jomyers.online

Honestly, that is a great mix of experiences! The only thing is that you might look at some research experiences if you haven't already. I wouldn't necessarily add anything that would be a large commitment, as that already sounds overwhelming. Maybe an hour or two volunteering on a PhD student's project each week. For programs that have more of a holistic admissions process, keep in mind that they’re not necessarily looking to make sure that you’ve had a certain number of shadowing hours or that you have a certain amount of related experience. They’re looking for a well-rounded applicant that can show the admissions committee that they’ve developed the skills and competencies that program is looking for in their applicants. This is a list of skills/competencies that programs typically look for: Academic rigor/Academic preparation/Foundational Skills (A good place to highlight this would be your GPA and LORs) Analytical and critical thinking skills (A good place to highlight this would be your resume) Clear and effective communication with clients, families, professionals, etc. (A good place to highlight this would be your resume or personal statement) collaboration skills (A good place to highlight this would be your resume, LORs, or personal statement) flexibility and growth mindset (A good place to highlight this would be your personal statement) professionalism (A good place to highlight this would be your resume, LORs, or personal statement) resourcefulness, innovation, and creativity (A good place to highlight this would be your resume or personal statement) self-reflection (A good place to highlight this would be your personal statement) clinical competence – knowledge and skills (A good place to highlight this would be your resume, LORs, or personal statement) ethical behavior (A good place to highlight this would be your resume or personal statement) social and emotional awareness, active listening, compassion, and empathy (A good place to highlight this would be your personal statement) cultural intelligence/capability/responsiveness/ dexterity (A good place to highlight this would be your resume or personal statement) If you think that there’s a certain skill that you might not be able to show in your application yet, then that is what I’d recommend for you to target prior to your next round of applications.

Groupme for Fall 2022 KU admitted students: https://groupme.com/join_group/85851716/md3ZMHwE Groupme for KU admitted students to chat with the class of 2023: https://groupme.com/join_group/85851758/HiofA0fV

Results are out this week; I've heard of a few people who have heard back so far. I'd love to answer any questions you have! Also, this thread about KU got buried a little bit so posting the link:

