habits1 of 15 questions (7%)
Be ready to account for any dip in your record and describe how you study now, concretely.
Career goals1 of 15 questions (7%)
Give a direction with reasons behind it rather than a fixed job title.

Themes are derived from the 15 CSU-specific questions held in the Intervly bank and compared with every other program we track in the same field. Question text stays inside the practice platform.

03Question bank

CSU Occupational Therapy Interview Questions

Intervly holds 15 interview questions for this occupational therapy interview. Three are shown here in full.

01
Describe a time you worked on a team and how you handled a disagreement.
02
Why occupational therapy instead of physical therapy or another healthcare profession?
03
What experiences (observation, shadowing, work, or volunteering) have prepared you for occupational therapy?
04Locked question, available inside Intervly
05Locked question, available inside Intervly
06Locked question, available inside Intervly

+ 12 more interview questions inside Intervly

Unlock the full bank

04Scoring

What CSU Raters Look For

Ordered by what the 15 CSU questions in the Intervly bank actually cover: why this profession, patient and clinical experience and program fit and mission carry the most weight here.

Occupational therapy motivation

Explain why occupational therapy fits your experiences and goals, with one specific observation, volunteering, or client-facing moment rather than a general desire to help people at CSU.

Teamwork and feedback

Use a concrete example of collaborating across roles, handling disagreement, or applying constructive feedback in a demanding setting.

Client-centered communication

Show how you listen, adapt explanations, respect autonomy and dignity, and respond when a client or caregiver is worried, frustrated, or reluctant to participate.

Professional judgment

Demonstrate ethical reasoning, awareness of scope of practice, safety priorities, and a willingness to seek supervision when information is incomplete.

Try it now

"Describe a time you worked on a team and how you handled a disagreement."

Think about how you would answer this in a real interview.

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05Why Intervly feels real

Your Interviewer Won't Just Ask the Next Question

Intervly listens to what you actually say and generates contextual follow-ups. That is exactly what a conversational CSU interview does to unprepared answers.

Interviewer

Describe a time you worked on a team and how you handled a disagreement.

Applicant

I try to keep communication open. In a group project one member was not contributing, so I spoke to them and we managed to get it finished on time.

Intervly follow-up

What did you actually say to them, in your own words? And if that conversation had not worked, what would your next step have been?

Try a CSU mock interview

06Preparation

How to Prepare for the CSU Occupational Therapy Interview

01
Build a CSU-only fit answer
Choose two details that distinguish the program or its Chicago setting. Connect each one to your observation experience, learning needs, or occupational therapy goals.
02
Use observation evidence
Choose client-facing or shadowing moments that show what you learned about occupation, function, independence, communication, teamwork, and the realities of occupational therapy practice.
03
Rehearse the CSU prompt mix
Practise the three public practice interview questions, then rotate through all 15 in Intervly. Make every response specific enough to support a thoughtful follow-up.
04
Explain why OT precisely
Connect occupation, function, independence, adaptive strategies, and meaningful daily activity to experiences you have actually had.
05
Show safe professional judgment
When details are incomplete, identify the safety issue, explain what you would clarify, stay within your role, and describe when you would seek supervision.

07Research

What to Know Before Your CSU Occupational Therapy Interview

Use these as starting points. The answer to "why this school" has to be yours, so we deliberately do not write it for you.

What to verify with CSU

How to prepare for CSU

Preparation for CSU should reflect its current admissions process. A useful starting prompt from the program bank is: "Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?"

Current format note

No interview feedback is publicly documented for this program. Prepare for a live conversation and confirm the format in your invitation.

08Questions we get

CSU Occupational Therapy Interview FAQ

Your CSU interview is worth practicing for.

You've seen some of the questions. Now practice answering them out loud, with feedback.

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Also at this university

Other Intervly guides covering programs and assessments run by the same institution.

Starting with other programs in IL.

Bradley University (Candidacy - not yet accredited)Peoria, IL
DePaul UniversityChicago, IL
Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park, IL
Lewis University-RomeovilleRomeoville, IL
Midwestern University-Downers Grove CampusDowners Grove, IL
North Central CollegeNaperville, IL
Quincy University (Candidacy - not yet accredited)Quincy, IL
Rush UniversityChicago, IL

More occupational therapy prep

Sources and last verified

Last checked 2026-11-09 · Information reflects the 2026-2027 application cycle. Interview formats change between cycles, so always confirm details in your invitation.

01ACOTE accredited occupational therapy program directory · official · 2026-11-09