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@Puffer Fish Shoot! I would keep calling in for those observation hours (I am running into the same problem of no one calling me back, too!) or maybe a short-term low-commitment volunteer experience? I know it's not ideal, but I was told by a professor at a program's open house to call and get a LoR fro a professor, even if it's been many years. You already have two academic letters, so maybe that would be your last choice.

@DCROSS I have an edit to make! I went to an open house for a school in the town I live in that is very competitive (CU Boulder) and I asked specifically about LoRs since I've been out of school for a while. The professor told me to get a letter from a professor no matter what, even if it means they don't remember me. I know you are already planning to get a letter from a professor, but I just wanted to correct my post for you and others!

I have a 3.3 GPA due to getting poor grades my first 3 semesters of college. I took a semester off after this and received a 3.73 when I went back to school (English major). I graduated 5 years ago. I have been working as a language therapist for a year and a half (mostly kids, some adults, all with language and other related disorders). I am calling around to shadow SLPs in other settings and to get some volunteer experience. My work experience before this job was not directly related to the SLP profession. I anticipate getting Q-150 V-160, AW- 4.5 or 5 on the GRE later this month. I am taking one class this semester (stats). I thought about being an SLP long before finding my current job, but do not have experience to show it. My question is: Is it worth it for me to apply to 3-year programs with my GPA? I was planning to apply to 3-year grad programs and leveling programs, but I'm wondering if it is even worth trying for the grad programs this round.

I think you could apply to leveling programs, but there is not guarantee you will be admitted, of course. Use your POS to talk about why your cumulative GPA is mediocre (undergrad) and highlight the steps you've taken since then. A 3.56 is not stellar for SLP programs but you can see on these forums that people get into leveling programs with the same GPA. I can't imagine schools would care that much about an undergraduate GPA if you can show them you are able to perform academically in your Master's. Your experience becomes much more important as someone coming back to school as well. However, as you can see in my signature, I also have a 3.3 GPA due to poor grades my first year of college - 8 years ago (*facepalm!*). I am also deciding if it is worth applying to leveling programs. I cannot address whether a leveling program or second degree program is the better option, though!

1. Do you have a higher GPA with the last 60 credits? There are schools that only look at the last 60 credits. You can find a list of them on this forum. 2. Make sure to explain (appropriately) why your GPA suffered in your POS. 3. Retaking the GRE is a great idea! 4. I think your experience looks good. 5. Make sure to get that letter from your prof. I am also an out-of-field applicant who has been out of school for a while, and I am only going to be able to apply to schools that do not require letters from faculty. I do work as a language therapist at a clinic with a steep learning curve, and my recommenders can attest to my ability to work hard an learn quickly. However, it will look better to have one from a prof! I think it's fine if your other two are from previous employers, if they are good references. Can you get one from a volunteer supervisor if you worked with them a lot? I imagine that getting recommendations from people who know you and have great things to say is better than contacting other professors who may or may not remember you. (Also, FYI, my coworker got into top programs this year with NO academic references, but his numbers were much better than ours.) It will be hard with your GPA (mine, too!) but if you are smart about where you apply you have a shot! Look up "least competitive SLP schools" on this forum. There are some applicants on that thread who were admitted with some low numbers. Check their signatures to see where they applied. One last thing... I am also applying to post-bacc programs because of my GPA in case I do not get into a leveling program. You may want to do this, or look into where you would want to do prereqs next year, to keep moving forward. Good luck!!!

I second what jmk said. It sounds like you only have to use CSDCAS for one school. Schools have specific instructions on how to send in materials on their websites. Also, don't be afraid to call admissions offices if you have questions!

@Kate22192 You're not unprepared to apply this Fall! There are a lot of moving pieces I'm realizing as I'm getting ready to apply. As you guessed, CSDCAS is a centralized website to submit applications. I think most (but not all schools) REQUIRE this application - it is decided by the school, not the applicant, on whether you need to use this. You submit all application materials through this (transcript info, LoR, POS, etc.) Schools often also ask for a supplemental application (just to make things more stressful!) Here is a link to their website: http://www.capcsd.org/csdcas-student-page/ Make sure to check application information/requirements for each school individually - they vary by school.