TLDR; each graduate program will have their own list of courses you'll need to complete before applying (& some don't require any!) There aren't any set definitions for prerequisite, leveling, and post-bacc courses , and they're often used interchangeably anyway. This is sort of a rule of thumb you can follow, but there are quite a few exceptions: Prereqs: these are courses that can be taken a-la-carte (enrolling in one course at a time, or whichever courses fit your needs) I.e., if the grad program you're interested in just has a list of prerequisite courses (most do), it won't matter where you got your coursework done at. You could do some at one undergraduate program, and some at another, and over a length of time that isn't typical for most students if you wanted. Just check with the grad programs you're interested in to make sure that the courses you're taking will satisfy the requirements. You usually don't have to apply to a university to complete your prereqs a-la-carte. People on this sub seem to really enjoy ENMU's a-la-carte offerings - I believe each course is online, asynchronous, and under $300 out of pocket. Leveling courses: most of the time, this term is used for a listing of courses that are offered through a university as a way for you to get all of your prerequisite coursework knocked out in a few semesters. Most of the time, you do not need to apply: you can usually just enroll. You sometimes end with a certificate, but most of the time you won't have anything to show at the end except your transcript. Most of the time, you cannot apply to graduate programs that require an undergraduate degree in CSD if you choose this option. Post-bacc: post-baccalaureate programs are much the same as leveling courses, except that for some of these programs, you'd have to apply and be accepted. Again, you sometimes end with a certificate, but most of the time you won't have anything to show at the end except your transcript. Most of the time, you cannot apply to graduate programs that require an undergraduate degree in CSD if you choose this option. Second Bachelor's: These programs usually include all of the major-specific coursework that is required of other undergraduates in CSD that come from the same university. (I.e., a degree with just the Junior/Senior classes and none of the gen-eds). You almost always have to apply and be accepted to these programs. When you complete the requirements, you should receive a degree that is just as valid as a regular undergraduate degree in CSD. Most of the time, you CAN apply to graduate programs that require an undergraduate degree in CSD if you choose this option. OK, so which one is best for me? My advice would be to come up with a list of 5-10 grad school programs that you'd be interested in attending. It's fairly likely that all of their prerequisites will be slightly different. The prereqs that are required for each program will be listed on their website. For example, CSUSM's prereqs are: SLP 150 - Introduction to Communicative Sciences and Disorders (Formerly EDSL 350) SLP 201 - Hearing Disorders and Measurement SLP 251 - Language Development and Assessment for Practitioners SLP 320 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism SLP 357 or PHYS 357 - The Science of Speech and Hearing SLP 364 - Cultural Diversity in Schooling (OR EDUC 364 OR ID 340) SLP 391 - Clinical Phonetics and Analysis of Disordered Speech SLP 450 - Diagnostics for Speech Language Pathologists SLP 491 - Neural Correlates in Speech-Language and Swallowing Functions EDUC 380 - Applications in Child and Youth Development (OR PSYC 330) MATH 142 - Basic Statistics (OR PSYC 220) University of the Redlands' prereqs are: Speech and Language Science Audiology and Hearing Science Functional Anatomy/Physiology of Communication Language Development Phonetics and Phonology Statistics University of the Pacific this university offers an accelerated program, so you wouldn't need any prereqs at all! You'll want to find a post-bacc, leveling, prerequisite, or second bachelor's program that would satisfy the requirements for most of the graduate programs that you'd be interested in attending. You likely won't find one that fulfills all the requirements for all of the programs. However, by meeting most programs' prereq lists, you'd be giving yourself the best chance possible for an acceptance! If you don't want to do prerequisites: There are many schools that have extended three year programs, and for some of those you wouldn't have to take any prerequisites before applying to the grad program! The prerequisites are usually just built in, which is why these programs tend to be 3 years instead of the usual 2. The difference between doing this and going through a prerequisite program is that you are already admitted to the grad program while you complete those prereqs, so you don't have to worry about sinking an entire year of tuition into a leveling program that might not pan out when you actually start applying to grad schools. Additionally, if you're dependent on student aid, it can get a little tricky for some prerequisite programs if they do not offer a degree or certificate - you'd have to be enrolled in a "degree-seeking" program to qualify for some types of financial aid. You'd avoid this in a grad program that includes the prerequisites. ASHA edfind has a tool that allows you to search for programs that don't require prerequisites. There are 46 (out of 298) - just go to ASHAedfind and one of the search options will be "does not require prerequisites" People over at slpgradschool on reddit helped me compile a list of schools that are included in ASHA's list of programs that don't require prereqs, but we also found some that don't have this requirement and aren't listed: https://www.reddit.com/r/slpGradSchool/comments/oh7xam/list_of_programs_that_dont_require_prerequisites/ If you'd like to learn more, I have a more in-depth post up here: https://www.jomyers.online/post/prereqs-leveling-second-bachelor-s-and-post-baccs-oh-my-which-is-right-for-me

Quite a few programs don't really make their funding opportunities public, you'd usually need to apply to the program or contact the admissions counselor directly to see what opportunities might be available for your particular situation. My plug for KU: To my knowledge, there weren't any GRA/GTA/GA positions offered alongside admission for my cohort, but there were several positions that were made available before classes started, and they pop up periodically. These are paid positions -- & if you're out of state a certain number of hours (I think it's 16/week) will qualify you for in-state tuition in addition to your salary. There are other positions available outside the department, if you're willing to look at tangentially related fields for experience and funding - for example, I have a position through the Pediatrics department at the medical center! There are two grants that are ongoing that take a few fellowship students every year - both offer tuition reimbursement that covers about 3/4 of in-state tuition. Students typically apply after receiving acceptance to the program. There are several scholarships offered that are specific to KU MA-SLP students, or students at KU in therapy programs, or students in Health Professions at KU: a couple examples include the Samuel Porritt Rehabilitation Excellence Scholarship and the Kovac Diversity Student Support Fund There are KU specific scholarships: the CLAS Graduate Scholarly Development Fund, which funds up to $500 up to two times for presentations at conferences, and there's an entire portal that you have access to where you can apply for scholarships within & outside the university. There are also scholarships/grants/tuition assistance opportunities that are applied automatically through the university financial aid office based on your need & FAFSA application

