SpeechLaedy

Lol! Well, $75 is a small price to pay if there happens to be an oversight on their part and they end up giving you a full scholarship ? And the interview went well (IMO). If you or anyone would like any details, feel free to PM me. But yeah, I guess we'll see what happens. All the best to you though! Maybe you'll get an interview anyhow! lol

Look into applying for GAs and apply for everything , even things you don't think you're qualified for. I ended up getting a GA last minute and it saved me so much money for out of state tuition. On the downside it's a 20 hour Ga but on the positive side I have a free ride for 2 years. I guess it doesn't come without hard work! Don't be discouraged. Have you tried to talk to the dean or your director? Sometimes they know about othed GAs on campus 

I really don't think so. I think they just check to set that you had them. I'm pretty sure their more concerned with your last 60 or your overall performance in the SLP/CSD courses. You can always email the schools to ask if they take the grades of those prerequisite courses into account for admission (without telling them what you got in them or disclosing that you've already applied, etc) 

Wow, it is??? I must have missed that. Thanks so much for the clarification. My apologies if my presence here for the last 8 months has offended anyone.

There is no forum for PhD CSD, so I've been hanging out here the entire app cycle. If anyone has a problem with that, please feel free to file a complaint with the GradCafe police.

psycD, aren't you doing a phd in CSD? I have a masters in CSD and while the research is related, it's not a clinical/professional degree. this forum is for speech path programs...

My list:
Backpack
Ink Pens
Snow Boots
Sanuk Flip-Flops
A 4-year supply of Kleenex to catch my tears
Alcohol

just a sidenote
 
if you have microsoft office, it has a program called one note, literally for taking lecture notes, and it also takes video and audio. so it organizes all your notes and records lectures at the same time.
 
it has been a lifesaver

As a current SLP grad student (halfway there!), I would like to share what I have found to be important purchases over the past year:
Laptop (an obvious one, but seriously invaluable. I bought a MacBook Air and have had no compatibility issues, although I did purchase a student subscription to Microsoft Office. The Word Notebook feature that someone mentioned is great!). Games! Our clinic has some, but it's not uncommon for pieces to be missing or things to be broken. It's nice to have my own. I wouldn't spend a ton of money, but if you can get them cheap or here and there (BNJ2017 has the right idea!). A few popular ones: Pop the Pig, Gooey Louie, Cariboo (no longer available, but sometimes you can find them at yard sales or thrift stores), Jenga, Headbanz, etc. The best games tend to be those that can be modified for whatever purposes.  Books for collecting language samples: A Porcupine Named Fluffy (two copies, one to read and one to cover with tape), the Frog books by Mercer Mayer, Doctor De Soto (two copies), etc. I bought the books used in the SALT databases. Although we can check them out, they are relatively low price and nice to have available at any time. Plus I have kids, and they like them, too. Files/folders. I was always one to use binders, but now I find that files/folders make things much easier and less bulky. I make a file for each client in which to keep data sheets, protocols, notes, etc., and a folder for each class. When the quarter is over, I shred the client documents that don't get placed into the client's clinic file, and I place the syllabus and other important papers from class in a binder for reference and safe-keeping. Clipboard that has storage for papers. If you're extra cool, you'll get the one with the separate compartment for pens. A watch. You can use your phone, but I find it easier (and less distracting to kids) to use a watch to keep track of time. Timers are also a great idea, if your clinic doesn't have them (or you want your own). A small flashlight for oral mechanism examinations. Your phone's flashlight will not cut it. Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology: A Resource Manual by Kenneth G. Shipley and Julie G. McAfee. Expensive, but worth every penny! It's like several books into one. It has so much information and includes pages for copying to use in your assessments. Sharpies and dry erase markers. We have whiteboards and markers for use in clinic, but the markers don't always work. I can never find a Sharpie when I need it. (I must confess that I haven't bought markers; I borrow from others :/ They're on my "To Buy" list). Red wine, craft beer  Also, there is NOTHING lame about a wheeled backpack/bag. Many people have them, and they look professional. For voice recorders, most people use their phones (or laptops in class). I guess it would depend on your school's policy about recording clinic sessions. This may be a very individualized list, however, I hope it gives you an idea of the things that you may need in grad school. Good luck to everyone! 

