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@wcslp I've never heard anyone verbalize that before, but I think it makes SO much sense! What a good recommendation! The field is a small one, and professors want to welcome in people who are going to do well. Some easy tips to do this might be Being very interactive in any online discussion boards (we use Blackboard a lot for out-of-class discussions) - interact with others, respond thoughtfully to their posts Share your study materials Organize a study group, and make it open to everyone Finally, I love the "Fake it 'til you make it" advice! We all have to learn how to push ourselves in different ways.

@TakeruK pretty much said it all! I would add some other things... Pay attention in class & Be Respectful It is SO PAINFULLY obvious if you're on your phone in class or Facebooking/socializing/IMing/etc instead of taking notes on your laptop Do whatever you need to be awake and alert Raise your hand and ask questions (there is no stupid question) GO TO OFFICE HOURS! You can ask about class or any topics related to it If they're doing research, ask about it! (I heard you were working on accented english... I'd love to hear more about it!) I often go to office hours even if I don't have questions; sometimes I'll just say, "I'm having trouble with ____ concept, can I explain it back to you to make sure I understand?" Take a sincere interest in their work / career People love to talk about themselves The word sincere is SO important; be genuinely interested

For wording, just be honest, sincere, and respectful! "I'm interested in becoming an SLP. I'm currently an undergraduate, but I want to learn more about the field. I know you are super busy, and there are all sorts of HIPAA requirements, but I was hoping there might be some observation opportunities" "I was wondering if you need any help from volunteers. I'd be happy to do anything from filing papers to preparing xyz..." "I'm interested in becoming an SLP, and I was wondering if I could speak with you about your career path..." Maybe offer to cover the cost of your own background check (if necessary!). If you're going into a hospital, it might be easier to go into their "volunteer" department and get set up that way (then you get the training, vaccinations, etc, etc). You can request to be put specifically in an SLP dept. That's how I did it and I basically traded volunteering (organizing the materials closet, cleaning the supply cabinet, translating care plans, scanning docs) for the opportunity to observe

These are the 6 that I applied to. All have a bilingual / multicultural component and a 3-year leveling program for out-of-field candidates --Univ of Illinois - Champaign doesn't directly have one, but they have a bilngual extension certificate through their special ed dept. --Univ. of New Mexico is where I'm at and loving it (though not doing bilingual classes yet) --Univ of Redlands --New Mexico State Univ. --T.C. Columbia --University of Arizona

If you can afford it, definitely apply for the 3-year masters programs. In my opinion, it is totally worth it over the stress of doing a post-bacc and then re-applying. I went a similar route, and I'd be happy to share whatever I think I know about the process. Feel free to message me!

You've got pretty good GPA & GRE so that will definitely get your application noticed. Peace Corp will also help your application pop a little bit too! But those things alone won't get you in. Focus now on translating your awesome experiences into AWESOME personal statements and LOR's. As for schools to focus on, I think you should let your interests dictate that. Focus on finding schools with faculty (or even specialized tracks) that align with the populations and disorders you're most interested in. I know that's not super specific, but try this: Decide on 2 or 3 big criterion that are important to you. Use those as "broad cuts" to narrow down your list of programs quickly. This post has some tips on how to do it using excel: http://www.thespeechblog.com/how-to-pick-a-grad-school-for-speech-language-pathology/ maybe that will be helpful for you?

HI! I think it is great that you're starting now. To answer your main concern: No, there aren't really "internship" opportunities at your level. Your best bet is getting in some observation hours (unless you wanna go for an SLPA certification or work in ABA - both of which are great). To get those observation hours, you're just going to have to cold call lots and lots of people. I called a dozen schools, hospitals, and private clinics before I found a place I could observe. Once I did that, I still had to jump through paperwork hoops (background check, blood tests, etc). It's a lot of work. If you can't get an observation you might at least be able to set up some informational phone interviews (I was able to do quite a few of those!) with SLP's working in all sorts of areas. Ask about where they went to school, why they became an SLP, what their work is like now, etc, etc. Basically, be sincerely interested in their careers and you can learn so much. Did those interviews show up directly on my resume? No, but they taught me a lot about the field. To follow that up, any of these experiences are relatively insignificant if they're only going to be listed on your resume. I was just talking about this yesterday with my program director because she often gets emails asking, "Is this enough volunteer/relevant/observation/contact experience?" And it comes down to how much you learn from those experiences and how they impact your personal statement and letters of rec (and interview if you get to that). One observation hour that helps you write a kick-ass SOP is more valuable than 300 hours that shows up in your application as "and I volunteered at a summer camp for kids with Autism." I'm not try to be harsh or anything, but does that make sense? So, YES shadowing an SLP can absolutely be on your resume / SOP, but you have to interpret the experience. I hope that makes sense. You're on the right track starting early. Keep up the work! You'll find something.

