charlemagne88

I'm in the same boat there Patti. Now all my family members keep calling and asking if i've heard anything yet. I'm feeling pretty ashamed everytime they call and I have a new rejection to tell them about. I get why getting into grad school is so hard/competitive, but sometimes I just wish they admitted everybody. 
 
BTW, not to be a D**k or anything, but that Chris guy can't really know what it's like for us peons that only have rejections and no acceptance letters yet. -I mean, our entire futures are riding on the whim of several committee members whom we've never even met. The stress is immense and people like Chris who already have 7 yeses sitting on their high horse saying grad school isn't as great as it's cut out to be make me sick. I know you're just trying to make us feel better, but it doesn't really help. Just makes me realize that there are people out there who are already lucky enough to have heard back from their programs, which makes me sweat that much more. 

Step 1: Never buy a cat
Step 2: Be happy that you don't have a cat
Step 3: Cats are stupid
Step 4: Buy a dog
Step 5: Dogs rule, cats drool. 
Step 6: Seriously, cats suck

this may make me a bad person, but I came to this thread to feel better about myself and my chances to get into grad school. lol 
sorry

What I've found is that most programs seem to cost around 20,000-30,000/year, which is on the expensive side, but I've also decided that that is what I'm willing to pay. My institution is on the latter end of that spectrum as I'll be paying out of state tuition this year (praying for in state next year), with a combo of loans and cash. Luckily my wife and I just sold our first home and made a significant amount of money on the sale, which will help a lot with the financial burden of grad school. I know others are not in the same situation, and I feel very fortunate to be able to do it. 
One thing I've learned recently is that as a grad student, everyone, no matter what, only receives a maximum financial aid award of $20,000 in unsubsidized loans/ year. That means anything above that will need to be paid using other means or out of pocket -and that the 20k in loans will be earning interest while you are in school. Not sure if that matters to you or not, but that would mean for that NY school, you'd be responsible for ~50,000 out of pocket. Heck, even at $30,000, you'll still need an extra 10 grand just to cover tuition in addition to maxing out your allotted federal loans (assuming of course that your program costs as much as mine).
 
It's unfortunate that grad school is such a hurdle, on the other hand, if it wasn't everyone would do it. 
Good luck to you!

Step 1: Never buy a cat
Step 2: Be happy that you don't have a cat
Step 3: Cats are stupid
Step 4: Buy a dog
Step 5: Dogs rule, cats drool. 
Step 6: Seriously, cats suck

Step 1: Never buy a cat
Step 2: Be happy that you don't have a cat
Step 3: Cats are stupid
Step 4: Buy a dog
Step 5: Dogs rule, cats drool. 
Step 6: Seriously, cats suck

this may make me a bad person, but I came to this thread to feel better about myself and my chances to get into grad school. lol 
sorry

nothing, because now I'm quite certain that acceptance emails don't exist. 

this may make me a bad person, but I came to this thread to feel better about myself and my chances to get into grad school. lol 
sorry

Mostly, just spending a lot of time in my professors office during office hours getting help with my personal statement/statement of purpose and securing those LORs

this may make me a bad person, but I came to this thread to feel better about myself and my chances to get into grad school. lol 
sorry

Step 1: Never buy a cat
Step 2: Be happy that you don't have a cat
Step 3: Cats are stupid
Step 4: Buy a dog
Step 5: Dogs rule, cats drool. 
Step 6: Seriously, cats suck

Come talk to me next time:
1: You get woken up by barking because your dog saw a squirrel / the garbage man / his own tail.
2: You have to pick up feces with a pooper scooper or a plastic bag.
3: You can't stay at school for more than 8 hours because you need to let your dog out.
4: You notice a sock, a chunk of a dining room chair, or a cardboard box disemboweled on the living room floor.
5: Your vacation becomes a source of stress, since you can't leave a dog at home for very long without someone coming to check on it or let it outside.
6: You have to potty train a dog, since unlike using a litterbox, having to request to be let outside every time it needs to "go" is not a natural instinct.
Now, of course I made this post in jest... I love dogs, and had both growing up. However, as a grad student, having a cat is generally more feasible. This is not to imply there aren't downsides to cats - this coming from someone who just had to fork over $300 for a vet bill (though that isn't cat-specific), but dogs as a whole require more attention.

