FutureSLP

Haha, congrats! Hopefully we'll all start hearing some good news soon!

I clearly didn't know what I wanted in undergrad: recruited for studio art, then switched to anthropology, then communications/public relations, then creative writing/editing (minored in comm. and anthropology). Now, after 7 years in the workforce, I'm changing it all again and going back to school for speech pathology. At least this time I feel like I'm where I should be!

I checked the mailbox today. Twice. Knowing full well that it's a Sunday and no mail comes on Sunday. I think once I get my first letter, regardless of what it says, these neurotic impulses will wane. That's what I'm hoping for anyway. Until then, this forum is helping to keep me sane. People around me keep remarking that this year is going by so quickly--why, just yesterday it seemed like Christmas!--and to me the time is not going by quickly enough.

Thanks for the Emerson update!

It might not hurt to call either and inquire about an admissions timeline. I'm not sure if the clinic supervisor I'll see next week will be able to shed light on anything, but the admissions office might have an idea of when letters should start going out.

Haven't heard a peep. Hopefully that changes soon. Out of all the schools I applied to, BU, MGH, and Emerson should be the first ones to get back to me (based on the 2010 results page, anyway). I'm doing some clinic observation time at MGH next week, so I'll see if I can find anything out then and will report back if I hear anything. I figure if we don't hear anything by March 11 it's probably safe to call and inquire about our application status.

I agree. I think the biggest pain with CSDCAS, for me anyway, was having to do their application plus a separate application for 3 of my schools. I think if you're going to use CSDCAS then you should not have an additional separate application--it's a lot of time, effort, and money on the student's behalf that really isn't necessary. I didn't have any delay issues with CSDCAS, but that's probably because I read the instructions thoroughly and got my applications in by December 1 instead of the e-submit dates so that the processing time didn't affect my applications.

Ha, I almost put in my post that I blame CSDCAS! Maybe all these delays will help them to decide NOT to use CSDCAS next year. That system is ridiculous and not efficient, for the students and the schools.

Is it just me, or does it seem like SLP programs are taking longer to get back to folks this year? According to 2010's results page, there was a lot more school activity this time last year.

Yes, my friend is in-state. Maybe that's why she got it so early? Yours could still be on it's way in the mail!

A friend of mine got her UMass Amherst acceptance letter/e-mail for the Au.D. program on Feb. 14.

I'm so glad I was directed to this forum thread! No word yet from my schools.

Thank you so much Jaynes! It's so nice to have a support group right about now!

Wow, this thread is amazing! We need to keep this going for the 2011 admissions run. Now word yet from any of my schools: Boston University Florida State Emerson MGH UMass Amherst Ball State Appalachian State Ohio State Northern Arizona (it's a lot, I know, but I REALLY want to get in somewhere this year.) If things pan out similarily to last year, MGH and Emerson should start sending letters out this week or next week.

I'm in a similar situation! I was hired in January, and they knew that I was a current student doing prereq courses when I was interviewing with them. They directly asked why they should hire me if I was finishing this prereq program in a different field and might be looking for those jobs as soon as I was done in April. I told them a master's degree was necessary to get a job in this field (it is) and that it would take me a few years to earn that, so they should have no concerns about me leaving them for an alternate job. I left out the fact that I have 9 graduate applications floating out there and will (hopefully) be leaving for school come August. I felt guilty about it, but I needed the job. And technically I didn't lie! It's all that more nerve-wracking now that I'm waiting for admissions letters. If I have to leave I plan on giving them plenty of notice--and have started planning/booking the summer calendar (I'm an activities director) so I don't leave them high-and-dry--and hopefully they will understand.

Thank you for the encouragement everyone! Based on the advise here, my SO and I have started to create a spread sheet that will take into account all of the financials involved with the schools I've applied to--including moving costs, where necessary. Once everything is taken into account (tuition, fees, aid, living expenses, moving expenses, etc) we'll make our decision based off the best financial option. I am dreading the idea of breaking up this household we've created together, but will try not to think about that until we get all the admission decisions and #'s and can make a decision from that. Best of luck to all of you in similar situations. I have faith that things will work out in the end.

I'm in a similar situation, except we're in Boston now and I'm potentially moving away while my boyfriend is staying here. Tiny violins, I know! I'm still among the insane masses waiting on a few letters...