Follow up: If observations hours or something isn't specifically required, than I would imagine what you learn from the experience of it is much more significant than the number of hours completed. So, if you go ONE day to volunteer at an event like @ElKel87 mentioned above but can weave that into a fantastically inspiring experience to include in your personal statement, I'd say that is more significant than 25 hours observing an SLP that shows up as, "and I did some observations" on your personal statement. That is just my guess though, eh. Take it with a grain of salt.

Like others have said, there are programs you can get into with under a 150 - find those programs and focus on them. Also, how does your GPA compare to your GRE? They're generally indicators of the same thing - if your GPA is strong it'll help balance out that part of your application.

@paceslp It sounds like you have all the right experiences. Your GPA is fine - is your GRE close to that? I'd really focus on turning those experiences into a strong personal statement. In the end, the experiences are meaningless if you can't weave them into a coherent and powerful narrative. After your GPA and GRE get your application out of the "automatic-no" pile, your SOP and LOR's will be deciding factors.

There's definitely lots of good info on that blog

I would agree with @Speechster that 1-2 pages is usually best. Mine were around 800-900 words unless specified that they should be shorter. If you're in doubt, call the department and ask for guidance. No experience with Nazareth. Good luck!

I think that's a question only you can answer. I worked full-time while taking pre-req's (2 at most). I did 5 classes before applying - and I got into a program that included the rest of my leveling coursework. I did my observation hours when I wasn't taking classes so that free'd things up - I was able to get in 2 full Saturdays to get almost half of the 25 hours knocked out quickly. Now that I'm in, I have time to do many more hours at the in-house clinic while finishing my leveling coursework. Luckily, I was already working in an SLP-ish field - I was teaching English abroad. Obviously, it wasn't directly related but related enough. Hopefully something in there helps. When you're feeling bogged down - try to focus on the big picture

I would say first thing is to ask in person. Second, yes you can absolutely ask a current professor. Be sure though to have worked with him/her long enough so that he or she can comment on your abilities as a student. I would recommend until after the first exam or major essay/project. Also, don't let your first visit to your professor's office be when you ask for the LOR. Be sure to have visited several times (ask for help, clarify things, discuss your plans, advising, etc). Not all LOR's are created equal - just getting one isn't the goal, you want one that will get you into school.

Did you try asking the community college if they'll let you enroll directly in the stats class? Sometimes they'll do that if you explain your reasoning. As for Physics, I did it online at my local community college - you can check them out here: http://www.mcckc.edu/classes/credit/internet.asp you could register as an "out of area" student, and pay the extra fee's perhaps.

I agree with things already said - third week of the semester seems good. It gives profs time to settle back into the groove of things. Also, it gives them time to remember your face and work (or if you're in another class, time for you to re-impress them!) Also, I think it is generally best to ask for a letter of rec in person. If you can't at least try a phone call. And I think the folder of info is a very good idea! Many people forget that sort of thing. Finally, be sure to send a thank you card once the letters are written and off. Many people think its "old fashioned" but people definitely appreciate it!

You don't have to ask in person. If you were close with the professors, I would at least consider a phone call. If not, an email is perfectly acceptable! Just keep it formal and polite. Maybe remind the professor indirectly about your work in his/her class. As for when to ask, the sooner the better. I asked some professors in July. One professor who I was studying with at the time, I waited until mid to late September so she could see my work in the class and a few test scores first.

Hi Kate, I took Physics 101 (3credits - no lab) and General Biology 101 (5cr - virtual lab) online through my local community college - Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas City (MCCKC). The classes are offered almost every semester - you can see the listing here: http://www.mcckc.edu/classes/credit/internet.asp Because I'm an area resident they were super cheap (like $95 a credit hour). They're not the highest quality online classes and to really learn (as opposed to just getting a good grade), you'll need to do a lot of self discipline. Maybe check your local community colleges to see if they offer something!

