WannabSLP124

Great point @SRod2015! I also asked for feedback after being rejected, and it was really helpful. Every school I asked was willing to supply that information.

@kenz I feel like rankings can matter, but they aren't the only thing that matters. Look at what the programs offer: curriculum, faculty, specialty tracks, class size, etc. See which you feel will give you the better education based on your wants. At that point if they are about the same, then the ranking may matter - or finances. It's more important to be at a school that is a good fit for you rather than the rankings.

I was working as an SLPA (bachelor's level) so my pay would be less than and SLP's. In Phoenix I made $30 a visit and in Houston I made $45 a visit (started at $40). Keep in mind that is per visit, not an hour. In Phoenix it worked out nicely - 50 minute sessions and my next client would be 10 minutes away. In Houston it did not work out as nicely - 45-50 min sessions with my next client 30 minutes away, sometimes more depending on traffic. Although, that may have just been poor planning of the company. As an SLP you may also have a different rate for evaluations versus sessions, and eventually have the opportunity to supervise SLPA's. I believe a supervising SLP will often receive a small payment for each of their SLPA's appointments, whether you are present or not. You can supervise after you have been an SLP for 3 years. I would prep for my clients in the mornings - plan my sessions and get materials together - and do any needed paperwork (time sheets, progress reports, etc). Then I would go about my day. Drive from one appointment to the next. You have to write SOAP notes for each session, however in home health I found them to be really simple - not a lot of detail. Generally they would be done during the session. The company you work for usually gives you a template, or you may have to do them on an online database. If you have to do them online, you will likely have to do them at home. As far as scheduling goes I think children vs. adults will be quite different. One of the tough things with children was many of them need after school hours. I would have sparse appointments during the day, and booked in the afternoon/evening - until as late as I was willing to work. Luckily you can generally set your own hours, and I don't think this would be an issue for someone working with adults. My current supervisor sees adults both in her office and home health, and they generally want daytime appointments, as they are available. Another thing you will have to work into your schedule, is completing reports of the evaluations. From what I have seen home health companies will work you as much as they can. The more you work, the more money they make. They also NEED you so if you set limitations they will listen, you just have to speak up. So your schedule is really going to depend on what you want. I worked for a company I loved and one I hated. I think if you get in with a good company you will be happy doing home health!

Hello! I have worked in home health as a pediatric SLPA so my experience is limited to children. I have minimal experience with a SNF. Here is my limited input: Home Health Pros: pay is usually good, schedule flexibility, work closely with families/caregivers Home Health Cons: no shows/cancellations - effects pay, traffic/weather/driving conditions - depending on where you live * I worked as an SLPA in home health SNF: I only shadowed an SLP in a SNF for a couple of days. The biggest thing I noted is that most patients are being treated for dysphagia - which could be good or bad depending on your interests. The only bad thing I could say about it, was that there were some patients who were not cooperative with the SLP, which could be frustrating - but I'm not sure if that is typical.

@rach.mack Sooo helpful! The other school I am deciding on is University of Houston. I currently live in Houston, so obviously that is much easier and cheaper, but I don't love it here. I am super outdoorsy which is one of many reasons I want to go to UTHSC! I am very interested in getting as much medical experiences as possible - it seems UTHSC has a big medical focus. Aphasia and pediatric TBI are areas I definitely want to explore in grad school, but it doesn't seem that UTHSX has a focus/research in those areas. Maybe I am wrong though? I really appreciate your input. It is really helpful to know that financial assistance is unlikely. That's honestly the biggest reason I am having trouble deciding. UH would be around $20K for the entire program, whereas UTHSC will cost me $15k a semester. Program offerings seem pretty on par, aside from the medical focus. If grad school were free I would be packing my bags to go to Tennessee for sure! I suppose I can always move to Knoxville after school! lol Thank you so much for all the info!

Don't give up!!! I was in your boat not long ago. I applied 2x and rejected to all schools, not even a waitlist. This year I have been accepted to 2 schools, waitlisted at one, and still waiting on a couple more. My GPA is not high, my GRE is only a bit higher than average, and I didn't have a single professor write a letter of recommendation. After getting rejected 2 years in a row, I took a couple years to make myself a better applicant and broaden my options. I really hope you get in somewhere this year, but if for some reason you don't feel free to PM me with any questions. I was very analytical in this application cycle and think that's what helped me, in addition to some other things. Good luck!