Thank you for all the great responses! He can't move because he's finishing his own master's degree here and has a job that is contributing money toward that degree, so he's stuck for at least another two years. We have been together for 5 years, own our house together, and do plan on getting married. He understands that this will be OUR debt, and is not against me moving to a cheaper school. But one day it's "we have to do what will be financially best for us" and the next day it's "I really don't want you to go away; please stay." So I keep flip-flopping on what I should do. I went away for school last year and hated being so far away from him, but I think you all are absolutely right. This should definitely be a financial decision. Me being away won't ruin our relationship, it just won't be ideal. But it definitely is worth it in the financial long run. Thank you again!

I applied to various schools, both nearby and out-of-state. Since I live in a large, expensive city all the schools arounds here are also quite expensive (all private), and I cringe at the idea of going to one of them because of the massive debt that will acrew (6 figures...). While I'm certainly interested in their programs--as well as in not having to move--I am horrified by the amount of debt that will come if I go to one of them. I really applied to them because my significant other will not move if I go out-of-state, and I don't really want to move away from him. I'm at a crossroads and don't know what to do. Go to a cheaper out-of-state school, or stay put with my SO and hopefully numb myself to the reality of the costs? I hate the idea of financials being a sole decision maker, but I also hate the idea of my SO being my sole decision maker too. The out-of-state programs and the nearby programs about equal each other out in my mind regarding their faculty, program components, and clinics--they're all very good programs--so this isn't really a decision about what program is the best. Is anyone one else in this type of situation? How did you find a balance for your school goals while not sacraficing the relationship you have built with your SO? My mind wants to choose the best financial option for me, but my heart wants to choose otherwise.

Wow, I am so jealous of those of you who are expecting to hear back from schools soon! Most of mine won't start mailing letters until mid-March or the end of March, so I have a while to wait. This doesn't stop me from obsessively stalking my in-box, university websites, and the mailman, however.

I'm currently pulling together my SOP for applications to SLP programs, and would love to have someone familiar with the SLP field and/or the SLP application process review my SOP and offer advice on how to make it stronger. I have a few friends looking through the SOP now, but they don't know anything about the SLP field so I feel like some strengths could be overlooked and not effectively described because they don't really know what to look for. I should have my next draft reayd to go in a few days. Would anyone here be willing to help me get my SLP SOP finalized?

Hello, I'm trying to figure out who I should ask to write my LORs so I can give them plenty of time before I apply for graduate school this Fall. This is what I'm thinking of, but it doesn't seem very strong, so your suggestions would be very much appreciated: 1. Former boss in non-degree related field: This boss LOVED me, I worked for her for 2 years, and she would gladly write a great letter for me. However, she knows nothing about speech pathology (the field I'm getting into), so she would only be speaking to my work ethics and personality. That means non-strong responses to LOR questionnaires that ask about my grad school and clinical ability. 2. Former professor: I took a graduate class at Harvard Extension School 2 years ago for work, got an A+, and the teacher used a lot of my writing as samples for other classes. She is willing to do a LOR for me, but wants me to write it for her and then send it to her for "tweaking". I figured this would be a good LOR since a) I get to write it and it shows my aptitude for graduate work, but I'm still not sure. This professor is a little aloof Thoughts? 3. Current professor: I have to take a series of prerequisite/leveling classes before I can apply to graduate school. I'm in my first class with a very well known professor at 1 of the schools I plan on applying to. She head of the speech clinic and one of the directros of my program there, I did a couple hours of observation time with her, and it's looking like I'll pull off a B in her class. I really want to ask her to write a LOR for me, but she is crazy busy (very much all over the place) and we haven't connected in class at all. I feel like she may say no because she doesn't know me very well. Should I ask her anyway? And if so, should I prepare a few things to help her get to know me better--Resume, summary of my interest in going to grad school, volunteer work I've been doing, etc. (maybe see if I can do some more clinical observation time with her over the summer to help her decide?) I've been out of school for 6 years now and my undergrad degree was in a different field, so I'm hesitant to ask any undergrad professors for LORs (I went to a large state school with large class sizes, so I doubt any would remember me personally--they would be pretty generic letters). I'm taking another 6 week class this summer and another class in the Fall, but that seems really late to ask someone for a LOR. I've tried to shadow a speech pathologist, volunteer at rehab centers, etc, but they're so bogged down with students as it is that they're not allowing anyone else in (4 universities in my area offering speech pathology=masses of students). I volunteer and tutor adult ESL students at a community center and I've thought about asking my supervisor there for a LOR, but I never see the guy--if my students were great writers they'd provide a great LOR! Thoughts? I really want to make these count, and feel like I'm grabbing at straws just to get it done. Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading!