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thespeechblog.com

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  1. @CajunSLP18 - I´m a fan of Magoosh. It was really helpful for me, and I wrote about it on my blog. If you don´t end up purchasing it, the free vocabulary builder apps from them are fantastic! Unless you have a full 6 months to prep, don´t just start on page 1. I´d recommend starting with a practice test and then analyzing the topics and question types that you performed well or poorly on. Certain topics appear more frequently than others - if you do poorly on an infrequent topic, than I´d spend more time on a topic that appears more frequently.
  2. @plumeI think you´ve got as good of a chance as anyone. You´re GPA is above average for many programs. It sounds like you´ll be able to get an above average GRE as well. Those things will get you noticed. If you have the time, obviously keep prepping your GRE. But I´d start focusing on exploring your interests so you can identify the perfect programs to apply to. Also, start taking that related work you´re doing now and begin crafting an amazing Personal Statement. As for pre-reqs. I´d say try to get a few of the most general ones out of the way. For me, finishing 3 allowed me to apply to my top-choice school (where I´ll be attending in August). Like, Phonetics & Phonology; Language Development; Anatomy & Physiology of Speech - courses like that which will most likely count no matter where you go. Also, those few pre-reqs give you opportunities to meet professors in the field and earn strong Letters of Rec.
  3. If you´re flexible and can move to attend a school with a 3year leveling program, I really recommend it. You save time and money by avoiding wasted classes (and accompanying books, fee´s, transcripts, etc). Also, I think if you have strong numbers to get noticed, then the different background can help you stand out.
  4. Hi Plume, All the schools in my signature block have 3-year programs with the pre-reqs included. There are others (there's a thread somewhere on this forum with that info); I only focused on those 6 because they also have bilingual programs
  5. I have some guesses - but nothing concrete. Try looking for educational institutions that offer SLP (Comm Dis) studies - I´m sure friendly faculty would be aware of who is working in their communities. Try looking in American ExPat groups in Australia. Perhaps look as if you were someone looking for some sort of SLP service and as you call / email mention you´re looking for American SLP´s? Try not to sound like you´re being discriminatory though, haha! Let us know how it works out!
  6. SouthernDrawl, I think that's a great reframing / balancing of my post. Thanks for that! You're totally right. I think that part of "independently assess yourself to determine if you would be a good fit" is especially true! Graduate education requires a lot of independent working and thinking. I wonder sometimes if the system is actually designed to force that upon applicants in some ways.
  7. That´s a great question. I would start drafting out reasons - try to keep it to a paragraph or less. Also, consider checking out this article on Kisses of Death in the Graduate School Application Process (I think that´s the official title). I just reviewed it on my blog. There´s a section called "Damaging Personal Statements: Excessive Self-Disclosure" Also, consider if it is really worth it. Do you have a post-bacc GPA to show you handle the work? Is your GPA for your last 60 hours better? What about your GRE scores (they indicate basically the same thing as your GPA)? Finally, I think that for something so delicate you might want to check with an expert. Can you talk with someone from admissions at your current Uni? Is there a career advising center on campus? Those places should be filled with people who can give you really good advice.
  8. I totally agree with this that SLPorbust2016 said: "If a school is down-right rude to you during the application process and comes across as really unprofessional, you might want to pick a different school to apply to" I emailed a professor at a school with some very detailed and specific questions that were not answered on their website, and she replied very curtly: "I don´t have time to answer these questions - all of the information is on our website." And I crossed the school off my list. If she were my professor and I came to her with a question about material, would she say, "I don´t have time - Everything you need is in the book"? I didn´t want to bother to find out.
  9. I love that question! One thing is really think about if you would go to a school if you were accepted there. It sounds silly, but hear me out. When you´re applying, you´re a mixture of desperate and day-dreamy. You´re thinking, "I want to be an SLP so badly I´d do anything and move anywhere!" and you´re also thinking, "I´ll get a great job with a good salary after. I want to dream big" and you sort of throw pragmatism to the wind. SO, I applied to 6 schools that perfectly fit my profile. Two of them are private and crazy expensive. I knew the chance of getting financial aid would be pretty much zero. But while I was applying, I just told myself, "Get in first... pay for it later..." So, when I got my acceptances, and I really looked at the price tag I thought... there´s no way I´d be willing to accept this much debt. It was pointless applying there because $100,000 of debt was not acceptable to me. "Pay for it later" was a bad mentality that lead me to wasting around $200 in application fees plus paying to send 10 transcripts, and 2 GRE scores. So... about $300+ dollars total were wasted. I should have put that money towards schools I would have realistically considered attending. Hope that helps!
  10. Anne, it is possible. You might have a chance of getting into a 3 year level masters that includes all of your coursework. If you can't, consider doing a post-bacc or 2nd degree (I did mine through USU) and then applying for a masters. You're right that SLP masters programs are very competitive, but I know someone who left undergrad with a 2.98 and then earned a 4.0 in her 2nd degree and got into a great masters program. Anything is possible if you're willing to work at it. Your GPA is only one factor that helps an admissions committee determine if you could be successful academically. Your GRE scores are another big indicator of that. If you don't have a strong GPA, then a strong GRE could help balance that out. Start researching your options and see how your stats compare to the average ones. Also consider if you're going to be able to get great LOR's and how good you are at writing (Personal Statement). I've written about a lot of this stuff on my blog if you'd like to read there, or there is lots of information here if you go back in the archives.
  11. I would say do not turn down a Fulbright. It is one of the most prestigious scholarships offered by the US Government (though recently it´s been diluted). It will open doors for you for the rest of your life. I was a Fulbrighter in 2012, and I´m still receiving opportunities (many more than I can take advantage of) because of it.
