koalalover1

I would say it depends how well you do at standardized testing. I mean, I am horrible at them, (not exaggerating) prepared for months, and still didn't get the goal scores I had in place. I have test anxiety to the max, especially with math, so I am content with my scores now. If you're going to study for a month, really focus on the verbal and the writing!! Brush up on math formulas. Do a Google search of top GRE quantitative math formulas, and get those down. I also recommend Kaplan test prep books. Also you could get a vocab flash card app! You can start those now. Commit time to study at least 10-20 words a day! The more the better! It's key though that besides just studying definitions, you can put the words in a sentence. Doing vocab alone increased my score 9 points between tests! I would also sign up for it now before the deadlines!! Slots fill fast, and they especially will toward December! In regards to the personal statement, kind of what jmk has said... look at the prompts for each school you want to apply for. Find something that makes you stand out to other SLP candidates. What sparked your interest to SLP from Linguistics? Do the programs have any specifics about the SLP program that you want to get in to? For example, I know one of the schools I want to apply for loves people who have a background in the Midwest, and I will mention in my SOP that I am from the Midwest and am looking to stay in the Midwest! Good luck!

That is what I figured! Thanks for the confirmation! Good to know for sure, as I will be applying!

This is really helpful! Thank you, alissavar! Although I do know that I emailed the UW River Falls department, as I am interested in applying there, and I am pretty sure they DO require a GRE. I didn't ask directly if the GRE was a requirement, but I got sent the average GRE scores of last year's applicants. I just assumed by that information that the GRE is required, or at least looked at by the department. Just wanted to throw that out there in case anybody else wants to apply there!

I know that to be deemed "competitive" schools like at least the 50th percentile in verbal, which is a 150. The higher the better. Combining your quantitative and verbal score to 300 or higher should make you competitive, but it depends where you want to apply. Some schools say 300 is a minimum, some say it's competitive. As Jay's Brain pretty much said, it depends where you apply, because everyone is different. If you're really strong in other components (ex- your major GPA) you may not necessarily need a spectacular GRE. Again it all depends where you want to go. ASHA's Ed Find has program listings and GRE ranges, but it doesn't hurt to email the schools you are interested in applying to to find out the most recent statistics.

Hey everyone! This is my first year applying. I've looked at: Grand Valley State, Indiana State, Michigan State, Eastern New Mexico, UW Stevens Point, UW Whitewater, UW River Falls, Arkansas State, University of South Carolina, Georgia State, Southeast Missouri State, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and Mizzou. I am not sure if I will apply to all of these or not, or if more will be added on. My #1 right now if I got in would be Indiana State. We'll just have to see if my numbers and experience adds up being good enough for any of these places for this cycle. If anybody has any information on these schools, feel free to message me! This whole process is nerve wracking yet exciting.

I am in a similar boat to you, but your verbal score and GPA is better than mine. I know my GPA will go up this semester, but the GRE is stressful. I'll be retaking it at some point. I am applying this year as well, so I don't have experience with actual acceptances and rejections, but I would think with your major GPA and internship experience you would have a shot to at least get in somewhere. It depends on the school, I guess. Where are you thinking of applying? And as far as GRE scores, I think it depends on the schools. ETS' website says that some schools combine scores, some schools look at the most recent, and some schools just average the scores of the exams you took. I know at my school, if you take it more than twice, instead of looking at the best scores, they start averaging the three and considering that your "score". I haven't heard any other schools that do that, but I think it would only occur anywhere if you take it more than twice, or send more than two scores to that school. I know that a lot of places I have looked like a verbal score around 151, and quantitative around 147-149, so your first score should be within the average range. I also heard to be considered, being five points within the average is okay to apply, if you can stand out in other places. Schools like those two to add up to at least 295-300, but I know a lot of programs like more than that to accept.

