inessie

Something I did in preparation for my SLP grad school application was write out why I wanted to be an SLP.  What was it about being an SLP, specifically, that made me want to do the job?  A nonspecific reason such as, "I want to help people" wasn't good enough.  I could help people as a doctor, a teacher, a nurse, a firefighter, a dog-walker, a barber, etc.  What could I do as an SLP that I couldn't do in the other professions?  Honing in on what you want to get out of SLP training and the target population with which you want to work will not only help you focus your essay for SLP grad school and clearly articulate why you want to be an SLP, but it will also open up options for "back-up plans".

For example, if you want to work with the geriatric population, you could look into CNA programs.  If you want to work with the Deaf / HH population, perhaps audiology or sign language interpretation could be options.  If you want to help adults with disabilities gain independence and employment, working in a non-profit organization that does transitional work would allow you to do those tasks.  Those are all possible options that 1) could be a back-up plan, and 2) allow you to gain experience with populations who are often associated with SLP services, thus giving you opportunities to learn how being an SLP can help your future clients achieve their goals.

As for OT, it can be just as competitive as SLP.  Keep in mind, that OT has their own set of pre-requisite courses for graduate programs.  Some courses may overlap with SLP, some may not.  Courses that OT programs seem to have in common a pre-reqs are Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology at an absolute bare minumum.  All the OT programs I looked at require additional courses.  These courses included physics, statistics, and/or research methods.

As for admission rates, here is the admittance data for the OT Master's graduate class admitted to start Fall 2015 at my university:

440 applicants, class cohort size of 24
Avg. GPA: 3.57 (Range 3.1 - 3.95)
GRE Quant: 152 (143-163)
GRE Verbal: 154 (142-167)
GRE Writing: 4 (3-6)
Another OT Master's program in my state had the following stats:

347 applicants,class cohort size of 25
Avg. GPA 3.9 (last 60 credits)
GRE scores in the 60-70th percentiles for Quant and Verbal (which is about the mid-150s).
GRE scores in the 80th percentile for Writing (a 4.5 is the 82nd percentile.)

Some OT programs require a certain number of tracked hours in volunteer work and/or shadowing just to be considered.

The SLP grad school application process can be intimidating.  Do your homework with regard to the schools for which you want to apply.  Make sure that your stats are within the range of accepted stats to give yourself the best fighting chance.  Read the professors' professional interests.  Talk to current students and ask how they are being taught to do therapy.  For example, I fell in love with a therapy approach my school taught, which is one big selling point on why I wanted to go there.  I wanted to learn that specific approach.
When I wrote my essay for grad school, I really focused on why I wanted to be an SLP, why I had to get my training at THAT school, and the skills/experiences I have that would help me be the best clinician I could be.  I made appointments with professors to discuss my career aspirations, how I got interested in the field, and just who I am as a person outside of school.  Thus, when it came time to write LORs, they had ample information about me as a student, aspiring professional, and person to write their letters of recommendation.
Hope this helps!

