arthritiskid

Hi onedayslp! Those are really good questions and I wondered the same thing before I decided to go to MWU. The program is cleared to be accredited but cannot have accreditation until their first class graduates. Therefore, this spring, they will be able to be accredited. They have passed all of the steps in order to be accredited. So, no worries there! There isn't a ton of evidence when it comes to a "newness," all of the faculty members have worked at other institutions and are really passionate about MWU. The facilities are amazing. We are serving in a brand new multi specialty clinic (dental, Speech therapy, family medicine). The SLP students have their own classroom in which all of the classes besides clinic classes are held in. We are also able to check out therapy materials from our classroom via an electronic check out system. It's really awesome because you can take them home and prepare for sessions and bring them back when you're finished. The faculty view themselves as mentors for the SLP students which is great because of the intense coursework. They're all really great and I'm so thankful that I was accepted to this school! I strongly recommend the program!

My undergrad was a 3.1 when I graduated, and my SLP coursework was a 3.75. I didn't think that I would get in, and here I am!  

Yes, I did the USU online program.  I applied for the 2nd Bachelors - however, I didn't finish the program because the grad school I was accepted at did not require all the courses from USU.  I ended up taking only 10 USU courses instead of 12 (required for the degree).
 
I remember the application process as being very simple and I've never heard of anyone NOT getting accepted.  I know I didn't need to submit any letters of recommendation.  I can't remember if I needed to submit transcripts or not, although I'm assuming if you're doing your 2nd Bachelors, USU would need proof that you completed your first Bachelors degree already.  
 
Hopefully that's somewhat helpful.  Let me know if you have any other questions!  I think USU is a great program and I've learned a lot.  If you do end up attending, there's a Facebook group for COMD students here, which I've found to be very informative.

As we embark on our graduate studies, I thought I would ask some of my friends who just completed their masters degree in SLP for their nuggets of wisdom. What would you add to the list?
 
Here's what they said:

Do's
Use a planner Use a to-do list Stay on top of work Exercise Make time for yourself Eat healthy Manage your time wisely Ask for help when needed Ask for feedback Review graded assignments Make time for the things you love Don’t stress out Don’t procrastinate Dedicate at least one day a week for you time Focus on the learning process and not so much the grade Keep a binder and use it to keep all paperwork for ASHA in it (Original forms of your observation hours, all clinic hours, background checks etc.)

Great suggestions! Here's a few more:

Do's
Use DropBox and/or Google Drive. Create a folder for each class and upload your documents. They are then accessible from anywhere including your phone.  
Don'ts
Don't read everything in the textbook, read the key things. Don't be afraid to speak up in class, if you know the answer, raise your hand, you're likely to get called when you don't know the answer if you're not vocal earlier in class

I'm about to start my second year MS SLP and I agree with all the above.
 
I would also add:
DO
Check available resources before creating your own therapy cards, games, and activities. Borrow ideas / materials from classmates and friends. Get to know your classmates.  They will laugh with (and at) you, cry with you, help you through those days when you feel like quitting, and celebrate your accomplishments. Start building your own library of resources. Mentor the undergrads through the grad application process. Get to know your professors. Advocate for yourself.  Grad school + deadlines + life + family can be intimidating and overwhelming.  Talk to your professors if you are having trouble balancing everything.  They have lives outside of school too and understand what you're going through.  Ultimately, they want you to succeed.
  DON'T
Beat yourself up if you fall behind or feel overwhelmed.
 

I was able to pick up the Praxis review book through my local library (they use OhioLink between the different universities in Ohio) and am so excited to start using it after my test this weekend! I'm thrilled that I found it through the library while I save up some pennies to buy a copy for myself  

My undergrad was a 3.1 when I graduated, and my SLP coursework was a 3.75. I didn't think that I would get in, and here I am!  

The snow is bad but you will be ok! Just remember this: Pump your brakes, don't slam them. Have some faith in yourself, all of us northerners have had to learn how to drive in the snow with experience, and now it's your turn!  

