SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid

If possible, try to meet in person when asking for letters of recommendation. After speaking to a faculty member at my program who was on admissions, they mentioned that they preferred students to ask for LORs in person and found emails for LORs a little off-putting. A letter of rec is a pretty big thing to ask for, so it is nice to take the initiative to ask for it in person. They may also want to talk with you or have questions for you before agreeing to write you a LOR. This is just my experience with the professors I've spoke to at my program after admissions. This is of course no hard set rule, it is just what I had learned/heard after going through the lovely process last year.

I'm a current graduate student, and I would estimate that around half of my cohort commutes. One person even drives two hours each way. I have a 40 minute commute, which I find annoying. Grad school schedules differ from undergrad in a few ways (in my experience, maybe all are not like this). Each of my classes are 2-3 hours long (depending if 2 or 3 credit class) and meet once a week. I have clinic on top of that as well. I am also a graduate assistant for 10 hours each week. I usually find myself on campus from around 9am until 5pm (at minimum). I personally don't like dealing with a drive after mentally exhausting days (most days), but the money I save by living at home is worth it.

I am sorry you are in this situation. I happened to somehow end up back on good old grad cafe tonight and saw this post and had to respond. I am a current graduate student as well, and I can say with certainty that graduate school is THE most challenging, thought-provoking, and best learning experience I have ever had. In my time in graduate school so far, the faculty at my program seem to be polar opposites of how yours are. I've never worked with people who are so willing to help, teach, and provide students with great clinical experiences. I say this because what you are describing is not normal in the least. I apologize if someone already said it (I glazed over posts), but I sure hope that a program of this quality is not accredited by ASHA. If it is, it needs to be reported. This sounds like a hostile environment that is not preparing students for a meaningful career. If anything, my experience in graduate school so far has made me fall deeper in love with the field. I am ashamed that programs like yours are allowed to exist. What you are describing is in no way normal or acceptable. It is a shame that they are allowed to continue destroying students perceptions of the field and essentially bully students. Run as fast as you can...

Holy moly that is outrageous. SLPs make good money, but I could never justify paying that much for the degree. Also, when you factor in interest it would almost be safe to say you would never get out of debt with an SLPs salary. I just received my first graduate tuition bill for fall and it is around $4,500 which makes me feel a little better about my debt.

I agree with the above posters. Do NOT let anyone deter you from accomplishing what you want to do. In high school, I was told by a science teacher that I was not meant to go into any science based field, let alone college. This man even told my mother at conferences that I should not be encouraged to pursue higher ed. Interestingly, I was a student who received decent grades. If I would've listened to him, I would not be where I am today. I was on the honor roll every semester of college, and low and behold, this "non-college bound student" graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in psychology and a biology minor, EMT certification, many other accomplishments, and was accepted into 4/6 graduate schools after completing a post-bacc year. For me, being told I couldn't do something only made me push harder. There is nothing better than proving someone wrong who isn't able to see your potential. I also know of a professor who has told students to quit pursuing SLP. This professor told a girl who got a B on an exam that SLP is probably not for her...Single grades do not define students or their ability for success. Instead of tearing students down, professors should offer ways to build students up. There seem to be many professors who don't understand that. Also, graduating college is a big success in itself, so don't downplay that! From one first generation college student to another, you're doing pretty awesome at life thus far! Even if you don't end up in SLP, life has a way of working itself out. Give it time and a little determination and you'll get to where you're supposed to be.