Me, too @SopranoSLP! I have been out of school for five years. Also taking the GRE soon - in 4 weeks - and trying to take deep breaths about the quant section, ha ha. I am applying to post-baccs as well as leveler programs, though it is unlikely I will get into any grad programs this round. Good luck! Keep us updated!

1. I second what Auuudriana said. Write one generic one and tailor it for each school. You may have to write additional SOPs, depending on the schools' requirements. 2. I do not think it matters on the order you send application materials in. The admissions office will see your application as a "package" as soon as everything is submitted. Applications will then be passed onto a review committee. I think this especially is true for schools that require the CSDCAS application. 3. What kind of extracurriculars are they? I think all of them can be related somehow. I would include them. Good luck!!!

You're making me feel bad about my stats! Ha ha. Your application looks good. I just know that friends of mine were accepted and rejected from schools that they did not expect, so cast a decent net. Your list of schools looks good. Now focus on that SOP!

I agree with fuzzylogician - many recommenders will want to see a draft of your SOP before writing a letter. They may also ask you if there is anything you need highlighted in your application, if they know you well enough. Be prepared to draft an SOP if this is the case. They know you are still in the process, but it helps them make your application cohesive. I am not sure when you want to have everything submitted for your applications, but I would suggest asking for LoR in October to be safe. earlier wouldn't hurt, as another poster noted. Just politely remind them via email a couple of weeks before your deadlines if you haven't received anything yet.

This forum has some great resources. Search "less competitive SLP programs" and you will find a couple of lists. I also suggest reading the signatures of people to find people with lower GPAs and where they were accepted. I'm not sure if any schools specifically don't care much about GPA. Some schools look at the last 60 credits - if that is favorable for you, you can search topics on this forum for lists of schools that look at the last 60. Every school is different. Some have a minimum GPA requirement, others don't. Some schools rate each part of your application from 1-5 and choose from their highest-ranking students. Some look at each application individually without rating them. Generally, a good GPA in prerequisites can offset a bad GPA in other classes. If you are comfortable, can you be more specific about your stats and grades? Good luck!

Yes, sending emails is appropriate, and yes, professors are used to this. Write a formal email reminding them of which classes you were in of theirs, and if there is anything in particular that would help them remember you. Let them know what you're applying for, clearly. My friend got an email back from a professor after many years out of school saying he did not think he was the best reference since he did not remember having him in class. However, my friend wrote an email back to the professor explaining his situation (that he had been out of school for some time) and why he felt he was the right professor to ask. I am not saying to get a LoR from someone who doesn't know you, but it shows that professors are aware of our varying situations and usually want to help!

@Puffer Fish I am thinking of applying to up to 12 leveling programs and maybe five post-baccs. I'm still not sure about that, though - I'm worried it will be too much! I am taking stats and a comm disorder prereq in the Fall, but that's it. I am shooting for the stars, but I am trying to be realistic and be okay with getting into just post-baccs! My GPA is also lower than I thought it would be - I did not realize initially that the GPA I send in will include ALL transcripts, not just what I was awarded by the university I graduated from. Thankfully, I have direct one-on-one language therapy experience at my position right now, so I am hoping that will help me get into school at some point.

It's hard to tell who the admissions committees want, and you may be exactly what they're looking for! I will be applying to CU as well!

I can't answer all of your questions, but I will try! Schools say you need to reach the 300 mark on the GRE to be competitive, but it sounds like they really want to see higher scores. However, there is a range of scores and I obviously can't tell you for certain what the magic GRE score is. Also, I'm sure you are aware of this and I am definitely not saying you should not apply, but in case you weren't sure... CU Boulder (I live in Boulder) gets over 500 applicants for about 30 spots with a mix of leveling and regular students. Teacher's College has over 800 applicants for maybe 50-60 spots (I'm not positive of how many they admit). Anyway, it is very competitive. I would suggest you add a few less competitive schools to your list. You can search the threads here for "less competitive slp programs" for long lists of suggestions. Also, are you picky with where you live? That makes a difference. Your experience is great! Your 3.5 is not "great" for SLP apps but it's good, and many schools ask that you meet that 3.5 to even apply so meeting that minimum is a good thing. Let us know how everything goes, good luck!

