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Definitely visit beforehand if you can and talk to graduate students in the program now! I know a few that are there now

Appalachian State has a beautiful campus and it's a really beautiful place to live. It definitely is small, the area - "downtown" consists of one street - King Street. It's very similar to Asheville, if you've been there, only smaller. A very laid back area, everyone is very friendly and nice, lots of snowboarding, hiking, etc. So for that part, it's incredible! I did my undergrad in Comm. Disorders there and liked parts of it, and disliked other parts. I don't feel like the program is nearly as great as people believe it to be. They have lost quite a large number of professors who I thought were incredible. Dr. Heather Clark has left and gone to Mayo Clinic - and she was absolutely brillant, their old department head left, and some others. Some of the professors there are "easy" in terms of classes and assignments, but not helpful at all. One in particular sits in her chair and reads from a powerpoint the entire class, and that's all she does, isn't a very helpful advisor and I heard the same complaints about her from the graduate students as well. Not very interactive. Others however are great. Dr. Louise Keegan is incredible, and is extremely smart! I loved her! Dawn Botts is very nice too, and a great professor. She's an interactive teacher and is really fun to be around. So is Morehouse, the Audiology professor. He's hilarious. That being said though, I graduated in 2012 and I believe they have gotten some new faculty members that I haven't had - and it may have changed. I just felt parts of their program was somewhat disorganized. Another downside I can think of is not having many placement opportunities, or some of them being very far. The hospital is very small. Their clinic is great though, and I volunteered with Sherry Street, one of the clinical directors and she is wonderful. The SLP's in the hospital are nice, and really excited about their jobs. There are ups and downs, and if I got in there and somewhere else, I think I would go somewhere else, but only because of some of the teaching styles of the professors and I want to live in a different area and have more opportunities for practicum experiences. If you love the mountains though, App is a BEAUTIFUL place.

Yeah, I am not sure when they will be sending out letters. One of the professors told me that ASHA has instructed them to wait until later to send out letters until it was closer to April, so i'm assuming that has something to do with it. Are you planning to go there if you get accepted??

A 3.7 is not bad, but I would keep working to bring that 3.5 up. My best advice is to STUDY STUDY STUDY for the GRE! Look on their gre webiste at the writing samples, I did this and got one of the ones i had looked over. If you stick to the writing regiment they tell you (introduction, three paragraphs with three main points and three counter points, and a great conclusion) you'll do great. They are looking more for the ability to write structured than anything, since they read them so quickly. I took the GRE more than once and when I did this I scored much higher. I would apply to a range of schools, in state and maybe some out of state, though that list looks great. If you do apply out of state - ask before hand about how many out of state applicants they accept. Some state schools only accept a small amount of out of state Students, therefore making it even more competitive for Out of State Students. I agree there is no such thing as "safety" schools. All schools are very competitive now, and most programs are good. Definitely visit schools, e-mail the professors and even graduate students to see what they think of the program. Sometimes "top ranked" programs are not all they are chalked up to be, and often don't have the best professors, placements, etc. I would think about the type of SLP you want to be, what you want to specialize in and ask programs you're interested in what kind of placements they have in that area, what professors do research in those areas, etc. Talk to as many people as you can and get your name in. Do visits! It really can't hurt to apply to more schools (besides your wallet. I understand.) I've applied to 9 this year.

It definitely depends on the school what they look at. I went to Appalachian for my undergrad, and they specifically tell you that they basically make a spreadsheet of GPA's and GRE scores and the highest ones get in. If there is a close call between two, then they will look further at the Resume, LOI, etc. But their main standard is GRE and GPA, so if you are lacking in one of those, it will be harder to get in. Other schools though will specifically tell you they look at those two factors, but look at everything as a package - which is important I think.

Wonderful insight, thanks for sharing!

Congratulations!!!

I agree, it's hard to know what to do next if you don't get in anywhere. I've thought about SLPA too, but you're right - jobs are few and far inbetween. I've thought about going back for a post-bacc in Spanish, or early childhood, special education, etc or maybe doing mission work that specializes with SLP's and Comm. Disorders somewhere out of the country, or even just in a different state.

Second Rejection - UNC - Greensboro. Isn't it a bummer getting rejection and knowing you won't get all the money back you spent applying there. Stings even worse when they don't even send you an e-mail, just update your portal. Just so sad Great school, I was wait-listed there last year, and denied this year. Good luck to all those applying there and everywhere else! It will work out.

Yeah. that's what kct said too - I have yet to receive mine

I feel the same. I've only heard from two. I applied to ETSU and ASU also though, and haven't heard from either. last year I heard from App on 3/15. they're on break right now I assume it'll be soon. i went there for undergraduate and majored in Comm. Dis

Okay. Well if I don't hear something I think I will call Friday, and even if I do I may call - since it didn't say anything about if you can ask. Good luck with the other two schools, and San Diego State. I am sure you will get an acceptance. I'll keep you up to date on what I hear!

