Jolie717

Cal State Northridge also accepts MAT, at least when I applied in 2016.

You can find a lot of stats by accessing the "results" page here on the grad cafe forum. If you click on the menu icon in the upper right corner (at least on my iPad) you can scroll down to results and once on that page can narrow your search by major and institution. Keep in mind, however, that it is likely skewed towards the higher stat people who are probably more likely to post their info. Don't let it discourage you, just take the results with a grain of salt. And then get back to work on doing the things that will actually help you get admitted in the first place!

I'm also married with children, and, quite frankly, did not have time for office hours very often. I believe I attended office hours twice in two years, two different professors. What worked for me was being very vocal in class. I have a bit of an unusual background that I shared when relevant, and I think this made professors notice me. I had one professor who never met me once (online class) write a letter of rec for me because I knew she actually had a pretty unique glimpse into who I was based on the assignments we turned in. She read numerous transcriptions of my boys' conversations. Always entertaining, lol, and sometimes embarrassing! I also had classmates in this class ask me to give them audio samples from my boys for projects, so again, I think that stood out. Who knew having kids could actually make some assignments easier??? Additionally, I always sat in the first or second row in class. You DO NOT want to be the student in the back corner of the room. Unless you are unusually vocal in class. Another thing I believe helped was the fact that my study group literally met right outside the department, consistently, for our entire first year. All of the professors not only got to know our faces quickly, but also saw very clear evidence of all the work we were doing and the collaboration taking place. My entire study group received admission offers from our undergrad school. Best of luck to you - I've "been there, done that" and know what a challenge it can be!

I think my answer would depend on the schools you are applying to. If you feel there is an emphasis on cumulative GPA, then maybe mention it very briefly. I would keep it to one sentence. If the schools you apply to focus on the last 60 units this may not be as necessary. Not sure - how many units typically make up a post-bacc?

Your stats and experience look really good to me! I would say that many (maybe even most) programs are partial to their own undergrads. My undergrad school (CSUN) definitely is. But that shouldn't deter you from applying to a program you love. I am starting the MedSLP program in a few weeks, and 10/18 Core students are previous UW students, whereas 9/24 of the MedSLP students are former UW graduates. I'm sure it varies year to year - good luck to you!

Congratulations! Very happy for you - you must feel so relieved!!!

I only applied to three programs, but my SOPs ranged from 2-5 pages, double spaced. The third (5 pages) had multiple prompts, hence the length. When in doubt, however, it certainly doesn't hurt to call the department and ask!

I'm one of the few grad students here who chose a more expensive program over a significantly less expensive program. Technically, it was in the "high middle" in terms of expense, but was the highest ranked of the three programs I applied to (and was accepted into). The jury is still out in terms of whether I will regret it or not. I think not, however, as I am moving into an area of the country I intend to settle in permanently. I will definitely update this forum periodically post-graduation and employment as I feel I've taken the path that is almost never chosen in the SLP forum, lol. I too am hopeful that the federal loan forgiveness program will help ease my debt later. However there is no guarantee this program will still be in effect 12 years from now, so it is definitely a gamble of sorts.

CSUN accepts the MAT (last I checked - 2016 app season) but may not advertise it on their webpages. I don't think I would give up on all CA/WA/OR schools (even those that don't take the MAT) simply because you feel one area of your app is weak. In fact, it's not even one area, it's only a part of an area as your verbal and written scores are really good! Also, you already sound as though you've given up on math even for your GRE retest. Study like crazy for two weeks on your problem areas in math and take some more practice exams. Don't give up this early!

A bit off topic, but why the change in interest? Just curious as I will be starting my MS in SLP in two months - thanks!!!

I think that if a second bachelor's offers more opportunity (units) that will allow you raise your overall GPA, then that is the best option. Also I would strongly advise you to try to get all A's in your remaining classes - my undergrad program made it pretty clear that they only wanted to see maybe one or two B's in our main core CD coursework. Of course they still accepted some with more that that, but I'm guessing the rest of their app truly overshadowed the GPA. Do a search here and find the threads with schools that focus more on the last 60 units - they tend to be more forgiving of past performance issues. And I'm probably stating the obvious here, but make sure the rest of your app really shines - your LORs, SOP, and related experience. Good luck - others have done it, and if you put the time and effort in, I'm sure you can too!

