CCCaffeinated-SLP

Applied to 10; 5 in Ohio, 1 in Indiana, 2 in West Virginia, 1 in Pennsylvania, and 1 in Virginia. I'm from Ohio and have relatively average stats. I hope it's enough! Good luck everyone

spring breaker

wife goals

One year a long time ago, there were penguins who didn't wear hats when swimming. This made their mothers livid. "Unacceptable!" Frightened, they screamed, "Bears!" Nobody seemed convinced so instead of going swimming they tried juggling. Their mothers tried everything they thought would teach her a skill. However, she couldn't even make oatmeal without disastrous results. So, the penguins gathered money (obviously) trying

doodle pad

Great thread! HOPE: I am hoping to be admitted to at least one school. I have been checking the results several times a day for the past week and I am anxious to hear back from the programs where I applied! I'd really like to go in somewhere in Ohio, so I can have in-state tuition. DREAM: I want to go somewhere where I have the option to take additional coursework in aural rehab and/or early intervention. My top school as of now is the University of Akron! It'd be great to have a few choices, as others on here have been saying. GUESS: I think I'll get in somewhere. I certainly hope so- I applied to 10 schools. I'm a fairly competitive applicant, although my quant is below average, and my stats are comparable to the averages of those accepted for most of the schools where I applied.

Wow, we got almost the exam same GRE scores! I had the same quant and AWA scores, but my verbal was 1 point higher. I asked several individuals in my university's CSD department advice on my applications, including advice about my scores. They told me that as long as I have 300 I should be fine (I'd assume 299 is fine as well, especially if you have a strong GPA). It's not the greatest GRE score, but it's acceptable, and I've noticed it is pretty on par with the stats of those who have been accepted, at least to programs where I am applying. Plus, our 4.5 AWA score well above average . I asked if I should I mention my quant score, and the consensus was no. SOPs are usually limited to 2 pages maximum, so do you think it's worth using this space to mention your math skills? I would personally say no, given that this is not a particularly math-intensive field. A lot of my colleagues that I've talked to also have 146-149 quant scores. Your SOP is of a narrative of your personal accomplishments related to SLP. However, I think it is up to you to decide if it is worth mentioning. If you do choose to mention it, I would have to agree with the poster above me in that is best to avoid anything self-deprecating, and to only mention your strengths in math.

I'm applying to 8. I was originally aiming for 10+ because I wanted the best possible chance, but then I decided my applications would probably be of better quality if I was only applying to schools that I actually want to go to. I had an advisor say that the average number of schools people apply to is between 5-10. I think it depends on your confidence in your stats, the amount of money you have, and how much time you're willing to put into applications.

I believe it! It's stressful, and I'm just getting started. Good luck with your applications!

I think I may request the 4th letter, in this case. I know most programs prefer professor LORs, and hopefully I'll have three, but worst case scenario I'm sure at least two of them will turn in the letters. However, I have a good reputation at work, so I feel that this letter would likely be very positive too, and perhaps a bit more personal since I've been at my job for over a year. But I will be applying to mostly to grad schools in my home state, Ohio; these include Baldwin-Wallace, BGSU, CSU, Akron, and Ohio University. If I have my materials done early enough, I may also apply to Toledo. I will also be applying to Marshall University, St. Mary's, and West Virginia U. Where are you applying?

Hello everyone, I have been successful at asking and obtaining 3 letters of rec, all from professors. Two of my LORs are CSD professors, and other is a biology professor whose class I participated well in (and I tend to be more on the quiet side). Would it be a bad idea to ask for a 4th one from my boss? I'm assured that this would be a positive letter. Also, I feel like it would eliminate the anxiety I have about what would happen if one of the professors I asked didn't turn in the letter on time. Also, what is the best professor deadline for CSDCAS (all of my applications will be submitted through here)? I currently have mine set for exactly a month before my first deadline (January 1st). Can professors still submit after the deadline I chose?

Yes I can relate. I have a cumulative GPA just below a 3.7. What's really disappointing about this is I know my last 60 GPA is over a 3.8 (I'm a transfer student, and my transfer GPA right now is a 3.84) and my CSD GPA is also above a 3.8. I'm hoping to get straight A's this semester, because I know that will put me above the 3.7 at least, and I'm taking 12 credits of CSD so hopefully that will make my CSD GPA even higher. I haven't taken the GRE yet but on practice ones I'm scoring in the low 150s for math and high 150s for verbal. I agree with a lot of what others on this thread are saying, that your experience will make you a more competitive applicant. I think you have a fair chance of getting in this year!