Sorry for the late response!  Been a bit busy lately, but I did go to the open house at UW!  
The professors from my undergrad were pushing students to apply to schools with on-campus clinics.  That way, the clinics can easily serve as classrooms and there's less transportation involved.
UW is beautiful- the campus is huge, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom!  They have both ornate historical buildings and sleek modern buildings, and none of the rectangular concrete slabs I'm used to.  They have many great facilities.  They do have a reputation for being research-heavy, and it seems like many of their students are involved in research in some way.  If I were going for a PhD, I'd *DEFINITELY* choose UW (especially since I'm interested in AAC, which UW has great research faculty for).
I did get closer to a decision- I'm kinda surprised myself, but I'm actually leaning towards Boulder!  Boulder does have an in-house clinic as well; however, they have practica that are off-campus in various places with professors acting as supervisors.  They had a specific term for it, but I forgot what it was.  Because I'm not completely sure about what setting to work in, I'd rather have more experience in as many settings as possible.  As mentioned earlier, UW does indeed have only one internship.  The pre-internship during the quarter prior is done at the same place as the internship.  That being said, the advisor and faculty are very supportive in letting you choose where you want to do your internship as much as possible.  Boulder also has research opportunities available, and it also seems like they have more funding opportunities too.  Although you wouldn't have an official emphasis in adult or peds or things like that, the advisor will help tailor your various off-site experiences to your interests.
I thought I would weigh student impressions and atmosphere more, but the students I met on both campuses were very friendly and helpful, and they all seemed to get along with each other very well!  Both advisors are wonderful and informative, and the faculty members I met were very kind.
I'm giving myself a few days to process everything after the UW open house, but I'm probably going with Boulder  
As for Seattle itself, I got mixed opinions on safety and whatnot.  It's safe to say that Seattle has less gangs than LA (you don't have to worry about wearing certain colors in certain streets or anything like that), but I kept hearing about how aggressive the homeless population is over there.  My shuttle driver talked about how his son got beat up and mugged by homeless people on 2 different occasions: one resulting in broken bones, and one resulting in a TBI serious enough to warrant SLP services.  Actual students who live by the school say that it's not that bad.  Both agree that it's normally okay as long as you keep some good ol' LA street smarts around you: put in no more than one earbud, be aware of your surroundings, don't flash fancy technology in shady streets, don't open your wallet too much in public etc.
Edited to also add: I know us Southern Californians tend to think that any part of the US outside our region is extreme, but it's not like it's constantly raining all day all year in Seattle.  There are rainy days and sunny days.  It is chillier, but California residents are saying that it's not completely terrible.  However, people who are more prone to having seasonal affective disorder should be careful of the frequent fog and rain.

Hi, I'm a little embarrassed to share that I still haven't made a decision.  As close to the deadline as we are, I am split between UW (Med) & SDSU.  Unfortunately, I didn't visit MGH's open house, but I can share what I learned from UW's!
UW PROS:
- research (the dept, as well as the school overall)
- developing emphasis on IPE & collaborative learning--esp among PT, OT, SLP, nursing, Aud (they started a new course for MedSLP students last year, but are building on it for upcoming years)
- higher # of off-campus placements (as opposed to other schools, which typically only have the one internship during spring qtr/semester)--I believe UW offers placements prior to this internship (I wish I could clarify on this point for you, but unfortunately, I'm a little unsure of the details)
- excellent reputation and relationships with hospitals all over the U.S.--not limited to the Seattle area.  This means that during spring semester of your 2nd year, you have the option to move states for your internship (although you'd return to finish the last summer quarter)
Of course, there are so many other influencing factors, but these are really the highlights of UW for me.  I'm sure that MGH also has incredible facilities and is surrounded by some of the best hospitals in the nation--as well as highly regarded institutions like MIT & Harvard; together they foster a highly collaborative research culture.  Despite the 'hospital' in its name, MGH is well-known for its literacy program--this is worth looking into, especially considering the growth and huge potential to improve literacy (especially in our professional field).
Really, my deciding factor to decline MGH's offer of admission came down to cost.  As I'm sure you already know, the program's tuition and the cost of living in Boston are remarkable.  Still, the students who are/have been in the program have gained incredible learning and clinical experience, and--let's be honest--the enjoyable city life that Boston offers.  Ultimately, I think that you will have a lot of great opportunities at either school, and I wish you the best in your decisions moving forward :-)

Thanks  
I had a lot of trouble too making up my mind; I ended up with 3 minors for that reason. I think almost anything can be relevant to SLP if you think about it in the right way. 
My hispanic literature classes taught me about different ways to experience the world (So important in working with CLD populations). Linguistic classes study a lot of the same aspects of language, just with a different perspective or goal in mind. My Ed minor was great all around for SLP. For example, In Ed Psych I saw the same fundamental theories (Cognitivism, Social interactionism, Behaviorism, etc) from similar perspectives which is great now as I apply those theoretical frameworks to therapy. Biology and chemistry would be so valuable in understanding the fundamentals of neural signaling. You can study a lot of things and it still be relevant to SLP.  As for what is most helpful - it depends on you and what you need. I would advise the following:
1) Find out what it takes to be a good grad student
2) Find out what it takes to be a good SLP
3) Find out which of those things you already have and which you're lacking
4) For the things you're lacking, find experiences (maybe a specific class, minor, or major! Maybe a summer internship!) that will give you those skills. 
5) Once you've got that covered, think about what excites you and study that even more. (for me it's bilingualism, so I learned other languages. If its Med.SLP for you, get some medical terminology classes, if its voice feminization therapy, take a gender theory class). 
Does that make sense? I could tell you what was valuable for me, but it'll be different for you. Maybe you need to work on your writing (so important for grad school). Or maybe you need to work on your people skills (so important as an SLP!). You know yourself and your needs better than I. 
Last note, lots of people freak out over GPA and that's because it is an easy thing to look at/compare and easy to stress over. Personal statements are harder to judge and compare, but they're infinitely more meaningful to a committee when they're trying to get to know you. I'd take a kick-ass personal statement over a kick-ass GPA any day. 