It would be lame but you gotta do what you gotta do hahaha

Thank you so much for all of this! I don't know why I find it so confused haha. I just don't want to make a mistake and think I'll be able to transfer my license afterwards and find out I actually can't. So thank you!

I should add, once y earn your CCC's, moving states appears to be way easier. So consider doing your C's in the same state as your masters program, then move.

Transferring your license is known as "reciprocity" (same as what teachers do when they move states). In the ASHA page you read, there is a list of states 29 plus DC and if memory serves me correctly, these are states with the reciprocity agreement. To change from one state to another, you just apply for a license in that state (usually around $50) and submit your copy of your previous state's license, sometimes also the praxis test scores. If the state you are going to eventually work in does NOT have reciprocity with the state where you complete your masters degree and initial licensure, you need to verify that your masters program individually meets the licensure requirements for that state. There are only a few states in that category on the ASHA page. Always verify licensure requirements with each states dept. of instruction or education, or possibly even the legals statutes, which you can search online for most states.

There may be circumstances when you don't have to pay to apply for a new license in the state where you move, it depends on whether the state will recognize your previous license as it stands, or if they want to issue you a new one, which some employers may prefer. Sounds like NY might be like that, based on your description in the OP.

What I am doing, since we are very likely going to be moving to South Carolina some time after I graduate, either immediately or after completing my C's, I am going to apply for both NC and SC licensure and make sure I met both states requirements as I do the hours of clinic that are required (that's usually the only difference).

A Skilled Nursing Facility. Rehab center, basically. PSLF is easier in schools because they all qualify as public service, if they're public schools. Few hospitals are public/not for profit. 

Look into other jobs! I joined care.com and got a job babysitting. In big cities, I know they pay $15-20 an hour babysitting or more, depending on location. I know in NY it has to be big pay, too!!! Also, I don't know your background, but you can make even more if you are a teacher or come from a school based job and find a tutoring job. Much better pay and fun job  

Use GreenlightTestPrep!!! Same people who do the Magoosh videos give you the same videos but they are FREE!! And they are very responsive on their website GreenlightTestPrep.com. I highly recommend it. Definitely helped me a lot.
 
And also, see if you can practice with someone to prepare for interviews. Research how people with anxiety deal with interviews and see if anything others have done may be able to help you as well. Don't give up! I went to school and got my bachelors in 2015 in Psychology as well! And just like you, I did my prerequisites right after, and finished after a year. I always had experience working with children, but you may be surprised how much of your experience can relate the the SLP field! You need people skills, the abilities to build a rapport with individuals - whether children or adults (or both!), and so much more. 
 
Sounds to me like you need to write a knockout personal statement. Talk to your professors and definitely keep in touch with them throughout this process becaize they will be integral in helping you figure out how you can better market yourself as a graduate school candidate. Meet with a few of them and ask what they think colleges are looking for in a personal statement and once you have written one, go back to them and ask how you can make improvements. Go to the wiring center at your school and have them check it too! I had 6 or so people check each of my SOP for each school before I sent them in.
 
Definitely don't be discouraged though! My GRE stats were low (Q: 141, V: 152, AW: 3.5) and I got accepted into a school. You just need one! Just keep in mind that if you have below a 4.0 on your AW section, you may have to write an essay at the interviews as well. I live in NY and applied to schools here so if you have any questions, feel free to message me.
 
I would really suggest working on getting great letters of recommendation (make sure you meet with the professors to discuss it, don't just ask if they can write it), writing a great SOP, and really working on your interview skills because if you land an interview.. you're definitely going to want to make yourself shine! You have some time to work on all of these things so don't sell yourself short, you can do it! 
 
