Louly

I think those scores look great but it really depends on what programs you're applying to. The quantitative scores don't matter as much as the verbal so retaking it to raise you quant score wouldn't be necessary. What matters most is honestly your analytical writing score, schools ask for the GRE because it is important for you to be a good writer (Lesson plans, SOAP notes, treatment plans, etc) Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for this advice!

As AlwaysaFalcon mentioned, each of your references submit one letter of rec on CSDCAS. All your schools will use that one submission. Personal statements or Letter of Intents are submit separately for each college on CSDCAS. I, too, also made a general one that targets the obvious questions (Why you chose this field? Why that particular school, etc.) then later tailored it to that specific school.
A HUGE Tip: Try to submit your stuff at least 3-4 weeks in advanced (including your LOR). It takes FOREVER for CSDCAS to receive it, review it and post it in your file as "completed".  Some schools will specifically say it on their site that if CSDCAS did not completed it by the due date, it's considered as an incomplete application. Every school is different, call CSDCAS to see which one of your schools need everything "completed" by the due date and which schools are ok that CSDCAS received documents but have not put "completed" in your file yet. The earlier you start on your submissions, the better. Don't wait till peak time (Dec-Feb) because my GRE scores took 3.5 weeks to be posted in my CSDCAS application. Even the process of paying it needed time to approve. It was such a hassle! 

As AlwaysaFalcon mentioned, each of your references submit one letter of rec on CSDCAS. All your schools will use that one submission. Personal statements or Letter of Intents are submit separately for each college on CSDCAS. I, too, also made a general one that targets the obvious questions (Why you chose this field? Why that particular school, etc.) then later tailored it to that specific school.
A HUGE Tip: Try to submit your stuff at least 3-4 weeks in advanced (including your LOR). It takes FOREVER for CSDCAS to receive it, review it and post it in your file as "completed".  Some schools will specifically say it on their site that if CSDCAS did not completed it by the due date, it's considered as an incomplete application. Every school is different, call CSDCAS to see which one of your schools need everything "completed" by the due date and which schools are ok that CSDCAS received documents but have not put "completed" in your file yet. The earlier you start on your submissions, the better. Don't wait till peak time (Dec-Feb) because my GRE scores took 3.5 weeks to be posted in my CSDCAS application. Even the process of paying it needed time to approve. It was such a hassle! 

As AlwaysaFalcon mentioned, each of your references submit one letter of rec on CSDCAS. All your schools will use that one submission. Personal statements or Letter of Intents are submit separately for each college on CSDCAS. I, too, also made a general one that targets the obvious questions (Why you chose this field? Why that particular school, etc.) then later tailored it to that specific school.
A HUGE Tip: Try to submit your stuff at least 3-4 weeks in advanced (including your LOR). It takes FOREVER for CSDCAS to receive it, review it and post it in your file as "completed".  Some schools will specifically say it on their site that if CSDCAS did not completed it by the due date, it's considered as an incomplete application. Every school is different, call CSDCAS to see which one of your schools need everything "completed" by the due date and which schools are ok that CSDCAS received documents but have not put "completed" in your file yet. The earlier you start on your submissions, the better. Don't wait till peak time (Dec-Feb) because my GRE scores took 3.5 weeks to be posted in my CSDCAS application. Even the process of paying it needed time to approve. It was such a hassle! 

OP asked what are your responsibilities. So I answered what are my responsibilities. I think their question was either to gather information on what to expect or to know because they were just curious. I'm not saying every field was the same (or even that every department is), nor I don't think the OP was aiming for that answer either. 

I live with severe anxieties. They're so bad that at times, I cannot get up from my desk or walk out of the classroom. It was so extreme that it prevented me from finishing my degree years ago. I managed to seek help and eventually returned back to school. 
Ive learned that professors are not out to get you, they want to see you succeed and they'll do anything to accommodate students who care about their education. Beginning of every semester, I set a time to meet with them and let them know about my mental health. I take my tests privately and away from my classmates which offered me opportunities to ask questions and get extra help if needed. I meet with them often, talk about assignments/projects and how I'm doing so far....it's all about communication. The more I opened up to them, the more they understood my anxiety and this "fear" I lived with everyday. The more I got to know my professors, the better my grades got. Do not be afraid to be vulnerable.
Good luck!
 

But I must say that I live with a high anxiety level on a daily basis. I still function and manage to do everything I need to do and I even go beyond, but I'm an anxious person especially when it comes to school and my professional life. Ironically, my anxiety makes me work harder because I am terribly afraid of professional failure. I have very very high expectations for myself and I am an overachiever. I know it is not always healthy but that's how I've managed to cope with a lot of trauma in my life so far and I guess it's healthier than drinking (which I don't do, by the way) or doing something that could be terribly self-destructive for me. 

I'm in engineering. From what I heard, having a MS or MA sometimes even backfires. Engineering masters and PhDs focus on very different things. Having a course-based MS before applying for PhD may even raise questions about how serious an applicant is about committing to research. It is very common for undergrad to go directly to PhD programs or take one or two gap years doing research before PhD, though. Taking gap years to do research, on the other hand, shows one's commitment to research.