I was literally in almost the exact same position!! I took a gap year where I focused on ASL and ABA certification and I had a 3.5 GPA! I just got in and what I think helped me was really good/above average GRE scores, as well as a boatload of field-related professional and volunteer work. GPA and GRE scores show your potential as a student, whereas experiences, letters of recommendation, and to a certain extent personal essays speak to your clinical potential. It's obviously much easier to change your GRE score versus your GPA, so if your GPA is less than perfect, a high GRE will instill confidence in your academic abilities! Play up your strengths in any written materials and if it feels necessary acknowledge your weaknesses, but don't put yourself down! Word it as a challenge you met and overcame- because it is! Good luck!!!

Minus the military spouse and kids, I was in a similar-ish position. I dropped out after my first year of college, took a 9-year hiatus, and did the rest of my undergrad degree and post bacc online due to my busy work schedule. If anything, the time off from school lets you gain real world experience and shows grad programs that you can handle responsibility. 
As far as LORs go, it might depend on the program, but every school I applied to required at least two LORs from professors. If you can get a recommendation from your kids' SLPs that would be great, but ideally try for at least one professor who can speak to your classroom abilities. It is harder to connect with online profs, but there are ways (which I didn't properly utilize). They might have online office hours through Hangouts or another program. Ask questions or even just share what interests you in class. If there are discussions, write thoughtful posts and connect to real world experiences. If they get a sense of who you are, not just how well you write, they can write a decent recommendation even without the face to face experience.
As far as a leveling program, I did a 2 semester post-bacc at Pacific University and recommend it. It's shorter than many leveling programs, it has a good selection of courses that would cover most schools' pre-reqs, the professors are good, and it's a certificate program, which enables you to get federal loans if you need them. It was about 10 grand for the whole program.
Good luck! I think even with so-so LORs you have a decent chance. I used three online Linguistics professors that didn't know me very well and still got in. Stress your experience and work hard on your personal statement!

I would also look at your personal essays and really think about why you want to be an SLP.  What is it that you are hoping to gain by joining the profession?  What qualities and skills do you have to offer the profession? Why do you want to attend that specific school for grad school?  Faculty members on these admission committees read 50-100+ essays.  Make sure yours stands out.

Additionally, review the essay prompts.  Did you answer the questions asked (and all parts of the questions)?  One of the schools where I applied asked specifically for experience with diverse learners from a variety of cultures, languages, socio-economic statuses, and disabilities.  I made sure I devoted a paragraph to each of those demographics. 

Did you follow guidelines for margins, fonts, font size, word count, and number of pages?

The admissions committees want to hear your story of becoming an SLP and how they fit into that story.  So tell a story.  Make sure your story is more than, "I want to be an SLP so I can help people."  Teachers help people. Nurses and doctors help people.  OTs and PTs help people.  Hairdressers help people.  Massage therapists help people.  Firefighters and police officers help people.  What is it that you can get out of being an SLP that you can get in any other profession?  Why is this career path the right one for you? 

How will attending school X help you reach that goal (other than the fact that they'll be the one granting your degree)?  Maybe you respond positively to their philosophy behind therapy.  Maybe they have an amazing professor whose research interests align with yours.  Maybe they have a specialty or certification that is only available at that school.

If you are able to give solid answers to all of these questions, you should be able to write a fantastic essay.

Finally, after you've written it, proofread it.  Have others proofread it.  Then proofread it again.  Nothing gets you in the reject pile faster than misspelling your own name, the school's name (or using the wrong school name), and/or a ton of typos.  Make sure your essays are neat in presentation and look professional.  One professor I met told a story of a prospective student who had hand-written his/her essay in pencil on looseleaf paper that also had food stains on it.  I am pretty sure that student was not admitted.