I am really glad you guys like the Praxis Review suggestion! It's comforting to read and recall certain terms or facts that I may have learned 2 years ago in A&P or language development. I would recommend waiting to purchase the book that includes the 4 tests just to save money down the road. I assume you will want them before taking the Praxis.
 
I also love blogs! I saw speechymusings was already recommended! It has been my favorite as well. Shannon created a site that offers advice, frrebies, reviews, organizational tips (which I need desperately), and helpful resources! The blog has by-far been the most helpful!
 
Home Sweet Speech Room, Sublime Speech, Hanna B Grad Student SLP, and SLP Echo have also been recommended by many and I have found them informative. OliviaSLP is a YouTube blogger who I adore! She is exremely relatable and has blogged her grad experience from the months before she started, until her last day as a grad student!
 
I have been told several times to relax and not worry too much about not knowing stuff. I know that our minds will be stuffed with knowledge and experience in the next two years! It will require hard work but remidn yourself, the program you were accpeted to thought you were capable so why shouldn't you believe the same thing?

I've been reading several SLP grad student blogs and one thing that seems to be a recurring theme is An Advanced Review of Speech-Language Pathology: Preperation for PRAXIS and Comprehensive Exam (it's purple and yellow). I put it on my wishlist for graduation and have been reading it ever since!
It contains basically everything we learned in undergrad with more detail as it is used to prepare for the PRAXIS.
Every grad blog mentions it and how they wish they had purchased it before starting grad school so they could have used it to reference and better understand material in their courses.
I love it so far! It is a great tool to refresh your memory on topics you may have forgotten or need practice with!
Plus, you'll likely purchase it down the road to help practice so might as well buy it now
 
Oh, and you are not the only nervous one!! This is all so exciting but the wait makes me nervous. I want to start already lol
GOOD LUCK!!!

I've been accepted to Midwestern for this fall!  

I've been accepted to Midwestern for this fall!  

I've been accepted to Midwestern for this fall!  

I've been accepted to Midwestern for this fall!  

Wow, it is??? I must have missed that. Thanks so much for the clarification. My apologies if my presence here for the last 8 months has offended anyone.

There is no forum for PhD CSD, so I've been hanging out here the entire app cycle. If anyone has a problem with that, please feel free to file a complaint with the GradCafe police.

My list:
Backpack
Ink Pens
Snow Boots
Sanuk Flip-Flops
A 4-year supply of Kleenex to catch my tears
Alcohol

I got it, and I'd like to think it's a waitlist, since they've sent out both rejections (postal) and acceptances (email) so that leaves the rest of us who haven't heard anything. (Also got the email)

I find this song to be so relevant while waiting to hear from Grad Schools.

Guys, I just wanted to say hang in there. I received nothing but rejections/assumed rejections and wait lists until I finally got two acceptances in one day. I don't expect to receive any more. My point is just because one school may reject you doesn't mean another won't accept you. I know it is SO HARD to see that at this point but you still have hope until you have heard from every school. We can never guess at the logistics of this weird game called graduate admissions. Anyways, I'm rooting for you all and GOOD LUCK! 

AHHHH!! CONGRATULATIONS! So, so happy for you! I also received my first acceptance today. I knew yours was coming soon! I hope your interview went well .

Ugh I'm so fed up with waiting! I just wanna know if I have somewhere to go this fall or if I don't.

I really need to vent
 

Sundays are always my least favorite day of the week during this process because...
 

OH MY GOODNESS GUYS, I GOT INTO FSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
At this point I think I can reveal that it was my top choice school and I am definitely accepting (so anyone who applied to any of my other schools, know that you have one less competitor). They have the BEST autism program - which I also have to apply for, so expect me to continue posting with more application worries - and I'm SO excited about this!
 
I don't even know what to do with myself right now. I find myself checking and rechecking the letter they emailed (yes, it was email). This doesn't feel like real life.
 
I'll probably post again more when this has sunken in. But in the meanwhile OMG I GOT IN!!!!!!!