Jordyn_M463

Thank you! I haven't heard of some of those sites! I will check them out!

Thank you everyone! Textbooks are a pretty big expense so its nice to know what others have done in the past!

I completely understand because this exact thought has crossed my mind a million times! ?

Hey guys! My program starts next week and I am just curious about everyone's thoughts with textbooks. I was told by professors in undergrad that you should buy your textbooks (especially in graduate school) because you will want to reference them throughout your career. However, I didn't know if this was an "outdated" way of thinking now that the internet/Google is easily accessible. I am just wondering what everyones thoughts are on this. Are you buying your textbooks or just renting them? Thanks! Best of luck to everyone starting/continuing their graduate careers!

I agree with the above poster that using ASHA EdFind would be your best bet looking for programs that match what you are looking for. It would be an easier way to find all the programs that are within distance you are willing to travel, cost you are willing to spend, specialities, scores/grades, etc. That would probably be the best place to start and then maybe you could contact those programs and see what exactly they may be looking for from an out-of-field applicant. It would probably be beneficial to also look for programs that allow you take prerequisites and graduate classes there (probably in a 3 year track). I think you are already a pretty good candidate. My program has a handful of individuals who changed careers and are back to pursue masters degrees in SLP. In your letter of intent, you could use your experience with nonverbal autistic children as your motivation and calling to the field and how it inspired you to become an AAC specialist. If the schools you apply to do research or have staff that work with AAC, it would be beneficial to include their names and their research as well in your letter of intent. "I strive to learn from Dr. ____ and work side-by-side in their research on _____". That is a terrible sentence but it would let the school know you are genuinely interested and have put forth the effort to research the program and learn more about it. I don't think it would hurt to apply to some leveling programs and post-bacc programs. It would probably be more beneficial to have those classes under your belt when applying to graduate programs. Some programs might even require it as prerequisites before you can apply to the actual graduate program. I would say your work experience would translate pretty well, especially when applying to these programs. This would also be a way to get to know professors who may be willing to write you letters of recommendation. If not, I would look for professionals who know you well (employers, SLPs you have shadowed, SLPs you have volunteered with). That being said, it also wouldn't hurt to work on getting some shadowing hours before applying. ASHA requires 25 before you can start working clinic in graduate school. Some schools even require you submit those forms when applying. Getting over 75hrs of observation (I think), you can start putting those hours towards your clinical hours you need for graduate school as well. You could also look for volunteer work that works with individuals who use AAC or camps/groups that SLPs run. This is also a way to get observation hours and it looks good on resumes. You could look for seminars/webinars that discuss topics in CSD/SLP fields and that provide you with a certificate. This would be a way to get "continuing education units" and show your dedication to the field. SLP Summit does it every year and it is free and totally online. You watch the seminars and take mini quizzes and receive certificates. This years was just at the beginning of August. Im not sure if you could still sign up to watch the prerecorded seminars or not. Working as an SLPA (even part time) would also not hurt. All of those ideas can only help in the end, but it is up to you on the money and time you are willing to spend. I would also say to perhaps start taking the GREs or at least studying for them some. Your scores have to be recents (within 5 years) to send them to graduate schools. Some schools do not require them, but those programs are few and far between. My advisor always told me to aim for 60th percentile on all scores or at least get into the 150s on Quantitative and Verbal and at least 4 on AWA. I am not sure how you are at standardized tests but it would be worth putting some effort forth to get pretty good scores. Again that depends on when you are planning on applying to graduate programs; you don't want to take them too early. I don't know what an AT certification is either, so I am not sure if it would help. I would say probably not, considering I haven't seen it being discussed on this forum and it was never brought up in my program. You could ask some SLP programs however, to be sure. I wouldn't waste time/money on it until you knew for sure though. Best of luck to you!

I bought a Vera Bradley one from the outlet store (because they are cheaper if the pattern is discontinued)! They have a bunch of different sizes. I have 2 duffles and a cosmetic bag from there and they have held up for 6+ years so far. I would think that their totes would be the same! I just chose one that has thicker straps!