@Amber K It was lovely meeting with you, please let me know if you have any more questions! And if anyone else is interested in KU's program and has questions, feel free to ask here or send me a DM!

If you recently accepted, this might work! Dear Dr. Admissions Director, I'd like to thank you and the admissions committee for your offer of acceptance to the _________ program at __________. I accepted your offer on __(date)_____, and was looking forward to spending the next few years building a foundation as a clinician with this extremely talented and deserving cohort. After much consideration, I regret to inform you that it is necessary for me to withdraw from the program. This decision was difficult, and was largely due to (a change in my financial aid package at another institution, a last minute change in my candidacy at a program that more closely fits my research interests in _________, etc.) . I sincerely appreciate the time, effort, and consideration that you took in reviewing my application and making me feel welcome in this program. It was a pleasure getting to know the faculty, students, and the incredible opportunities that are offered at this institution. I thank you for the confidence you afforded me, and I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. Sincerely, _________

@meadymalarkey That's a great idea! I'll work on getting something like that together

Here's a link to view the data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14DKWmMYimqMcqGXOXZz7tqet0c3ixxHsQcuvjoFZOhM/edit?usp=sharing

https://forms.gle/PtYtKhtXhy3LjxYu5 (completely anonymous; no data collected other than the numbers. This isn't for a class, I'm just curious. If you saw this on reddit too please only do it once!) According to ASHA's aggregate data from 2019-2020, there were 56,148 applications to master’s degree programs, 21,877 applications received an acceptance, and only 9,826 first-year students enrolled. While that is a 39% acceptance rate, this statistic reflects the number of applications, not the number of applicants. Here's a hypothetical: Let's say that everyone that received an acceptance enrolled. That would mean that the accepted students received an average of 2.2 acceptances each. If everyone that was accepted didn't receive any rejections, and everyone that applied submitted 2.2 applications each, there would be approximately 25,522 total applicants. That's a 38.5% acceptance rate. But, some of the students that were accepted likely also received some rejections. If everyone that applied submitted an average of 2.5 applications, there would be approximately 22,459 total applicants and a 44% acceptance rate. If everyone that applied submitted 3 applications each, there would be 18,716 total applicants and a 53% acceptance rate. I want to see how many applications people on this sub submitted, on average, during an application season, so that I can make a more accurate guess as to what the actual acceptance rate would be. I also want to see if turning in a greater number of applications is correlated with a higher chance of acceptance. I'll update this post with the results!

I commented this on reddit, but I can actually provide the links in gradcafe: In short, yes, & the process is seeking licensure by endorsement. This is where you can find the forms: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/slpa/speechforms.htm (you'll need to complete all 4) This is the info about licensure by endorsement: "Licensure by Endorsement in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology If you hold a license in speech-language pathology or audiology issued by another jurisdiction, you may be eligible for licensure by endorsement in New York State by either Path A or B: Path A If you are seeking licensure by endorsement of a license in speech-language pathology or audiology issued by another jurisdiction of the United States, you will need to meet the following requirements: meet the requirements of Section 59.6 of the Commissioner’s Regulations; complete an acceptable program in speech-language pathology or audiology that includes a practicum and a minimum of 60 semester hours in speech-language pathology or audiology, as applicable; have at least two years of acceptable professional experience in speech-language pathology or audiology, as appropriate, provided that such experience occurs following licensure in such jurisdiction and within six years immediately preceding application for licensure by endorsement in New York State; have a passing score on the Specialty Area test of the Praxis Series, Praxis II, administered by the Educational Testing Services (ETS); hold certification from an acceptable certifying agency such as the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA); and be in good standing as a licensee in each jurisdiction in which you are licensed to practice speech-language pathology or audiology." - NYSED, http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/slpa/speechlic.htm