I've looked at: Grand Valley State, Indiana State, Michigan State, Eastern New Mexico, UW Stevens Point, UW Whitewater, UW River Falls, Arkansas State, University of South Carolina, Georgia State, Southeast Missouri State, Northern Illinois, Mizzou, and those are only SOME. I also want to do more research on Ohio Schools, andt the two Dakotas. I haven't narrowed my list down, but right now I have fourteen I know for sure I want to apply to, (because we have a $56 fee to apply to all Wisconsin schools since I am in school there, and there are 6 not counting Marquette). I am still researching for more. Indiana State has told me their average stats for people admitted are a 3.6 overall, 3.7 major (I have both), 147 quantitative (I have that) 3.9 writing (I have a 4.5, waiting on my second score which I feel is better), 151 verbal (which, I KNOW my score is not competitive, so I want to re take the test, which is why I even brought this forum up in the first place) 22 people a year with about 38% acceptance rate. I also went and visited this campus and chatted for a bit with the faculty and a graduate student. It is my top choice at the moment, along with Point and either Grand Valley State, or Michigan State. I also am looking at Arkansas State due to my boyfriend, but I am well aware that I cannot choose because of him, so I have many options to think about right now, and that is why that school is not in my top three. Eastern New Mexico averages are lower than that, and the application is free, so definitely applying there, Steven's Point is the exact same as Indiana State but with a 4 (50th percentile) on the writing instead, and they admit 36 people a year, 39% admittance rate. Michigan State GPA average was a 3.52 (I have that), and range of applicants went from a 3.0-3.92. They have a little higher quantitative (149), and they admit 32 with a 40% admittance rate. I did not find their major GPA average last year, though. I've emailed the majority of these places and they've given me stats. Some of them are a stretch, but I have been told to always apply to schools that are a stretch to get into (although I know I will be extremely fortunate to even get in anywhere). I also did look at that less competitive forum, which is how I found a few of those, so I have not emailed those departments yet. It is summer, and I will be finding more schools out throughout the year. I would not have even started this forum or joined this website if I didn't know anything. Basically I did because I feel like my school hasn't given me enough information at this point (I will obviously get more this year) and I am just trying to get ahead of the game to prepare myself for both winning and losing. Sorry if this doesn't seem like I have at least a shot to get wait listed SOMEWHERE and hopefully get that acceptance. It would just be silly in my eyes to give up already without even TRYING. My resume also involves a behavioral therapist position, observing two separate school speech pathologists, I am waiting to hear back from one of my professors about shadowing in a hospital for pediatric feeding, to spread my horizons, I have observed graduate students at my program, I have taught Spanish to elementary school kids, volunteered in Costa Rica, I have volunteered throughout my application, I am on NSSLHA, intramural sports (four of them) and I did track and field for my first two years, where I was the representative for my class in the athletics club at my school for two years. I have five teachers in mind to ask for a letter of recommendation. I have one of the speech therapists I have observed before, because she is my neighbor and I have ran and been in school with her daughter as well. I also am well aware that many people out there are 10X more competitive than me, and I have a lot of work to do (which is awesome for them, and I wish everybody the best), but sorry that I thought this type of stuff would at least get me wait listed at the schools I am looking at. Maybe not. Not trying to be rude, or talk myself up, but I know what I am doing and I am asking for feedback to have some support because I feel as though I have done a lot on my own, and it is new to me. I appreciate everybody's support and comments on this, and I wish everybody the best of luck this coming cycle!

I know what EdFind is. I'm well aware of how competitive the schools are. I have emailed schools this entire summer, and I went to a clinic on my campus about graduate school admissions. I'm well aware of what I am doing. Sorry for trying to be optimistic. When schools email me and say the AVERAGES for GPA are the same, if not lower than mine, and two of my GRE scores are better than/the exact same as the school's averages, I thought that would be SOMEWHAT competitive. I thought I would stand SOMEWHAT of a chance if I retook it to get my last score at that average mark. Maybe not, I guess.