I agree with the above posters. I have lived in Minnesota and South Dakota my whole life. In my opinion, do not go overboard with buying the biggest, heaviest winter apparel you can get. As a poster above mentioned, you will sweat in it. Layering is your friend. As far as boots go, I would get practical ones that will keep your feet dry but will not suffocate them. I have a pair of Thinsulate winter boots that I wear to class in the winter more days than not. I also walk close to a mile from my car to where I go, so I need something that can keep my feet from freezing. When big storms hit, the city often cannot keep up with plowing sidewalks and roads, so it is common to be trudging through a foot of snow or more. Many crazy Minnesotans will wear moccasin/slipper type shoes even when there's a foot of snow. I am not one of them... I have even witnessed people wearing shorts when there are blizzards. I also second the idea of keeping washer fluid on hand. Your windshield will become coated with a thin layer of salty residue that makes it nearly impossible to see when driving behind other cars on wet, salted roads. I have had to pull over many times to throw snow on my windshield to clean it off so I could see out of it. A snow brush with an ice scraper is also a necessity. If you leave your car for a period of time, ice is likely to form and coat your windshield. I also keep a miniature telescoping plastic shovel in my trunk. It has been a lifesaver. I have had to shovel my car a path to get off the street and onto the roadway many times after being parked for a few hours. Speaking of parking on streets, make sure you know what the city ordinances are for snow removal parking restrictions. You can get a hefty fine/towed for parking on the wrong sides of streets when there are snow emergencies. Hat wise, I do not like stocking hats mainly for the reason that they destroy your hair. I prefer the ear muffs that go behind the ears and are hardly visible. You may also want a scarf if the region you're moving to gets frigidly cold. Breathing in -20 air can be a little unpleasant on the lungs and cheeks, so a scarf helps. Also, like the poster above mentioned, good car tires are a necessity. You are asking for an accident if you drive with low tread. I learned this lesson the hard way when my car hydroplaned on slush and rolled three times. I have also gotten stuck at large intersections before and that was embarrassing. Lastly, always start your car and let it run for at least five minutes before driving when it is cold. It is hard on the engine to start it up and take off right away. If you can get an engine block heater it will make it easier on your engine as well. You can plug your engine into an outlet from a garage (if available) when it is frigidly cold and your car will likely start right up. Oh, and as far as washing your car goes, good luck. People here don't seem to do during the winter since the roads are in a constant state of slushyness/wetness. Right when you leave the car wash your car will get coated with salt and slush again. Seems like a lose-lose situation. I gave up on washing my car until I know it will not snow again.

Nope, I did not! That was another reason I was really surprised they found it!

On some of my transcripts it just showed up as whatever course it was equivalent to. Although, I know it showed up as a transfer credit on at least one of my transcripts. It was one class but I still had to send it. Blah. I had the transcript sent everywhere else after the one institution caught it. I figured others may catch it as well. Heaven forbid I try to save money while applying to graduate school!

I found it helpful to have experience working in a group home. I do weekly speech exercises with a couple clients at my job. Not only has my job been fun, but I also gained experience working with individuals with a variety of disorders (cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, Down Syndrome, to name a few). All of the residents where I work have communication deficits, as do many at most group homes. I think that healthcare experience is always beneficial. After all, SLP is a helping profession. Things that show you are a people person/caring reflect positively. Heck, there are many things you can spin in a positive light. Even being an effective communicator in customer service and positive traits you gained from other jobs can look good. It's all about how you market your skills.

I really don't think that the amounts of schools matter. I have a total of five different transcripts and was accepted to 4/6. This is mainly because I did some college in high school at two different universities, took a math class over the summer at a community college, had a majority of credits where I got my BS, and also earned credits where I went for my post-bacc. As long as you have the four year degree, they are more interested in the last 60 credits and your CSD GPA. I have a feeling you will need to retake the A&P. Unless the A&P you have is specifically for SLP, as in A&P for Speech Mechanisms, you will need to retake it. I wasn't able to get off the hook when I had taken Anatomy and Physiology since they weren't specific to SLP. I am also glad they did not let me get off the hook. The A&P you take for SLP is a necessity. You learn about all of the muscles, bones, and structures that support breathing, phonation, and all of that good stuff that the general A&Ps gloss over. I also tried the trick of pretending to "forgot" to send one of the transcripts that had one class on (it was the one math class that I took for my own benefit over a summer to prep me for higher level math). Somehow, one of the places I applied to found out I didn't send them it and asked me to send it. I have no idea how they found it, but I sent it just in case. So much for trying to save money that way!

I'm kind of similar. The school I go to let me take whatever classes I wanted without going through any big ordeal. I literally just applied to the university, was accepted, and picked out which classes I wanted to take. For money reasons, I applied as a degree seeking student so I would be eligible to receive federal loans, even though I was only planning on doing the prereq courses and then transitioning to grad school (I was a little scared about doing this). Many of the grad schools in the midwest require the classes of phonetics, A&P of speech, speech science, language development, language disorders, artic & phono disorders, audiology, and fluency. I took all of these and didn't have any problems with not having the desired prereqs. I didn't really care about it not fulfilling the requirements for a second bachelor's because there's no use in paying an arm and a leg for a second degree that would be pointless.

