sak91

I am applying as well though I am not confident of my chances. I have a horrible undergraduate GPA (about a 2.6) but I did get my MPH and my GPA for that is a solid 3.8. I am going to apply to UMD, GW, and Hopkins (though this is a huge reach). I'm taking my GREs next month. I have solid experience and have published a handful of papers (no first author though). I've also presented at Academy Health conferences and APHA conference so that will hopefully help. Honestly I'll be shocked if I get in. I am just hoping that they see I am more than my undergrad grades. Do you think I should address the low GPA in my personal statement or just let it be? I did address it in my MPH application, which might have helped. Just not sure I should address it now since it is over 5 years ago at this point.

The first thing that comes to mind when I read this is why SLP? You are very accomplished in business and it doesn't seems to make sense why you'd want to change. I think that is the first thing admissions would want to know so you'd need to write an excellent statement of purpose that tells them. You say it's your passion but why is it your passion? What changed? With that being said, my best friend was an SLP major in college and applied to around 10 grad schools for her masters in SLP. She was rejected by all of them and was put on the wait list at GW. She ended up getting off the wait list at the very end and is now enrolled there. Here's what she did: -She had tons and tons of speech related experience. Do you have that? She worked as a research assistant in a media lab for 2+ years, volunteered at an autistic children's camp, worked at a pre-school implementing a literacy program for spanish children, etc. etc. There's a lot more but I'm forgetting it all. -When she was put on the wait list, she sent in more materials and a letter expressing her interest. So should you be on a wait list that's probably what you should do. Anyways, you need to show passion and interest and I think you may have a decent shot. I'm not sure if you have any speech related experience but from what I know, you'd need it. Good luck.

My best friend was just accepted to GW's grad program in Speech Pathology right after graduation. She was actually denied everywhere else too but ended up getting off the wait list from GW at the very end. Here's what she did: -Lots and lots of experience. As far as I can remember, she worked at a media lab for two years transcribing and doing speech-related projects. Worked at an autistic children's camp for a summer. Worked at a preschool and did a literacy program for the spanish-speaking children. I know there's some I am forgetting, but she had LOTS of speech-related volunteer/work experience. -Once she was put on the wait list, she sent in additional materials and a letter stating how she was still interested in the program. I believe she ended up sending one more LOR... -Her GPA was the same as yours (or around that area) but the lady she spoke to after getting off the wait list at GW basically told her that it was her persistence and additional materials that got her off the wait list. I think that's key to getting off a wait list. Apply once more if you want and make sure you also apply to some lower schools that are safeties.

Also did you get in anywhere else just out of curiosity?

My last three semesters I got mainly As and Bs. This is because I switched majors in the middle of my junior year. I was on a pre-med track and then I switched to health science which is mainly public health courses. The bad grades are in all the pre-med classes (orgo, physics, biochem, etc.).

I want to apply for my MPH for Fall 2014, but my undergrad GPA is well---pretty horrendous. I need to know what my chances are and if it's even worth applying. Applying for: MPH in Epidemiology GPA: 2.5 from a competitive private university. Bachelors in Health Science. Yes, I know it's low but I have a reason for it which includes a car accident that my family was involved in. Should I explain this on my application? I plan on taking at least two graduate courses during this year off---biostatistics and epidemiology. Hoping I will get As in both. How much will this help? GRE: 153 V and 158 Q Experience: -Research in a Physiology/cell bio lab for 1.5 years doing cancer related research. My name will be on the publication. -Working as a clinical research assistant this year in the Division of Epidemiology working on a couple of different projects. -Other volunteer/service work including a trip to India where I volunteered at a clinic in a village. Do I stand a chance at the following schools? BU, Drexel, GW, Tufts, UMass Amherst. Should I think of applying elsewhere?