I'm also applying for 2017! I am an out-of-field applicant working on studying for the GRE and narrowing down my list of schools to apply to. Yes, many stressful days already! Let's keep each other updated!

It's hard to answer this, because every school is different and I am not sure what "low" means to you. You can offset a poor score with other things, like GRE, LoR, and your personal statement, and some schools don't even require the GRE. Some schools don't look at applications that don't meet a certain score/GRE, and some schools assign a number rating system to each part of your application (you might get a 2 for GRE scores, but a 5 in all other areas, for example.)

I am working on my tentative list of schools to apply to. Due to my low GPA, I am inclined to apply to more schools, but I have read contradicting advice: that this can be a great idea or that I may be spreading my efforts too thinly if I am applying to too many schools. I am thinking of applying to as many as 10-15 three-year programs, as well as a handful of post-baccs. What do you guys think? Also, I am worried I have too many reach schools on my list. Is the only way to determine what a "reach" school is by calculating % of applicants admitted? What is a low/high percentage? Thanks!

Also, your LoR plan sounds perfect. Faculty and SLPs are the way to go for recommendations.

Check out individual program websites for average GPA of accepted students. Your GPA is great! For the very competitive schools, your 3.6 may be a little below their average but is still competitive. Your experience makes up for this. I don't know how high your GRE scores will be but from what you wrote, you are a very competitive applicant overall. I recently realized I have to count some low grades post-high-school into my cumulative GPA for applications (the university I graduated from did not count this in my GPA.) This changed my overall GPA drastically. I freaked out at first, but I am finding many people on this forum that were admitted into programs without a stellar GPA. This makes me think that you are going to be more than fine, especially with all of your experience! Side note: I have heard that admissions seems almost random - I have friends who got into top programs in the country and weren't admitted to the "less competitive" ones, so plan to apply to more than a couple of programs if you can.

I didn't think to check the CSDCAS website, but it looks like you are right. I don't want to risk seeming dishonest and not reporting a transcript. My stress levels just increased dramatically but I'm glad I found this out now :/ Thanks!

Mary, Judging from what I have read on this forum, I absolutely think you have a chance of getting into SLP school! I also think you will need to write a killer personal statement, try to find good LoRs, and apply strategically. Also, I don't know if this is good advice, but my coworker will be entering an SLP grad program this fall, and he ignored the suggestions of getting LoRs from faculty since he had been out of school a few years. This may not be an option for schools that say they are "required," and it may be different for him because his numbers were high. You could take a class this fall to get a LoR - people on this website have said that they did this prior to getting into grad school. You can also request letters from SLPs you've shadowed. There are many people on gradcafe that did not have very high GPAs and got into programs - it sounds like they did their research on schools to make sure they had a chance at acceptance and worked hard to show they were committed. Check around this forum for posts about this topic. Here are a couple I found (also, twinguy7 might be a good person to follow - it sounds like he planned well and put in the extra effort and was accepted into a program): I just found this one quickly (your GPA is not "embarrassingly low," FYI!):

Thanks in advance for your advice! I had a terrible GPA my first 3 semesters of undergrad. I don't remember the number, but I'm pretty positive it was under 3.0. I took a semester off before transferring to a school that did not count GPAs from transfer credits, and graduated with a 3.73. I know I need to submit my transcript from my first 3 semesters, but do I need to factor that GPA into my overall GPA to enter into applications, even though the institution I graduated from awarded me a 3.73? If so, I think I will have to totally change my application plan. Eek!

Sorry, I must not have read your post fully! The link I provided is a list of "leveling tracks," which integrate most prerequisites into the master's program. I am not sure of the most affordable prereq options, but most schools that offer master's degrees also offer 1-year post-bacc programs. I have heard that it is cheaper to take prerequisites on your own though, rather than entering a post-bacc program. Good luck!