Interestingly, I requested info on this program about a month ago after seeing a Facebook ad for it. Here is the link to the site: https://speech.steinhardt.nyu.edu/ - there an option to request info yourself right on the site. I spoke with an advisor at this program, and I found out that unlike a lot of CSD programs where you apply the fall of your senior year, you must have already completed your undergrad to begin the application. However, there are rolling admissions. You can take it on a part time or full time basis, but you must be able to attend classes as they are being conducted, rather than at your own time. You only need to go to New York for one four day weekend, where you complete the clinical requirement in an immersion format. Then, you complete three externships in your community. I cannot speak for whether or not it is competitive. I've noticed a trend of online programs, especially those with spring or summer admissions, being somewhat less competitive than on-campus SLP programs with fall admissions. This is a new program, so that makes it even harder to judge how competitive it will be.

I'm currently taking an online physics class with my university. If you're currently in school, perhaps your school may have some options. Another idea- are you close to a community college? If so, you might be able to sign up as a transient student and take a chem/physics course with them over the summer (my local CC has both online and in-person options, easy through advanced levels). I know that University of Phoenix offers individual general education courses that can be transferred elsewhere (http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/continuing-education/general-electives/science.html - these are the science courses, and there is a general chem and general physics listed). I'm positive that many other universities offer individual courses online as well. Good luck

This is very reassuring. I have a few withdrawals myself (not a lot, but a few throughout my college career). I haven't started writing my SOP yet, but luckily I already do have an advisor in the department at my school who is willing to look it over. I will definitely keep this in mind come fall.

Thanks so much for the resource Good luck this fall!

Hello all. I was reviewing my academic history when it hit me- I got a 3.0 GPA in the fall semester of my sophomore year. I'm a transfer student, and I've attended a total of 3 academic institutions. First, I went to a community college. I got straight A's my first semester, all A's and 1 B my first spring semester, and then straight B's the summer semester after that (luckily I only took 9 credits here). Then, my fall semester after (fall 2014, my sophomore year) I transferred to a 4 year university and got a 3.0- I also received my only college-level C this semester in a computer science class. I know it's not an excuse, but I really didn't like my classes that semester. After this, I transferred back to the community college I was attending previously for spring 2015, got straight A's, then graduated with my AA degree. My GPA when I graduated from community college was a 3.76- my 3.0 at the other university was not included in this. This year (2015-2016), I transferred to the university I am currently attending. I did very well- I got a 3.9 for the year. Also, I discovered SLP about a 1/3 of the way into this year- I've got a 4.0 for the 12 credits of it I've taken! I thought I was in a good spot, until I reflected on my GPA for my first two years, which I calculated as an overall 3.6 with the 3.0 included. Yikes! Even when I factored in the past year, the number only went up to about a 3.7 cumulative. I'm not great at math though, so I hope these numbers are correct By the time I graduate, I'll have well more than the needed amount of credits (according to my grad plan, 140-150 total credits). I'm going to receive my BS in psych, with a CSD minor. I added extra classes to my CSD minor, so I'm going to have about 30 credits of CSD coursework by the time I graduate- this is almost enough to constitute as a major. I'm really hoping that if I work hard enough fall semester, I can get my cumulative closer to a 3.75 with everything included. How much weight do universities typically put on one's first 2 years?

Thanks for you help, and thanks for the reassurance regarding my GPA. I have a few other professors that I'd consider asking for a letter of rec. I had a psych professor last fall, and there was a service learning requirement for the course (the volunteer opportunity where I worked with ESL students). I attended almost every class, participated some, and got an A. I might ask the director of Psi Chi after I have been involved- I had her for a psych class in the fall as well. I got a B+ in her class, though. I had a community college professor for biology the second half of my sophomore year that I connected with well. I got an A in her courses (lab and lecture), and she let me know that in the future, I could use her as a reference- she even filled out my recommendation form for 4-year university! My only concern of course is that I had her while I was in community college (she has a PHD, though). Additionally, one of the professors I'm going to have the in the fall was my advisor for about a semester (I tried to complete a double major in psych+CSD, but switched back to the psych major, CSD minor set up at the discretion of the CSD program directors to graduate on time). Since I've met with her a few times at this point already, it might be alright to ask her for a letter of rec after a few months of having her as a professor. After writing this paragraph I realize I do have a few possible ideas for people to write my letters of rec. I'll have to see how everything pans out over the next few months obviously. But in regards to shadowing an SLP over the summer- I'm actually going to be taking a clinical methods class in the fall that involves shadowing, so I'll have this opportunity do this in the fall! I would love to do extra shadowing over the summer as well, given that I'd have time to do so. How would you recommend going about setting this up?

