CBG321

So my current school is horribly frustrating and has a bunch of uninformed incompetent students working the email and phone lines. So I can't seem to get an answer other than "look it up" which really really pisses me off. Be courteous enough to say you don't know or direct me to someone who does. How far in advance can I apply to a scholarship and remain eligible. The people i've been in contact with can't seem to understand that concept of doing something really early none of them could even guess at an answer. I was told the deadline is shown on each scholarship. Yes I know I didn't ask when it was due! Specifically I am applying Fall 2015 and would be starting my Graduate program Fall 2016. What I thought was an easy question has been impossible to get an answer for. Can I apply for a bunch of scholarships this summer (2015) and be eligible if i've not yet been accepted to any programs or even applied yet? Sorry for my angry rant, i'm just so frustrated with my current school.

Well that is scary! Congrats on having an acceptance though! How strong would you say your letter's of recommendation were if you don't mind my asking? Oh and what the above poster said with the letter of intent was yours pretty strong? How much volunteer experience would you recommend? I only ask b/c I don't yet know my GRE score or final GPA so i'm trying to focus on what I do have control of at this point. I'll keep my list pretty large though after hearing this.

Thank you! The two I asked said yes and my last pick offered in the past when we thought my timeline was different so i'm thinking i've got my 3, I just need to re-ask the one. It was such good advice to go get it over with! I feel so relieved to know who i've got and it gives me the time to prepare exactly what they want and need in their packets so hopefully I can be one of the first to have that information sent to them. I am a little nervous because one was saying she finishes at least a week before they are due. Which is cutting it close in my do it early mindset but beggars can't be choosers and she has a good track record for writing thoughtful letters so as long as it's in that's what i'll focus on! Plus I heard of other people being told a polite no or ask in the Fall so I am counting my blessings!

I would say it's a good idea to do a lot of research before diving in. Just because it is a very labor intensive program and long process. I think you have a unique background and would have a very interesting statement of purpose. I would just look around at schools and figure out where they specialize in what you are interested in. Because if that is what you are interested in, it would be a waste to go anywhere that doesn't have a strong program with voice being a large component. Also I'd ask those schools what they think of your background and career goals and get a concrete picture on where those jobs are located and what you would need to do to get them. What you're describing is a very niche portion of the speech pathology field and I just don't have knowledge on the demand for them. A lot of my Professors didn't seem to know much on the topic either... I'm assuming you're interested enough that the many, unrelated classes you are required to take will still interest you? Because I've taken 1 voice class and it isn't even the whole semester the class is split into craniofacial disorders as well. My other 11 have nothing to do with voice problems at all. (we need chemistry/physics, sociology or psychology and a statistics course as well.) Just take note of how interested and motivated you'd be to maintain A's in all those unrelated classes. I don't want to discourage you at all, but the one girl I knew in our program that was feeling it out because of her passion for singing and voice and theater felt the program was not what she expected and way, way too intense/stressful based on what her overall career goals were. If you saw all this and are thinking I already know this and still am totally passionate about it, where there's a will there's a way! It would be a really cool job! Also if you had any interest there is an upcoming portion of the field working to help transgender people change their voice. Might fit in with all those other job combos and be a really successful private practice! You'll never know if you don't try!

Thank you! I haven't taken any sign language in my program so was worried i'd be at a disadvantage!

I tried to skim most posts but not all of them so sorry if someone already said this. One of the attractive qualities of the SLP career is that you can find a job absolutely anywhere. I just wanted to mention that not every school district can afford to hire SLPA's. If you are flexible where you live or there is a demand in your area, being a SLPA could be very helpful. Just make sure that there is a job waiting for you after you get that license. Because if there isn't a SLPA license and no work experience won't help your resume/application. I've heard two completely opposite opinions on the need for SLPA's all in a 50 mile radius. One was saying it was rare to have them and they ONLY had them b/c their district was lucky enough to afford them. But if their caseload was smaller the school would have pulled an SLP from another district before hiring a SLPA. Another (SLPA) said they totally have a demand for them. BUT she wasn't in a position to hire so i'm not sure if that was only her opinion or if her district was trying to hire people. Also are you bilingual? Every SLPA i've met has been bilingual Spanish/English. I've only met 4 but they were all bilingual making them really valuable for districts with English speaking SLP's and large Hispanic populations.

Thank you! Now I'm getting nervous because I feel the need to pre-ask for letters of recommendation. One of my professors only writes 25 and I really need one from her! Just have to take it one day at a time though.

Thank you! I'll have to get those numbers in my head and practice/study a lot more!

And thank you everyone for the advice!

If your teacher is willing I would ask in office hours. I don't remember learning specifically what that's indicative of or if it's common. I only say this bc if it were my prof she would be looking for a specific answer that you may not get from peers in different programs.

Awesome this is what I'm looking for I don't live close enough to the area to hear about Chico taking their own students! Did you daughter have a strong sign language background? From fresno's website I feel like I may be at a disadvantage unless I started taking some classes.