I'm not sure whether you should try to get a more related job or volunteer experience or not though since I'm not sure what your work entails. What do you do as a home visitor? And what other types of jobs do you have on your resume (if you don't mind me asking)? 

Don't forget about debt forgiveness programs, especially if your loans are Federal Direct Sub/Unsub Loans. After a consistent 120 payments (10 years) you can qualify to have the rest of your debt forgiven if you work in public service, which most SLPs do anyway. If you get an extended payment plan, you should have a decent chunk forgiven! There are other programs, like working on Native American reservations, that also do loan repayment. So many opportunities! 

HOLY smokes that is a chunk of money.  I'd go buy a Dave Ramsey book now and start planning your financial plan.  Have you already exhausted all financial options at the school such as an assitantship or any form or work-study?  I'd think about getting a job as well to try and underscore some of those expenses.  I agree it is a great investment in your future but not having a life and working to pay off debt sounds very stressful. 
 
It is really unfortunate how expensive it is to get a degree in this field.  I say just exhaust all your options on making money and get a plan in place so it can reduce the stress you're feeling about it.  They really don't give us a lot of options.
 
Maybe be a waitress at a good tipping restaurant the summer before you go?  It sucks but you can make thousands of dollars in a VERY short period of time.  I paid for a 3 week vacation abroad completely on tip money!    You can do this just be a money saving machine! 

That is a real concern. I am also in a similar predicament as you are. I am estimating that my debt will total out around ~$85,000 when I'm done. This scares me, but I plan to really work hard to pay it back as fast as possible after graduation. The loans that are the most troublesome are the private loans. Those ones offer the least flexibility and often have higher interest rates. At least with the federal loans, you can do income based repayment which guarantees they can't take more than 10% of your income. At least for me, the private loans will be my first priority to pay off as soon as possible. I am okay with working a lot and living cheap for a few years down the road. I would rather make sacrifices sooner while I'm young and getting established rather than later. The setting you choose to work in can also play into getting the loans payed off. 
 
Another fun (and lucrative) option is being a traveling SLP. They make very good money, and most all of your living and relocating expenses are payed for and you get a generous salary on top of it. I would like to do that for awhile while I am still young. Not only would it be fun to experience different places, but it would also be a big help for making more money to pay off school!
 
It is normal and actually good to be concerned about the money aspect of school. I think often times students aren't concerned enough when they sign on for heaping amounts of debt. There are repercussions for rash decisions when it comes to loans, but we are also lucky to be in a field that is in such high demand. Job security! 

If you aren't planning to settle down right after grad school, and spend a few years working full-time with contract on the side, I'm sure you could pay it off pretty quickly. Something that hopefully should calm your debt fears a bit is remembering why you were drawn to SLP and your educational investment will bring you years of career stability and pleasure. Someone who was doing SLP "just because" and taking out 90k in loans seems more a cause for concern, particularly if they realize they want to go back to school two years into the profession. 
 
(for myself) I am limiting grad debt as much as possible as shortly after grad school I would like to buy a house, have a child, and work part-time (or in a school district.) If I only plan on making 60k/year after taxes tops, I won't attend a 90k program. 
 
Thus, if you are drawn to career goals, 90k in debt isn't too shabby if you're making 90k/year in a mainstream city after taxes. You'll be debt free in seven, eight years depending on other aspects of your budget. 
 
Meanwhile, if you are not drawn to career goals and only plan on working part-time, I would be quite concerned about that sort of debt load. Fulfilling your educational dream is awesome, but not when it comes to wrecking your future finances for the next twenty years. Also, if you creep into the 100k/over debt bracket, that seems quite the stretch for the $$ that SLP makes. 

I found out about the field early in my senior year and didn't feel prepared to apply to the 3 year programs directly, so I took a gap year to do pre-reqs. Ended up with plenty of acceptances so it is definitely doable! 
The above poster already offered really good advice, and I just want to emphasize that whatever you do in your gap year should add value to you as an applicant. So you could do something related to speech that you can talk about in your SOP.

