Most schools' websites will have a section that list the average GRE scores and average GPAs for the newly-admitted students. Compare those to yours to get an idea where you would stand. Personal essays, recommendations are usually rated. All info put in a matrix which then sorts candidates from highest to lowest. Some schools will have between 500-600 applicants for only 60-80 openings. The higher the GPA, the higher the GREs, the better the essay and recommendations, the retaking of "C"-earned classes that one puts on their grad school app (especially in the speech/language/csd areas), all make for a stronger candidate. If not accepted one year, there's the next and the next. It may take a few tries but often works out. Best of luck.