I read somewhere that it has more to do with the college that it is in. For example if it is in a college of health sciences it is likely an MS and if it is in a college of social sciences, education, liberal arts then it is likely an MA. Not sure if that is accurate though! From my research it does not really matter when it comes to jobs!

University of Houston likes applicants with experience but they don't have spring admission.

Hi! Since you are an undergrad, I would love to hear what you think of UTHSC's program. I am so fortunate to have been admitted of the waiting list, and I am now deciding between two schools. Obviously I've looked into the program extensively before applying, but I was not able to visit the program - I don't have much "inside" info. Please share what you love about their program. Also, if you have heard anything about graduate assistantships and financial aid. If money was not an issue I think I would hands down choose UTHSC, but I am out of state so it's quite pricey. Thank you for any input about the program!

From my understanding your clinical fellowship year is not affiliated with a school. Your school MIGHT help you find one, but outside of that you're on your own. Think of it as a job with a mentor rather than education. As long as you get the licensed in the state you want to do your CFY in, it shouldn't matter where you went to school. You can find job posting for people willing to take on CFY's.

I'm with you on starting a more lucrative career sooner. I don't know that any part-time work would be enough to make up for that extra year, if you're just looking at the financial aspects. You could also look into assistantships and work study. The program I am going into allows students to start in the full-time program and if students need to, they can drop down to the part time. They did stress that the part time program still makes it difficult to hold a job, it's just less intense if you are struggling with the full-time program. I would check with the program to see if that's an option, or even ask them about the pros/cons specific to their program.

UH has a reputation for taking nontraditional applicants. Most of their grad students I have met are in their 30's like myself. I feel like you have that working for you with your work experience. I also volunteered for a couple years at a local organization that the dean is affiliated with. This not only helped with my resume, but 2 of my letters of recommendation came from people she knew and trusted. They also like for you to have your pre-reqs done, as they are very strict about you having everything done before starting the program. They are not as flexible on that as other programs when it comes to that.

I applied for my third cycle this year, and finally got in. I am still waiting on a few schools, but I was wait-listed at University of Tennessee Health Science Center (aka University of Tennessee - Knoxville) and Texas Woman's University. I got into University of Houston. My overall GPA is 3.22 via CSDCAS, and my major GPA was 3.57. So I am on the lower end of GPAs. Remember if an admissions committee can't decide between you and another candidate, they will likely let things like GPA and GRE make that decision. In this field there are so many GREAT candidates, that having lower stats do make it difficult. Try to build upon your resume and experience. Think what can I offer (and how can I show that I offer this) that no one (or very few) else has. Everyone applying knows it's competitive, so they all have volunteer experience, many have research experiences, speak multiple languages, etc. Make sure you are a really good fit for that school, and vice versa. I applied to many schools that were not a good fit for me because I felt they were a "safer" school, and guess what? I didn't get into any of those safer schools! Lastly, I was really fortunate that my current SLP supervisor did her undergrad at UH and knows what they like. She told me what they like and where to volunteer to make the right connections. Try to get this kind of information. Best of luck!

Congratulations! HARC is not really strict on that. Most of their volunteers are students, and many of them will be there one semester and leave the next because they don't have the availability with their new class schedule. It also gets really quiet around HARC during finals, because many volunteers are too busy to come in. I just got my acceptance to UH's grad program last week! I'm still waiting on a couple other schools, but more than likely I will end up at UH :-)

Yes, I heard from them this week. They seem to be sending them out slowly. I saw people posting results on Monday, and I found out on Wednesday. They sent me an email to check Apply Web, and when I logged in I was able to see my decision letter. I also received a copy in the mail a copy days later. Best of luck!