Just thought I would revive this thread by posting my interview questions that I was asked. It may sound silly, but I did not post them earlier because I didn't know if faculty ever browse the forums and would see this as problematic (probably just me being paranoid). I figured I would post these since I don't know if I'll be back on GradCafe much since I am done with the "applying to graduate school chapter" and onto the real deal. I also put my $.02 worth in on some questions. Before interviews, I was curious how other people approached questions, so I figured I would share my train of thought on some. I am sharing this since I found it extremely helpful to hear from others who went through the application experience before I did! 1. How do you make a decision on what is best for a client if they do not wish to receive therapy that is supported by current research (I may not have worded it exactly how they asked, but it was similar to this.)? I interpreted this as probing to see if applicants mention (and understand) the process of EBP. Brush up on EBP before interviews, trust me. It will only help you. ASHA has a page that addresses EBP that you can check out. Likewise, refamiliarize yourself with the ASHA Code of Conduct before interviews as well. That is another tool that may come in handy if you get handed a tricky ethical question. You don't need to memorize it, but be familiar with it. 2. Our program focuses on three areas: Academics, clinic, and research. Which area do you think will be the most challenging, and why? This is a tricky question in that it gives you the opportunity to either bomb the question by revealing a weakness that may be problematic, or you can answer it with a strength in disguise. Be prepared to answer questions about potential weaknesses or faults you have. 3. Tell us about a time when you worked in a group. It can be a positive or negative experience. This question was a little tough. There was little direction, but I covered both bases when I answered it. I told a brief synopsis of a positive and negative experience as an officer of a joint club and honor society. I don't know if that was bad or good, but I figured I didn't want to say too little or too much. Similarly, be prepared to answer questions about teamwork and working collaboratively. 4. What does critical thinking mean to you? Also, give an example of when you had to use it. Yikes! I was so nervous that I forgot some of how I answered this. I think I said something about being able to find a solution to a problem that may not be readily apparent and also having the ability to problem solve. I know I explained it more during the interview, but I can't seem to remember what I said since I was under a heavy fog of adrenaline. 5. Tell us about your multicultural experiences. Be prepared for this one. I was asked this at two interviews. Many graduate programs have it in their mission statement that they actively seek ways to diversify their program with individuals from differing backgrounds, experiences, etc. One of my interviews was a group interview, and the other students all shared experiences traveling abroad. I didn't have the opportunity to travel, so I gave examples of working with a wide variety of individuals with different disorders and backgrounds while at an internship. Likewise, read programs' mission statements and be very familiar with them before interviewing. You can almost be certain they will ask some question(s) related to their mission. 6. What other academic interests outside of SLP do you have? Tell us about a course or courses you have taken that you think will benefit you and why. It came in handy to have a background in two related but different fields to answer this! I figured they were again asking to see if applicants can bring diverse perspectives and interests to their program. 7. Tell us about a time when you had to modify your own communication to make yourself understood. This was a unique question. I used an example of working with an individual with special needs who was very receptive to staff's tone of voice as well as complex language. 8. What experiences do you have working with special populations? Self explanatory. As SLPs, we will have clients who fall outside of the "norm" (as in disordered) on a daily basis. 9. Why did you apply to our program? Ah, the one that you can always expect to be asked. I interpreted this as a question that will identify whether you did your homework on their program before applying. This is where knowing their mission statement and program specifics may come in handy. Make sure to have a believable answer. There should be a reason you chose them, after all. It also may help to mention program specifics that drew you to their program, such as med and/or school placements, and/or a faculty member who does research you are interested in. 10. Do you have any specific area of interest in SLP? It may be a good idea to name a faculty member who is in your area of interest...Especially if you are interested in doing a thesis. Otherwise, it may be acceptable to explain which setting you are interested in working in and why. 11. If we asked a professor or boss who knows you well to describe you, what would they say about you? Theoretical questions! I tried not to give real generic answers (ie. hardworking! I do a good job! I give 110%!). I took the route of giving more unique answers to help myself be more memorable. After all, when you are competing against the masses you need to be remembered somehow. 12. Do you have any questions for us? Even if you don't think you have any, ask them a few! At one of my interviews, I had thought of three questions I wanted to ask. I was so nervous that I forgot 2/3 questions when I was in the moment. I compensated by thinking of a few other questions based on their responses to my previous question. Also, don't be afraid to interview them with a few questions. It is just as important that they can explain why you should want them as much as they should want you. I asked what set their programs apart from others in the region and I got some interesting responses. --------------------------------------------------------- I am forgetting a few things I was asked, but these were the ones I wrote down shortly after going through interviews. By no means are my answers "correct" or the way you should answer questions. I just figured I would share my perspective on how I interpreted and responded to them. It was also useful to have a very short introductory pitch about yourself ready. At one interview, we had to introduce ourselves to the different interviewers as we progressed from room to room. Most importantly, be yourself (not an interview robot)! There is a reason you got an interview. Try to relax as much as possible. I was a bundle of nerves but I did plenty of interview practice before interviews which helped me feel a little more calm. There is no way to be 100% prepared for interviews. You just do the best you can as you go! Best wishes as you embark on the scary and also exciting roller coaster of getting into graduate school.

