Jump to content

PlieThenRose

Members
  • Posts

    30
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by PlieThenRose

  1. Yes yes and yes! There is hope! My undergrad gpa was a 2.5 and I just completed my first year of grad school! I was a post-bacc (3.7 post bacc gpa). I raised my overall gpa to a 2.8 and my last 60 credits were above a 3.0. And you would think schools would see I didn’t have a degree in speech so they’d look at the post-bacc but nope. ? it took me 2 application cycles to get accepted but I made it. It IS possible!! If you can afford it, take some extra classes. I took a couple extra psych classes and sign language (and anatomy to raise my gpa and to use as my bio class for ASHA requirements instead of the C I got in genetics) during my year off at community college. I also took an aural rehab class online thru Utah state over the summer because some schools wanted that. Now I don’t have to take it this fall in school! Keep gaining experience. Work at a hospital or skilled nursing as a rehab tech. Work as a paraprofessional. Volunteer in a hospital. Anything! Check out Saint Ambrose in Iowa. Their minimum is a 2.8 overall gpa but they want B or higher in those ASHA requirements. Also, reach out to schools and find out what they will look at. Overall, don’t feel discouraged. It will happen when it’s meant to be. I was accepted the week before the semester started. Anything is possible ?
  2. I agree with everyone here! I believe it will be very beneficial to have that understanding of the everyday life of these people with intellectual disabilities. Definitely try to do both. It'll open up some doors for you and better experience with different populations. That really will help you figure out what interests you in the field! Im actually kind of in the same boat right now. I work as a rehab tech in a hospital part time and 80% of the time I'm either helping my boss with tedious administrative tasks or waiting for someone to need my assistance. But I get to sit in on video swallows every week which is amazing. I'm looking at full time teaching assistant jobs, but wondering if instead do part time teaching assistant and keep the hospital job. part time doesn't always mean less than 15 hours because I used to work retail full time with an average of 30 hours each week lol. Life. So much fun, right?! ?
  3. I took the GRE twice because I did awful on verbal the first time (134). I used Magoosh and had no idea how to learn all those words! What helped me the few days before taking it the second time was realizing I wasn't prepared and that reading comprehension was half of the verbal section. So I figured if I could ace those questions I should get a 150, right? Ha. I had the 5 pound manhattan prep book in addition to Magoosh and studied reading comp only the days before and ended up getting a 149! I'm not sure if that would be a good way for you to approach studying, but that helped me. And I also started with the reading comp first during the test to give me time to do the section I felt more comfortable doing. And if I didn't have time for the rest, I would just pick random answers for the awful vocab words!
  4. Stories like all of yours give me hope that round 3 next year will *fingers crossed* be my year! I'm still kicking myself for not trying in undergrad!! Little did I know at 18/20 years old that GPA was almost more important than my Bachelors degree! Question about GRE .. I took it twice (1st: V134, Q148, AW4.0 2nd: V149, Q142, AW4.0) and raised Verbal 15 points. I've been posting BOTH sets of scores to all schools....being that all of us in this thread seem to be in similar situations, would you recommend that I continue to send both scores next year (to schools I haven't applied to yet)? I'm afraid they'll see that crap Verbal and the 142 quant score isn't awful. Thats also a question to ask when I contact all 200+ programs this summer haha!
  5. I'm currently a rehab tech at a hospital (they also have a tech position at the outpatient clinic). I assist PT, OT, and SLPs. I've learned so much. I'm lucky because the SLPs know my interest and take time to teach me what they look for after the video swallows are done, etc. I'm also applying to be a teachers aide in a special ed school to gain more hands on experience..plus, I believe that's the population I really want. I started volunteering at a hospital and helping an SLP at a pediatric clinic before getting the hospital job. Any sort of experience in different populations will be great for an application! good luck!!
  6. Of course, anytime! I second the feedback from the school that was also suggested! Also, one of my post-bacc professors advised not to take the GRE more than twice...I used Magoosh and raised my verbal score 15 points the second time. So taking that a second time wouldn't hurt. But see what these schools say about your score. Maybe they have some advice too!
  7. I know people who have done this and have sent in deposits to a school but end up changing their mind after their top choice accepts them. If you get accepted to your top choice and want to go, I think it's totally worth losing that deposit to the other school if you are going to attend your top choice instead. It's all about you and your success as a grad student to prepare you for your career. Good luck!
  8. Funny...about ten minutes ago I just stumbled upon a video about Lea Michele on Facebook talking about her failure before landing her role on Glee...she said, "the greatest success I had came from a door closing." She learned Spanish for a role that Broadway didn't want her for. She also said...it just takes one yes out of all the no's and said never to give up. As cheesy as it sounds coming from a celebrity, she's totally right. After being told I would have no problems as a post-bacc getting into grad school, I have been rejected 2 years in a row. All those not so good feelings.... I'm right there with you. But this is what we want for ourselves so take that time to reevaluate everything else but don't give up! I'm taking a bunch of classes in the upcoming months to raise my crap GPA so I can meet requirements at a small number of programs I contacted this week. Programs I had to stay away from due to numbers only. Also, these experiences I'm having now will make me a better grad student and better SLP than the new/younger grads. So keep going. Keep gaining experience and don't give up! Agreed..glad we have a community here that is so supportive!