First off, thank you for posting such a message. I know that as a recent graduate myself, the pressure to continue on to grad school can be overwhelming and usually the decision comes with little guidance, both from advisers or parents -I think this in part is due to students lack of research of graduate schools, but also because many students do not continue their post graduate education at the same institution and many parents simply do not understand the process. That being said, I mostly disagree with you.
I think the easiest thing to point out is that the transition is just easier if you continue your studies while all the material you've learned as an undergrad is fresh. Not only that, but grad applications require letters of recommendation, which are most effective when they come from faculty in a similar department. It's very difficult to get genuine LOR's from professors who you took a class from 7 years ago -not only that but even tracking them down can be a challenge as instructors sometimes move around as they settle into tenure positions. Now I realize this isn't a huge reason to go right away, but there are more...
The job market has historically always been competitive. This is especially true today, and will only get worse as time moves on and more and more people are getting their Bachelors degrees. This means that even getting an entry level job in specific fields can be highly competitive. A M.A./M.S. can help you there. Also, having a Masters will follow you your entire life. So even if you work for a number of years in a same/similar position you could've gotten with only a B.A., the difference is, when you do apply for that promotion, now you will already have the credentials to match not only the job description, but also your competitors for the job, without having to "go back to school" in the interm. Which leads me to my next point.... 
As someone who is currently in a grad program (and I saw this as an undergrad as well), I see many "non-traditional" students going though college, many of whom have children/jobs/life obligations that I don't have, simply because they put off grad school until later in life. Grad school is tough enough as it is without having to worry about child care, mortgage, family life, etc -which is why I recommend grad school before these things arise. That way, you can really focus on your education while your there.
And lastly, in my own experience, I had to move to go to grad school. It would've been easy for me to stay in my home state, and probably find a job which required a degree, but nothing specific or related to my field. However, it was because I moved (motivated by grad school) that I was able to find a job working in an area directly related to my interests in my studies. I would've not have had that opportunity had I stayed. Many students, (and I think more broadly), many people, don't know what's out there until they look. You can't do that if you're not willing to take a chance. Graduate school affords you that chance. And it's something that will stay with you your entire life. 
I think, especially for those in liberal arts programs, graduate school is a no-brainer -and more importantly sooner rather than later. But that's just my opinion.  

First off, thank you for posting such a message. I know that as a recent graduate myself, the pressure to continue on to grad school can be overwhelming and usually the decision comes with little guidance, both from advisers or parents -I think this in part is due to students lack of research of graduate schools, but also because many students do not continue their post graduate education at the same institution and many parents simply do not understand the process. That being said, I mostly disagree with you.
I think the easiest thing to point out is that the transition is just easier if you continue your studies while all the material you've learned as an undergrad is fresh. Not only that, but grad applications require letters of recommendation, which are most effective when they come from faculty in a similar department. It's very difficult to get genuine LOR's from professors who you took a class from 7 years ago -not only that but even tracking them down can be a challenge as instructors sometimes move around as they settle into tenure positions. Now I realize this isn't a huge reason to go right away, but there are more...
The job market has historically always been competitive. This is especially true today, and will only get worse as time moves on and more and more people are getting their Bachelors degrees. This means that even getting an entry level job in specific fields can be highly competitive. A M.A./M.S. can help you there. Also, having a Masters will follow you your entire life. So even if you work for a number of years in a same/similar position you could've gotten with only a B.A., the difference is, when you do apply for that promotion, now you will already have the credentials to match not only the job description, but also your competitors for the job, without having to "go back to school" in the interm. Which leads me to my next point.... 
As someone who is currently in a grad program (and I saw this as an undergrad as well), I see many "non-traditional" students going though college, many of whom have children/jobs/life obligations that I don't have, simply because they put off grad school until later in life. Grad school is tough enough as it is without having to worry about child care, mortgage, family life, etc -which is why I recommend grad school before these things arise. That way, you can really focus on your education while your there.
And lastly, in my own experience, I had to move to go to grad school. It would've been easy for me to stay in my home state, and probably find a job which required a degree, but nothing specific or related to my field. However, it was because I moved (motivated by grad school) that I was able to find a job working in an area directly related to my interests in my studies. I would've not have had that opportunity had I stayed. Many students, (and I think more broadly), many people, don't know what's out there until they look. You can't do that if you're not willing to take a chance. Graduate school affords you that chance. And it's something that will stay with you your entire life. 
I think, especially for those in liberal arts programs, graduate school is a no-brainer -and more importantly sooner rather than later. But that's just my opinion.  