I would really agree with what @charlemagne88 said about personal statements - get started ASAP on some drafts and get lots of feedback on them. It is such an important part of your application that most people tend to overlook or underestimate the importance of. After the numbers game is over, I feel like SOP's make the biggest difference. I've got some posts on my blog about what I think should go into an SOP, and you'll be able to find lots of other resources out there too. Also, start planning your LOR's strategically (more posts on my blog about this). This about which professors can comment on which things and try to get a diverse perspective. You wouldn't want all 3 LORs talking about your great clinical experiences. You'd ideally want one focused on clinic, one on academics, and one on research or something. They don't have to be those 3 categories, but you want to diversify. Also, prep hard for the GRE. It is too expensive to just say "I'll try it and see." I recommend doing at least one full practice test (better 2) before taking the exam. I used Magoosh and loved it (there's a full review on my blog), and even if you don't pay for it they offer a lot of really good free resources like their vocab builder app or their blog.

Glad you enjoy it @plume

Do you already have a GRE score? Because you´ll want to consider time for prepping in your schedule and also time to take the exam at least twice. Also, do you already have some pre-reqs completed from your first degree? If so, you might be able to apply to more 3-year programs. Consider including something in your personal statement that tells "the other half" of the the story that your GPA can´t tell on its own. Maybe consult with an admissions counselor about that. Try visiting your alma mater´s admissions office, old profs/advisors, career center, or even ask for an appointment with the dean of the grad school or admissions.

@Pennsatucky You give a good reminder - none of us are authorities on this and all our advice should be taken with a grain of salt. I think that´s why so often the best advice is, "Call the school and ask." It is an interesting comparison the medical vs academic history, but I think there´s a big difference. Your medical history (for the most part) is something you can´t really help, and I don´t believe in judging people based on things they can´t control (skin color, race, eye color, sexual orientation, sex, etc, etc, etc). I think the reason one´s medical history is protected the way it is - to help us avoid making judgements based on it. Your academic progress is something that we generally view as completely within one´s control (though I totally agree many factors are not). Academics have meritorious quality. You said "Your personal slip ups are nobody's business but your own" which made me think of this SUPER GREAT podcast episode by RadioLab about when a politicians personal life (and slip ups) become public domain. If you´ve never listened to RadioLab, give it a chance: http://www.radiolab.org/story/i-dont-have-answer/ And it´s not dubious to send only your best GRE scores because the schools asked for only your best GRE scores (perhaps not directly, but tacitly by relying on GRE/ETS and knowing how it works). If they asked for all of them and you lied about that, then it would be dubious. Like I mentioned above, admissions policies are broken, but the harsh truth is we have to play by their rules (broken policies) if we want their degrees. Maybe we could start another forum to discuss ways in which the system is broken and needs to be fixed. Finally, I would like to re-state and clarify something from my first post, "Not including some because the grades are lower could be viewed as dishonest." I´m not saying it necessarily IS dishonest. What matters is the admissions committee´s perception of if you were trying to deceive them. If an admissions committee (or anyone) feels its been deceived they´re not going to like it. Think about it - you accept someone to do a highly focused academic job (grad school) and then you find out they have a deliberately unreported, "negative" academic history that is most recent - the quickest and easiest conclusion is intentional deception. It may not be the right conclusion, but there are hundreds of other qualified applicants - they´re not going to take too much time (if any) to investigate.

If a school asks for all academic transcripts... then they want all academic transcripts. Not including some because the grades are lower could be viewed as dishonest. If the grades were A´s, I bet no one would assume you were hiding anything and it would be chalked up to an honest mistake. If you really want to avoid sending the transcripts, you´ll have to ask each school... but I´m guessing you´re still going to have to send them. Sort of a side note rant: I agree that sending transcripts is an expensive and stupid process that could be made much easier. I think the lesson is that when you´re an academic one day maybe working for a university or school, you should advocate to change the policy for a better one. I know I´m never going to forget how terribly inefficient (and even rude at times) ETS was when I was registering for the GRE. If one day I´m in a position to influence admissions policies, I´ll think about our institutionalized faith in ETS and its exams.

I´d say get an SLP related pre-req in order to earn an academic LOR and focus on the GRE and your Personal Statement.

Tig, that´s all SUCH good advice!