Last paragraph - so true. (And yes, apologies to OP for the tangent...) I know someone who wrote a personal statement that very gracefully addressed their having had to retake a few CD major classes due to personal reasons, in two sentences. And this SOP was, by far, the best I've ever read and probably the best I will ever read.

The schools won't know how many times you've taken it unless you've already sent scores to them, which I assume you haven't yet? I would retake it only if you thought you could improve your score (as reflected by improving scores on practice tests).

I always love an intelligent discussion that challenges the status quo. Two very interesting analogies. First, academic history vs medical history. Each entity has an interest that your history be pristine. Medical much more so, I would think. Particularly as we pay exhorbitant amounts of money for medical care in the US. I was denied medical insurance through a certain big provider back in my early twenties. My "sin?" Mild asthma. Is that right??? Heck no. Imagine those with conditions much more severe than mine. The academic desire for a "perfect history" is quite different, however. It has much less to do with money and far more to do with prestige, IMO, as most masters level grad students in SLP are funding their education themselves. So my guess is that a shortage of programs coupled with the desire for higher rankings provides the incentive for schools to require certain academic standards, even if the academic records are unrelated to SLP or - even if related - courses have been retaken with improved grades. Some SLP grad schools recognize the classes that have been retaken and disregard the "old grades" when calculating the cumulative GPA. Unfortunately, CSDCAS does NOT do so. Some SLP schools weigh the "last 60 units" more heavily than the cumulative. Others do not. There is no universal "one-size-fits-all" way to admit students to grad school in our field. That is problematic for many, IMO. The admissions process is quite clearly not consistent across the board here in the US. Universally, I believe that if a student takes a class and fails, they should get a failing grade. If this student should retake this class and get a higher grade, they have then clearly demonstrated a higher level of mastery, and this should pretty much wipe out the first grade. The first failing grade is irrelevant at this point. (Assuming that the level of difficulty of the class is equal to the first class, of course). Second very interesting point. Allowing for *hiding* of GRE scores. Or rather, submission of the *best* score. I'm in agreement here as well. If allowed for a standardized test score, why not grades as well??? I also have strong feelings about the bias that is present in standardized testing such as the GRE - (race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc) but that's another topic altogether, I suppose).

No, I didn't have to work very hard on the math actually - I did go through the first three Manhattan math books or so. But I actually learned/reviewed more math from all of the practice tests I took. I maybe studied for 30-40 hours max for math, and the rest was practice test after practice test. I looked at the link you mentioned above, and it appears very clearly to not represent the average GRE test taker. The vast majority of the "before" scores are already well within or above the competitive range. These individuals are unlikely to show improvement on par with those of us who simply need a refresher plus a lot of "timed test practice" and an understanding of the strategies needed to do well on the GRE. I appreciate that you seem to want to help SLP majors (which you are not, I am fairly certain) and give general advice about the GRE, but I feel you are doing so more to promote your own website/forum rather than out of any dedication to or knowledge about our major nor investment in our field.

I'm going to have to disagree here. 300 does tend to be acceptable to many programs, but due to the competitive nature of SLP grad school, I personally would advise you study hard and retake for a more competitive score. I also disagree that most schools disregard the quant score - certainly the top schools do not disregard it. It seems you have extra time, so as long as retaking doesn't break the bank I would do so. What is your overall cumulative GPA now after having taken 8 SLP pre-reqs? Are your letter of rec writers really strong? How about your SOP? If you haven't already, start working on it now, and have qualified people who aren't afraid to give honest critique read it. (Think PhDs, English majors, SLP professors, etc). What schools are you applying to? As far as experience in the field, try to get some! ABA, literacy tutoring, hospital newborn hearing screening, volunteering for an SLP or autism program, etc etc are all viable options that will give you some more "real world" experience and will add depth and dimension to your SOP. Sorry to bombard you with questions, but the answers will help the SLP students who have been through the application process give better-informed answers.

270/340??? How does that translate to today's scoring for the GRE? I don't think it's wise to dispense advice about people "reconsidering career choices" based on a practice test score, or on their first GRE attempt for that matter. Apparently you didn't read all of the posts above, because as I mentioned in mine, I scored 62 points higher on my GRE exam than I did on my first practice exam. This isn't that uncommon among those of us who haven't studied math in years. Where exactly are you getting your data from?

Ironically, I think you are missing some of our points completely. ? But I get your points too, to an extent.