I'm a Speech Path applicant, but I took a Kaplan test prep class, and that shows you every question you got right/wrong and tells you how to get the right answer! I don't know anything about Magoosh, though.

Also, two of the schools I want to apply to received my first two scores (on of them is my #3), but my top two choices right now have none of my scores. I don't have an intention to stay at my particular school for a few reasons, but obviously if it comes down to it, I would. I'll just be happy to get in somewhere. I know the places I want to apply to have averaged around a 151V 147Q and 4 writing. (My Q is right on that, could be higher if I retake, and my writing is a 4.5 right now, could be higher if I retake). My verbal goal is just to get close to a 151 if not better (which is a stretch, but worth the mindset), GPA's around a 3.6 (which I will have) major GPA a 3.7 (which I will have). So I can understand that the verbal section is extremely tough and I will have a lot of work to do to be competitive, but just because of one low score I do not want to throw in the towel and give up on this whole process. If I can take it again, I will. The money is worth it to me. Despite that verbal score, I think my other stats could have a shot at some of the places I have emailed and looked at. If I could even improve it slightly, it would make me feel better. I know I am never going to be able to attend a top notch program, which is fine with me. I just know I have it in me and I don't want to just walk away.

That makes sense, jmk. I think she was referring to, also, if you send three scores to the same school, the particular school I go to will start averaging your scores based off your three results, and assume that is closer to your real result. I just know if I want to stand a chance this year, I'll need to retake it. I'm just nervous that three times looks bad to schools, but at the same time it might also show how much I want to improve. Every school is different. It is a toss up. I'm just not ready to throw the towel in yet and give up. My professor also told me this in the Spring of this year, so I'm not sure if she would be referring to the old GRE.

I sent my first two scores to two of the same places twice, but since taking the first one, my ideal colleges have changed. I decided to wait on sending my scores right away to my top four colleges, because I was not sure of this. I know I can always send them there later.

Maybe I am explaining it badly, but I heard it, face to face conversation, with a professor in my department. She is one that helps decide who gets admitted. She put on a specific meeting for us to come talk to her if we had questions about admissions. She said typically (at least at our University) that after two times of taking the GRE, scores start being averaged. I am confused by this, too, because everywhere I look says differently. I know what I heard, and that's why I'm even asking if you or anybody has heard that. I also know that you can choose whether or not to send all your scores considering I took the test, so I don't even know how schools could see all of your admissions. That's why I am worried. Maybe she was saying this because she didn't know about the option to select whatever scores you want to send. I probably am over paranoid. I am basically questioning it because I know I don't make sense, but I heard two different answers from pretty reliable sources. Sorry I do not know any better because I find both ETS and my professor who has dealt with actual admissions pretty reliable.

Hey, we're not alone! I know I have test anxiety. I also have general anxiety and have to go through therapy for it, because I react badly to medication. That is another reason why I have not shown my full potential it seems with the GRE. The anxiety just started up when I quit running, so it's all new to me. I just know I'm capable of more and can do well on the things that I am interested in. Speech Pathology is something I am really into, but taking math tests and verbal stuff just isn't easy for me to be good at, I guess. I can write really well, but I guess my vocab isn't up to par. I'm going to take the GRE one more time. If my results are the same, I guess there's always that one year off for me to gather myself and really apply myself. I just feel stupid, but I do try the best I can. It just is a shame because I know a test like the GRE doesn't show my character, yet it's going to be my make or break.

Yeah I mean there's pros and cons to both sides. If I took the year off, I know I'd try to get an assistantship, and/or do shadowing with the three connections I know, on top of keeping my behavioral therapist job. Get money and experience to pay for grad school. However, taking the year off makes me nervous with finding academic letters of rec, if I'm not taking classes for a year.My application letters wouldn't be as strong then. I know I am capable of better on both scores considering I scored better on all of my practice exams. It just kills me because I know I'm capable, but I'm just not performing. My anxiety has been pretty bad lately with tests, too. Maybe I just need to learn to manage that during tests. I also talked to one of the faculty at our school who is one of the members in charge of admissions at my school, and she said they can see how many times you take it. I don't get why you get the option to only send your highest scores then? That's why I'm even questioning taking it because taking it three times to get a decent score seems like it would look bad. You know?