@lee09 That is tricky! I actually did my leveling courses online too, and I found that to be challenging. When there were discussion boards I tried to be really engaged, and stand out it what I posted - especially when the professor was participating. When I needed clarification or help I would discuss with the professor, rather than figure it out myself (or both!). What I WISH I had done, was reach out to them more to discuss the material during office hours. Once comfortable with them, seek out advice for graduate school, career, etc. I think if you try to get to know them that way, and are successful with it, I would then let them know of your plans to apply to graduate schools and ask if they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation when the time comes around. That way you are fresh in their head, and they are likely make an effort to remember you when it's time to write the letter. Also when that time comes around, I would send them a personal statement, your resume/CV, and hopefully have time to talk to them again. Even if you are only able to get 1 good recommendation letter from a professor in the field, I think that would good enough, since your other letters are strong. Depending on what the school wants in the personal statement, you may explain that you took your courses online making it difficult to get to know your professors - U of Memphis specifically told us (on the tour day) that if there are any "holes" in your app, and not explained in your statement you would likely not be admitted. This is where that good research comes in and going on campus tours! When I went to my visits, the schools also discussed what they liked in letters of recommendation - info you would not find on the admissions process webpage - I can't stress going to these visits enough . For example, UT-Austin liked to see a variety of letters - professor, employer, volunteer supervisor, research, etc. whereas U of Memphis mostly wanted to see letters from academic experiences.

Hello! Don't be too discouraged. I think it's great that you have a plan B with Montana, and 8-9 schools is definitely enough! It's not so much about how many you apply to but the quality of your application - which can vary from school to school. I actually think some school like applicants from other fields, especially fields that are related because it will make you more well rounded and have knowledge in other areas. While researching I saw quite a few programs that offered either 2 or 3 year plans depending on what you have in your background. This year was my 3rd time applying, and so far in this cycle I got 1 acceptance and 2 wait-lists. I applied a few years ago and got rejected everywhere - not knowing how competitive it was. I felt lost, and applied again the following year, but I didn't really do anything to make myself a better candidate. Naturally I got rejected again. I did reach out to the programs I applied to and asked for any feedback about my application, and all schools responded. They told me things that helped other candidates stand out. I spent the past 3ish years gaining new experiences to help me get in. Not only do they build your resume, but it's much easier to write personal statements when you have experience to talk about. I moved to a different state that had more in-state programs, and applied to more programs this year. I have worked as an SLPA for 5 years - which may not be an option for you, but you could try to work in a related field like special education, habilitation, etc. I also volunteered at a speech and language non-profit - which the dean of one of the schools I was applying for, was affiliated with. I also researched the schools and programs better, and applied to schools that I matched with better in terms of GRE and GPA scores, being a non-traditional student, interests, etc. I think applying to the right programs is super important. I got flat out rejected at a few "safe" schools that I didn't really want to go to, but wait listed at schools at schools I didn't think I had a chance at (stats wise), but felt matched well with my interests. My GPA is not high - overall 3.22, major 3.56. As I am sure you have seen on here, that is pretty low for this program. If I can do it, you definitely can! Another thing I would highly suggest, is visiting the schools. You get so much more information from actually visiting than researching, and it shows you are really interested. I know it may be expensive, but I would at least try to visit your top choices. If you don't get in this cycle and end up doing the leveling program, be sure to make connections with your professors. Good letters of recommendation are really important. Good luck! I really hope this cycle works out for you, because I know how discouraging and financially difficult it can be to apply multiply times!

Sorry for the super slow response! HARC is really interesting because it's run by SLPs but it's not "therapy". They have group sessions (conversation groups, book clubs, music, art, etc.) and the volunteers are there to assist the participants and SLPs. The main thing is helping the participants communicate. Occasionally they ask for admin help, but not very often. You observe for 3 days before you start volunteering so you will get the hang of it. Also I had a low cumulative GPA (3.22) and I got in! So don't let that discourage you! I think your high verbal score will definitely help too. Good luck!

I am waiting to hear on this school too! I saw 1 person put that they were accepted on the results search, but nothing else. The wait is brutal!