Hello @vision4tmrw ! You can find this information on ASHA's Edfind. A few months ago, I went through the first 100 results (10 pages) of edfind, and a little under a third of the schools admitted students with a 3.0 (B) average or under. If that is true of the rest of the results, there could be almost 100 programs that would accept students with a GPA at or below 3.0. Keep in mind, this data is a few months old, so it might not be accurate any longer. University of Toledo's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.39-4.0 University of St. Augustine's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.44-3.9 University of the District of Columbia's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.6-3.7 University of Vermont's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.61-3.99 Teachers College, Columbia University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.66-4.0 Western Michigan University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.68-4 Wichita State University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.70-4.00 University of Memphis' GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.71-3.94 University of Oregon's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.73-4.0 Truman State University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.8-4.0 University of Montana's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.86-4.00 Syracuse University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.86-4.0 University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.89-4 Texas A&M University, Kingsville's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.96-4.0 Thiel College's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 2.97-3.85 Xavier University of Louisiana's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-3.5 University of Mississippi's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 SUNY at New Paltz's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 University of North Texas' GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 Texas Woman's University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis' GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 University of North Dakota's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.0-4.0 We can't really speculate as to your likelihood of acceptance at any of these programs, though, because there are so many parts to an application: Do you have glowing letters of recommendation from CSD professors that can speak to your abilities in the classroom, in research, and in the field? (here's more about letters of recc) Do you have experience working as a SLPA, or in tangentially related jobs in which you regularly interacted with individuals with communication disorders? (here's a list of directly related and tangentially related job experiences) Do you have research experience? Have you done an independent research project, or worked in a lab? Have you presented at a conference? A symposium? Do you volunteer, and are you involved with student organizations at the local and national level? Have you held any leadership positions? (here's a list of other ways to get involved if you're looking for additional experiences) Is your personal statement strong? Does it describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why they are a good fit for you? Does it answer the question or prompt fully? Have you used this space to describe your strengths, or an experience that has changed your life? Did you frame any deficiencies in your application as opportunities for growth and explain how you've overcome difficulties you've experienced? If the program requires the GRE, have you checked edfind to ensure that your scores are competitive for that program? If the program interviews, did you explain your interests and the qualities you'll bring to the program effectively? Did you ask important and insightful questions? Even if we had all of this information about your application, there is no way to guarantee acceptance anywhere. Even if you had a perfect 4.0 and all the extracurriculars you could think of, you still might receive a rejection at any one of the schools listed. This is because every program will weight the components differently, and every program only has so many seats available for all of the highly qualified applicants that apply. I'm not just saying that: if you scroll through the sub you'll find posts from perfect 4.0 students with great extracurriculars that didn't receive acceptances from their top programs, or occasionally any programs at all. You'll also find 3.0 students that excelled in other areas that were admitted to those same schools. I don't say any of this to discourage you, only to inform you that we really can't give you a clear picture of what your acceptances will look like. What we can do is help you improve your chances of receiving an acceptance. If you know you'll have a lower GPA than most, you'll have to stand out from the crowd in a different way. Your experience in SPED will definitely help you stand out!