Firstly, I'm glad to hear you are doing well academically! But speech-language pathology is quite a different field from yours. While some people do pursue a PhD in speech-language pathology, most posters here (including the OP) are talking about pursuing their master's unless they have specified otherwise. A master's degree in speech-language pathology is necessary to become a licensed speech-language pathologist. Getting into a master's program is extremely competitive because of this, and can actually be seen as more competitive than the PhD level because there are just so many students and even a lot of career changers fighting for limited spots. If the poster wants to now pursue a master's in a less competitive field and think about a different career, I agree that that could potentially be a good idea; however, if he or she wants to become a speech-language pathologist, the only way is to pursue a master's in speech-language pathology, which is the current dilemma. 
@slpaneedzhelp Have you had other experiences besides being an SLPA? Are you applying to a variety of programs? Are you applying to the same programs every year? If you are applying to the same programs, you can ask for feedback on how you can strengthen your application. I also notice you're from CA (like me!) and I know basically all the CA programs are super competitive. If you have not already done so, apply outside of the state. There are a lot of great threads here discussing programs that are more relaxed with GPA/GRE. 

Is there anything you can do to make your applications more personal? Can you email professors and express interest in their work, specifically? Have you met with deans? It sounds like the numbers are not necessarily working in your favor, so go for the personal element. Meet people in the field and make an impression. Make sure your letters of recommendation are strong, too. What does your personal statement look like? Have you addressed your low GPA in your personal statement?
Just ideas -- I would also study for the GRE and retake it. Consider programs with more relaxed GPA/GRE cutoffs. In the end, we are all SLPs, and its been my experience that people don't really care where you got your degree once you're in the workforce. Best of luck! 
 
 
 

Use GreenlightTestPrep!!! Same people who do the Magoosh videos give you the same videos but they are FREE!! And they are very responsive on their website GreenlightTestPrep.com. I highly recommend it. Definitely helped me a lot.
 
And also, see if you can practice with someone to prepare for interviews. Research how people with anxiety deal with interviews and see if anything others have done may be able to help you as well. Don't give up! I went to school and got my bachelors in 2015 in Psychology as well! And just like you, I did my prerequisites right after, and finished after a year. I always had experience working with children, but you may be surprised how much of your experience can relate the the SLP field! You need people skills, the abilities to build a rapport with individuals - whether children or adults (or both!), and so much more. 
 
Sounds to me like you need to write a knockout personal statement. Talk to your professors and definitely keep in touch with them throughout this process becaize they will be integral in helping you figure out how you can better market yourself as a graduate school candidate. Meet with a few of them and ask what they think colleges are looking for in a personal statement and once you have written one, go back to them and ask how you can make improvements. Go to the wiring center at your school and have them check it too! I had 6 or so people check each of my SOP for each school before I sent them in.
 
Definitely don't be discouraged though! My GRE stats were low (Q: 141, V: 152, AW: 3.5) and I got accepted into a school. You just need one! Just keep in mind that if you have below a 4.0 on your AW section, you may have to write an essay at the interviews as well. I live in NY and applied to schools here so if you have any questions, feel free to message me.
 
I would really suggest working on getting great letters of recommendation (make sure you meet with the professors to discuss it, don't just ask if they can write it), writing a great SOP, and really working on your interview skills because if you land an interview.. you're definitely going to want to make yourself shine! You have some time to work on all of these things so don't sell yourself short, you can do it! 
 
I'm not sure whether you should try to get a more related job or volunteer experience or not though since I'm not sure what your work entails. What do you do as a home visitor? And what other types of jobs do you have on your resume (if you don't mind me asking)? 

Omg LOVE this website so far! Such a great resource! Now I'm starting to wonder what else I'm missing out there lol

I just checked out Master Clinician. I actually don't think I've heard of it till now. What is on the site and is it worth paying for the subscription/membership?