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! 

The break down of my personal statement:
A personal story (relating to CSD, of course) My background history (family struggles) My motivation (stemming off of the two listed above) What I want to study/focus on in grad school and why Why I believe that particular school was the right fit for me What I want to do with my SLP degree/how I can benefit the field Hope that helps! Good luck.
 

I would focus on writing from the heart instead of what would make you sound like an ideal candidate. I feel like committees see right through that. When you write from your heart i think it is easier for the thoughts to flow. When you are done go back and make it sound more professional and make sure you hit the key points the other poster said in some form of fashion. Its all about making sure your passion has a rationale instead of saying "i want to work with/im good at working with/i love...". Speak from the heart and filter out the bs. It may be a process, but you can do it! 

Ayyo. I got into a handful of schools with a low GPA. Even my last 60 weren't great. I'm gonna level with you - your GRE isn't stellar. It's okay, but in my experience, you have to make up for your low GPA in some numerical regard, not just by being a standout human being with lots of experience. I'd retake the GRE, but study your butt off to ensure some numbers go up. This is an easier number to boost than your GPA, for obvious reasons, like your GPA has 100+ credits factoring in. Adding a handful of As won't necessarily help. 
Another tip, and probably the best advice I got during the process, is apply smart. Don't apply to Iowa or Vanderbilt. Look at edfind, find schools (all over the country. don't get picky) that take lower GPAs, look at places that legitimately share your interests, and apply to a bunch. I applied to 15. I do not think this was too many. 
Of course, with a low GPA, the rest of your application has to be near perfect. That's okay. Get good recommendations, write your LOR, then have 5 people smarter than you edit it. When you mention your low GPA, do so, but briefly. Then explain that you're on an upward trajectory, and you're even more motivated to kill it. Don't focus on the bad. 
Good luck, let me know if I can help more. 

Hey there! I was recently accepted into 2 (of 5) grad schools my first year applying and had a relatively low (3.03) overall GPA. My last 60 was close to 3.7-3.8, so I'm not sure if my situation applies. I was accepted to a school that has an interview process, and although it was stressful leading up to the interview, I had the opportunity to showcase my personality and explain the areas of weakness in my application. If it helps, I took about 8 years to finish my undergraduate degree and int he first year and a half of that degree I was suspended twice for poor grades. I never thought I would be accepted, but made an effort to gain relevant experience, have competitive GRE scores, and explain my low GPA in my personal statement. Don't avoid the subject. It may be wise to retake a few classes with low grades. You may find that being accepted may take a few years, but don't let that stop you if you can't imagine doing anything else.  Let the admissions committee see persistence and passion instead of a low GPA.

My cumulative GPA was a 2.8, got completely denied by one school with a 3.0 GPA requirement. Even after having one of my references from a prestige school write to explain my situation (the bad grades were from 12 years ago & my last 100 credits, I maintained a 3.8), the director still said no. I just said screw it! on to the next school. A month later, I got accepted into five other programs that are actually some of the top 20 schools for SLP training. If they deny you even after a pretty good explanation, you obviously do not want to be with a program like that anyways. Good luck! 

Saying this gently, but with your GPA, I would encourage you to look long and hard at why it's so low before attempting another field with notoriously difficult classes like nursing. The science pre-reqs for nursing are harder than CSD classes. I was pre-med for the 1st half of my 1st UG degree and before I settled on SLP, I actually looked into direct-entry MSN programs. I would have had to retake all those difficult science classes since they were more than 7 years old. I didn't want to be a nurse badly enough to do that.
Now if your low GPA is due to maturity issues causing bad grades early on while your last 60 GPA is a lot higher, then maybe you'd have a shot.

I'm planning on looking over the book called, "Introduction to Clinical Methods in Communication Disorders". It's been over a year since I've taken any ComD courses. 

Knock it out of the park with your GRE scores and you should be fine. Most schools will be more impressed with your essays/work experience and will only want a reason to be confident that you will not flunk classes. A great GRE score is perfect for that.
You have plenty of time, so you can easily shoot for a 320+ score if you are disciplined. I recommend Magoosh as it helped me to do an effective daily routine.
If you want GRE tips feel free to message me.

I highly recommend reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. It is a fantastic book that follows a Hmong family and their experience with Western medicine. Although oriented toward the medical setting, I think it is fantastic in exploring multicultural issues in all related human services. I bonded with one of my SLP professors because of our love for this book lol. 

Great job! I'm proud of your perseverance. --I had the same story, a cumulative of 2.8 and even lower GRE scores but worked my a$$ off to prove I've changed. Got accepted first round! 

Great job! I'm proud of your perseverance. --I had the same story, a cumulative of 2.8 and even lower GRE scores but worked my a$$ off to prove I've changed. Got accepted first round! 