I was also told not to summarize the resume in the letter. Highlight the biggest things and why those experiences will make you a good SLP and most importantly, a good graduate student at that specific institution. I wrote a generic letter that was my template for all schools and then I wrote a personalized paragraph or 2 (5-12 sentences) that talked specifically about the program and their professors and alumni and what that program has achieved. My advisor told me schools like to see that you know at least something about their program and the people in it and why you want to go there. But in all honesty, I would not put every single experience in your letter if that is something they can see on your resume.

I don't know much about the schools you listed, as I am from the east coast. But with your stats, I would say you have an excellent chance of getting into most schools you apply to. Your stats are significantly better than mine and I was a CSD major and I was accepted to 3/5 schools I applied to. As long as your letters of recommendation and your letter of intent all match your glowing resume, I honestly don't think you will have a problem at all. I wouldn't be concerned about being an out of field major. You definitely have enough experience in the field/related fields. You should be just fine!

I wasn't accepted into schools in those cities, but I would say that those scores are actually really good. You are well above the 50th percentile on 2 and the other score is still a very good score. I was told to shoot for 150s on verbal and quantitative and 4 or higher on AW. So in my opinion, I would say you are looking pretty good. I was in the 38th percentile for quantitative and I was accepted into 3/5 schools I applied to in Pennsylvania. I would just suggest to apply to a few less competitive schools that are maybe not in the city, that you would enjoy attending as "safety schools". I was advised to apply to both "reach" and "safety" schools to give myself the best chance. Best of luck to you!

I would honestly not bother paying to take it again. I don't know how much they look at AWA scores but I would say all your other scores/grades would outweigh one lower score. If you are really worried, it couldn't hurt taking the test one more time just to see though.

I had an employer write one of my LORs. I sent her a packet of information. Letter of intent Transcripts Resume List of institutions I was applying to Due dates Where the letters need to be sent I found this was helpful because she could then try to highlight the things I had already mentioned in my letter of intent and resume.

My advisor from my undergrad program suggested making a packet of information that included your resume, letter of intent, transcripts, list of institutions you are applying to, due dates for applications, where they need to send the letters of rec, etc. That way they have all the information they would need and their letters can match the rest of your application. I found that incredibly helpful and the individuals who wrote my LORs definitely appreciated it.

I am not sure what kind of privacy you are worried about invading. I feel like if you don't mention names of people, it really isn't an issue. You could somehow sum up your "life experiences" as your "calling to the field" at the beginning of your statement. Just say you grew up observing and helping out in a family owned practice that provides care for individuals with disabilities and that was motivation to continue that path as you got older. Volunteering in high school and working in the NICU/hospital only solidified your desire to help others even more, which is why you strive to be an SLP. I just wouldn't say "Jane Doe had dysphagia and I witnessed swallowing techniques from an SLP, and knew this is what I wanted to do". You can be extremely generic about how working with people with disabilities has been a huge part of your life and how it has shaped you as a person. (ie. empathetic, determined, patient, etc) And how those qualities would make you a good SLP. Obviously this is just my opinion, but that is what I would do if I were you. I talked about my "calling" being my interaction with individuals with disabilities in high school and how some struggled with communication. I never used names of schools, or people. I just kept it anonymous and as generic as I could without being too impersonal. Best of luck!

I used a Kaplan book. I just spent a few hours a day on studying and taking practice exams for about a month before my test date. I raised Verbal and Quantitative scores by at least 8 points each and I think I honestly studied haphazardly. It was amazing how just knowing a few tips and tricks that Kaplan explained in their books and refreshing my memory (especially in math) helped my scores. I think I could have done even better had I focused more but I got into 3/5 schools so it worked out.

I know that all of the programs I applied to make you experience every cohort and setting at least once but other than that you can choose to work with any cohort/setting that you desire. My program (Edinboro University in Pennsylvania) has 5 practicums, 2 are in the clinic on campus and the other 3 are wherever you want to be! They suggest that if you really want to work with children, maybe choose to work with adults inside the clinic and then spend the rest of your practicums doing what you really want to do! I would assume most programs are like this. They want you to experience everything, but in the end its up to you what you want to do!