Have received one rejection and one wait list - I understand the feelings of everyone, trying to stay positive though! It'll all work out as it should.

Way to be positive, wait list is definitely better than denied and i'm sure the list will move. It came in the mail or through e-mail? I have yet to receive anything. I'm praying it moves! how many other schools do you have to hear from?

No worries!! You are not stupid for asking/thinking that. I am learning a lot too, and never realized the school accepted so few out of state. I would think typically they do want out-of-state students, especially for the higher tuition causes, but you never know. Since it is a state run school, it is a bit different. I will copy that portion of the e-mail. I definitely don't think every University or Program is like this, but they said their program specifically was only allowed a certain number of spots. I guess it really depends on the program and school? It wasn't up to them - but instead the University. He did say however, if I re-applied, to state that in my letter and they look at that favorably in their decisions. Did you apply for a lot of out of state schools? Might be good to ask this in the future, in the case we don't get accepted. Good luck to you! "Though you are qualified, you were among a number of out of state applicants. That is an extremely competitive group. As a state institution, LSUHSC is very restricted on the number of out of state candidates we can accept. Some years it is zero, last year we had 1, and this year we accepted 2 (they were “liberal” this year). This policy is out of the department’s control and the fact is that our faculty would like to have more regional diversity among our students. However, we have no say in the matter. We had over 150 applicants this year with approximately 35 from out of state. Please know that your lack of admission is no reflection on you."

Anyone heard anything from Tn State? I have e-mailed now three times, no response.. Hoping to hear back soon..

Thanks PsycD! You're right - it will work out! Hahah on the relationships! Very true.!! Glad i'm already in one so I don't have to "wait" for the right one to come along. lol

Received my first rejection yesterday, from LSU Health Science Center (NO) I knew it was a long shot since I am out of state, but still a sting. :/ Oh well - 8 more to hear from, God has a plan!!! Good luck to everyone applying.

Yeah, I am sure that is very difficult - being further away :/ hopefully you will find something soon. If not in the Speech Department, sometimes schools will do assistantships in departments outside of the one you are studying in - so try for that too. I didn't officially hear, I just e-mailed to inquire about when I could expect to hear, and they wrote back and told me I didn't make it - I am out of state, and they only accepted two out of state students because that's all they were allowed. Apparently I was on a short wait list, but they had already accepted so it is full. The professor I spoke with said that letters were being mailed out, so I am sure your friend will hear soon!! Good luck to both of you

Can you maybe take out a little extra loans to help cover housing? if not, do they have graduate assistantships? If you can get one of those then I would say you could use that towards housing. if not, maybe see if there are any grants, scholarships you can apply for. As a last resort, maybe you could get a weekend serving job and be able to come up with the money for rent that way, or babysitting jobs. care.com you can find jobs all over the world. Hope this helps! Congrats on getting in.

I would highly doubt they would rescind your application, especially considering it would only be your first C EVER!! in a college course. I wouldn't worry too much. If when you send your final transcript to them, you could add the reason for the C. I am sure they will understand. You have a 3.9 GPA and 3.9 Post Bacc, So I don't think they will be too worried about it, it's not like you failed the test because you didn't know the information. Don't stress too much! You are well qualified for the offer they gave you, I doubt they'll take it away You're an excellent candidate. Keep your head up! Plus I think as long as you have a C, you are in the okay anyways, don't most programs say you have to just at least have a C average. You're well above that. Sorry for the stress though!!! Time change is ROUGH.

Interview at Abilene Christian University this afternoon - very nervous, but also excited. It is via Skype Congrats to all those accepted, and I understand the nerves of everyone else. It's a long waiting game, but we will all survive!!!!

Oh wow, just saw that. Interesting, I hope we receive some kind of notification, that'd be really helpful!! And congrats to them, but seems as if they are unsure if attending, so maybe a spot available too! Ah.. Hope to hear something soon, I keep checking my e-mail. Will probably call end of the week if I don't hear anything!

Yeah, that is weird.. Maybe they are just not done, since LifeJourney hasn't gotten anything yet either. I always feel the same way about calling/e-mailing and don't want to bother but at the same time we need some information! Hopefully they will e-mail us soon one way or another? That's true, maybe they don't use gradcafe lol but I haven't seen or heard any acceptances there either. Ah what a long process!!!

Hmm, interesting. Maybe it is, and then they are sending out from that? Since we didn't get e-mails. I am interested. I was going to wait until I got an actual e-mail to call and see about the wait list and what place on it I am, if they will give that information. I went ahead and did the background check, but there'es nothing else I could do.. What do you think about calling? I am just wondering what is the best way to ask?