Step 1 You’re a CSD Undergraduate Student reading this 1-3 years before you apply, and you know it is never too early to start thinking about who to ask for recommendation letters. If you’re planning on applying this year, skip to step #2. As you attend CSD courses, you’ll want to make sure to develop close professional relationships with your professors. At most larger universities, you’ll notice that the tenured research MS-SLP professors rarely teach undergraduate classes. If you can, enroll in courses taught by professors in the program. If this is not possible, a way to ensure that you’ll have developed a relationship with one or two CSD professors by the time you graduate is by asking your other instructors if they’re involved with research. Hear me out: from personal experience, instructors and lecturers are usually master’s or doctoral students that are involved with research themselves. They can let you know about openings in labs and put in a good word for you as well. I was able to enroll in a lab for credit because one of my instructors is a doctoral student and co-leader on a research project! You'll want to make sure that your recommendations come from professors who have had a chance to get to know you in a variety of academic settings. In addition to seeking out research opportunities, make sure that you make your presence known in classes. If you're a wallflower like me, this might mean that you need to put yourself out there a bit more than you're used to: visit your professor's office hours regularly ask about professional organizations your professor is involved with join student organizations that your professors are staff advisors for ask about your professors career trajectory: what steps did they take to get to where they are? ask about funding opportunities or scholarships that might be available to you this might be cliche, but ask about your professor's research: I'm sure they'd love to talk to you about it. Before you ask, read up on past projects they've been involved in. (You can usually find this information on google or your university's website) offer to be a note-taker for students with disabilities in your class be a leader and contribute in group work send quality and professional emails Worried that you need to be doing more, or want to know more about what your professors want to see from you? Ask them about it! Feel free to use this example email, but modify it to fit your voice and your particular circumstances. Subject: CSD 100 (or whatever class) introduction and questions about participation Hello Dr. ________________, My name is ___________________, and I will be your student in ______(class)_____ this semester. I have read through the syllabus, gone over the course schedule, and have started looking through the book and canvas materials. I am very excited to dive into learning and discussion in this class, and wanted to express to you my interest in going above and beyond in my work this semester. I will be applying for graduate schools in Speech-Language Pathology starting in ___________________. My undergraduate degree was in ___________________, and I graduated __________ years ago with a __________ GPA. While I was a highly motivated student even then, it has been so long that I do not believe that my professors from that program would be able to write me a strong letter of support as I begin sending in applications to graduate institutions. I would like to express that I hope to demonstrate the qualities of a high-quality graduate student in your class, so that you would feel comfortable writing a recommendation letter on my behalf when the time comes around. I know that it is a highly personal decision for professors as to whether or not they are willing to provide strong recommendations to students and under which circumstances, so I wanted to pick your brain a bit.I know that you receive quite a few emails at the start of the semester, so I understand if this is low priority. If you have time, would you mind detailing the qualities and activities that you look for in a student that you would recommend for graduate admission? I fully intend to submit high-quality work, study effectively, attend and contribute to lectures, and come to office hours with questions and relevant topics. Beyond this, is there anything specific that I could add or contribute so that you can get to know me and my work on a deeper level this semester? Will you be advising any clubs or student organizations, or conducting research projects that I could volunteer on? Thank you for your time, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you! - __________________ The professors' perspectives: Most, if not all, professors receive requests from students for letters of recommendation. It's generally considered to be one of the responsibilities of a tenured professor, though it is less important than service and research requirements. That being said, whether or not they'll write a letter for a particular student is a personal choice. They might write a letter for one student but not for another, even if they were in the same class and got the same grade. Some professors will write you a letter if you only took one of their classes, but you'd have to *really* stand out in that class. Others won't write you a letter at all if they weren't able to observe your development as a student over the course of multiple semesters. If you check out r/professors over at https://www.reddit.com/r/professors and search "letters of recommendation," there are quite a few professors that state that they look at the student's motivation in their classes, whether or not they participated in extracurricular work, whether they went to office hours, whether or not they had high quality contributions to add to the class, etc. Even if you do all of that, some professors will flat out refuse to write letters for any student who receives less than a certain grade or is in only one of their classes. It will depend on the professor's personal preference. If they refuse, or say they don't know you well enough to recommend you, this is to your benefit. It is usually not a reflection on you, but on their ability to provide a strong recommendation for you. Refusal sometimes means that they just think you'd be better off getting a stronger letter elsewhere. What's the difference between a strong letter and a weak letter, and why should I care? What does a strong letter look like? To whom it may concern, I am delighted to write a letter of support on behalf of Example Student for admission to your graduate degree program. Example Student was an active member of Student Organization, which provided this service to this population. As the advisor for this club, I witnessed Example Student exemplify the tenets of service, equity, and inclusion on a daily basis. They excelled in their collaboration with members of the organization, providing high quality ideas and a desire to implement them effectively. Their peers and other advisors often commended Example Student for their collaborative nature and innovative ideas.E Example student is very goal oriented, and seeks out ways to help others with a nuanced understanding of how their background influences perceptions of challenges that they face. For example, when met with Example Challenge, Example Student rose to the occasion by doing this really great thing. The effect of their intervention was that the member of the population served excelled in meeting the challenges that Example