I had 2 professors and my employer that I worked part-time for throughout college write mine. None of them were even related to the field of CSD or SLP. I was accepted into 3/5 schools I applied to so it wasn't really a problem. I wouldn't let anyone scare you by saying you NEED 3 strong letters from people in the field!

I second this. All of my schools accepted "unofficial transcripts" in order to make their decisions. I had all late January, early February deadlines though. I had final grades by the 2nd week of December. I was told that technically all transcripts sent are "unofficial" because you haven't completed your degree yet. You will have to send your final conferred transcript to the school you choose. But every single one of my classes looked at "Fall Senior Year" classes. Then they asked me what I was projected to take in the Spring to be sure I met all of their requirements.

I agree with all of the other people. Don't pile on more debt if you are not 100% positive this is what you want to do. I would hate for you to pay the money and then realize after taking out loans or whatever you are planning on doing, that this is definitely not the field for you and then you back out half way through. It is a lot of money and time to commit to if you are already having thoughts about backing out. With that being said, if you really love the field there could be ways around all this debt. It will be a lot of hard work and a lot of research on your part. I know that UPMC in Western Pennsylvania will help pay off loans as long as you commit to them for the number of years they are paying for you. Now, jobs can be hard to come by but UPMC is a huge company in my area so that is what I am praying for. If you are from the Boston area, you could always look into companies that would do something similar. I always say that some loan forgiveness is better than none. Another thing to consider is if this field is for you, but you can't see yourself paying that much for grad school, then take a year off. You could maybe work full-time doing something that is interesting to you for that year. This could help solidify your mind when it comes to pursuing and graduate degree , and give you time to apply to less expensive programs. If you do take this route, I would suggest only applying to programs that will be reasonable for you to pay back. My program gives every SLP graduate student a GA position that is 3/4 tuition reduction for the first year. That is what sold me on this particular program. Ultimately, this is your life. You should definitely do what makes you happy (cheesy I know) and what you feel most comfortable with. Don't go to graduate school because you think you should. There are plenty of other fulfilling careers out there, that could definitely be for you! Best of luck.

When I did observations at my undergrad school's clinic, it seemed like the clinicians could wear nice pants (I saw a lot of Pixie Pants from Old Navy) and a nice blouse or thick strapped tank tops. Is this similar to anyone else's programs? I haven't gotten anything about the clinic dress code for my graduate school.

To be honest, I honestly wouldn't stress too much about it. In my case, I was a CSD major with a 3.6 and average GRE scores. 150 Quantitative 154 Verbal 4 Writing. My 3 letters of recommendation were from professors that had NOTHING to do with Speech or CSD. One was an English/Journalist, one was a Communications and one was my boss from my part-time summer job at a kennel. I had no volunteer experience or work experience in the field whatsoever. I included some "honors" programs that I was a part of but wasn't active in at all. I just tried to make my letter of intent/"essay" seem like I was genuinely interested in the program and was driven to learn and be a successful SLP. I was accepted into 3/5 schools I applied to. The one I accepted offered me 3/4 tuition reduction and a paid GA position. Don't stress too much about this forum. It is really hard to read all the stellar applicants who were accepted into 15/15 schools and will probably be going to the #1 ranked school in the world. But just remember, as long as you are happy with the program and get the education you need, you will be a certified SLP in the end too. You will be working in the same field as those applicants. Don't let it get you down. If you can help it, try not to even look haha! I understand the feeling because I was a very average applicant who struggled to connect to anyone in my program of 500+ kids and professors who had way too much on their plates. I was only introduced to this forum through friends in my classes and I honestly wish I hadn't known about it while I was applying. Do your research into programs that best fit you! Make everything else about your application, the best it can possibly be! Good luck!

