okay people..can I get into grad school?

[HopefulFutureSLP2016]

Welp..I took my GRE's and I did not too very good..stats are below..as you all know my GPA isn't very high either so that doesn't really help my chances. I'm just wondering..should I waste my time and money applying to SLP programs or just give up? I've been considering going to school to become a reading specialist as a back up plan and now I'm beginning to think that this my only hope. Any suggestions as to what I should do? No, I will not be taking the GRE's again..I refuse to pay another $200 to take a test that I have no time to study any further for and probably won't do much better on without proper preparation. Not to mention, it's cutting it too close to application deadlines, anyway. Any schools suggestions that may take a chance on me, given my GPA, GRE scores and ECs listed below??? I'm willing to relocate anywhere. 

[Kanga]

I suggest you look on ASHA's EdFind for your schools you want to apply to, as well as the school themselves (the specific communication disorders page)

Look  at your stats in relationship to what is reported, as well as the number of applicants and acceptances. Are you in the range, above it or below it? Consider this  while you look at the percentage of acceptances.

Are you willing to relocate to attend graduate school, or do you have a limitation on where you will apply?

For example, East Stroudsberg University has these stats...

GRE:

Verbal reasoning: 140-159

Quantitative reasoning: 137-156

Analytical writing: 3.00-5.00

GPA:

3.31-4.00

Number of Applications Received:

Full-time Students: 257

Number of Admission Offers:

Full time: 44

So, you fall in the range, but the acceptance rate is 17%. 

Look on Ed Find, and try to find schools where you fall in the range, with acceptances closer to 20%, rather than 10% and below.

 

[curly_girl]

If you want to be an SLP, you should apply. 

You should really look at EdFind, it contains a wealth of information. About six months ago, I went through EVERY school on EdFind, and calculated the acceptance rates. I put every school with an acceptance rate over 20% on a spread sheet and wrote down stats, estimated tuition, application info, etc. Looking through that spreadsheet (which was made before people applying for Fall 2015 got in). Assuming I wrote down the stats correctly, and using your major GPA, your stats are in the range for the following schools (again, before the last round of acceptances):

Case Western Reserve

Illinois State

Jackson State

Kent State

Loma Linda

Marquette

Marshall

Marywood

NY Medical College

Seton Hall

St. Ambrose

Stephen F. Austin

SUNY at Fredonia

Texas Tech

U of Cincinnatti

U of Memphis

U of Nebraska, Omaha

U of Southern Mississippi

U of Texas, El Paso

U of Tulsa

Washington State

 

Honestly, your GRE scores are very low, and your stats are on the low end for most of these schools. Some of the schools do not require GREs, and those might be your best bet, depending on how you do on the writing section. I would focus on writing a great SOP, and having great letters of recommendation. Good luck! 

[Crimson Wife]

Academic Language Therapy was actually my original Plan A before my daughter's hearing loss was discovered in February and I decided that SLP was a better plan. You don't need a graduate degree to become certified, only completion of a training program in multisensory structured literacy: https://www.altaread.org/membership.asp

To become a certified Educational Therapist and earn a higher rate, you would need a master's degree. This is the program I was originally going to apply to: https://www.hnu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-arts-educational-therapy

No requirement for the GRE and I believe the minimum GPA is 3.0.

[jmk]

I would apply this year if your heart is really into it, but if I were in your shoes, I personally would take a year off and apply next year. That way you have your entire undergrad and CSD GPA, which easily could be closer to a 3.5 and 3.6 in two semesters. I would also find a different study method and retake the GRE next summer when you are done with school. 

[hopefulspeechie16]

Did you take the GRE recently? I feel like a handful of people I know that have taken it in the last few months have gotten some really low scores, not sure what to point fingers at...

I would encourage you to apply this year, give it your best shot. If you've already taken the GRE twice chances are your scores won't drastically change.