Student assisted with. Their experiences with challenges in their own life played into their service, as they could relate more closely to overcoming difficult circumstances. Example Student worked full-time throughout their involvement in my courses and in Example Organization, due to this circumstance in their life. I watched with pride as they were able to leverage those experiences, which in turn led to introspective and empathetic service for members of the disadvantaged community that we serve. In class, Example Student went above and beyond in all capacities: they advocated for clients, wrote some of the highest quality work of the semester, and even assisted other students in their study of the material. Example Student volunteered to be a note taker for a student with disabilities in one of my courses, which further demonstrates their commitment to equity and inclusion, as well as a determination to serve people with disabilities humbly and in a culturally sensitive manner. I believe that Example Student will be successful wherever they go, and in whatever capacity they intend to serve in. I have personally witnessed their strength of character and studious nature, so I am able to recommend Example Student for admission to your program without reservation. Sincerely, Dr. Professor What does a weak letter look like? Example Student was a member of my Intro 100 class during the Fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Example Student received the grade of A- in the course. Example Student satisfactorily completed all of their work in the class during the short time I knew them. I recommend Example Student for admission to your graduate program. Each graduate program will place different weight on letters of recommendation, but it is well within the realm of possibility that a strong vs. a weak letter could spell the difference between an acceptance and a rejection from your program of choice. Step 2 You’re 3-6 months out from your deadline and it’s time to select a concrete list of recommenders. Most programs will ask for 2-3 letters, and most will also require that 1-2 of those letters come from professors, with priority placed on letters from professors of CSD courses. Think about it this way: academia is a small world, and most professors will have built relationships with colleagues at different universities. That trust in their peers' work will transfer to trust in their recommendations for graduate school applicants. From hours and hours of research from multiple forums and talks with professors, here’s your game plan: 3 letters from professors, **OR** 2 letters from professors and 1 from an SLP that you’ve shadowed or worked with closely **OR** 2 letters from professors and 1 from a supervisor for a related work experience or extensive volunteer experience This could vary, depending on the programs you're applying to, but it would be a good place to start. You’ll want to ask professors that you’ve built long-term professional relationships with, and it’s preferable that you have at least 1 professor that can speak to your research skills. Step 3 You’re still about 3-6 months out from the deadline. You have a list of recommenders, so now you need to decide which aspect of your background you want your recommenders to speak on. Then, you’ll be ready for the most important part: popping the question. Most programs want to see you as a well-rounded individual, so your letters should encompass the following characteristics: unique contributions that you’ll make to the incoming class academic ability communicative ability level of professionalism analytical skills research experience cultural competency flexibility resourcefulness self-reflection clinical competence ethical behavior social and emotional awareness growth mindset For each of your recommenders, choose 1-3 points that you’d like them to speak on, specifically. It’s better to have detailed letters with specific stories and insights than a short, broad or general recommendation. There’s conflicting information about how to ask for a recommendation, especially in the era of Covid-19. Usually, you would ask in person, but it is just as acceptable to ask via email or phone. In fact, it’s highly likely that if you ask in person, busy professors will also ask that you email them formally so that they have your request in writing to refer to. Whichever method you decide, here is a template from which you can craft your request. Be sure to tailor your own request to the specific points that you’d like your recommender to attest to in their letter. Subject: Letter of Recommendation Request Hello Dr. _________________, I'm reaching out to ask you if you would be able to provide a recommendation as I apply to graduate programs in Speech Language Pathology. Most of my applications are due around ______(range of dates)______, with the soonest being ____(date)_______. I know that this time of year can be especially busy, so please don't feel obligated to say yes. It has been an honor to get to know you during my time in ________________. You are one of the reasons that I became interested in Speech Pathology, and at this point I can't imagine a different path for my future. I know that the skills that I've refined during my time in ______________ will be very beneficial to my application, and I know that you would be the best person to attest to my academic and research abilities. I will provide copies of my resume, unofficial transcript, and any other information that you might find useful, should you choose to accept. I would be more than happy to meet with you at your convenience regarding this letter or my overall application. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, - _________________ Step 4 You’re 2-3 months out from your application deadline. Your recommenders have accepted your request, and now you need to create packets for them. In each packet, you’ll need to have: A cover letter thanking your recommender for taking the time to speak on your behalf. This introduction should include: the date of the deadline(s), the school(s) you’ll be applying to, the points that you’d like them to speak on, and reminders of specific interactions that you’ve had with this individual that could inform their letter. If this is a professor and you are not enrolled in one of their courses this semester, include examples of work that you’ve completed in their class. A copy of your unofficial transcript A copy of your resume Here's an example packet that you can use! Step 5 You’ve been accepted! Or, you’ll try again next year. There’s no shame in coming back for a second round of applications! Either way, you’ll need to thank your recommenders for their time. Some out there would advise that you send a small thank you when the letters have been submitted, and a larger thank you when you can report on how your application fared. Honestly, the most important advice I can give you is to make this personal. Writing a letter of recommendation can be incredibly time consuming, and your recommenders deserve to know how important it was to you that they took this time for you. Some ideas for your thank you include: Handwriting a thank-you card You’ll have developed a relationship with your recommender, so you could include their favorite candy or a small gift card for their favorite coffee, drink, or store. For ethical reasons, professors will absolutely not be comfortable with a large or extravagant gift. Keep it small, just as a token of your appreciation.