  9. Yes, post-bacc programs are designed for those who don't have a background. I'm not quite sure how it'll look if you retake speech classes unless you had Cs in them. You could always take classes at a community college or online in like sign language (if you haven't already), special ed, neuro or something to help boost your overall GPA. It sounds like a lot of the schools look at CSDCAS' overall calculated GPA so if it's your overall, that could help bring it up. How many times have you taken the GRE? and how "low" is your GPA? this might sound like a lot of work, but if you aren't tied down to your current location, see if there are schools that meet your GPA/GRE requirements. I've seen that people have contacted 200+ schools to find out exactly what they want/see if they are right fit. Doesn't hurt. Don't give up!! But definitely keep gaining experience in different populations!
  10. Is sacred heart the only online program that offers clinical methods (aside from UW-eau Claire)? I can't seem to find any info.
  11. No clue where my list went from last year...oops! But here is a list of programs I found with SPRING start (and the deadlines listed online) and keep in mind, some are online/distance programs, but always worth looking into! Hope this helps! Adelphi (couldn't find deadline) Alabama A&M (10/15) Baylor (9/15) College of Saint Rose (9/15) CSU Fullerton (8/1) CSU Northridge-distance (6/1) CUNY Lehman (10/1) Eastern New Mexico (9/1) NYU-distance (Rolling) Nova Southeastern (8/31) SUNY Cortland (12/1) Tennessee State-distance (7/1) Texas A&M, Kingsville (9/15) Univ. Central Florida (10/1) Univ. Central Missouri (9/1) Univ. Louisiana Monroe (9/25) Univ. Northern Iowa (9/15) Univ. South Dakota (9/15) UT Dallas (9/15) Valdosta State (7/1)
  12. I'm going to follow this thread... i graduated in 2011..same undergrad GPA. unfortunately, many grad programs look only at my Bachelors GPA and not my post-bacc/slp GPA (which is a 3.7). I'm about to get rejected for the second year and it sucks. I did not get a 2nd Bachelors (just some post bacc classes) but I'm wondering if I should have to raise my GPA...? Im in the process of compiling a list of spring start schools and after that I will be researching schools that look at last 60 hours/will look past my low ug GPA from 6 (?time flies!!) years ago. Every class I've done as an adult/post-bacc equals a 3.74 GPA. So....big change....you'd think they would notice the big jump.. so, since we are in the same boat. I'd like to follow this thread, but also share what I find out as well. It's just not fair, especially to people like us who have been out of school and I'm pretty sure by now this is the career path we want and we are very ready for grad school!
  13. If you are 21/22 and didn't get in right out of grad school, find a teachers aide/rehab aide/nursing assistant job or if your state allows, an SLPA. Something to expose you to the real world. If this is something you want, you will get it. Maybe not on your own time..but don't give up! It is insane how competitive this field is...which is why I didn't pursue a career or Bachelors in it. Little did I know how much worse it would be 5 years later after I decided this was always the field for me ? But if this is the field and career for you...keep exposing yourself to the field and don't give up applying...all the money spent on apps, etc will be worth it in the end when you are working the job you love (and have a decent salary that will help pay off those loans!). Good luck!!
  14. See if you can volunteer at a hospital! I started doing that and now have a job as a rehab tech. I work with PT, OT, SLP, nursing, social work and radiology techs. I'm an out of field SLP grad applicant waitlisted for the second year. This hospital job has really helped me through this year. I know exactly what field I want and what population. A job or volunteer work might be a good place to start looking considering your wide range of interests stated above. Or even a job in a SNF, hospital or school as a receptionist while volunteering? It's a good way to get some experience in the field before "wasting your time" on classes in OT for example, and then you decide something else. I almost changed to nursing after not getting in to grad school for SLP. After working in the hospital I was reminded that nursing is not for me. And I'm glad I had that experience to tell me before i followed through with it. Good luck!! You are young. You have PLENTY of time to figure out what to do with your career!!!
  15. If you haven't taken the GRE more than once, I'd say buy Magoosh and retake it. Ask some professors at your current program what they think you should do during the gap year to improve your application. They might have some good ideas especially if they are on the admissions committee for the grad program. My gap year was spent taking a couple classes to finish pre reqs and I also started taking ASL. I have been working part time in a hospital as a rehab tech assisting PT, OT and SLPs. I took my GRE twice, but don't think it's worth a third time considering a professor advised against it. I am approaching my second gap year/third year applying, as I am also waitlisted at 2 schools (and don't have a good feeling). I'm applying for my paraprofessional license and hoping to get a job for the school year. It'll be full time and more hands on with special ed/kids which I think is what I enjoy more. But before I do this, I'm definitely reaching out to my professors to see what they think. BEST OF LUCK! You never know what will happen with those waitlists and don't give up!!
  16. I made a list last year...I want to follow this thread, so when I get home I'll look for it if I still have it. Otherwise...I will be making a new one with deadlines and I'd be glad to share!