Much of this depends on a purely academic vs. professional school.  For the latter, schools often prefer students with some work experience, so they can be qualified for  those great management track jobs upon departure.  For a more academic thing, it's a bit of a wash.  
On the other hand, I'm not sure that I wouldn't prefer, as an employer, to hire an entry-level person who has an MA in anthropology and languages vs a BA in the same field.  More maturity, more diverse skills, more travel experience, probably more real meat on the transcript.

In addition to the 20,500/year in unsubsidized Stafford loans, you are able to apply for Grad PLUS loans, which have a higher interest rate, but are still administered through the department of education, just like the Stafford loans. There are no limits to the Grad PLUS loans except the total cost of attendance for your university, minus any other aid you are receiving.
Information about Grad PLUS can be found here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/plus#how-much

Did you graduate with a speech and hearing/communication disorders undergrad degree? If so, maybe you could take some courses at your school/at an online school/at a nearby school and get an A in each of them to show you can handle grad level work. If you can't improve your speech GPA somehow, you won't get in anywhere. That's kind of just how it is. Low GPA in courses out of field is one thing, but if your speech courses are all Bs and lower, it's not happening.
If you didn't get the undergrad degree (if your degree is in another field), I'd recommend doing post-bacc courses. Either for a certificate, second bachelor's, or just to take as many courses as possible to get that GPA up.
If you CAN improve your GPA, also focus on getting good letters of rec, doing volunteer or paid work with target populations (special needs, children, elderly), anything to get experience in-field, and getting top notch GRE scores. This should be possible in your time off. I'd really recommend not applying this next application cycle with your GPA being what it is. Improve your application to the strongest possible and apply for grad programs starting in Fall 18.

Not to sound too harsh here but your GPA will be the biggest factor working against you during graduate admissions. Especially when you are competing against many 3.8+ applicants. Your extra curricular activities are a good start. I'd recommend looking into shadowing an SLP (just gaining any experience in the actual field can be a plus as well as a way to make your personal statement more relevant). Keep studying for the GRE. Sometimes, great GRE scores can definitely make up for a less than stellar GPA. The general consensus is to get at least a 300 combined score on the Q/V sections and 4.0 on the AW section, but I absolutely recommend trying to score as high as you possibly can. 
Who recommended that you retake some CSD classes? Faculty? Admissions? If they were the ones recommending that you retake your courses, unfortunately, I think it'd be for the best to take that advice. I understand that classes can be very expensive and that you don't want to add on anymore debt. I worked 2-3 jobs during every year of school to be able to afford tuition, so I know how hard it can be sometimes. Do any community colleges offer CSD classes in your area? They are usually significantly cheaper. Perhaps you should hold off before applying because it can cost upwards of several hundred dollars per application cycle. You can then put that money towards retaking a couple classes? 
There are some people on this forum who have gotten accepted into a graduate program with your stats. Do your research. Use Edfind to filter out all the schools by acceptance rates and average GPA. You're probably not going to want to spend money applying to schools in California or New York, but there are many programs out there that focus on a more holistic application and not just concrete grades. Look for these programs. You may need to move out of state for a couple of years to do so, but in all honesty, I'd say it's worth it if you really want it. I see that you have a Bachelor's in CSD. Could you get a SLPA license in the meantime? 
I understand that you don't want to accumulate more debt, but unfortunately, with your current statistics, it will be an uphill battle. Please don't think that I am encouraging you to leave this field or that I am saying that you will never get in, but it's important to be realistic and have back up plans. I'd say keep studying for the GRE, keep trying to get experience, and keep in contact with your professors for those LORs. Look for the schools that have accepted applicants with your statistics in the past. But I also think it's important to look at other career choices in case this doesn't work out. I say this because I know several classmates from undergrad (in CSD) who spent years trying to get into a grad program but never did. Now they are scrambling to find another suitable career and have lamented the fact that they spent years and money on something that they knew would never work out. Be realistic about your life, but don't give up if this is what you really want, and do your best to show admissions how you have changed since undergrad. They want to know that you can succeed in their classes/clinics and your job is to show them that you can.

