Ali_Irene13

I was just accepted off the waitlist yesterday! 

Hey! Sorry for the late reply but they actually called me and left a voicemail as I was at work. I called again and they gave me an offer. Hope that helps and good luck! Crossing my fingers for you!

Here are is my personal pro/con lists for medical. Full disclosure, I'm most interested in medical outpatient rehab, but a lot of this is based off of experiences in acute care. If I didn't do medical, I would want to work in a private clinic, but not a school (a little bit about that below). Sorry for the novel, I hope it helps!
Medical Pros:
Many different types of settings: acute care (hospital), outpatient rehab, skilled nursing facilities, pediatric hospitals, etc. Fast pace and on your feet: I've shadowed an acute care SLP, and as a restless person I love running all over the hospital to get to patients' rooms, talk to nurses, etc. Working with patients with acquired neurogenic disorders. Getting to conduct and analyze VFSS barium studies with a radiologist. Short prep time (for acute) and little/no standardized assessment: Unlike a school or outpatient setting, most patients will only be seen by the SLP once or twice, so things like a long standardized language test (which can be tedious to administer) aren't usually used. Assessment/treatment focuses on the most important things. Dysphagia: I wasn't all that interested in dysphagia before shadowing, but it's actually really exciting because it's so important for the patient's care. You're actually making a difference in helping keep this person safe. And again VFSS are fun! Counseling: If you really enjoy the counseling component, you will get ample opportunity for that with both patients and families (often in the midst of really intense situations). And on top of that it's been my experience that the other hospital professionals are a touch burnt out and because of SLP's/ASHA's emphasis on counseling, the SLP is often the brightest part of the day for these patients. Making a difference: Like the above, you may be a real light to patients. I once watched a man writhing in pain start singing because he found the SLPs oral care with the toothette so soothing. Had to stop myself from tearing up. Independence: It's probably true of most settings, but where I volunteer, the SLPs divvy up the patients on there own and spend as much or little time as needed with each patient.  You appreciate what you have: I know this is weird, but working with people who are sick and usually 70+ makes you appreciate your youth and health and has inspired me to try to live life to the fullest and to eat healthier. It has also made me want to cherish the time I have with my older family members while they're still healthy. Potentially higher salary: generally medical SLPs are paid more (school SLPs have the opportunity for higher pay in areas with higher demand - definitely not a firm rule that medical SLPs make more, but common). Job security: As baby boomers continue to age, SLPs will be in higher and higher demand and there won't be enough. (Let's get some more qualified applicants into grad schools!!!) Medical Cons:
Oral care: Oral care is so important because the bacteria in the mouth could eventually make its way into the lungs should the patient aspirate. Ideally this would be something the nursing staff manages, but that's often not the case. The other day an SLP showed me a picture of a mass of food she had pulled off a patient's hard palate. Sometimes patients have like a white crust or some other residue that the SLP works on with toothettes.  Dysphagia: It's a pro, but also a con if you have a somewhat weak stomach. The other day a patient started hacking and the SLP took ample time examining the phlegm she coughed up. Sometimes there's anterior spillage, pocketing, etc. You do grow more accustomed to it, but things still get me sometimes. Playing off the last point, speech/language makes up a very small part of the job if in acute care. Cognition is a little more prevalent, but dysphagia is the big thing you will do because keeping the patients safe is the highest priority. Also, the patients are often in no place to begin working on language/speech. That being said in an outpatient setting, you would probably work much more on speech/language than dysphagia. Charting: Just like any SLP job, there is a lot of charting and often more time is spent on that than with patients. Life or death: If you're working primarily with dysphagia, it's so important you're present and thorough in assessment and charting since your patients' health/lives and your own liability are on the line. Working with families/doctors/nurses: Families are at an understandable low point and the SLP can be an easy target to receive their frustrations. Nurses do important work, but can also seem a bit burnt out and sometimes that can be felt. Though I haven't seen this where I volunteer, I've heard sometimes doctors can be really disrespectful to all other staff, including SLPs. Sometimes it's heartbreaking: Sometimes the intensity is what makes it so great, and sometimes it's just hard to see. For me, these moments have been with terminal cancer patients and their adult children.  Not sure if this is a con, but if you're not in a pediatric setting, patients are usually geriatric, and you'll start referring to the 60-year-old as the "young guy." The youngest patient I've seen was in her late 40's. A little bit on schools: I didn't want to say much on schools, because I'm not passionate about working in one so you should hear from someone who is. However, my biggest turnoffs from working in schools are the overloaded case loads, IEP meetings, and working with parents. At least in the area I'm in, SLPs have massive case loads and much of the treatment is done by SLPAs (woot woot!), with SLPs doing a lot of assessment and documentation. (I have heard  private schools can be less hectic). Parents are passionate about protecting and getting the best for their child, and sometimes that can be intense. That's completely understandable, but I don't think I have the right skill set to enjoy working with them on a regular basis (the same reason I never wanted to be a teacher!).  

