SLPamy

LOL yes I love this site!

Seeing that you're from Chicago, I think I might know which "really, really expensive" school you are talking about. Without a scholarship, I do not think that I could justify going there due to the enormous cost. There is a lot to take into account when considering an expensive program. Why is it your dream program? Is it the placements? The research? The professors? The location? You need to decide if that is worth spending an extra $50,000 (or however much) more than another program. I think if the school can get you a connection that other schools couldn't give you (like a placement in the NICU or the opportunity to do research in a specific area), then it might be worth it. But if you just want to go work in a school after graduating, you can find another program that can prepare you just as well. Almost every SLP I have talked to has said that it does not matter where you get your degree from (as long as the program is ASHA certified, of course). A degree is a degree. Most have said that it is more important to consider the placements that the program offers, especially if you want to go into a specific area (like working with individuals with cochlear implants or something). That being said, almost all of the programs that I am applying to are more than $45,000. And it sucks to think about. We just have to hope that we can get funding!

To those applying to Northwestern - did you all receive a confirmation e-mail saying something about decisions coming out mid-March? I am just worried because I know a few people who received that message but I did not! Do you think I should contact them or just forget about it?

Waiting to hear back from a school that has already started accepting people is the worst. I wish they could just tell everyone at once (I'm looking at you, UNC!!). I feel for you argslp! I hope you hear good news soon <3

Lol, you have amazing stats. I'm not at all surprised that you got in! Congrats again! Hopefully UNC will be contacting more of us with some good news.

Thank you for the info! Now I can stop obsessively checking the portal, haha.

My sister applied to grad school for creative writing this year and so far she's got 2 rejections. One of the schools had 925 applicants for 25 spots. And I thought CSD was competitive...

Can you tell me where/how to apply? Fellow Illinoisan here!

Congratulations!!!!! If you don't mind me asking, how were you notified? I just checked into the portal but I don't see anything.

My profs told us that there was really no correlation between high GRE scores and doing well in grad school. They actually said that there apparently is a correlation between a very high verbal GRE score and failing in your career, haha. I would only look at a school's cut-off GRE score when deciding whether or not to apply to a program. Nobody should apply to a program if they do not meet the requirements. Beyond that, I wouldn't even think about GRE scores. If you are accepted into a program, it is because the admissions committee believes you will succeed in that program. There are so many more important factors to base your final decision off of!

I think I wrote about this before, but because there is such a high demand for Spanish-speaking SLPs, it is likely that employers will hire anyone who can speak Spanish (especially native speakers), even if they don't have a "bilingual certification" or haven't taken the ACTFL. Even having minimal Spanish skills can be useful when working with bilingual clients. You may not be able to do actual therapy in Spanish, but you can use your Spanish skills to communicate to families or to help you better understand a client's responses/errors. But obviously completing the coursework required for bilingual certification will be incredibly helpful for both native and non-native Spanish speakers, because it teaches you about Spanish phonetics, bilingual/second language development, interference points between Spanish and English, etc. It will give you more insight into assessing your bilingual/Spanish-speaking client's needs, and also better prepare you to do therapy in Spanish. Every bilingual program I have seen requires that you to either take the ACTFL or interview with a faculty member in order to assess your proficiency. If you aren't going to a bilingual program but plan to work with Spanish-speaking clients after grad school, it would probably be a good idea to have your Spanish proficiency assessed via the ACTFL so that employers know what they are getting. I don't believe this is required, though.

Congrats Quincy!! I'm so glad more and more people are hearing back with good news! I know, that really is so frustrating! That isn't the norm, right? Most schools will tell us about funding before then we have to make final decisions? Bc that is a huge factor for me as well!

I have it written down that IU offers funding to 15 students. I'm not sure if anyone was offered funding immediately or not. You're right, the wording was kind of weird. I assumed that some students were offered funding, and that those of us on the waiting list would be given funding if those individuals declined their acceptances. But I'm not sure! I haven't received mine either yet. On that note, I also still haven't received my official acceptance to Marquette! I just want to see the info about financial aid. *impatient*

I was accepted into Indiana University-Bloomington but unfortunately I did not get into the STEPS (bilingual) program! I am also on the waitlist for funding. I'm kinda disappointed, but it's okay! Congrats Karita and everyone else who got into their schools/waitlisted!

In general, most schools want decisions by April 15.

What other language do you speak? I know that at this point, most bilingual programs focus exclusively on the Spanish language. However, if you are fluent in another language, and you do your own research on phonetics/language development/etc., imo it would be completely ethical to refer to yourself as a bilingual slp and work with clients in that language even if you don't pursue a bilingual track.

Congratulations!! That's awesome, that is a great school!

First of all, congrats TerapistaRae! 80% funding?! That is amazing!! Many programs require you to achieve a proficiency rating of "intermediate mid" or "intermediate high" on a test like the ACTFL to consider yourself a bilingual SLP and work with clients in another language. This is completely doable for non-native speakers/second language learners. UT-Austin is the only school that I am applying to that requires students pursuing a bilingual certification to achieve a rating of "advanced mid" (2 levels up). Check out proficiency guidelines here: http://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/public/ACTFLProficiencyGuidelines2012_FINAL.pdf

I have no idea about U of I I will say that I still have not received my *official* acceptance into U of I, just the initial unofficial e-mail. Crossing my fingers that you hear something soon. As for Elmhurst, It definitely sounds like they modeled their interviews after Midwestern. I would go into it expecting the same type of process! I didn't know they did interviews either; it may have been something they just decided while they were going through applications. I got an e-mail from them about a week ago and then a letter in the mail a few days ago. The interview is on the 28th so it was pretty short notice. I know that they are very strict on only considering students who meet their requirements, so if you don't get an invite then I'm sure that would be the main reason (especially since your stats look so awesome!). Would you have finished your pre-reqs by the end of this semester? It sucks that they wouldn't consider you even if your pre-reqs would be done by the time you would have started grad school.

Wow, that's so awesome! I volunteered at a special recreation center for people of all ages with disabilities, and now I currently work there. I also volunteered a lot in bilingual kindergarten classrooms. Now that I have more time I'd like to volunteer a bit more so I'll be watching this thread for ideas!

Thank you so much arthritiskid and sayjo!! I think that it's a good thing that you haven't received an e-mail yet! In the e-mail (and in the previous one he sent a few weeks ago), he stated that acceptances would be sent out via mail and waitlistings/rejections would be sent via e-mail. The exception to this is for those of us who applied to the bilingual program - Dr. Long said that he would e-mail those of us who applied to the bilingual program to let us know if we got in or not. The e-mail that I received was to let me know that I was accepted into the bilingual program (which can only happen after being accepted to the regular program). Like you, I have not received my formal acceptance from the graduate school yet. I know a few people that were e-mailed yesterday and told that they were waitlisted, so I am pretty sure that if you didn't receive anything yet, you can expect to get an acceptance in the mail. Others in the results search may be from different programs, which may notify students differently than the speech program.

I was just notified that I was accepted into Marquette and also into their bilingual program! I am so shocked and excited!!

Sayjo - I know! There's been a definite lull lately! All I can add to this post is that I got an invite to interview at Elmhurst College.

Welcome speechiejen! The amount of comments in this post alone should tell you that you are not alone in freaking out over applications!!

I knew some people that interviewed there last year. I can't remember much, but I do remember that there is an essay or two you have to do. I think you're there for a long time too.