AlwaysaFalcon

I was feeling mixed emotions like you were from graduation. I had just received rejections from graduate school and was not sure what I was going to do. So I kept applying to graduate schools for the following year while working an a unrelated field and faced more rejections with a few waitlists that never went anywhere. Between the second time applying to graduate schools and the third I was able to volunteer at an integrated preschool to hopefully gain experience and also boost my application. It helped immensely. After three times trying I can say that I am going to become an SLP! Don't give up! I know its easy to try and blame yourself and self doubt. I was blessed to have choices of where to attend but like others said you only need one school to believe you can do it!! Unfortunately I have found that it totally varies but the people applying that year and the choice of schools you try for. It seems like you have a good plan for the future so good luck!

I volunteered with an integrated preschool while working a job unrelated to the field. I was able to observe an slp which was a good refresher and also get a chance to work with kids. Super fun!

@plume @lee09 I got this same thing as well!

As someone who has applied to three different application cycles here is the advice I will give: If nothing is keeping you an a certain area apply to a wide range in schools! -While it completely depends on the number of applicants per cycle and what a school is looking for an a applicant I found that I had more waitlists and acceptances when I applied to a wide range of school instead of sticking with my home state and surrounding states and applying to newer programs. Add more then the bare minimum of letters of recommendations -Instead of doing 2 or 3 this year I added an extra letter or recommendation from my boss during undergraduate and I think this helped immensely! Take the gre more than once (may apply) -While I had no desire to take the gre again since I'm not the best at standardized tests, I took the gre one last time and was able to improve my writing score from a 3.5 to a 4. I think this showed schools I was persistent and I was capable of showing my potential in graduate school. If you can volunteer or work in the field. -This year I volunteered in an integrated preschool and not only was able to get a feel of working with multiple professionals but I was able to see what working with kids would be like and shadow an slp. Such a cool experience! I hoped that helped! A lot of that was a repeat of what other people said but that's the advice I'll give. Don't give up! I've heard it takes people 2-3 times to be accepted but it'll be worth it once you get in !

Governors State University in Illinois!

Sounds good to me!

@lee09 I got the same notification! I would take it as a good sign! You're not out of the running yet!

Awesome advice! As I'm starting the next step of finding somewhere to live.

Love this thread! Such awesome advice as I am weighing whether to have a roommate or not and whether in the same program or not!

Yes we are ! No more filling out grad applications! Woo! But I agree I did not realize how competitive it was until the rejections came in! Professors warned us but did not take it seriously until then.

@SpeechLaedy Congratulations! I remember that feeling! The best in the world Happened for me this year after trying for three application cycles!

Last year when I was on waitlists for schools I heard anywhere between now and June...so unfortunately its hard to say..depends on how much patience you have to wait and how quickly those that have been accepted reply to schools.

I never heard anything from Salus, West Chester, Midwestern University-Downers Grove, and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. It's fine though since I've made my decision but I agree pretty weird.

I volunteered at an integrated preschool and was able to get experience working with kids and also shadow an slp whenever I wanted. I know for me it solidified my desire to be an slp! It helped me strengthen my applications!

I wanted to join during undergraduate but unfortunately the chapter at my school met during my other organizations meetings. However being on a leadership position on an organization is super fun! I was on multiple leadership positions on two clubs at my school and it was a blast and a great way to meet new people and interact with faculty! If you can balance it with school work definitely don't be afraid to try. What's the worst that can happen?

If it helps you at all I chose the cheaper of two options as well! If it wasn't a significant difference it wouldn't have mattered to me but there was enough of a difference that I needed to consider it! You'll be setting yourself better financially in the future...that's what I tell myself anyway too lol.

For my letters of recommendation I asked two professors I was close with and my two bosses I had during undergrad. Hope that helps!

I have very similar schools to yours. I took the gre three different times and only raised my scores slightly each time. I decided after three times that was going to be it for taking the gre as I couldn't afford to keep paying the $200. I was happy raising my writing from a 3.5 to a 4. Instead I applied to a wide variety of schools in multiple states with lower ranges of gre scores. I also saw advice on posting more than the bare minimum of letters of recommendation and used this advice, asking for four letters of recommendation instead of three or two. Considering you have an awesome GPA I think you should keep trying! Don't give up! Took three rounds for me for an acceptance and ended up with two choices for acceptances!

I went to Bowling Green for my undergraduate in Speech. It's very competitive for grad school and the facilities are brand new. They had just started construction when I left. I had a very throughout education and there are multiple great professors and some I didn't like but you can't like everybody.

When I was on multiple waitlists I started to hear back anywhere from April 15th and before till June unfortunately. It depends really on how fast people let the schools know whether they are accepting or denying.

Please don't give up! This was my third round completing applications after many rejections and waitlists not getting anywhere. This year I was accepted into two programs. What really helped me improve my applications was retaking the gre and bumping up that writing score from a 3.5 to a 4, having more than most minimums of letters of recommendation (3) and doing 4 and volunteering. I was able to volunteer at an integrated preschool! It shows commitment and I was able to shadow the slp there which definitely helped why I wanted to be in this career.

Has anyone created a group for Governors State University?