[2017 from letters of intent to letters of recommendation]

18 hours ago, wcslp said:

I'm not sure if other current applicants would be willing to let you read their letters because they are supposed to be demonstrating why you stand out as an individual. It would probably be better to write a draft and have your supervisor or someone read over it and offer you some suggestions. Alternatively, you can ask someone on these forums or other SLP help forums to read over your paper and give you some advice. What exactly are you stuck on? Some programs have specific criterion/prompts they want you to write about; most typically just want you to explain why SLP and why you. 

It will be tough if you did not make a connection with professors because a lot of schools want at least 2 letters from academic sources (at least on the west coast). You don't want to risk asking a professor who does not know you to write a letter and have it say negative things. Your supervisor is a good, relevant source. Check with the programs you are applying to and see whether they require academic letters or general letters. There are also some programs out there that don't require any LOR at all, but you will have to search for these and they aren't the norm.

Not to scare you, but I assume you are applying this cycle. Most program deadlines are December/January. If you want feedback on your letter of intent, I suggest you get started on it ASAP so whoever reads over it has enough time to do so. Same with asking for letters of rec. If you are going to reach out to any professors, you should do so immediately. I emailed all of my potential writers in early September as most of them are swamped with letter requests in the later months and will likely turn you down if you email them last minute. 

Thank you so much for your response! I am honestly scared though, even without your message, but it is definitely a much needed additional push. I don't have specific questions right now regarding the letters of intent since schools differ in some aspects, but definitely plan on working on them asap.

[2017 from letters of intent to letters of recommendation]

Long story short: 

SLPA. finished undergrad last may 2015. attempting to apply and hopefully get into one next year. 

 

I am stumped with writing letters of intent, and honestly, i really was trying to avoid looking at others' so that my letters wouldn't be affected by what I have read. However, I am stuck. I would very much appreciate it if any of you could let me take a peek at your letters of intent, of course only if you don't mind. Or any tips at all that has helped you get into grad school. 

also, I am having a bit of a problem with letters of recommendation because I feel like I did not make much of a connection with professors because I was the type to try and solve a question on my own, or through google, because I had to travel 1 hour or more just to get home.. so I usually tried to avoid office hours, if I could help it.. If you were ever in the similar position, what did you do? or were there other people that you were able to ask, and still got into grad school?

 

Any tips are very very very much appreciated!!

[SLPA to SLP]

On April 19, 2016 at 9:54 PM, slpgradapplicantfall2016 said:

I have a 3.4, 303 GRE and worked as a SLPA for one year. I got into NAU's summers only program. NAU does allow you to apply to both full time track and summers only track with the same application. I got into 4 other programs in Texas, Arizona, Alabama, and Tennessee. I advise to apply to different states and some "safety" schools that don't get as many applicants.  I got one undergrad professor for LOR, my clinical supervisor/teacher for the SLPA program, and my current SLPA boss. Study tip for GRE, I used Magoosh. It's 100% online and you can do a little bit a day. Worked great! Raised my score 13 points in just a few months of studying. Good luck!

That's nice to know that with your choices of whom to ask for LOR, you were still accepted to a lot of schools! That was my initial idea of whom to ask.. except I still haven't gotten a job as a SLPA. I got my license probably two weeks ago. applying for a job is another challenge.

Thanks for the tips! Also, let me know how NAU is, I really want their program since they have a part-time track. 

[SLPA to SLP]

On April 18, 2016 at 3:41 PM, vheart said:

I just finished a year of SLPA work and did not get into any of the above schools....but my circumstance might be different, my GPA was not the highest. 

I have heard of people with 4.0's still not getting into grad schools. somewhat kinda discouraging. 

[SLPA to SLP]

On April 18, 2016 at 3:52 PM, McJoderson said:

I would go to your profs anyway, explain your situation (applying to grad school, need letters). It may feel weird and like you're using them, but they know the deal. Only go to them if you got an A in their course. Ask them if you can set an appt with them to talk about grad school and come ready to talk about your career goals. Bring your resume and letter of intent for them to read. I applied to SLP programs this year and was told by my advisor that programs highly value professor LOR or LOR from an SLP you did an internship with.

Thank you! Sorry this was a bit late of a reply but I wasn't notified that I got any replies at all here.

Anyway, I have tried that though before. However, some professors turned me down because I was graduating and even though I got an A in their class, some of them didn't feel that they'll be able to write me a strong recommendation letter. =/

[SLPA to SLP]

long story short: I have just finished my bachelor's last fall from CSUF. I also just took a SLPA course from Loma Linda and currently waiting on my license to be able to work as a SLPA. I plan on applying for grad school for next fall (or summer, if i can get into schools with a part-time track). here are some schools I'm thinking of applying to:

University of Iowa

University of Washington

Portland State University

Northern Arizona University

University of the Pacific

If any of you have been a SLPA prior to applying for grad school and have gotten into any of these schools, I would appreciate your input. My #1 concern are recommendation letters. I haven't made much "connections" with the professors during undergrad, I made a few but they were my general ed professors. It's obviously a bit too late for me to try and get to know them because I am done with undergrad. Where did you get your recommendations from? are SLP supervisors good to get those letters from? Also, definitely need help in study tips for the GRE, organizing grad applications, and how to do the statement of purpose. 

 

HELPPPP.

these are the only questions I could think of for now. LOL. but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! thank you!!