I know. I'm in agreement. That's why I am posting about this. I don't really know how else to prepare. I probably sound so stupid, but at least I'm aware of this. I didn't expect my score to be that low, because I prepared so much and scored higher on the practice sets. I guess not enough, though. Thanks for the input, though. Those were my thoughts exactly and it's nice to hear it. Makes me more motivated to do better. I guess I will just have to re take it one more time and hope for the best. Hopefully that doesn't look bad, though. Whatever it takes, right? A possible plan of mine is schedule a test in early December or one of the last couple weeks in November before Thanksgiving, and just learn vocabulary every day until the test. I know vocabulary definitions is where I struggled the most. Having a year off would be beneficial, and I am already considering that, but I still want to at least try this year because I know I would regret it. As foolish as I probably sound, you never know until you try, right? If my scores can be closer to the 300 level than a 290, I would live with it. I know I can raise both of those scores and be closer. My LOR's and statements and grades will be where I can live with for applications for places I want to be at. The first time I took the exam I went in blind, because I panicked and scheduled an exam way too early. People who I talked to said they didn't prep much for it. My mistake. I honestly didn't learn much about the GRE from my University, and I should have done more outside research. I'm just not expecting much right now, but I believe in myself. Thanks so much for the input!

How many times did you guys take the GRE? I took it twice, and I am not remotely happy with my scores. I'm waiting on my writing, but my verbal was only a 143. Quantitative a 147 (which I could deal with, if my verbal was higher). The first time I took writing I got a 4.5, but this time I believe I wrote a lot better. These scores aren't competitive at all, and it worries me! I took five practice tests, and every single time I beat that verbal score by at least 3 points. I don't know what happened. I've already taken the GRE twice, but I feel as though a third time is a must....? I just feel like that looks bad on applications. I know I talked to one of the faculty at our school, and she said that more than twice can be kind of bad, because then they start averaging scores on applications, rather than taking your highest score. Although I did click the "only send highest scores" option. I am just really discouraged, because I took prep classes and took five practice tests, and still couldn't manage better than a 143 on the Verbal. My GPA is only a 3.52, major a 3.56 (but I have my last year of classes to take yet... I'm hoping to graduate with a 3.6 or better for both of those). I was on the track and field team on my campus for two years, but once I quit that my GPA rose immensely, I got two jobs (one is a behavioral therapist position)and my last 60 should be around a high 3.7-3.8. I'm at a stand still on what to do to be honest. I have test anxiety, so taking tests like the GRE is not my thing...but it's no excuse. I feel defeated. I guess I'm asking, how many times of taking the GRE is considered "too many"? Because I've heard even twice, but I KNOW I need a better verbal score. Or would it be more beneficial to do an independent study with the faculty on my campus? I know with two jobs and 15 credits, doing research may be tough. I just apply this year and I'm extremely nervous because I want this to be my dream come true, but I feel like I'm short.

Okay good, it's not just me then! I have not seen the signatures either!

I just realized I typed this wrong. My last 60 GPA is 3.61, major is a 3.563, but I still have more classes left, and this is not including fall semester. I'm nervous because my major GPA is not competitive at all! But I know it will go up.... still nerve wracking! I don't know what much else I can do to improve myself.

Okay I am kind of new to this site, and obviously this post wasn't to me, but I don't see a signature with stats. You don't have to answer, but I am curious what your stats are because I am looking at applying to Indiana State and schools in the Midwest myself! I'm from Wisconsin, and I know Indiana State has a Midwest scholarship that I want to apply for that Wisconsin students are eligible for. My numbers are in line with their average scores for acceptances on their website. Sorry I am responding a while after this was posted, haha, but I just started using my account a couple of days ago!