A lot of factors came into play on which schools I applied to. I guess if I had to rank what was important to me, it would look something similar to this: 1. Applying to Realistic Programs: What I mean by this is that I applied to programs that were likely to seriously consider me, based on my stats and previous students they have admitted. If you haven't already, check out ASHA EdFind to look at the stats of students admitted to accredited programs. It can give you an idea of whether or not your are competitive for certain programs. I know too many people who had a false sense of security and only applied to "upper tier" programs and were rejected from all of them. These were not bad students either, some even had fairly high GPAs and good GREs. It may be beneficial to meet with your advisor before applications to gauge how strong of an applicant they think you are. 2. Pricing: It is amazing how programs differ by pricing. For me, I have a heap of undergraduate debt that has been looming over my head. I also could not justify spending oodles of money when I would end with the same degree (M.S. CCC-SLP) and be able to work in my chosen setting. I was accepted to 4/6 places I applied and I ultimately decided on the one that will cost the least (also the strongest program, in my opinion). The program I chose has funding opportunities for graduate students such as GA positions and partial tuition waivers that SLP students often receive. 3. Facilities and Placements: Programs can also differ a lot in the quality of facilities and experiences available. I didn't really expect there to be too much of a difference, but I was very surprised when I toured one program at interview day and I was completely put off by their "poor" facilities. Some programs also differ by how and when they do medical and school placements. I am interested working primarily in a hospital or rehab setting when I'm done, so I also chose my program since students get awesome experiences at a rehab facility placement. 4. Faculty & Dynamic of Department: If you are interested in doing a thesis, it is important that the program has a faculty member who could potentially be your advisor. I would like to leave the option open to pursue a PhD down the road, so having a good thesis advisor who would be supportive was also important. It also makes learning much more enjoyable to be taught by faculty who are passionate about their field. Also, the dynamic of the department can play a role in your experience. It may not be something you can find out (or maybe can by hearsay), but some departments have more "politics" and "disagreements" between faculty that can adversely affect you. I did my post-bacc where I am attending grad school, and the department is very close and compatible. I have heard from other students that some programs are not like this, and faculty members who don't get along can make life difficult. 5. Impression of Program from Visiting: You can tell quite a bit about a program by visiting. This was by far the most insightful part. At interviews, I was able to speak with faculty and also current graduate students. I had some of my perceptions on programs change immensely after seeing them in person. I spoke with some current graduate students at programs to gain an inside view on strengths and weaknesses that I wouldn't have known if I hadn't spoke to them. I was also really underwhelmed with the clinic at one program which ultimately made me write it off my list. Those are some of the things I considered. There are more little details you think of as you go along, but these made big differences for me! I am probably forgetting some as well.

That's a tricky question... The money part of schooling and applications is the scary part. However, if you are able to, I think it may benefit you to retake the courses at a program you may consider applying at. I completed my post-bacc year at the program I will now be attending for my master's. The faculty said that they do not give preference to their own students, but that is a big lie (in my opinion). Most programs will say they don't, but they do. One professor even told me that when it comes down to your application and another student they don't know who is very similar, they are more likely to pick you. If they know you are a committed student from having you in class, it can only work to your advantage. It also works to your advantage if you can get faculty from the program to write you letters of recommendation for their own program. I think that these strategies really helped me get into my program this year. I started out in the fall as a brand new student taking prereq courses. I worked my tail off on making the best impressions I could on the professors since I was going to be applying to their program in the spring. I had no expectations of getting accepted where I did because of how competitive my program is. It may be expensive to move and take classes, but it could be beneficial if the admissions panel can put a face to your name. I have heard that programs with spring admissions are less competitive since they get fewer applicants than the fall application cycle. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but that's the rumor I hear. Best of luck!

The above questions seem like great things to ask. At one of my interviews, I asked the head of the department what sets their program apart from other programs in the region. She was a little surprised when I asked it, judging by her expression (I was accepted here so I think my very straightforward question didn't hurt!). I think this is a great question to ask. Not only should graduate programs interview you, but you should interview them to find out what makes their program better than the rest! Also, the department head seemed very happy to answer the question and gave a lot of great support for the program! Lastly, if you get the chance to visit with current graduate students, don't be afraid to ask them for their perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the program. Getting the perspective of current students can provide you with a lot of information that faculty may not tell you. I found it very useful to speak to graduate students when I was visiting for interviews. They are usually very candid and not afraid to give you the inside scoop on what they consider to be strengths and weaknesses. If you're interested in doing a thesis, it would also be useful to ask grad students how much support they feel they get from their thesis advisors! A bad thesis advisor can make life very difficult (so I hear).