  12. I would second what "Twin Guy" said. Also, consider looking into Senior Nursing Facilities. It´s more medical than schools, and they´re usually pretty desperate for staff. Also, definitely keep up with the volunteering and shadowing. In regards to that though, see if there is something you can take on as your own that could become a good experience for an SOP or LOR later. Does that make sense? Even something like offering to organize the resource library for the SLP´s in the hospital, transcribing samples, something that you can point to and say "I achieved this." If you can´t do something like that, keep a journal after every observation of what you see and learn, the conversations you have, etc, etc. This will help build a habit of reflection which will make your SOP´s easier when you sit down to write them.
  13. I'm glad you like it I'm working really hard on it. Please, if you think of anything you want to know or want a post on, let me know! I'll let you know when that post is up
  14. Janessa, I think you´ve got a chance, but it might not be easy. Your GPA is pretty much set - not much to do at this point. You need to work your butt off to raise your GRE as much as you can. Those "extracurriculars" you mentioned don´t really matter unless they gave you some great experiences to include in your SOP. Speaking of which, start drafting your SOP now. Get lots of feedback on it (especially from people in academia). Here´s a post about someone who has a similar story as yours that you should definitely read: http://www.thespeechblog.com/treasyri/ As for GRE writing...first you need to understand really clearly what they´re asking you to do in each section. Then, you´ll want to look into how it is graded. Finally... do one practice essay each day. Find someone who is a GREAT writer (or maybe use your Uni´s writing center) to critique it and help you improve. Finally, I used Magoosh for GRE Prep - spent about 6 months and raised my score 17 points (started about the same as yours). I worked super hard at it though. You can read more about why I used Magoosh on my blog. I don´t know if it is the best for GRE writing, but it had a few good ideas. Other ideas: Have you considered taking time to work as an SLPA first? Do you have any great, stand-out experiences to base your SOP´s around? Do you have strong Letters of Rec from in field faculty?
  15. @futureSpeechLP Thanks for the plug for my blog I'm actually planning a post on this topic of males in SLP. There's a research article (though a bit dated) on the topic, and I'd like to get in touch with a few male SLP's and interview them. I'll let you all know when it is up!
  16. I was really worried about this exact topic when I digitally met someone who had literally the day before graduated from his masters in SLP. We had a really good conversation about this experience which I turned into this blog post (http://www.thespeechblog.com/tips-for-grad-school-success/). In the end, he said it is all about the little stuff (being respectful, organizing your time, etc, etc). I felt a bit more grounded after the convo, so I thought I´d share it with you all here.
  17. I´m taking mine online through a community college (MCCKC). The class is Physics 101, and it starts today! You might check your local community college and see if its available (CC´s are usually much cheaper than uni´s)
  18. I had completed only 3 pre-reqs before applying and I got into 3 - 3-year programs and was waitlisted at a 4th. (You can read more about my thought process and planning on my blog) You can do it! Just make sure you have a great SOP and strong LOR's.
  19. To make sure I understand, you´re asking us to confirm for you that online-programs are just as good as traditional brick and mortar programs, no? Just as a note, I think you´re going to experience some confirmation bias with that question. My suggestion though would be to contact some of these schools with online degree programs and ask to be put in touch with current students OR better yet graduates of the program. The graduates will be able to tell you how the job market treated them after graduation (did they feel prepared, were their degree´s seen equally for hiring purposes, are they successful in their jobs, etc, etc). Most schools would be happy to do that for you.
  20. I´ve heard from several people that they worked part-time during grad school - not specifically as an SLPA though. I´m sure its manageable if your employer is willing to work with your school schedule and you´re disciplined enough to manage your time well. I worked 3 different jobs during undergrad (often at the same time). During grad school I´ve already got a GA spot (10hrs per week), and I´m probably going to find some flexible online tutoring jobs for extra work.
  21. Nayners21, Good for you for picking yourself up and trying again! Persistence and learning from the process are pretty important to success. Spend a lot of time on your personal statements - they need to be amazing. I just published a blog post on some pre-writing activities to help you get started there. LOR from supervisors are great, but graduate school is mostly an academic pursuit and you´ll need LOR´s from professors. It´s ok if you´ve been out-of-touch with your undergrad profs for several years. If you can visit, that´s your best option to ask. If not, try a phone call. When you call, be sure to remind them of who you are, a little bit of small talk (what you remember from their course, a certain project, how what they taught you helps your work now, etc) can have a big impact on the warmth of a LOR. Be sure to put together packets for your LOR writers. Your GPA is pretty much going to be set in stone. Have you taken your science classes? If not, maybe you can take those in order to boost it a bit. Finally, if your GRE score is low - study hard to bring it up! GPA and GRE scores are big predictors of potential for academic success - if you´re GPA isn´t strong but you can bring up your GRE, you´ll go a long way to show them you can handle the academic rigor of grad school. Starting with a low GRE score and raising it through hardwork will also build up your discipline and study skills. I used Magoosh because it´s online and I loved it (It helped me raise my score 15 points) - you can read a full review of it on my blog. Good luck!
  22. I think if you studied SHS / SLP / CommDis or something related, then most of your letters should be from CSD faculty that can speak well of your ability to succeed in grad school. As long as that professor learned of your ability in a professional way, it does't matter if they were your professor, research advisor, clinical supervisor, etc, etc.
  23. If you have your personal statements done and the schools you're applying to identified, by all means start asking! Professors will appreciate having extra time.
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