Hi everyone, not even an hour ago I received a general email from ENMU. I have been placed on the waiting list. It states "if a prospective student declines our offer, a seat may become available during May, June, or July. We send new admission letters and phone prospective candidates as this occurs." 

@Ali_Irene13 I checked my CSUEB email and also received my Financial Aid award but haven't heard anything else from them yet

That looks great - it looks like their current courses are full but I'll call them up and ask more about when the next session starts. Thank you....and to everyone else who replied.

Hey all, it’s been a crazy couple of months now waiting for grad schools to get back to us but I definitely want to bring a little something up.
I’ve noticed that it’s mostly rare for current grad students to come and comment on our threads regarding what their programs are like and whatnot and although I’m sure hey are white busy, it would have been very nice to have been given info and answers to our questions over programs and admissions processes.
 
That said, I think it would be nice for some of us (any of us haha) to commit to coming back here when the time of application responses and interview invitations arrived next cycle (2020). It would help many undergrad students I’m sure.
I’m still in the process of receiving responses myself but I’d like to say that I will be coming back here next cycle to help however I can with the program I choose.
 
Hope we can all help someone out in this difficult journey!

The program is well-balanced; I would say it's roughly half and half CSULB undergrads and half from other schools. The program is challenging at times, but definitely will prepare you well!
I was told interview offers will go out Friday afternoon, no word about rejections. From what I remember last year though, they don't send out rejections until everything is all done and all have been accepted. They do group interviews! I would say just be relaxed and sociable. They're looking for people who are collaborative and personable along with good stats. 
 

Hi! I'm a 2nd semester grad student at CSULB and they are going to be sending out interview emails this Friday afternoon. Interview is set to be March 23rd. There was an administrative delay this year, according to a professor. 

This is from the ASHA website:

"Bilingual SLPs must be able to independently provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders using the client's/patient's language and preferred mode of communication. They must also have the linguistic proficiency to

describe the process of normal speech and language acquisition—for both bilingual and monolingual speakers of that language, including how those processes are manifested in oral and written language (or manually coded languages when applicable);
select, administer, and interpret formal and informal assessment procedures to distinguish between communication differences and communication disorders;
apply intervention strategies for treatment of communication disorders in the language or mode of communication most appropriate for the needs of the individual."

Yes, it's ridiculous how the government and people lament about the lack of speech-language pathologists, but every year, the schools deny so many qualified applicants. (lack of sufficient funding, not enough instructors, insufficient medical placements, blah blah blah.)

Ok, there was one (not going to try to find it) that said, after an acceptance, something like,
 
"I saw a moose today and took it as a good omen. It was."
 
And then someone afterwards who was rejected, something like:
 
"Did not see a moose."
 
LOL.

Repping the Canadian front!
 
A U of T Creative Writing rejection (via postal service) from 2009: "To ensure their rejection would land enough punch, they addressed me as Ms. instead of Mr."
 
A rejection for U of T Philosophy from 2007: "I don't want to become a Canuck anyway".
Ouch dude.
This other person (who, granted, got accepted) has the right idea (U of T Econ 2009): "Canuckonomist!"
Yah!
 
There's a playful little back-and-forth on the UBC page for Architecture from 2010.
One person with a rejection wrote something to the effect of: "Well, I guess I'll go with plan B and sell ice cream"
and then another rejected person wrote: "I will be joining my friend in their ice-cream selling endeavour". (Side note: that's not a bad plan B! Canada is cold, but we still like our ice cream!).
 