A lot of factors go in to decisions, so no your GRE will not necessary bar you from getting in. That being said, it is a tool that committees use to determine how well you might do in grad school. If your GPA is low, then you'll want the best possible score on the GRE to offset that. However if you have an outstanding GPA (3.8 or so) and great LORs, then your GRE wont matter as much. That aside, you still want the best possible score no matter what. Especially in SLP as that discipline seems to be becoming more and more competitive now-a-days as many from SLP majors try to get into grad school.  

Wow, what a great thread! Thank you, @Butterfly_effect and everyone else who shared their stories.
I grew up on a farm and have never really been rich/had nice things. My parents were able to pay all the bills and provide food and clothing and such, but any leftover money went back to the farm and back into the business (or to other things... but that's another story). I went to college without taking on debt due to scholarships and grants, and I also worked my way through college to make extra money (both at the farm and at my university). I definitely understand the struggle, but I realize that I was probably still better off than most thanks to the scholarships and steady (albeit quasi exploitative) work.
I'm probably going to be making more money with my stipend/extra jobs than I do at the farm, which is weird to me. I totally can feel those of you who say that the stipends don't seem that low because, to me, it feels like a lot of money for not too much work (it's a lot of work, of course, but when you're used to working 70 hours a week and getting paid peanuts, it definitely feels like moving on up in the world!).
In the end, I feel grateful to have grown up understanding the value of hard work and a dollar. It definitely wasn't easy growing up and watching all my friends have fancy toys, cars, vacations, etc. while I had to work/have used things, but I feel like it's part of who I am (and perhaps a part of who all of you are, too).
Sometimes I feel like I wear it all as a badge of honor

I also want to say that like, I totally get wanting to revive interests and try different things. But also recognize that this isn't a light hobby for everyone involved in the process: many of us are trying to get a first career off the ground for amounts of money so low that they would be illegal if we were considered "employees." Upon receiving a first tenure track job, many people feel pressure to sit down and shut up until they attain tenure, and even after that, until they've landed jobs in cities or regions they'd actually like to live. And then, maybe after all that, enjoy the small amount of recognition they've been able to hobble together. 

Having worked with some older students and networked with some people in the finance sector, I find that when I say I do history, they have an imagined sense of a glorious life I live, full of cushy armchairs, old documents, and untold amounts of truth. While I feel very lucky to have the position I do currently (and good about my prospects down the road), I'm trying to tell you guys that this isn't a hobby. It's a job. And with a job comes job stress and frustration and anger.

Best of luck in the process~

You've just said your pursuit of the PhD would be a hobby, while for everyone else who would be in the room, it's a job. That's a heck of a difference. Yeah, it doesn't make your interest seem really relevant. Were I you, I would keep such thoughts very far from my SoP.
And, alas for your attempt at a preemptive defense, I'm not under 30.

Why? Honestly the job market's crowded enough as is. What is pulling you to do history at this point in your life? 

Depends on the program. None will, of course, claim to look at your application any differently, but many will prioritize students who are of an age where they can begin a career, since that's the purpose of doctoral training. 
But the three questions you should answer are: why, why now, and what do you want to do with it.