Orthodox practices clarified.

In response to "Prediction ofAcademic and Clinical Performance of Occupational Therapy Students in an EntryLevel Master's Program" (AjOT, October 1997), I have criticism of the methodology. The use of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) as a measure of potential performance in an en ny-level master's program is flawed by the velY nature of such a program. By definition, an enny-Ievel master's program attracts the nontraditional student. Many of these students have been our of school for a nwnber of years before applying for admission to an occupational therapy program. The Educational Testing Service has stated that the GRE is not a valid measure if the student has been out of school for more rhan 10 years. The use of the GRE as an admission screen is inappropriate in these cases. If nor correcred for, rhis study's resulrs are brought into question because of rhe use of an invalid measure for the study population. Ir would be appropriate to apply rhis study's resulrs only to rhose students who have been out of school for less rhan 10 years. An inreresring demographic breakdown would be to look ar any correlation between the length of rime since graduation from rhe bachelor's program and admission to the master's program.