BUT THEN there's a late acceptance (April 2010) for Architecture at U of T where someone wrote only: "Does anyone want my ice cream truck?! I won't be needing it anymore!"
 
That's awesome! Nice to know that the story for at least one of those applicants had a happy ending!

https://youtu.be/snbz2E5rQ1M

Hi! I also applied to ENMU and haven't heard anything yet. 

I did this after I was not accepted off the waiting list. I was a little scared to message them at first but in the end, was glad I did. She went over my stats and told me where I was good and where I could improve. What made me want to apply again for that program and work harder on my application for next time was when she said: "You were VERY CLOSE". As I applied while still completing my final semester of undergraduate that also drove me to focus on my classes to get the best grades I could so I could stand out when I applied again. Also, take this opportunity to see if your program can recycle your application, statement/essay, and LOR's if you want to keep them or resubmit.

I did this after I was not accepted off the waiting list. I was a little scared to message them at first but in the end, was glad I did. She went over my stats and told me where I was good and where I could improve. What made me want to apply again for that program and work harder on my application for next time was when she said: "You were VERY CLOSE". As I applied while still completing my final semester of undergraduate that also drove me to focus on my classes to get the best grades I could so I could stand out when I applied again. Also, take this opportunity to see if your program can recycle your application, statement/essay, and LOR's if you want to keep them or resubmit.

It could have just been my advisor. California State Universities have lower tuition than most out of state programs. I was thinking of applying to East Coast schools where I used to live but out of state cost plus living expenses, and airfare made it more expensive. Also, he mentioned when you finish your Master's program in another state you will be licensed for that state but if you wanted to practice and work in California its better to graduate from a school in California than for example, Florida. Please ask your advisor or Master's Program for what their policies are so you are well informed to make your decision. 
Here is an ASHA link I found with some information about state-by-state licensing: https://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/StateTeacherCredentialingRequirements/

Aw darn that sucks! I’m sorry, my town was actually kind of the same. I got lucky though the SLP who superivised me to get my license actually helped get me a job where she was working. 
But, to be a SLPA, I guess depending on where you live, you have to get licensed. To get licensed, you need to have about 100 hours of interaction with patients under what I believe is 100% supervision of an SLP. Almost like you would be volunteering but you get to work with the clients. The SLP who does this for you will sign off on your hours and you can then apply for a license in your state. It costs about $200-300 if I remember correctly also. I’m not sure if the rules are different in other states though. I am going on Arizona rules since that is where I live. I have a bachelors degree in speech and language sciences and I also received a SLPA certificate from my college where I took classes based on being a SLPA.
Im hoping this experience helps me get into grad school this time around. I am applying for a second time and I didn’t have much experience or anything that made me stand out on my first round of applications. If you have any other questions let me know and good luck! ?

This is my first year applying but I applied to one program that started in the spring. Sadly, I was put on the waiting list but they did not end up taking anyone from the waiting list, so my plan B is looking for other programs that start in the fall. This means I will have almost a year off school and I don't know if I should take some classes to boost my GPA, work, or travel for work ( like a nanny or teaching English in a different country). I have a lot of hours of experience observing, shadowing and interning with SLPs in different settings. Any jobs that you know of related to the field that you can do with just a Bachelors Degree?

I took a year off (actually, two) and I have no regrets about it! Most of my undergrad class applied to start grad school straight after graduating but I personally wanted to gain some experience, both to get additional credentials to help me when applying (which I'm doing now for 2019) and to actually have some real-world experience in a full-time job before getting a Masters degree. I've been a teaching assistant in Spain for the past two years, and for me it's been a great way to travel, get more experience with different cultures and languages, and get enough experience to actually feel ready for grad school. I think taking a gap year can be great, IF it's what you want to do. If you think you want to start grad school next year, then I honestly think it would be worthwhile to apply and just have a backup plan for what you can do in case you don't get in.

Hi@carly24!! I visited Fresno State over the summer and someone in the department or graduate studies informed me of that time frame. Two days ago I did receive an email that said my application has been sent for further review to Dr. Pomaville and that it may take a few weeks to make their decision.