ElKel87

I don't think that's too bold a question at all! I think asking what they believe sets it apart makes it fine to ask. Obviously you know why you think it's special enough to apply to, you're looking for their perspective on what makes the program great. I usually ask for info on how the clinical placements/externships are chosen and how much input I would have (if any). At one open house I attended they implied that students would be responsible for finding their own externships in the near future. That info was nowhere on their website and they definitely would not have volunteered the info if I didn't ask. Another school told me they have a big committee that looks closely at each student and their strengths/weaknesses when assigning placements (that's the ideal, IMHO). Edited to add: Congrats on your interview requests! My friend went to Mercy for SLP a few years ago (c/o 2012) and really liked it. Good luck

I've only received one acceptance so far, so can't speak for all schools, but the deposit for this one school was $500. I think that what @deblee said is true for most schools, but not all. For example, the school I mentioned above does rolling admissions. They have said both in person and in their acceptance letter to me that once the class is full, it's full. So if you get accepted but wait til April 15 to hear from other schools and all spots are taken, you are put on a priority waitlist and may ultimately not be able to attend. They said that has happened to students before. If you find yourself in the situation you described, I would call the school that accepted you and confirm that you will not lose your seat if you wait until April 15 to commit/submit a deposit. Just to be safe.

Does anyone know if CUNY Hunter is conducting interviews this year? I know they did last year but didn't in 2015. I've seen some interview requests on the results page for CUNY Queens and CUNY Brooklyn but nothing for Hunter yet (though I noticed no one posted on the results page for Hunter interviews last year either so...). I called the general grad admissions office and they weren't sure and directed me to the SLP department. Have called the department number twice and no one answers.

@SpeechLaedy It says they were notified via email. If you scroll to the very top of this page, there are tabs that say Browse, Activity, Results, Leaderboard. Or, I think this link should work, too: http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/ I think I stalk that more than I stalk the forum haha. I usually just type in "speech" and search and then it lists all the results chronologically. Goes back a couple of years so you can see when people were notified in the past for certain schools.

@SpeechLaedy Hey! Not sure if you saw already but someone just posted on the results page that they got an interview request via email today for CUNY Brooklyn - their interview is scheduled for next week. I haven't heard anything but I submitted my app about a week before the deadline, not sure if that has anything to do with it or not. Just wanted to give you a heads up!

@edardi1 I'm in the same boat. I work full time so completed all my pre-reqs online and have been worrying about the same thing. However I felt like my online classes required a lot more writing assignments than they would have in a classroom setting, which really helped me synthesize the information. I'm also someone who struggles with memorization, so for Anatomy specifically, having the tests be open book took a lot of the pressure off which allowed me to focus more on the concepts and how everything worked together instead of cramming to memorize every muscle. So in the end I actually think the open book nature of the tests helped me remember more, or at least more of what's important, in the long run. I'm also leaning towards attending the one graduate school I applied to that doesn't require SLP pre-reqs (other than the ASHA ones - stats, bio, etc.). At the open house they said that by the end of October of the first semester they can't tell the difference between the people who came into the program with a undergrad degree in SLP and those who did not. So, depending on the program, it may be more of a level playing field than we think.

Wanted to post a quick update to say that I received an acceptance from this program yesterday! Maybe I'm not the only one who doesn't know how to read directions properly!

@jacquelyn22g This thread might be helpful for you! People have posted some suggested questions that have been asked in the past/might be asked.

Congratulations!!! Crossing my fingers for you! I had an interview at NY Medical earlier this month and they asked me to bring a copy of my resume (I brought a few extra copies just in case) and a wallet sized photo. I also brought a copy of my personal statement so I could read through it on the trip there and while I waited. Good luck!

I had to do one Skype interview as part of the interview process for the job I currently have (not speech related) because the woman I was interviewing with had a crazy travel schedule and we weren't able to meet in person. I have 3 pieces of advice. First, make sure you are dressed professionally, the same way you would be if it was an in-person interview. Even if they can only see you on screen from the waist up, it helps you feel and act more professionally and gets you into the right mindset. Second, I would test out your camera to see what the background behind you looks like before the interview. Ideally it's as neutral as possible, so they aren't distracted (i.e.: I would not do the interview sitting on your bed as that can come across as very casual, like you're not taking it seriously). Third, make sure you aren't cutting the interviewer off or talking over him or her accidentally. Maybe this is just me and/or it was nerves, but I found that I did that more in a Skype interview than I ever have in person. Good luck!

I interviewed at NY Medical (got the request the last week in January via email). I submitted my application really early (I think on 12/3) but I was waiting for a grade for the biology class I took in the fall so they may not have actually looked at it until early January.

@rheya19 Hahaha I definitely thought about it. But they would have figured it out eventually since I was apparently THE ONLY ONE (the only 30-year-old in a group of twelve 21-year-old applicants) who made this mistake. Department Chair: ಠ_ಠ Other Applicants: Me: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I have one from an interview I recently attended at my top choice school. There were 2 writing assignments for us to do while we waited for our individual interviews. The one I chose to complete second had very specific instructions for how to use the two pieces of scrap paper they gave us. I had already used one of the scrap papers on the first assignment so I screwed that up right off the bat. On top of that, I accidentally held onto the instruction sheet for the first assignment and the department chair had to come out before we all went on our campus tour and ask who hadn't handed the instructions back in (in front of everyone). The interview itself went great but I think part of the writing assignment task was to show you're not an idiot and know how to follow convoluted directions so.... not getting my hopes up for that school.

@WanaBSLP I think it depends on the program. I had an interview yesterday at one school and the department chair told me they prefer students like me i.e.: people who are from a different field and have some life experience. I don't think that's the norm but there are definitely some schools that are more welcoming to non-traditional students than others. I was able to get a good idea from the open houses I attended.