Not sure the library would have the most current info - if they do have recently published guides from reputable sources, great, but if not I'd skip it. This test is way too important to take it lightly. To the OP, as far as speed, you really need to just take as many practice tests as you can so you get into the rhythm. There is strategy to this exam - it is not simply a test of your knowledge. Get the free stuff first, take a practice exam to see where you are at, and go from there. I used my free Magoosh vocab app all the time - when standing in line, when my hubby was driving us somewhere, etc every chance I got. Do not let your first score psych you out - my first score was a joke and I ran out of time on a few sections. My final GRE score was 62 points higher than my first practice exam. ? Pace yourself and start studying early. Even if you buy only one of the Manhattan books it comes with the code for all six online scored practice exams. Also, make sure to practice the essays too - I didn't and wished I had later. As far as your timeline I think December should work as you aren't applying for grad school then. Just make sure you have enough time to take it twice in case you aren't happy with your first score, while leaving enough time for the exam to be scored and then reported to your schools with plenty of leeway.

Are you applying for grad school this fall? If so you might want to take it before the fall semester so you can focus on your coursework and your applications. As for preparing, I recommend taking practice tests so you can identify the areas you need to work on. There are some free ones online - that said I felt the Princeton ones were too easy. I used the free Magoosh vocab app on my phone, and I purchased the full Manhattan set which came with six online scored sample exams that were pretty close to the real deal. (I'm a non-traditional student and hadn't taken math in eons, otherwise I wouldn't have bought them all). A lot of people recommend Magoosh here also. When you actually register to take the GRE and pay, you will have access to two online scored ETS exams that are as close to the real exam as you can get. Good luck!

My advice would be to make a timeline for everything and stick to it. Pencil everything in on your calendar and follow through. It may seem early but your summer will fly by. You should already be working on your SOP plus studying for and taking the GRE if you haven't already. Also, a lot of people here created spreadsheets with each their potential grad school listed and all of the programs' info in one place. I was less organized and had notes scribbled everywhere and had to go back to the schools' websites multiple times - no fun! ? Start working on your applications and essays as soon as they open and do a little every day so you don't compromise your fall grades. Make sure you get feedback on your essays from several qualified individuals. I was actually surprised to receive very little critique from a professor of mine, when multiple individuals from other fields had a ton of useful feedback. It's best to pick people who aren't afraid to critique you. If you haven't already secured your letter of rec letters I would ask very soon after the fall semester begins - professors do not like last minute requests and some will refuse any new requests after a certain date they set. Good luck!

Agreed. One thing I tried to do in my SOP was to use my experiences/accomplishments to showcase my strengths, without having to even mention the strength directly by name if that makes sense.

Actually, in areas of California you can work as "speech specialist" with only your bachelor's in CD and a credential waiver. In essence, similar to a SLPA. This is provided you are also actively seeking your master's degree in speech-language pathology. There may be other states that operate similarly, particularly in areas with SLP shortages. Be aware, however, that many SLPs (professionals and professors) frown upon this as it devalues the master's degree to some. There are also ethical concerns as some are asked to do more than they are qualified to do. This happens in fields other than SLP too.

I guess I should have clarified - thanks for that reminder! So, in the Cal State system, I would have received Cal State need-based grants that would have lessened my grad student debt - and again, this was strictly need-based. Not many qualify for this however. You would have to have a fairly low, to no-income status to qualify. We only qualified based on my drastically reduced income (from being a student) and my family size (of four). Not sure if every state in the US does the same. However, I chose (out-of-state) UW, so I will of course receive enough aid to attend (meaning loans) and some need-based financial aid (meaning work-study). But no financial need-based state grants or scholarships for me, unfortunately. Nor for many MedSLP students at UW, as the funding is quite different there for the MedSLP students vs. the CoreSLP students. That said, there are many other SLP grad students in the US who have qualified for less aid or much more aid, such as full, half, and partial scholarships for tuition. There are GTFs (graduate teaching fellowships) and TAs (teaching assistants) positions that lessen or eliminate tuition fees altogether. Precisely where you apply will determine the full scope of financial aid that is available to you. I do wish I had researched this more before applying, but based on my final choice, it probably wouldn't have mattered much, so I guess I should stop kicking myself now, ha ha.

I had 166 verbal, 156 quant, and 4 on the writing. I should have practiced writing the essays, but I never did and felt my score reflected that. And I know I could have brought up my math score, but instead of taking the GRE in the summer as I had originally planned, I postponed until Oct and felt the time crunch was too great to retake in time. My advice is to take as many practice tests as possible and practice the essays and have them scored - good luck to you!