Hello all, My name is Kayla and I'm new to GradCafe. I'm relatively new to the field as well. I graduated from a community college (GPA: 3.76) in May 2015, and have just finished up my junior year at a private 4-year university. I am a psychology major and CSD minor (by the time I graduate I'll have almost 30 CSD credits, which is well beyond what is needed for the minor). It took me a very long time to figure out that SLP was the career field that I was looking for. My first major was English, then I switched to Nutrition; I switched between these majors a few times before I inevitably decided on psychology. The university I'm attending now also requires that all students complete a minor in addition to their major. I knew very little about CSD, but I felt it may be a good supplement to my psych major. After I took my Intro to CSD course, I decided that I really wanted to become an SLP! Unfortunately, it was too late for me to switch my major to CSD (I'd have to do an extra year of undergrad, which I don't believe is necessary given that I'm going to have ~30 credits of CSD). I spoke to the directors of the CSD department at my school and they helped me devise a set of CSD courses which I could complete as pre-requisites for a grad program in SLP. That's just a bit about my background. I thought I'd include it since it's pretty complicated! Anyway, I'm now looking to do everything in my power to be a viable candidate for a grad program. My overall GPA is a 3.9 but unfortunately this is about to be reduced to ~3.82 (I took a two-week immersion course in psych and despite working very hard, I'm still set to receive a B+). I'm also taking an online physics course at my university, and a speech/hearing science course online with another university (Ohio State). I have a 4.0 major GPA. My question here is: will my fall semester grades be included in my applications? I'd really like to try and get my overall GPA back to a 3.9 before I apply. As for the GRE- I have been studying off-and-on for a few months. According to Magoosh, my verbal score would be ~155, and my quant score would be ~151. I was originally supposed to test on June 13, but I moved my test date to August 18 so I can have more time to prepare. The advisors in my department told me that a combined 300 is considered competitive for SLP programs. I'd really like to go above and beyond though, and aim for around a 310 or possible even a 315. I plan on studying for this a ton over the summer in addition to my classes. My main concerns are about extracurricular involvement and LoRs. As I said previously, I've only been attending the university I'm at now for 1 year. Also, I'm a commuter. Consequently, I've only had one of my professors twice (Intro to CSD in the fall and Speech&Language Development in the spring). I may ask this professor for a LoR, given that I got A's in both of her classes, participated some, and only missed 1 class the entire year (I had her 3 days/week at 8 AM, both semesters!). She definitely inspired me to study CSD. I'm concerned though, since this is the only professor who I can definitely see myself asking for a LoR from. I'm a more reserved student, though I do make an attempt to participate in my classes. I'm going to take 4 CSD courses in the fall- would it be too late to ask any of these professors for LoRs (assuming that I connect with them and/or do well in their classes)? If I do well in my online class at the other university, would this professor be an option? As I said previously, I am a commuter, and I have a part-time job. This really limited my ability to attend extracurricular events over the past year. I was recently inducted to Psi Chi (psych honor society), but other than that I haven't really participated in any clubs. Do I still have time to redeem myself here and try to find time to get involved? Fortunately, I do have some volunteer work to support my application. I volunteered with an after school ESL program for a few months and volunteered with training therapy dogs for a few months. I just recently started volunteering with individuals with developmental disabilities as well- perhaps my supervisor here would make a good LoR. In summary, I'm looking to improve my application for this fall. I tried to be as clear as humanly possible here, but I have quite a background so it was a bit difficult! It's tough trying to achieve what most students do in less than half the time. Any suggestions are welcome, especially as it pertains to LoRs and involvement. Thanks in advance, Kayla