Rezzy S.

Looks like ACU updated their policy recently here, which says they welcome students with differing viewpoints, lifestyles, etc. that disagree with their own. Baylor’s policy makes it sound like they might reject a student in the LGBTQ community, however, I don’t think that’s the case based on this article (seems like recognition is a big problem, but maybe not rejection). Hope it all works out for you!

When I taught abroad I had to get a TEFL certificate and found my position through Dave’s ESL Cafe.

I get why you’re nervous (this is such a crazy process!) but I really don’t think you need to stress about getting a C on a non-CSD. You got this!

I would recommend trying to get your quant up to 150. I’m bad at math and hadn’t taken a math class in probably over 5 years and managed to get a 155. Learned the concepts using the Princeton Review book, and practiced using the 5 lb Book of GRE Questions. Practice and time to practice are key. Good luck

Just to clarify, it's not that these online schools have poor reputations overall, just with certain picky schools. You'll probably find a lot of people have been successful with them. The one I was able to recall was USU and here's a little bit on that one. I recommend if there are any grad programs you really have your heart set on, reach out to them now to make sure they don't have any biases against your online post-bacc program so there aren't any surprises. Also, completely agree with @slporbust2016.

Will you have all of your pre-reqs (CSD and ASHA basic science courses) by Fall 2020? I think that would be the only thing holding you back.

Given the number of units you need to hit a 3.0, maybe the second bachelors, but be careful with online programs because some have reputations among grad programs of grade inflation. When you go to apply to grad school be sure to explain why your GPA is so low in your SOP, and apply to a lot (at least 7) of less competitive schools using ASHA EdFind. Try to get as close to a 4.0 as possible in your CSD classes and give the GRE your everything. Build strong relationships with your professors in order to get great letters of recommendation and prioritize research experience, followed by shadowing/volunteering. Good Luck!

I got 155 on math despite sucking at it. I used the Princeton Review book to learn the concepts, and the 5lb. Book of GRE Questions to practice. The practice made all the difference. 160 on verbal. I learned some good strategies for that with the Princeton Review book, but a lot of it came down to vocab drill apps. You don’t have to know all of the words, just some and at least the connotations (good/bad) of others, to get by.

@slpvee can I ask what your CSD GPA is?

A 3.91 is plenty to be considered for almost all schools, even the most competitive. Here's more info on programs that incorporate post-bacc/leveling work into the masters and don't require it to be completed prior.

I applied to CSU Fullerton, but wasn't invited to interview. 4.0 CSD GPA, but 3.75 overall, over 300 GRE. I know a couple people who got interviews that had done research. I feel like not getting involved in research was a big missed opportunity for me, so if you still have time, I highly suggest it! Waitlisted at PSU. I was really impressed by their program and campus.They have a strong medical emphasis if that's your interest.

That 4.0 CSD is everything! Keep it and get your overall GPA a little higher and you've got this! When it's finally time to apply, select a variety of schools and use ASHA EdFind to check your stats. Also leave ample time to study for and take the GRE.

Congrats on SJSU!

You have great experiences and your stats are good. However, it’s really hard to get into CA schools, particularly CSUs because they take less of a holistic approach with some imposing an arbitrary GPA cutoff to narrow down the hundreds of applications they receive. I think with a 3.68 GPA, it could be challenging to get into a CSU (though not impossible!). I would lean heavily into applying to private CA schools, at least 4 out of state schools, and a couple handpicked CSUs you think you’d have the best shot at. Rely on EdFind as you pick your schools. I think if you do that and apply a variety of places you’ll have a good chance of starting in 2020 In CA, the problem is not your stats , it’s that there are too few programs with too few spots for way too many people! Good luck!

That’s a bummer ?. Why do you think everyone got off on the wrong foot?

I think what @AlwaysaFalcon was referring to is most speech-language pathology programs send out their initial acceptances by April 15, and those students are usually asked by the individual schools to respond by April 15. I don’t think she was referring to the resolution.