I would agree with raising GRE scores. It is worth studying extremely hard one more time to see if you can raise at least your quantitative and writing a little more. I bought a Kaplan book because I never knew Magoosh existed. It gave good tips and tricks on how to go about the questions and what the scorers will be looking for in writing responses. I think it would be well worth your time to try that. 
Other than that, maybe some volunteer or work experience in something related? I know a lot of people work as an aide or volunteer at camps for individuals with CP or Autism. That could be something you could look into. Also more shadowing hours at all different settings. Then perhaps you could have one of those SLPs write a LOR for you. Then you could say you have X amount of hours in a bunch of settings! 
Best of luck to you!

As long as you can include these experiences in your application, it is not too late  I am also an out of field applicant and all of my LORs were from professors: 2 from Spanish classes, and 1 from a psychology lab. If you can, I highly recommend working in a research lab, as that's a great way to get a LOR and have an important experience in your SOP. While it is a great idea to get outside experience, I found that most schools want all of your LORs from professors, so try to establish relationships with them. 
One other tip is to get LORs from phD level faculty. I do not know how your school is, but at mine we had quite a few professors that were grad students or only had their master's degree. 
As for getting experience, it was really difficult for me to find some too! Does your area have ABA therapy places? I got over 25 hours of observation of speech therapy at an ABA place, where a speech pathologist also worked. It might be worth it to see if your area has one. 
Good luck to you and let me know if you have any other questions! 

If anyone was thinking SLPA as a second option, I know in California I worked as an SLP with a credential waiver which essentially was like being an SLPA.  The company who hired me was Total Education Solutions ( TESIDEA.com ).  They get you the waiver and assign you to a few schools with as many hours as you want.  Pay was $25/hr.  
 
Another idea that I had if I did not get in to grad school was a Nursing Home Administrator.  Almost all states have guidelines as to how to become an admin for Nursing Homes but for example, California's guidelines were you had to have 1,000 hours (9 months at 40hrs/week) of Administrator in Training hours.  After that you have to pass the state test and then you are able to get a job as an admin.  They make 6 figures in California and all you have to have is a bachelors degree in any field.  I am in Michigan now and an admin told me here its a little different.  There are no set number of hours in training.  You just have to pass the test and of course have some experience.  I do not know how much they  make here though.  
 
Hope that helps someone!

Hello all -- looking forward to learning from you about the SLP graduate school process! It's daunting, exciting, competitive, and intimidating, but is ultimately worth the struggle.
Like a lot of folks pursuing this master's degree and career path, I've got a varied background with what I think are a quality skills set, but making myself appealing to a slew of grad schools seems rough.
Has anyone explored or gone to school in master's programs who really appreciate applicants with non-traditional paths and backgrounds? MGH is competitive but seems wholly into a diversified student. Trying to explore similarly minded schools maybe on the lower end of the competitive scale to be safe. I would love to apply to schools that require an interview as a part of the process, but with the heavy amount of applications grad schools are getting in the field, I've done research and it doesn't seem like interviews are a standard part of the process these days...
I applied and was subsequently wait listed and rejected to IU's speech and hearing department for fall 2016. Loved the opportunities they offered and love Bloomington, but I feel like there was a lot of type A thinking going on there for me to be completely happy with the program overall.
Here are my stats for reference:
Undergrad degree: French and Communication; GPA 3.3 (like a lot of folks, college was a killer experience for me, but I wasn't focused on academic rigor ?) ; studied abroad in France for a year with a focus on linguistics 
Comm. Sciences Coursework (done after quitting my full-time marketing job): 36 hours; GPA 4.0  
GRE score: 300 total (157 verbal, 143 math)
I have teaching experience, both domestic and international in Japanese schools.
Currently, I'm seeking job opportunities in developmental therapy and SLPA gigs and have a few offers. Planning on taking one of these jobs to further boost my chances of getting accepted and getting dirty in the field I'm really passionate about.
Would love to hear from a few folks who have a diversified and strong skills set about how their application processes were. Some days I feel qualified to attend a dream school, other days I just want to get IN anywhere! 
Thanks for all the sage advice in advance,
Leslie
 
 
 

Hi everyone!
 