I loved it, but did not get into the program sadly. Did you get in? If so congrats! The facilities were beautiful and very new. The new building was made about a year and half ago so everything is top of the line. CSD and nursing share the building, and you will be in this building for everything - so no running around a campus. There's lots of study space, the classrooms, library, and clinic are all very nice. My favorite thing about it was that it feels very professional. Not stuffy professional but it doesn't feel like you're at school (I am in my 30s so I like that a lot!). The professors I met were very easy to talk to, and seemed very passionate. The grad students seemed very happy to be there, and they really emphasized how collaborative the experience is - everyone from other students to faculty is very helpful. There is no undergrad program so the professors are very much available to the grad students. Let me know if you have any specific questions that I may be able to answer!

I would love to give my two cents as their are pros and cons here. In both AZ and TX, I was able to complete my hours for state licensure with an SLP in the state. I did not have to pay, but I did have to put in a lot of my time to get those hours and find an SLP who was willing to do it. A problem I have run into, is moving states. When I moved to TX I had already been working as an SLPA in AZ for 3 years, yet I still had to get the state required observation hours again. It took a months to find an SLP willing to take me on, and another month or so to get the hours. I had to take a significant pay cut and work in retail while trying to get these hours. If I had observation hours from my university, this wouldn't have been an issue. If there's any chance you may move in the future, I would highly suggest sucking it up and taking the course.

Hello! I have been an SLPA for 5 years. It was my plan to become an SLPA before applying to grad school, but I was hoping to be in a program by now! I love working as an SLPA and I am so happy that I chose that route. I think I will be much better prepared for grad school when that happens (hopefully this year!). It has also given me the opportunity to see if it really is a good fit for me before investing into grad school. I have met SLPs who went straight through undergrad to grad school, and they have realized that they don't like it as much as they thought. I'm not sure what the job market is like where you're from, but it can vary from place to place. I have worked in Phoenix and Houston and did not have much difficulty finding jobs. I recommend being in an independent contractor over an employee if you are good with handing your finances. The hardest thing was getting my observation hours. I earned did my program online and therefore was unable to get university approved observation hours, so I had to go about that independently not only when I got my initial license, but also when I moved states. If you're still in school and haven't gotten those hours, make sure you do! This cycle will be my 3rd time applying, so hopefully I get in! I have worked hard to strengthen my application through work experiences and volunteer experiences. If I don't get in I may have to suck it up and take some more classes. The pos-bacc classes really depend on the school University of Houston for example, requires you enroll in the entire post-bacc program. I took 1 pre-requisite I was missing for some colleges I applied to at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire online - and it was super easy to register, and get signed up for just the class I needed. The tuition wasn't too bad either I think I paid about 1,200 for a 3 credit course - and I was able to do it in 2 payments. Sorry that was a lot, but if you have any other questions about being an SLPA feel free to DM me!

I toured the campus and the grad student I met said their are GA positions and work study programs.

I am waitlisted at one of my top choices too! University of Tennessee -Knoxville. Still waiting on other schools, but I'm a little worried about what to do if I get offered admission at another school that I don't want to go to as badly! I think the waitlist process varies by school. UT doesn't send out offers or rank their waitlist until after the April 15 deadline. I know other schools will already have theirs ranked, and send offers as students decline their admission offers. I would check check in with your program, and I'm sure they will let you know!

This is a complicated question! It really depends on you! I also earned a bachelor's degree in another field, and then earned an SLPA certificate. I lived in AZ at the time, where they do not require a CSD bachelor's to obtain your state license, so I was able to start working after taking courses for a year. I did complete the remaining courses to have my bachelor's, which is good because I did end up moving to TX where you do need your bachelor's in CSD. I'm glad I started as an SLPA first, because I know what it's like to work in the field and I know I want to continue. Grad school is a big investment, and I have met some SLPs who went straight through undergrad and master's who never worked in the field, and aren't as in love with it as they thought. Another reason I'm happy I did it the way I did is with the way I learn, it will be really beneficial for me to have experience and cases to apply new information to. With that being said, when I went through all this the leveling programs were fairly new and I had I known what I know now, I may have chosen that route. If you are certain being an SLP is a good fit for you, then you will probably save money and start earning a higher income faster if you do the leveling courses and then grad school. Either way you go be sure that you really understand how competitive it is to get into grad programs, and keep that in mind while going through the program (ie. volunteer, participate in research if you can, shadow SLPs, do your best to get straight A's, etc). Best of luck!