chellinchen

I was also turned away from U, but I'm not terribly surprised. I knew that it was likely. Now I'm on pins & needles until I hear from Saint Cloud (which, thankfully, is my first choice) - their decisions go out via mail, so it could be any time next week or the week after. Congratulations, Occam!!!

Begin the inevitable, "But what does this timing mean?" hand-wringing. Sometimes I think it would be better to still wait for decisions in the mail, rather than track every small change online.

That was quick - status changed to "Decision Made.". According to the website, they'll let us know what that decision is in 24 hours.

For those of you who mentioned that your applications to the University of Minnesota had been updated to "Final Review" - any word? My status just switched to that and I'd love to know if I am looking at another 24 or 48 hours - or even more! (FSM forbid)

Ugh, I just checked & no change. I'm thinking that isn't good news. I was expecting to not get in, though - the U is definitely a reach for me. At least I hadn't gotten super hopeful.

Based on past year's results, I really had expected to hear from the University of Minnesota by now. At least no one else has posted results either - looks like the decisions are just taking a bit longer this year. Still, hoping to hear something by the end of the week (my status is still "Awaiting Program Decision" in ApplyYourself - I'll have 24 hours yet to wait after they change it to "Decision Made"). Crossing my fingers to hear from Saint Cloud next week, but it could very well be the week after as well. Oddly enough, this week has been less anxious than last - thank goodness for that.

My ApplyYourself status is currently "awaiting program decision" - apparently, it will eventually change to "Decision Made." Then I have to wait 24 hours before it is approved by the Graduate School & I can see what the decision actually is. IT WILL BE THE WORST 24 HOURS EVER.

Definitely, midnight streetlight - I know that a message from you was the first time I felt really welcomed (and it seems like you've done the same for almost everyone in this SLP forum). Coming from out of field & not knowing anyone else in a similar situation - it meant a lot. If you're ever in Minnesota, I owe you a cup of coffee. I still have two people in my head - one who is sure I'll never get in anywhere & one who is tentatively hopeful I'll be starting my career as an SLP in August. But I'm with you guys - the waiting is the worst, especially now that plenty of results are rolling in. At least it should be done (for the most part) in a month. Then the good stuff starts.

I'm very interested in neurogenic brain disorders & multilingualism. I currently speak German, Turkish, French & Spanish - I'm learning Chinese & Somali. Eventually I'd like to work with multilingual adults in a clinical setting - and I'm also interested in one day pursuing a PhD (I'd love to develop treatments, not just administer them). And yes - brains! I've been devouring anything & everything about brains & language / communication that I can find. On a lesser scale, I'm really intrigued by the idea of using both speech & music therapy together, but I know I have to focus - I'm not sure whether or not I'll pursue this on top of everything above.

I'm not even sure which is my first choice school after visiting. I'd be super happy to go to either, so at least there's that...

I'm really hoping to work abroad after graduating - although, my partner's career isn't as flexible. I'd love a position that would allow me to work abroad 3-6 months of the year & the rest of the time here at home, but I don't know that those positions exist.

I did this after a visit as well - although I waited a couple weeks to read the material they'd recommended & start a new course in a foreign language they mentioned would be extraordinarily helpful. Zero response. Definitely makes me nervous that I didn't make a good impression - and I still have another three weeks or so until I can expect a decision.

I would like to do a PhD after doing my MS, but I'll definitely take some time off in between. I'm hoping to get on-the-job experience, which will hopefully lead to a better idea of what I would like to research & how (& with whom!), as well as what is already being done. I decided not to go straight through because I've actually been in a PhD program before (modern European history, actually) and just know that it is a very, very long time to be in school. It works for some, but I was feeling completely cut off & isolated in the world of academia. My plan to bolster the eventual PhD application is to do a research thesis to complete the MS, rather than take additional elective courses. I'm sure there will also be a great deal of networking involved, getting to know other scholars with my particular interests. I'm also hoping to eventually work in a medical setting where it is encouraged to both practice & conduct research. My research topic is extraordinarily vague & tentative, seeing as how I haven't even started my MS program yet, but I am very interested in the interactions between fluent multilingualism and neurogenic brain disorders - including treatment / therapies for patients meeting that criteria. I'm feeling incredibly naive as I type this, because I'm really not sure how feasible this all is. I'd love to hear from people who have actually done it / are in the process.

I have also taken the old & the new - definitely missed the 15 minutes this time around. I was writing up until the last minute, so very little time for revision. My AW score was the only number that surprised me - I genuinely thought I had done better. However, I was flustered at the time - I had asked the girl at the check-in counter if I could wear my (completely analog) watch & she said yes. I then went into the screening room & received a pretty aggressive pat down. When she saw my watch, she immediately ordered me to leave the room & remove it (I guess there is no hard & fast policy on watches? Even the ETS website only says you "may" be asked to remove it). When I came back, the pat down I got was worse than the ones you get at the airport - hands in pants, up shirt, the whole shebang. It was mortifying, but I didn't want to complain, because I didn't want to get kicked out of the testing center. All that to say - I was flustered during the writing portion, which probably led to me overestimating my performance. I'll take it though - it was still better than the first time (when I actually dozed off mid-essay because I was working 90+ hours a week at that time. Mortifying).