My name is Gabriela and I'm a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Originally, I did half of my high school in Puerto Rico, where I'm from and the other half I finished it in Illinois. I visit there twice a year and I'm blessed with friends and family who love me and support me. My native language is Spanish (with a caribbean accent) but in recent years (starting during the 90s), the island (because of its relationship with the US) received a lot of media in English - so my friends and I in elementary school had to learn to enjoy our favorite cartoons in English and associate what was being said with what we understood was the plot of the show (English classes there don't get good until you reach high school). I was diagnosed as a child with pervasive disorder and had language problems from the start - but over the years with treatment I did better and excelled most of my school years. To be honest, I'm a geek. I love videogames, boardgames and comic books still to this age. Soccer is the only sport I love so much to watch/play. I have tons of favorite shows too - thanks to Netflix. I also studied French and studied abroad in southern France for a summer and remember receiving texts from my host parents saying "coucou" and learning a lot of idioms from them and my host brothers (who also liked comic books, heck yeah! ). We also used to watch soccer together and to bother my host dad I would root for Uruguay when he wanted France to win. I also studied Portuguese and during my time here had a close bond with the Brazilian community (April I'm going to a Capoeira and Futebol event :D ) and lastly, Italian - but only know basics and my best friend and her boyfriend (who is from Italy) are the only ones I can practice with. 
 
I'm a sort of teacher's aide at an afterschool program in Spanish and have tons of volunteer experience (Spanish/Portuguese reading time, English ConvoPartner, Spanish Facilitator for College students, two research labs and a third one underway, Best Buddies, translator, always looking for more). And when I graduate I'm applying for a program to teach English in France - I want to get in Montpeiller because Paris is expensive

The panic is okay! It shows that you are preparing yourself ahead of time, which I totally did not do!

Every program has a calculation of how they objectively evaluate your "ability and potential" as a graduate. You may hear or read about comments which may say "all they care is about grades and GRE" or "experience is key" but it is not completely true. From my experience, a diverse set of knowledge, experience and interests helps. For instance, your double degree in psychology and linguistics certainly helps. In addition, your grades from your pre-requisites is a significant improvement and shows well to admissions committees. Do you engage in non-SLP extracurricular activities, community events, sports teams or even a job/internship? Do not forget about those as well for they are just as important as SLP related activities.

Your improvement in your GRE scores are also great. Yes, some competitive schools like to see high AW scores because writing is an important component in both graduate school and your prospective career, but it is up to you if you would like to reconsider the GREs. For most programs, they just want to see if you go beyond 50th percentile; it's more of a pass/fail rather than a scale. Check the stats for your schools and see if you are on par or beyond the average requirements.

I seriously think that the personal statement and LORs are the most important and I think those components help increase my chances getting into my preferred programs. One school I applied to actually emphasized these components. For the personal statement I:

- stayed on one topic that was not SLP related and managed to tie in that experience with what SLP is about. I was a post bac like you and my prior experience at my alma mater gave me alternative perspectives and skills needed in the field.
- mentioned a particular aspect of the school which interested me.
- did not follow the guidelines strictly! I didnt stay in the word limit but did in the page limit. I changed margins, font size, spacing, etc. so much that I was able to fit 750 words in a space which was suitable for 500! I really dont think that negatively affected my application.
- did not mention a touching personal SLP experience. Too cliche.
- did not use too much "I" and "me"

For LORs, I think a variety of individuals who really know you is good. However, some schools, regardless if you were not an SLP undergrad student, need a rec from an SLP faculty member. Find an extra one or two from your pre-req courses for those particular programs. It also lessens the load on your other recommenders.

If you feel comfortable with your list of schools, then stick with them! It is really up to you. I applied to so many schools with the impression that I wont get in my first chance but I was wrong. I am not familiar with the places you are looking into, but have a mix of reach, target and safety schools. You still have time to add/ remove from your list.