Nothing against Marquette or anything; I just know I do not have enough money to pay for a private university. Also I've heard Marquette tends to accept people who attended their university's undergraduate program, but I could be wrong on that. That is just what I've heard from people who applied for graduate school from my school last year!

How many credits a semester is your program?? Because it may be different if you have a 9 credit full time program versus 15 or 16.... I've heard from the people I know in Graduate programs that it is very hard to balance both, but depending when your classes fall on your schedule, maybe weekends would be a possibility? But all I would know is around the Midwest region...

Thanks so much for the feedback! That seems like it's very true about the half you half department. I never thought about it like that! I just hope that schools look at relevant experience a little bit at least!! Can't help but be worried, though! I just know that I chose track and other things that didn't help my GPA, which is what I'm worried about. I also have heard the Midwest can be pretty competitive, but I am looking at applying all of the Wisconsin schools (except Marquette), Indiana State University, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa, Arkansas State, University of South Carolina (last two are not Midwest, but I have family in those areas) and Grand Valley State in Michigan right now! Does anybody have any info on any of these schools?? I've emailed places to find where I could generally fall on the spectrum, but any knowledge from people with the experience of Graduate applications, or who are going through it would be awesome!! I want to get a decent list of schools to be applying to, because I know I'll need the odds to be a little bit more in my favor!

Okay, so these are my stats. I am going to be a Senior, so I still have two semesters left of classes. I have a Spec Ed minor, with a 4.0 in that right now, 3.61 major GPA, and 3.52 overall. Not amazing, but with what I've been through, I am proud of that. My GRE scores are what freak me out right now.... V146, Q148, W4.5. I am retaking it in a few days, so hopefully that changes. But I feel like I am not remotely competitive! I guess I'm curious how much the GRE really matters in apps? I also did track and field for two years at my school, and after I quit I got my GPA up from a 3.3 to a 3.52 (hoping for a 4.0 this semester because I actually see that do able), made Dean's List every semester, and currently have two jobs. One of my jobs is an autism behavioral therapist position. I have job shadowed at two different elementary schools and am hoping to job shadow in a hospital sometime in September. I volunteered as somebody who taught elementary school-aged children Spanish (originally was going to minor in that, but I dropped it because I simply didn't have the time for it... huge regret, but Spec Ed revolves around my job now and what I want to get into more... so I guess I have a little bit of Spanish on my transcript as well). I'm in NSSLHA. My personal statement is revolved around how running made me the person I am and how I don't regret it. I may not have been the smartest in the classroom, but running taught me how to budget time and helped me realize I want to do more toward the field for my future, yada yada. I also plan on asking my academic advisor and another major teacher that was an online teacher for a letter of rec, a person I job shadowed, my old (collegiate) track coach, and my Stats teacher because the class was rewarding and I got an A in his class. I am working on the personal letters of recommendation as well. I know it's early, but I just feel so lost and I really hope I'm going in the right direction!! I am hoping to apply to a bunch of schools in the Midwest! If anybody has some kind or helpful words or tips, please share!! Criticism is okay, too... I want honesty! I know I'm not the top of the class, but I don't think I am out of the game! I just hope that the Graduate schools think I am worth it (as we all do about ourselves)! Thanks much if you take the time to read this and good luck to all!

I'm glad this thread started! I'm in your boat. I have to start asking people soon for those LoR's, but I've been studying for my GRE next week and editing my SOP. Wanted to get the GRE out of the way before school starts up for me. I'm nervous that my numbers are too low, but I'm sure most people are at this point. I've tried so hard to study for the GRE... doing a Kapalan test prep, and I have three books and a flash card app, yet I feel like my score never changes. Sighhhh. Also waiting anxiously for CSDCAS.