Orthotics and prosthetics master’s programs are small, and many interview before they admit. Formats range from a campus visit to a day of virtual one-on-one interviews with faculty. Here is what named programs say about their interviews for 2027, from their own pages.
From O&P programs’ own admissions pages2026-27 cycleChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:FormatsInterview dayPractice questionsHow to prepareFAQ
Interview formats at named programs
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine | Virtual, three one-on-ones | “All interviews will be held virtually, via Microsoft Teams.” Sessions on November 11-12, 2026 and January 13-14, 2027. “You will have three interviews. Each interview is a one-on-one with the interviewer and will last 20-25 minutes.” Source |
| UT Southwestern | In person | In-person interviews for the May 2027 start. “During your visit, you’ll tour the program, and meet with faculty and current students.” Interviews begin in mid-November and mid-December. Source |
| East Tennessee State University | Interview | For the Class of 2029, interviews are in early April or October, depending on the deadline. “Applicants’ understanding of the profession will be considered in their interview.” Source |
| University of Hartford | Virtual, one faculty member | “Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual interview with an MSPO faculty member.” Source |
What an O&P interview day looks like
Baylor gives the most detail. The afternoon before, an orientation introduces the program, followed by “an informal virtual gathering of other interviewees, health professions students, and program faculty.” The next day you have three one-on-one faculty interviews between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central, and you get your schedule at least three days ahead. “Please wear proper business attire on the day of interviews.” (Baylor)
Hartford describes its interview as “an opportunity for a meaningful conversation as part of the holistic admissions process, giving applicants the chance to learn more about the program while allowing the program to get to know each applicant.” (Hartford) The informal parts count too: the gathering at Baylor and the student time at UT Southwestern are where you show you would fit a small cohort.
Practice questions
Most programs don’t publish their questions. These are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- What do orthotists and prosthetists do, and how do the two differ?
- What did you see while shadowing in an O&P clinic?
- Tell us about something you built or fixed with your hands.
- How would you work with a patient who is discouraged by a new prosthesis?
- Tell us about a time you worked closely with a team of different professionals.
- What do you know about the residency that follows the master’s degree?
- Why our program?
How to prepare
- Know the profession. East Tennessee State considers your understanding of it in the interview.
- Bring clinic stories that show patients, devices, and fabrication, not general impressions.
- Plan your energy for three interviews if you interview at Baylor, and treat each one as a fresh start.
- Prepare questions about clinical rotations, labs, and residency placement.
- Do a mock interview on video if yours is virtual, as at Baylor and Hartford.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own orthotics and prosthetics personal statement before the interview. If you haven’t submitted yet, see our orthotics and prosthetics personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
For physical therapy and occupational therapy, see our PT and OT interview guides. For other professions, see our allied health interview guide.
For virtual interview days, see Zoom interview tips from Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist, on sounding clear and steady on camera.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for orthotics and prosthetics applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you’re nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It’s $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do O&P master's programs interview?
Many do. Baylor, UT Southwestern, East Tennessee State, and Hartford all interview applicants.
What is the Baylor O&P interview like?
Virtual on Microsoft Teams: an orientation and informal gathering the afternoon before, then three one-on-one faculty interviews of 20 to 25 minutes each.
Are O&P interviews virtual?
Some are. Baylor and Hartford interview virtually, and UT Southwestern interviews in person.
What do O&P interviewers look for?
East Tennessee State considers your understanding of the profession. Hartford describes its interview as a conversation that lets the program get to know each applicant.
Related guides: PT school (DPT), OT school, SLP grad school, Audiology (AuD), and Athletic training (MSAT). See all interview guides by program.
Every date and quotation on this page comes from the program’s own admissions page, linked where it appears. Some of these pages give no cycle year; we used them only where they describe the program’s current process. Last checked October 28, 2026.