Commenting just to provide updated advice: ASHA edfind has a tool that allows you to search for programs that don't require prerequisites. There are 46 (out of 298): http://find.asha.org/ed/#sort=relevancy&f:@degreeprogram=[Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology]&f:@offerings=[Prerequisites not required for admission] There are many schools that have extended three year programs, and for some of those you wouldn't have to take any prerequisites before applying to the grad program! The prerequisites are usually just built in, which is why these programs tend to be 3 years instead of the usual 2. The difference between doing this and going through a prerequisite program is that you are already admitted to the grad program while you complete those prereqs, so you don't have to worry about sinking an entire year of tuition into a leveling program that might not pan out when you actually start applying to grad schools. Additionally, if you're dependent on student aid, it can get a little tricky for some prerequisite programs if they do not offer a degree or certificate - you'd have to be enrolled in a "degree-seeking" program to qualify for some types of financial aid. You'd avoid this in a grad program that includes the prerequisites.

I wrote a post about ways to improve your application if you've received rejections, and the advice that I'd give here is really similar. If you don't have a network built yet, you're going to want to do a lot of cold-calling. You can call schools, as some SLPs that work in the schools provide extended school year (ESY) services. Other places to try include hospitals, private practices, SNFs, and inpatient/outpatient clinics in your area. Before you ask to shadow/volunteer, be sure to look up a little bit of info about the practice so that you sound knowledgeable. See if the hospitals have websites with specific numbers to call to get ahold of the SLPs (even better, email so that they can respond when they're not busy!). Schools also often post faculty emails or phone numbers on their websites! There are also some SLPs over at r/slp that have offered to allow students to do teletherapy observations.