[Queenezza]

I also need help. I have a cumulative 2.8 gpa and some of the schools I am interested in state not to apply if I don't at least have a 3.0. I have a lot of volunteer experience and feel that I am more than ready to start grad school. But unfortunately these schools want numbers. How can I raise my gpa after graduating ? Is that even possible, I was told not. I really love this field and I am bilingual and want to serve my community ! I need help I have always wanted to have this career and I am in my last twenty of age  

[curly_girl]

I also need help. I have a cumulative 2.8 gpa and some of the schools I am interested in state not to apply if I don't at least have a 3.0. I have a lot of volunteer experience and feel that I am more than ready to start grad school. But unfortunately these schools want numbers. How can I raise my gpa after graduating ? Is that even possible, I was told not. I really love this field and I am bilingual and want to serve my community ! I need help I have always wanted to have this career and I am in my last twenty of age  

You can raise your GPA by taking classes as a non-matriculated student. I don't know if all grad schools would accept that as being over a 3.0, but you can can call and ask. I would at least start by re-taking any CSD courses that you got bad grades in, or by taking the non-CSD courses required by ASHA  if you have not done so yet. Check out this thread: http://forum.thegradcafe.com/topic/49929-fall-2014-less-competitive-grad-programs-applicants-thread/

 

[Crimson Wife]

Some programs will only look at the last 60 credits. Not sure if that helps or hurts you, but on my own transcript, that policy definitely helps. 90% of the grades on my transcript below an A- happened during my first 1.5 years of my 1st BA.

[PlieThenRose]

I have been doing a lot of grad school research. Probably more of that than actual studying for the GRE. I've been told my my current professors and advisors (I'm a post bacc student getting my pre reqs done) that since I have worked for the past 4 years grad schools won't necessarily look at my undergrad (2.5 GPA) but will focus on my post bacc work, LORs and SOP. But everything on ASHA Ed find shows extremely high gpa and GRE scores that it really scares me. I just took the GRE and got a 282 (134 V...awful!). And from what others tell me, it's really not going to help taking it again. I'm going to wait until I get my AWA score and decide then. But really, what are your experiences and thoughts? Is it even worth applying to a bunch of schools? I'm just really nervous now that my GRE scores really sucked!  

[HopefulFutureSLP2016]

Did you take the GRE recently? I feel like a handful of people I know that have taken it in the last few months have gotten some really low scores, not sure what to point fingers at...

I would encourage you to apply this year, give it your best shot. If you've already taken the GRE twice chances are your scores won't drastically change.

I did, I just took it within the last few weeks. Still waiting for my writing scores to come out. 

[HopefulFutureSLP2016]

I have been doing a lot of grad school research. Probably more of that than actual studying for the GRE. I've been told my my current professors and advisors (I'm a post bacc student getting my pre reqs done) that since I have worked for the past 4 years grad schools won't necessarily look at my undergrad (2.5 GPA) but will focus on my post bacc work, LORs and SOP. But everything on ASHA Ed find shows extremely high gpa and GRE scores that it really scares me. I just took the GRE and got a 282 (134 V...awful!). And from what others tell me, it's really not going to help taking it again. I'm going to wait until I get my AWA score and decide then. But really, what are your experiences and thoughts? Is it even worth applying to a bunch of schools? I'm just really nervous now that my GRE scores really sucked!  

Hey girl, I feel you. Let me know how everything works out. Will you be applying this year?

[HopefulFutureSLP2016]

Some programs will only look at the last 60 credits. Not sure if that helps or hurts you, but on my own transcript, that policy definitely helps. 90% of the grades on my transcript below an A- happened during my first 1.5 years of my 1st BA.

That is what I'm hoping for. Freshman/sophomore year is where I struggled the most, my last 60 GPA is much higher

[PlieThenRose]

Hey girl, I feel you. Let me know how everything works out. Will you be applying this year?

Yes, I will be applying this year.  I decided to retake the GRE in December, and I'll notify the places I'm looking at to let them know I'm retaking the GRE.  I got my writing score back and did well, but that verbal score should be higher, so hopefully I can improve. 

I also think for your GPA, sine you said it's improved, that will definitely look good. And your ECs are strong.  Also, what I've seen from this website and others, grad school admissions just kind of seems like a luck of the draw type thing.  There's no rhyme or reason behind who is admitted vs who is not it seems.  SO that being said, I am applying to a couple of "stretch" schools because why not!

Good luck to you, too! I hope everything works out for all of us!