  17. Please don't give up!! I'm in the same boat as you, and I actually started applying to social work programs. But it took some more rejections and time for me to realize that would be more school and not what I really want. But those of you that had to apply for a third year, did you ask the same professors to write letters that you did year 1? That's my biggest fear because by December, it would be almost 2 years since I had these profs for class. Also, try spring! I'm going to start prepping for that and I'm also getting my paraprofessional license and hoping to work at a special ed school over the next year but don't give up!! We cannot give up!!
  18. I know multiple people who got in with similar GPA as you and GRE in the 280s and they were accepted to very competitive schools. When I first took the GRE I got a 134 on Verbal. I was told by a professor of mine to raise it. I ended up raising it 15 points by studying through Magoosh. The same professor also told me not to take the GRE too many times..so I mean it wouldn't hurt if you studied and tried one more time. Dont be discouraged if you didn't get in this round. I'm about to start round 3 of applications. My problem is mt Bachelors GPA. Most of these schools I applied to told me after I was rejected that they don't look at anything but Bachelors GPA...whit screwed me over. I'm really going to work hard this time at researching schools all over the country and finding out which ones will look at my Post-bacc and see the changes I have made over the years. Keep trying and look all over! And the last semester of grad school is your externship which can be done anywhere in the country. So really, you would be out of state/away from home (if necessary) for a year and a half. That's at least how I'm looking at it. Good luck!!!!
  19. I hate that the UG GPA haunts us still! I did write about my UG GPA in this year's statement, but I don't even think any of these schools looked that far due to my GPA. But spring! That's a good idea. I did not apply for spring last year in hopes I'd gain more experience during this year to help. I will for sure apply for spring this time around. Also, I did take the GRE twice. The second time it went up 9 points. My verbal went up 15 points the second time around, quant went down 6, AW stayed the same. I was also advised not to take it too many times, so I am not sure if taking it a third time would really help much. I also had a higher GRE score than several of my post-bacc classmates, and they all got in to multiple programs. Thanks!
  20. I am looking into the 2nd bachelor's in Psych. I already have post-bacc requirements for speech, and I have been looking into doing social work if speech doesn't work out. But to boost my GPA for both speech and social work, as well as have a better social science background for social work, I am looking into a 2nd bachelors. My bachelor's has nothing to do with science whatsoever....so I figured that could maybe help? But before spending more $$ I need to do more research to see if these SLP programs would look at my 2nd Bachelors GPA as well.
  21. My GRE isn't the greatest and I'm not taking it a third time. It won't improve. I work at a hospital in the rehab department assisting SLPs, have volunteer experience at a different hospital on their stroke floor, volunteer and observations at a pediatric clinic, and have attended several seminars relating to the field over the past year. I have put a lot of time and money into this over the last 2 years. I have also put my life on hold. I am about to turn 30, I don't have any money in savings, and I have no career to turn to. It's very stressful and I plan to keep trying. But if a school would look at a cumulative vs my bachelors degree GPA, I would be way more motivated to keep trying. I don't want to keep putting in thousands of dollars for nothing. If that makes sense!
  22. So it looks like I'll be applying to grad school for a third year. In the process of getting rejected the second time, I have found out that these schools are only looking at my undergraduate GPA (from 5 years ago in an unrelated field) and not looking at post-bacc/speech classes...this is unfortunate because I have a very low GPA. Does anyone know if certain programs look at a cumulative GPA that for example, CSDCAS calculates? I have a 2.8 overall via csdcas and a 3.2 last 60 (post bacc plus senior year). So a lot of the programs I applied to look at last 60, yet when I was rejected they told me otherwise. I'm very discouraged and want nothing more than to be an SLP. I'm planning on completing a second bachelors in psychology if I can find programs that actually will look at the more recent AND relevant grades. Thanks in advance for reading my novel and offering advice!
  23. I saw that too! I'm from Chicago and had no idea they work with post-baccs/aspiring slps/etc. I've heard of the place...wish I would've known that last year because my second year applying has not been successful. I'm replying so I can hopefully learn more info, too!
  24. Thanks for your input! I only say I'm going to take my name off because I've emailed these schools multiple times and they keep saying they have no updates so it's hard for me to believe I'm high on the waitlist. I am obviously waiting but it's not easy. Good point about spring. I'd have to do those apps by July 1 at the earliest. And then to have my professors do that in the next month and possibly again in the fall. No that's a lot. Gives me time to build my resume.
  25. Beverly is a nice neighborhood in Chicago it's down the street from SXU. Oak Lawn is nice too. However, if you aren't from Chicago and want the actual city closer to downtown, Lakeview/Lincoln park/wicker park and west loop are really popular and nice places to live. Living closer to lake shore drive and taking that route down makes the commute to SXU easier than taking I-90. Just experience from a Chicago commuter! There's more to do in the neighborhoods I listed, even though being in grad school is very time consuming and last thing you want is to drive 45 min to an hour each way. But just my two cents from my experience going to SXU and living in Lincoln Park. Hope this helps!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use