I used two books and studied for 4 months which helped me do better than i had any right to because I hadn’t taken a math class in over 9 years. Get the Princeton review book to learn the concepts, tricks, and test taking strategies (these are important!). Then to actually practice, get the 5 lb. book of GRE questions and practice, practice, practice. If anything is still fuzzy, I reccommend just free videos you can get on youtube. The other thing I would do is find the biggest set of GRE vocab words on Quizlet and study them every day. I think the only thing that may be worth paying a little more for or asking a friend for would be one on one help with writing. The strategies in the book are really helpful, but feedback is really important in improving writing. Good luck!!!

Yes, there's definitely a chance, but I think it's always hard to know for sure. Some programs are only able to offer admission to 5 or 10 people on the waitlist, while a couple of your programs offer it to 80 or so, which is the higher end of what I've seen. Unfortunately you won't know until you know which can be so frustrating ? but your odds could be worse. I really hope it works out for you!

According to ASHA EdFind, last year BGSU, WMU, and Ohio offered admission to 84, 86, and 46 people on the waitlist respectively, so I wouldn't give up hope yet! Good luck!

Agreed! I'm guessing $40k is not the norm. Particularly if you're in a larger city or in an area desperate for SLPs.

ouch! ?

Wow, good question. I didn't realize how little information there is out there on clinical fellowship year (CFY) pay. I would ignore averages on websites like Payscale and Glassdoor because it looks like they're grouping SLP (CCC) and CFY and getting an average of the two together because job postings for CFY candidates are often open to SLPs as well. I came across some anecdotal information on Reddit. While one person says doing your CFY in a school in Miami would get you $40k, another person makes a questionable claim that their former classmate is making $65 an hour in NYC! But a couple people mentioned between $55k and $70k, which seems more realistic to me (particularly the lower end).

It never feels good to have that door shut on you and I understand why you're disappointed. Take time to feel the way you feel and don't feel guilty about it. You worked hard and I can tell from all of your experience you're passionate about the field. We have too few SLPs and yet there are not enough grad spots to go around, leaving eager candidates like you in situations like this. But what defines someone's character is how they respond to adversity. Ignore that nagging voice in your head that says you're not good enough and focus on what you can do. Also, you applied to some really competitive schools. I think if you go with a larger range of programs and use EdFind to compare your stats, you'll get some good news next cycle .

I'm sorry you're in this stressful situation. You mentioned you use Quizlet. Have you tried "Learn" mode in Quizlet? I know everyone has their own style, but what works for me is to create fill in the blank Quizlet questions. The blank should be the one or two words that are the most important pieces of information in the sentence. Then in Learn mode, I select just the multiple choice and "write" options, but not the flashcard one (too easy). For example "___ is a disorder of swallowing," or "The primary motor cortex is located on the ___ lobe." If there are powerpoint slides or handouts I try to use the words almost exactly, because more often than not, questions tend to show up phrased that way on the test. I also try to really break down information. So, instead of making one card with 5 bullet points about dysarthria, I would make 5 cards. Once you get 100% on learn mode, you can go through and star what is still challenging. I also create quizlet decks as I'm reading my textbooks, because I don't want to have to read it again. When there is a really tough concept or process, I find explaining it to a friend or family member in simple terms is really helpful because it helps me find the holes in my knowledge. Unfortunately, so much of pre-masters work seems to be rote memorization. In grad school we get to apply the critical thinking. When I first went to school I was an A/B student because I really didn't know how to study (and I wasn't that motivated), but when I went back for my CSD prerequisites, I knew I had to figure out how to be an A student and Quizlet coupled with tracking my study hours has done the trick. Good luck to you!

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. Can I ask how much more you have to pay? I know if it's an excessive amount it might feel like you're closing the door on your dream school even if you get in to it ?. Sorry you're in such a tough spot.