Ditto on this. I won't be going straight into the PhD, but I am extremely interested in conducting research & a PhD is on my 10-15 year plan.

Nope, neither of the schools I applied to does interviews. I thought I read last year that the U of MN does an open house for applicants at the beginning of February (before making admissions decisions), but I haven't heard anything about that yet. That's either a bad sign or they've changed things up. Either way, I anticipate knowing next week, which will be a relief.

I did the exact same thing. Then had to take advantage of the free trial at Hulu Plus to see this season's episodes. Now I'm working my way through The Walking Dead. Ditto on working out as well - but I live in MN & running outside is crazy right now. Instead, I spend a lot of time with Just Dance & I'm debating a gym membership.

I applied to the University of Minnesota & Saint Cloud State University. Considered University of Wisconsin, River Falls but they have a separate admissions process for people who are out-of-field - and successful completion of the pre-req program does not guarantee placement in the masters program. I know that this isn't uncommon, but since both the UMN and SCSU give full acceptance to out-of-field candidates (with the understanding that it then becomes a 3-year program, with the first year spent completing pre-reqs), I decided not to apply. The U's deadline was on January 7th & SCSU was on February 1st. I submitted both on January 5th, so I've just been patiently going crazy since then. I anticipate hearing from the U in about a week and a half, SCSU sometime in the second week of March. I did get a (very thin) letter from SCSU this Monday - when I saw it was only a single sheet, I fell to pieces, thinking it could only mean one thing. It was a letter (sent via snail mail) to let me know that my application was complete (it had been for a month!) and under consideration. *headdesk*

Yes - I'm absolutely fascinated by the brain & the idea of being a brain & communication disorders researcher sounds so, so exciting. The more I hear, the more I think I had a one-off bad experience. It is making me reconsider this school as my top choice, which is a bit disappointing, given that I've only applied to 2. At least I'll be better prepared if I have to do a second round of applications next year. And, if I end up in that boat, I'll be applying to schools farther away as well. I'm pretty sure my relationship will be able to handle a little bit of distance for a few years.

I arranged a visit to my top school & met with the head of the department, as well as the professor I hope would be my adviser (if I got in). They both made suggestions of things I could look into (potential adviser) or things that would be awesome to have (someone who speaks Somali). I've followed up & done all the reading recommended and I've set up lessons for myself to start learning Somali (I want to work with adults who aren't native English speakers). Should I reach out & send them an email letting them know I've done this? I don't want to be pushy, but I know they are considering applications now & this is my first choice...

My plan B is to hopefully find a different job fairly quickly - preferably related to SLP (my current position is killing me, but it feels wrong to be trying to get a new job when I know that I'll (hopefully!) be quitting in August). If I don't get into either program, I'll reach out to the departments & ask what I could have done to make my application stronger. Then I'll do it and apply again next year. I was pretty blunt in my SOP and discussions with professors. In not so many words, I told them they might as well accept me now or they'll get really tired of seeing my name.

Exactly. Perhaps my previous graduate school experience skewed me - I was in a History PhD program & if you had applied without a fairly specific interest (mine was Turkish immigration to German from 1973-90, ergo my current interest in working with migrant / non-native English speaking populations), you didn't have a chance of being considered. Perhaps it is the difference in field, or because this is a masters & that was a PhD program, but now I'm getting more the impression that it is better if your SOP focuses on your background & why you are passionate about SLP, rather than what you hope to do once you are in the field.

Badgerina, I'm doubling up on midnight streetlight & jmarti37. You seem competitive - I also had a Fulbright & was told that could help to give me an edge, especially since I am out-of-field as well. The schools you applied to are good mix of highly competitive & less competitive, but it is a crap shoot - I think you have every reason to hope. Neither school I applied to conducts interviews, although I did schedule a visit with my top choice & request a meeting with the professor I hoped would be my adviser. I thought the conversation I had with the department head went well, but the potential adviser left me on uncertain ground. She's seems fairly kind & incredibly well-versed in her field (obviously). But she also came down really hard on my specific interest (working with non-native English speaking adults who have neurogenic brain disorders). She told me I was getting ahead of myself, I couldn't know so specifically yet what I was interested in & passed along several sources that would introduce me to the field (most of which I've already reviewed). It took me by surprise, especially as she seemed to think it meant I wasn't open to learning across the life cycle. I very much am open to exploring the field as a whole - but I'm 30. I've been in the work force for several years. I can say with almost 100% certainty that I don't want build a career on working with children. I thought that part of applying to graduate school was to be open to learning & experiences while still having a fairly definite idea of what you wanted to do. Did anyone else run into similar issues?

Similar boat - I only applied to 2 schools (I was limited both because I can't move right now & the fact that there are only a few programs locally), but the earliest I'll hear back is around Feb. 18th & Mar. 10th. Trying not to go crazy in the meantime - I'm definitely jealous of all the people listing decisions, even rejections! The first time I applied to graduate school, I sent out 4 applications. I can't imagine doing more than that - but am impressed by all those who do! I think I might just be overly picky...