I worked at a rehabilitation office doing clerical work. Prior to that, I was a chiropractor assistant and office assistant. On the side, I volunteered as an augmentative and alternative device assistant at another rehabilitation clinic. 

This is the Speech & Language Pathology board. Hardly any of us are going to be winding up pursuing a tenure-track position in academia with "publish or perish" pressure and a LOT of SLP positions are part-time. Even "full-time" SLP positions may only be 30 hours/week for 36 weeks/year. So yes, it is INFINITELY easier to find a position with a family-friendly schedule after grad school is over in SLP.

Keep going amvat. The people in this profession are not all as rude as your professor. I won't tell you that graduate school is any easier. It is A LOT harder. There's much more work involved. They want to see how well you can handle yourself and push through adversity. Speech pathologists don't get paid little, but if you were looking into schools then the pay is fairly lower than private or hospital placements. If I told you about all of the deterrents people at schools placed before me then we'd be here all day. Everything that means something is hard to achieve. The key is to remember that the hardest part about any profession is getting the degrees and certifications. Afterwards, you will be able to enjoy life and look back at all you overcame. Graduate school is meant to break you, so be prepared for more adversity. I have been through ups and downs, fighting depression and stress all year. But I have completed 1 year of grad school! To add to all of my stress I am also a mother of a 3 year old girl. There's no such thing as sleep. There's no such thing as a life. There's no such thing as time. Things could be worse though. Just keep pushing and realize you aren't alone.

Just thought I'd give my thoughts on Salt Lake since I still live here (finished my undergrad in December!). 
 
In terms of nice places to live, I highly recommend looking in the Sugarhouse area. It's like 15-20 minutes to get to campus (depending on when you leave since rush hour can be rather hectic) and really close to the highways. If you enjoy skiing, I think Sugarhouse is perfect since you can get on the highway (215) right away. There are quite a few places being built in this area, so it's a nice atmosphere and close to some cool restaurants and shops.
 
For other neighborhoods, the Avenues are always worth looking into. Those tend to be more pricey and older, but they're really close to the U. You can sometimes find houses to rent up there, though they may be in the "Greater Aves" area (aka up the hill from downtown/the "Lower Aves"). 
 
I do know several grad students who live in houses in Millcreek and Murray. I think they're reasonably priced (not sure), but they are certainly further away from the U. 
 
Word of advice - don't live on Foothill and avoid it at all costs during rush hour. Seriously. It gets ridiculous. 
 
I think some people asked about biking and public transit - while you can take Trax (and I think your UCard gives you access to it, as well as the buses), Trax doesn't really cover much. I think the buses are semi-reliable, but I've never taken them since I just drive to campus. I do know people who bike to campus from the Sugarhouse area, even during the winter. Also, parking passes here are actually very cheap ($180 ish for a year for the U pass) compared to other schools. 
 
In terms of activities, Salt Lake is a fantastic place to be outdoors. There's a ton of great hiking, rock climbing, and skiing. I'm a big skier and I've had season passes to Park City, Snowbird, Solitude, and the Canyons. You can get a student pass through One Love or the Freeskier Society (groups at the U) and it's definitely worth it. Though the deadlines are somewhat early, ranging from October to late November, so keep that in mind. Snowbird and Alta do tend to be very crowded over the weekends, but the snow is amazing. 
 
I think people also mentioned the weird drinking laws. Yeah, they're weird. Some liquor stores will close at 7, but some are open until 10. Nothing is open on Sundays (including some restaurants and malls. It's irritating). Liquor is precisely measured out, and there are no happy hours for drinks that I know of. However, we do have some pretty decent breweries around. Park City also might be a little more lax on the drinking laws. 
 
Unfortunately, one of the major issues I've encountered living here is the smog/inversions. It's disgusting. We're talking about haze you can actually see and smell. Unless you can get up into the mountains on the days it gets really bad, try to avoid being outside. 
 
For restaurants, there are some great places here. If you like sushi, go to Tsunami in Sugarhouse (I think there are 2 other locations, but I'm not sure where they are exactly). Frida Bistro is really great, particularly for brunch on Saturdays since it's actually affordable then. Ruth's Diner in Emigration Canyon is awesome. If you like frozen yogurt, go to Lunaberry on 400 S. For thai food, Sawadee is awesome. For Mexican, the Red Iguana (there are 2 locations) is great. For bars, I've heard that Bar X has been voted the best in the city for cocktails. Not sure if that's true, but it can be good. Whiskey Street just opened up in December I think and they have a ridiculously large selection of beverages. 
 
In terms of grad life, as someone mentioned, it is a commuter school. This does make it somewhat difficult to meet people. However, if you're at all interested in outdoor activities, you can definitely find lots of people who are also interested. From my experience, the bioengineering PhD students don't tend to hang out with each other in large groups as much. There are certainly small clusters of people who hang out together, but it's not like the entire PhD program hangs out together. I think the neuroscience PhD students (at least this cohort) do hang out all the time together though. So it really depends on what program you're going into.