sugarmilk

Don't worry! Lots of people are in the same boat as you, myself included. Psychology is a related field and should not be a problem when you apply to a SLP program. Some programs will accept applicants without the prerequisites or with only some (I know NYU and Columbia will for sure) and some require all (or most) of the prereqs to be completed before admission (though you may still be in the process of completing when you apply). You'll need to look at each program individually and see what they expect from you. The prereqs are not even the same across programs so take care to consider that when choosing a leveling program. The online format seems typical of leveling courses. I don't know about USU in particular. The program I'm enrolled in is part time and the courses are scheduled at night so it is totally possible to maintain a full-time job during. The courses are rigorous but manageable and it is an overall enjoyable experience.

From my understanding, they will look at your application only after it is complete with LORs and all other required documents. And, from what I understood from this advisor, applications that are completed earlier are reviewed earlier. But then again, I wonder if they have a way of filtering and sorting applications by GRE/GPA scores and whatnot, which may move applications around in the review pile. I honestly have no idea beyond what that one advisor -at that one school- shared. Make of it what you will.

Me: (obsessively) I'm so excited about grad school!! I just want to get in and get started! Mom: When do you hear back? Me: February, the earliest. Mom: I don't want to hear about this again until February.

It seems the passion that originally drove you to engineering is still there (you sound inspired, albeit cynical, in discussing construction projects). However, you fear not being able to find a job. Well, what I can say is - right now, today, in this moment - you do not know what job opportunities lie in your future, in either degree pathway. Personally, I advocate following your passion rather than a "safety net" degree. Perhaps you are not feeling challenged enough in your program. Could you look into doing internships or research or something related? I feel like there must be some way to take the degree further, to rekindle your love of the field and your hope for a future career. If not, then I hope you can find some joy in statistics (though the picture you painted seemed quite dismal and I don't wish that on you).

Even if they look at both scores, I would not worry. Your "significantly better" score will shine through and show that you are dedicated and hard-working. Improvement is good!

water slide

I am in the exact same situation. I took the GRE last year, and I am applying this year with better scores. It seems how long the scores are kept on file varies from school to school. Only one school still had my old GRE score, which I viewed in the "check my application" feature. They haven't received my new scores yet because I only just took it again. I do not know whether they will replace the old score report when the new one comes, or if they will look at both. It's a good question!

brand new

An admissions advisor at a particular school with a deadline (not rolling) explained that it is better to submit earlier because although applications will not be reviewed until after the deadline, the adcomms will be looking at the applications with fresh eyes and eagerness. You want to be in that first or second batch of applications, rather than towards the end when the committees are eager to be done! But then he went on to say that, of course, everyone who submits before the deadline will be properly reviewed. So I say, take as much time as you need to put forth your best application, but don't take longer than that. I have a hunch that "first batch" applicants get status notifications earlier.

From my understanding, "online" is simply a format. The courses you take should still be on par with "in person" courses in terms of rigor. I am not familiar with the schools you mentioned, but I would assume they hold their online program to the same standards as their campus programs. A degree is a degree, regardless of the format you used to earn it. Masters programs will recognize this.

I just took the GRE this weekend and the option to send the "most recent" score was definitely there, even though they are only able to instantly give you your Verbal and Quant scores on the spot. Selecting "most recent" will send your test scores from that test, taken that day. The other option was to send all scores. So, to answer your question, you can definitely send your four free scores using the most recent scores option on the day you take the exam. And I'm sure ETS will wait until your AW section is graded before sending it out. Sending the most recent score is beneficial if you know your most recent exam score is an improvement on your previous score. Although you won't be able to compare your AW score, it is helpful to go into the exam knowing your old score so when you see your new score you can make the decision to send most recent or send all. I cannot comment on the speediness of score deliveries yet. They promise 10-15 days for the score report, so I assume that time-frame also applies to the score reports they send to schools.