I hope that helps and best of luck! I think you you'll be fine

Alice, 
I'll try answering your questions from above, being that I am bilingual and were accepted to a few bilingual programs/research labs.
1. Is this GPA really just hopeless? I have seen so many people who have their GPAs around 3.3 and do not get any offer. Would it be a better option if I just delay my graduation for another year, and re-take more classes and get more experience? (that will not help my GPA by too much though. My school does not take out my former grades after I re-take courses)
I had a GPA lower than a 1.0 when I first started college .... I took a break for 5years, gain some experiences in the medical field and came back swinging. I eventually earned a 3.8 in the major, 3.8 in my last 100 credits, and re-did about 6-8 courses that would jeopardize my chance of getting into grad school. Some classes were so old that they could not be redone and they're still sitting on my transcript. It eventually took me 7years to graduate from my undergrad but ...good news, I got into grad school on my first try! =) 
As I was reading your post, you stressed the fact that you are "not the hardest worker" and a "school person" ---to be honest, the people that make it into grad school are. I have friends in grad school that had a near perfect GPA, were some of the smartest classmates I know ....who literally cries in the hallway because its that hard. I'm not discouraging you in anyway but I do suggest rethinking a few things over because one of the reasons why this field is so competitive is because grad school IS extremely tough, like, mentally and physically draining tough. My grad friends describes our undergrad studies as a "kiddie playground".
2. I know bilingual SLPs are kind of in-demand in the United States now. how can I maximized this advantage/counter my disadvantage on my GPA when I'm applying?
 I suggest doing some research to show that you're making an effort in helping bilingual populations. Mandarin and Spanish speaking SLPs are in high demand both in the workforce and in research. During my interviews, every faculty member asked me if I knew how to speak Mandarin or Spanish, sadly, it's a no WHICH cost me a few rejections. If you can somehow make use of your talents, do it! because they need more bilingual speakers to help recruit and interpret data.
3. Are there any schools that I can specifically look at that provide bilingual research or clinical opportunities?
Bilingual labs are very popular in our field... I suggest looking down south where there are a higher populations of bilingual speakers. Some schools like Arizona and Texas are top schools for research in bilingual speakers.
4. What cities or states should I be aiming for to have contact with a bigger population of bilingual clients? The state I am in right now does NOT have a lot of diversity.
(read above)
5. I am debating if I want to get my permanent resident identity (the US green card) right now. If I do so I will lose my international student status. I know every school has a quota for international students. Does anybody have any idea or similar experiences on which identity I should be applying under to have a better chance to get in?
I'm not an international student or know any, I'm unable to answer this question.
6. What are some of the other things I can do to help counter my low GPA?
I knew my low GPA in the past was going to hurt my chances of getting into grad school so I did three years of research, got an article published and presented at 5 conferences (one of them being ASHA). I looked for volunteer opportunities everywhere! I volunteered at inclusion schools (working with children with special needs), volunteered at a rehabilitation center (working with AAC devices), became active on campus to build good rapport with faculty members so that I can have strong LOR. Also, by volunteering, I made sure I stayed there long enough so I can get a speech language pathologist to write a LOR for me. When you apply to graduate school, they typically want two letters from someone who knows your academic strive (so like, professors) and one from a clinical perspective (someone who knows your hands on experience). 
 
I hope that helps! Good luck in whatever decision you make =)
 
 

Hello,
For those considering Samford University, I advise you with caution. The program is in crisis and there are a lot of concerns with the development of the program. I understand the stress of getting into an SLP program, I have been there and the struggle is REAL! Therefore, I know a class with be guaranteed for next semester. I do want to warn you. The program has recently lost 6 students in two semesters. They started with 23 and now only have 17. When you arrive for your interview they will inform you that they want you and they care about you. They will also sell you a line about how they want to keep their jobs and that is based on your success, unfortunately being successful in this program is difficult. I also want to remind you that per ASHA website there must be an 80% pass rate for students,17/23 (73%). Here are the reasons why I caution those who are considering this program. "God, Family, School" they will tell you is the most important aspect of the program. 
They will not help you.  If you have a question about a project, expect them to tell you that you are in grad school now and that is your decision. Or, they'll change the subject the day of and still expect it due.  The rubric is not clear and that leads to confusion Unfortunately, they told me in the interview that they have an open door policy. They do not have an open door policy.  Disorganized They have different professors grading your assignments and even when you write down what the professor said, word for word, it is wrong.  No clear answers from the professors Grades are not submitted  The tests are not based on notes. You will be literally given a test and have no idea what you are going to be tested on. It is a surprise.  Treat you like children You may be 21+ but be expected to be treated like a child Bad clinical placement They expect you to find your own clinic placement without any assistance. They do have a new DCE and he has been slightly helpful.  They also do not tell you that if you want to work at the VA you are not able to do so because they are not an established program SLP/SLP preceptors/SLP schools in Alabama know about Samford and their failures. I have a friend that is an SLP and spoke about how she knows several preceptors (mentors) that complain about the program and refuse to take Samford students.  They are having difficulty with making contracts with schools. I have one classmate that has to drive an hour away from the home. Another classmate was placed two hours away from her home. She had to call a nearby school to get that situated. They were helpful when pushed to actually change her clinical placement, but she still had to go out of her way to change the situation.  There is also difficulty in obtaining hours.  Do not listen to your concerns. When you complain about a professor or discuss issues they will 'pretend' like they care.  Also, for the teacher reviews at the end of the semester, they close it early so you can't review them.  I had one classmate that spoke to her supervisor, head of the program, head of the department, and the dean of the program. Could you believe that nothing came from it?  This school should be the last choice for you. Please ask me questions, I want to answer them and help you out. I do not want you to go to this program. I wish that you will go to any other school except this one. They care more about their new audiology program than the fact that they managed to lose 6 graduate students in two semesters. 