Of the ones on your list I applied to two CUNYs (Hunter and Brooklyn) and LIU Brooklyn. I haven't heard back from any of them other than to confirm they received my materials. If you check the results tab it looks like last year people didn't start hearing back until late February or March for most of those so I think you're/we're okay!

Ah I'm so glad it worked out!!! Maybe this will earn me good karma points aka an acceptance at one of the schools I applied to

@SpeechLaedy Ugh that's so frustrating. Michelle's email is MTuitt@brooklyn.cuny.edu, she's the Associate Director of Admissions. I hope they're able to track down your stuff - sending positive vibes!

One year a long time ago, there were penguins who didn't wear hats when swimming. This made their mothers livid. "Unacceptable!" Frightened, they screamed, "Bears!" Nobody seemed convinced so instead of going swimming they tried juggling. Their mothers tried everything they thought would teach her a skill. However, she couldn't even make oatmeal without disastrous results. So, the penguins gathered money (obviously) trying to purchase a bear. Towering over them, a grizzly beast danced, devouring all bears with such ferocity that even God enjoyed it. Afterwards, God congratulated the penguins and applauded them. "You did it!" Suddenly, the grizzly beast started dancing vigorously. There was an acromantula nearby. It challenged the preconception that magical mushrooms were magical. Sparkling, the magical mushrooms were spreading throughout town. Nobody with pyromania thought grilled cheese would spontaneously erupt into nine identical squirrels! Nevertheless, the penguins elucidated the benefits of sparkling water from Iceland. Suddenly, Iceland exclaimed, "Enough!!! No more penguins. Kill all of the arcades on Monday because King Arthur suffered from sphenisciphobia." Tragically, everyone forgot lasers cure bug madness, meaning none of them stripped the violet beast of his powerful jaw bones.

@mmartin767 I'm also interested in working with that population! I always feel like I'm in the minority since I didn't get into this field to work with kids so it's nice to know I'm not alone I think his experience, GPA and GRE scores are great and really wouldn't worry about the GRE quant score too much. I also don't think that his nontraditional status will harm him, in fact I think it could help (again, depending on the school). I'm also a nontraditional student who got my bachelors in an unrelated field about 8 years ago. My experience in researching programs and perusing this forum is that many nontraditional students with less than perfect scores get accepted over students fresh out of undergrad with a 4.0 and a CSD degree. Programs often want a diverse cohort and people who have life experience and/or a degree from a different field can bring a new perspective. This isn't the case at every school, and maybe I'm biased and won't be this optimistic at the end of this application season, but hopefully that helps reassure you a little.

@mmartin767 Every school is different, but I have heard many say they value the verbal and especially the writing score more than the math. What did he score on the writing portion (I'm assuming high with a Ph.D. in English and a perfect verbal score)? I have also heard that, for some schools, as long as you break 300 you're okay. Is he applying to schools that put less weight on the GRE? Or schools that adopt a "holistic approach" to reviewing applications? The only other thing I can think of is his statement of purpose. I'm sure it is extremely well-written given his background, however what does he say about his motivation for switching to SLP? You mention in your post that the job market for Ph.D.'s in English is horrendous which is what lead him to pursue speech. That on its own may not be enough for many admissions committees, they need to believe he is genuinely interested in the field. Personally, I think his prerequisite grades and volunteer experience show that but maybe it's not coming through in his SOP? I'm no expert, just my personal opinion. Good luck!

When I went to an open house the woman from admissions who was running it said it was okay to send certain things to the grad admissions office via email. I had already submitted most of my documents in the mail at that point, but I was editing and over-analyzing my statement of purpose down to the wire so I figured email would give it a better chance of getting there on time (not the case apparently!). It's surprising to me that they don't have a fully digital application the way Hunter does, but they did mention at the open house that they were working on it for next year. If you sent things in by mail a few days ago I'm sure they've received by now! If anything is still showing up as not received in your account, you could try emailing Michelle Tuitt at the admissions office. She was really helpful to me when I reached out with questions and responded pretty quickly.

@Maria70593 I had the same problem with the form for LOR! I also asked at the open house if it was okay for me to only submit 1 academic (and 2 professional) as opposed to 2 academic letters since I've been out of school for almost 10 years. They told me it was fine. Then when I happened to check my application portal it suddenly went from complete to incomplete and when I called they told me it was because I DO need 2 academic letters. Good thing I checked/called! They have been very nice and supportive whenever I call or email but the disorganization makes me nervous. Glad I'm not the only one having that experience.

@Maria70593 What did you think of the LIU Brooklyn application process? They seem a little disorganized to me but it's so competitive and I'm also out of field so I was afraid not to apply. @JcSLP Just curious, which NY school did you cross off your list because the application seemed excessive? I briefly had one on my list too that I nixed for the same reason, plus the location was kinda inconvenient for me. I think it was Adelphi?

Personally I would check with each school just in case. Everyone seems to have a different preference. Ideally they would tell you that you can just email them your unofficial transcripts directly so you can avoid the whole CSDCAS thing!

Hi! That's actually the one online course they offer that I didn't take! None of my schools required it. But I took 4 other courses online there and loved them. I think it varies depending on the professor, some were more involved than others. The work is assigned by week but there is no set time you are required to log in, you just have to complete the assignments on time, usually by 11:59pm CST every Sunday. It's all done through Canvas - which is basically like Blackboard, but easier to navigate I thought. Most professors post a weekly lecture, either via narrated powerpoint or video, and then there are readings and weekly graded discussion board posts, along with various other assignments. Overall I found the workload for all the courses I took to be pretty manageable while working full time. If that's the only course you'll be taking at the time you should be totally fine. If you have any other questions about the way the online courses are set up, feel free to message me!