Sorry to hear about a bad experience observing. I would also suggest finding somewhere new but don't think it's common in California for universities to allow a "random" person to come view sessions. My school doesn't even let us go unless our teacher schedules it way in advance and we have to sign papers on privacy and only come during a certain time slot. It never hurts to check it out though! A local SLP at a public school allows me to come whenever I have time and observe her. She is AMAZING, it makes me so excited to be in the field and I don't even see her that often. She always asks me to participate as does her SLP-A b/c sometimes I observe her sessions as well. My participation is just playing a game with the kids and she ALWAYS tells the kids to introduce themselves and if the kid is shy she says it's good i'm there to help the child get used to new people. I'm just giving examples of what a good therapist who is helpful is willing to do. I also volunteer weekly at a private practice. I sit behind the kids during the session sing songs with them, help them with snack and am allowed to ask questions about what's going on...I will say I feel like I understand what they are working on better at the school. Which is ironic because I'm at the private practice weekly with the same kids in group therapy haha. But both therapists have been friendly and gone out of their way to answer any questions. I'd find someone a little more willing to help out. Maybe the therapist you have is new and isn't quite capable of juggling her therapy and someone observing. I'm going to sound judgmental, but if she was comfortable with her abilities you being there shouldn't throw such a massive wrench in her therapy sessions. The profession is one that encourages creativity and problem solving and her asking you to come less often is not really helpful to anyone. I'm sorry you've had such a negative unhelpful experience. I want you to hear that what you've experienced is not "typical." I have a number of friends observing and while they've felt thrown into the process none have reported being told to come less often or felt like a burden to the therapy session. Good luck!

So I'm applying this Fall and thinking about applying to around 10 schools would your advice to be try and figure out a class that is offered at maybe 5 that I didn't take or do you think it's better to wait and see where you get in before taking that particular Grad Programs extra classes?

Oh that sounds interesting! The interview portion actually seems kind of cool. Thanks for the information!

This is probably a silly question but what is a good GRE score it seems like ppl post oh I did horrible and the number is still one within the school's accepted range of scores or very close to the score number. Is 3 points away big? I guess I just don't understand how to interpret the numbers. I'm going to look into the GRE forum too but obviously in this field our target numbers are different than other programs.

Out technically since I am in a post bacc. Why wouldn't they accept me or look at my post bacc classes? Narrows my choices down though if that's the case!

Okay so based on at least 2 of these websites i'm getting a vague picture of each of these schools. If anyone went there as an undergrad in comm disorders or even just applied here already and can give some insight on any unusual requirements compared to other schools or extra classes that other schools didn't need you to take. Good experiences and easy application processes are also welcome news if those exist hahaha. Basically i'm trying to get a feel for each program. Are some more responsive than others, does anyone know if one prefers their own students? I'll be bugging them via email and the phone anyway but it never hurts to get some other perspectives as well. Thanks!

Hmmm Bioethics might be interesting actually, not something I have a ton of knowledge on. How big is the group and do they just watch you solve the problem haha? I'll have to make friends with everyone waiting outside ahead of time. Good to know ahead of time what to expect though if I get an interview! Is that all that you do while there? They got rid of the essay? Ty

I am also interested in this ^ I personally would not identify myself as "Christian" but wouldn't mind going to a school that as SDA as long as the Professors/Students don't mind. I was mostly curious about the required religion class. I have no problem taking one but would be more interested in something related to Buddism or a less common religion because I think it would be really interesting to learn about. If you have any updates on the student experience please share or PM me . If anyone has come from a semester system is the transition to a quarter system rough? One last thing were the interview essay questions consistent from the previous posts in 2014? P.S-Is the area affordable i'm not applying yet but it would be a HUGE bonus if I could afford not to commmute! Thanks!

This is a silly vote from someone who has not been to either location in person...but San Jose seems like a nicer city if that plays in at all! Just looks really pretty

I don't want to multi-quote 5 people so whoever has the info feel free to respond haha. It sound like the program is leaning towards the medical side from the specialty programs listed. I'm more interested in school-age children, autism, special needs populations, language and literacy. Am I correct on that point? The dis-organized comment seems like they might not be a great fit for me, my current frustration at my school is similar. Also the politics seems immature and a waste of time for a student just trying to learn! This is super helpful though, it helps me to think it probably isn't a good fit for me personally. Thanks everyone!

So strategy wise, would it save me more money to send the GRE to the CSDCAS schools or were you guys saying CSDCAS is a different process so it would be a waste of the 3 free schools I can send it to? Will I save more money sending it to non-CSDCAS schools since they will accept it more easily? Or same savings either way?

Yes I already have my bachelors degree in an unrelated field. How do you figure this out? Meaning oh this class they absolutely want and this one is no big deal? Do they only let you know after you have sent your transcripts and they see some important classes missing? I feel this is probably an important step for me to be doing to be applying to schools that are a good match. Also my "adviser" via email sent me a list of classes accepted as equivalent by my current program. I feel like she was saying I couldn't take the class at the school I wanted to...BUT if I don't plan on applying to my current school's Graduate program does it matter where I take it?

Seriously no cc classes? I will not be applying to them! I went to a great cc with great teachers to save money that is totally snotty of them! Plus I don't have time to retake stats which I took there. Also I see the class I want to take is upper division so I will need to take it online at a 4 year. But I am trying to take it the same place as my online chem class so hoping for one less transcript!