I am not able to answer all of your questions, but some programs do require a second language and those ones typically have less applications, probably giving you a better chance for admissions. For example, the University of Utah offers a MS and a MA, the MA requires you to have a second language. I'm not sure of other schools that do the same, but I'm sure there are some. You should definitely talk about your unique experience in your personal statement! 

Well, I promised myself if I ever got into grad school I would post on gradcafe to help others out there that are trying to as well. Hopefully this information inspires you to pursue your dream of becoming an SLP.  
Back story: When I was younger, I was diagnosed with a learning disability (auditory and visual processing). I always had to try harder in school than the average student. I went to community college after high school because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I always had a liking working with kids. In the back of my mind, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I hated subjects so I wasn't sure how that was going to work out lol. After researching Speech Pathology, I realized I wanted to be an SLP. I observed a few SLPs before I made the decision to transfer to a University and pursue a Bachelors degree in Speech Pathology. I was only accepted into one school in California because my cumulative GPA was a 2.6 (did I mention I HATE subject courses). After two grueling years pursuing a Bachelors degree in Speech, I managed to graduate with a 3.7 CDS GPA and 3.2 cumulative GPA. During the two year program, I had the WORST faculty. They were not supportive at all and had their favorites. It was terrible and I am so glad I am not going there for grad school. 
Ok, so this is how I got into grad school: 
I worked my ass off during my two year undergrad program by volunteering at a school (classroom and SLP), hospital (child life department), NSSLHA events, reading program, and an aphasia support group. I applied to three grad school programs my senior year, scored extremely low on the GRE and didn't get accepted. I even applied to my undergrad summer SLPA program and didn't get accepted. I knew I had to take a gap year and work in a related field. After I graduated, I worked as a behavioral therapist. It has almost been a year now since I started, and honestly, it was the best idea. It reassured me that I was meant to work with kids and become a therapist. I don't necessarily love ABA, since I have long in-home therapy sessions, but I believe this experience helped me get into grad school. I applied to 12 schools this time. I retook the GRE and scored a little higher, but still low. V:140, Q:145, A: 3.5.  I researched literally every single program on ASHA edfind with low GPA and GRE scores. Also, I rewrote my letter of intent and had it proof read from sooo many people. I was determined to get in. I ended up being accepted into one school, waitlisted for 3 schools and rejected from the rest. The school that I was accepted to is literally my number 1 choice. I was in shock. I finally did it. 
So what I am trying to say here is that, YOU CAN DO IT. Don't give up. If you really want it, you will make it happen. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me! Grad cafe really helped me research my schools and kept me up to date on the grad school process. I am so thankful for all the support on here. 
 

I feel like it depends on the programs you are applying to and the area you are looking at! I am from the NJ/NY/PA/D.C area and got into schools in all 3 states with a 3.2 GPA and average GRE Scores after waiting a year. I worked for a year, had killer recs and a personal statement, and CALLED the departments on a biweekly basis as well as emailed the programs to show to show my continued interest. 
Some programs look at students more holistically than others. I applied to 10 schools and got into 2 of them, then waitlisted at 5 (3 of which I got a yes from after frequent follow ups). Persistence is definitely KEY! Good Luck!