J Mack

Hey all! I am a current student at Western and would be happy to help or answer any questions that you have. I know this whole process is really stressful, so get in touch if you need!

Oh really?? Hmm, I am confused too then. I was pretty shocked when she told me that. Maybe I misunderstood. But I did rephrase it to see if I understood her...Maybe the 37 acceptances included some people that got off the waitlist from the people mentioned here that declined? I am sure Janet would clarify if she got an email. If anybody finds out, post on here! I would like to know as well.

Hmm, good question. I haven't heard anything about that but ya, you are right! That is the point of more commitment.

Hey fellow Westerner, I totally get where you are coming from! I have always thought that grad school would be too hectic to work and after visiting the program this week, I was assured that it is NUTS busy and just juggling the courses and clinical are more than enough. I am sure it is not impossible though! I am not the fastest learner so I know that I won't be able to handle a job, but I am sure some people can make it happen. At least we have July/Aug of the first year to pick up some hours somewhere

Hey everybody, I toured Elborn College at Western yesterday (OMG beautiful campus) and just wanted to pass on some things that Janet told me that might clarify a few things. Of the 37 applicants that Western admitted first round, 36 accepted! This is pretty amazing and they are really thrilled to have such a great response. But, unfortunately that means that only one person is getting off the waitlist as of now. But, things can still change and people can still change their minds and withdraw if they get off the waitlist at their dream schools or whatever Just wanted to pass that on.

I just checked and mine has changed to the green circle. I think I accepted a week ago? Not sure when it changed though.

No problem! I hope things work out for you Hopefully, there are exceptions! Is it possible to take any prereqs this spring/summer? Maybe that way, you could have less in progress next Winter...? In terms of waiting an extra year, the silver lining is getting to pace out your prereqs and, at least in my case, get better grades. Also, the GRE sucks a big one and although many people do, I didn't study for it on top of a full course load, and I was thankful for that. Good luck!

Hi speechteach! I am not done my prereqs for Toronto and so my acceptance there is conditional that I complete the one class before schools starts. It doesn't matter because I have declined there but still helpful to know that you can't even get away with have 1 incomplete prereq. I have also heard a few times that having your prereqs in progress for U of A can actually hurt your application enough for them to decline you entirely. The schools in Ontario don't seem to care as much but just want you to make sure you finish them before the program starts. I know it is probably not possible, but I would try and get all your prereqs done for U of A before you apply or, if you have to take prereqs next winter, maybe apply elsewhere in the country just in case U of A doesn't work out Hope this helps and good luck!

Here is the pdf comparing schools: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-child-studies/sites/ca.centre-for-child-studies/files/uploads/files/university_survey_2008_speech.pdf Someone pointed out to me that each program provides the same amount of clinical hours, thankfully, so I went back to this pdf to see why I thought that they were all different. The table comparing clinical hours at each school is actually measured in weeks! So one school may span your hours over more weeks but that doesn't mean that you are actually getting more hours. Ah! Sorry to mislead anyone!

Hey! It looks as though our placements that occur during classes are all at the in-house clinic and about half a day a week? That might make it more manageable. I know what you mean though about the first spring term where we have to take voice disorders yet I have been told I can travel for that placement? That is a little confusing. The clinical placement page on Western's website is helpful too. I know that coming out of Western SLP, you will have accumulated the most clinical hours compared to any school in the country. I think I saw this on a CASLPA pdf comparing each program. So that is a plus I think! But it depends on what you think is most important. I would imagine that you would not be advised to do a placement in an area that you have not taken a class on yet, but I don't know for sure. I think that every school has to say that out of town placements aren't guaranteed, because technically they are not, but for me for example, I know I will have more choice and less competition getting a placement in my hometown (Winnipeg) because there isn't a program there! My SLP friends had a lot of success getting great placements in Winnipeg and liked that they got to make connections at home. If you are from a city that has a program, than you are right, chances are less I think. I have heard that each program has placement "turf" so if you are from the Toronto area you may have some competition with the Toronto SLP students for placements. If you are willing/wanting to travel somewhere completely different in Canada for placements, than I think you are in the same position at either Western and Toronto. You should go back a page or two and look at umsinger's comment, she is in her first year at Western and will know a lot more than me What are your reservations at Toronto? I definitely see the appeal of Toronto's layout! My only concern with it is what if you are super interested in one population or a couple of areas, and you find this early on, you are still required to spend your placements how the program wants you to. For me, I wouldn't want to spend 8 weeks doing adult neuro if my passion is child language. I would want to definitely dabble in everything, I think we have to to get our license, but I would want to get the most clinical practice in my area of interest. Western allows you to tailor your placements to suit your interests and future job aspirations I think while making sure you hit your hours in each sub-field.

Hey kjfstudent! Thanks for your reply. You are totally right, I even confirmed with Janet. I was a little scared to ask her but she said that ya, the schools don't communicate about this stuff and you can't (firm?)accept at both Toronto and Western. She said it is totally reasonable and fine to accept at two school if it means you are given more time to really evaluate your options Phewf!!

There you go! Sounds like your mind is made up Toronto sounds like such a good fit for you. I wish I was that close to any program There are no programs within a 12 hour drive from Winnipeg, in Canada at least. And if you know that you love U of T, than you know you will enjoy your time as grad student there! That is so great that Toronto made some calls. I didn't know about that because I already declined there, but that is such a nice touch! All the schools should do that. And yes, good point! Your class of 50 will still feel small. At U of Winnipeg where I went, my classes were usually 50 and under so that is what I am used to. Oh! I have to add that if I accepted at Toronto, I would have to take human anatomy this spring (may and june) and I am getting married july 2! No thanks ahah! That is not how I want to spend the month before the big day lol! Good luck in your decisions!

I have heard 60 at Western but am not sure about Toronto.

Hey guys! I am 99% sure that I will be attending Western instead of the other schools (U of T being one of them) for a few reasons. I am moving from Winnipeg, which is a pretty affordable city to live in and so for my fiancé and I, London seems more similar in terms of cost of living than Toronto. I really like how the class size at Western is 37 rather than 50 at Toronto. Also, getting a call from a faculty member at Western after acceptances went out was really nice and gave me chance to connect with the program on more of a personal level. Friends of mine who are out of grad school just keep telling me to create a simple life for myself during my program so that I am not distracted and can focus easier on school. Coming from Winnipeg, Toronto is a big and busy city! There are coupe of other reasons why I prefer Western like the fact that my fiancé's mother's boyfriend has all of his family in the area and so they will come visit more and also the teaching clinic at Western is a huge plus! A lot of this is just personal preference and I think that all of the other schools in Canada are great! You just have to decide what is most important to you I suppose Good luck!!

Hey guys! Does anybody know if the programs communicate at all? I am in a position where I will be accepting at two schools until I can visit my top choice and make sure the program and city works for myself and my partner. I feel bad doing this but I cannot visit my top choice until finals are over, which is past my the two school's offer deadlines. I plan on making a decision by the end of April so I am not holding someone's spot on the waitlist at the school that I end up declining. I imagine that I am not the first person who has needed to juggle this but I don't want the schools to find out somehow. Does anybody know anything about this or find themselves in the same position?