I would submit them anyway. If you have over 75 hours (I believe) they can start counting towards your clinical hours you need during grad school. It wouldn't hurt showing the schools you are already invested in the program.

i am not an out of field applicant BUT I really don't think it matters. I didn't have any volunteer experience and none of my letters of rec were CSD or SLP related. They weren't even close to be honest. You could shadow an SLP or multiple SLPs during school breaks and use that as some experience on your resume if you are worried that you need to list something. But I honestly don't think it will matter all that much. It just depends on the schools you apply to!

As for applying for Spring, I think that is really up to you. If you have the money to apply, then it would be worth a shot because you never know! As for better ways to research programs, I used EdFind on ASHA. It is really tedious but I narrowed it down to states and distances I was willing to travel and then started doing research on those particular schools to find ones that would best fit my stats. There are probably threads on here if you do some digging, but I have found that this forum doesn't necessarily cover all of the programs that exist in rural areas with less applications and smaller cohorts. I am not sure what state you live in, but if you live in or near Pennsylvania, or are willing to move I have found that, Edinboro: Cal U: Clarion were schools in the western Pennsylvania region that didn't have as high of requirements as some other schools. As for writing a letter of intent, my undergrad advisor told us to follow this prompt: Why do you want to be an SLP/How did you decide on this career? What cohort and setting do you want to work in and why? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why this school? (As long as the school doesn't have their own specific prompt) I was advised that you should tell a brief story about why you chose SLP. When you write about why you want to go to that specific school, it is best to look up that school's program and the work they do. What is the schools motto? What kind of research do they do? Who are their professors and alumni? You can say how maybe their research and alumni have accomplished great things for the field and you need to learn from those individuals. If you use specific names and facts about the school that proves you have looked into the school and have a genuine interest in them, that stands out a lot. I had an English professor who was also a journalist review my essays and she said to use "demanding statements". Rather than saying "I hope to work with children with Autism", she said to say "I aim/strive to work with children with Autism because..." It will tell the admissions committee that you know what you want and that you are willing to work for it. Read, reread and reread again. Cut out any wordiness. Make everything short and to the point. You don't need to be overly descriptive. You can still write passionately without talking around a topic. You don't have to write about everything you have done in relation to the field. That will show on your resume. My own personal tip for writing personal statements: Write a "common app essay" that answers all the general questions about why you want to be an SLP, where you want to be and what your strengths and weaknesses are. Finalize that portion and make sure it is exactly what you want. Have others read it and edit. Then save that draft. Now do your research on the schools. You can write 1-2 small paragraphs about "why this school" and then just add it to the end of your "common app" that way you aren't writing a bunch of 1-3 page essays every time you need to submit an application. Writing all of that can get tiring and I found myself not caring as much by the end of my applications because I was tired of trying to be creative. You can individualize each essay to each individual school by talking specifically about their program. My last tip is to not worry too much about what is going on in this forum when it comes to applications and who has what stats. No one is the same. Everyone's stats are different and sometimes people with "better stats" are not admitted due to other circumstances. You can only make your application the best it can be for you. I panicked a lot during the application process because my "stats" were a bit lower than my friends and I didn't have any research, work or specific volunteer experience. But I was admitted into 3/5 schools I applied to. Don't be discouraged! Best of luck!

So when you take the GRE, you can send your scores to (I believe) 4 schools for free right from the testing center. However, you have to do that before you know your scores. When I created my CSDCAS account, I just entered my scores into my CSDCAS account/application. Then they distributed those scores for me to my schools. That way I only need to pay for my scores once. When you start adding schools to your CSDCAS account, they will have instructions and requirements per school on what you need to do specifically for that school.

I would agree with raising GRE scores. It is worth studying extremely hard one more time to see if you can raise at least your quantitative and writing a little more. I bought a Kaplan book because I never knew Magoosh existed. It gave good tips and tricks on how to go about the questions and what the scorers will be looking for in writing responses. I think it would be well worth your time to try that. Other than that, maybe some volunteer or work experience in something related? I know a lot of people work as an aide or volunteer at camps for individuals with CP or Autism. That could be something you could look into. Also more shadowing hours at all different settings. Then perhaps you could have one of those SLPs write a LOR for you. Then you could say you have X amount of hours in a bunch of settings! Best of luck to you!