jomyers.online

@cjthax, don't rule out taking prereqs at community colleges, if they're offered! CC tends to charge less in tuition. You could also contact advisors for the more expensive prereq programs you're interested in to see if you can qualify for loans/scholarships/tuition assistance. Not all of your letters need to be from professors, but the general rule of thumb is 2 out of 3. Just make sure that this is acceptable for the program you're applying to: there were at least two grad programs that I looked at that required all three letters to be from professors. If the grad programs you're interested in allow it, you could ask a manager or supervisor at your place of employment for one of your letters. Just make sure that this letter writer can speak to how successful they think you'll be as a graduate student and future SLP. You could ask them to write about your work ethic, ability to work with a wide range of clients effectively, effective interpersonal communication with people from a wide variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, etc. Remember, you'll only want to take the prereqs that match the requirements of the grad programs you're applying to as closely as possible, so it doesn't really matter how long the program is! (i.e., if you're only applying to grad programs that require physics of speech, language development, anatomy&physiology, and phonetics, you're going to go into a lot of unnecessary debt taking a full year of full-time prereq classes.) That being said, most professors won't even be willing to write a letter for a student that they don't know very well. Not only that, but you want to have strong, personal letters of recommendation, not just template letters. For that reason, I really suggest structuring your leveling program so that you can take multiple classes from one or two professors, even if they're both in the same semester. I'm not sure if that makes sense, so I'll clarify: let's say you have class 1, 2, 3, and 4. Class 1 is taught by Dr. A or Dr. B, class 2 is taught by Dr. A or Dr. C, and classes 3 and 4 are taught by teaching assistants or grad students. You're really going to want to take class 1 & 2 with professor A, because then you'll have a better chance of making a good impression and getting to know that prof better. These are some things to try to improve your chances of receiving a high-quality letter of recommendation. If you want more of my personal opinions on asking for recommendations, this is a blog post I wrote (it's a work in progress but most of the important info is there): https://www.jomyers.online/post/_lors 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 This is an example of a packet I provided to my recommenders, so that they could speak clearly about me and my experiences (make a copy to make changes): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VOoUShxyVQVncnl2QArAMU8b6Fgb5NawAILsV1hOwG8/edit?usp=sharing This is a really good thread on reddit to read if you want professors' perspectives on when they're willing to write a recommendation letter: https://www.reddit.com/r/Professors/comments/lq4pmc/professors_in_which_instances_do_you_agree_to/ I know that was a lot of info, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have any follow-up questions!

This is great advice! I didn't do this in undergrad and wish I had. @cjthax: make sure that the courses you decide to take match the requirements of the schools you're planning on applying to as closely as possible! Different programs are going to have different requirements - some as few as 3 or 4 courses, some as many as 9 or 10. There's really not much consistency between programs as to what prerequisite courses are required, aside from the general ASHA pre-reqs (biological sciences, social sciences, physical sciences, stats). There are programs that might accept you conditionally if you don't have all of the required credits, but they'll likely have you complete the ones you still need before you start the program. Other programs will not consider students that do not have their prerequisites done. My leveling program was 26 credits, and I feel that I'll be more prepared for graduate school than if I had a shorter prereq program. I don't think I'd have taken this entire leveling courseload if I wasn't absolutely sure that I wanted to attend KU. It was very expensive, so if I wasn't sure which grad program I wanted to attend I would have looked at others that required fewer credits, because it was very expensive. But, because I knew that KU was the place for me, it was worth the investment. Another consideration is that financial aid can get a little tricky for non-degree seeking students. This can be even more of an expense than taking classes in undergrad if there isn't a degree/certificate awarded for your program, because some students are forced to pay out of pocket or take outside loans. Get in contact with the leveling programs you're considering and talk to them about what the financial aid situation would look like for you when you're making decisions! The best advice that I can give leveling program students is to get VERY involved with your classes, because there are quite a few grad programs that specifically look for letters of recc from CSD professors. You'll probably be just fine asking for letters from your undergrad professors if you don't plan on attending a full year of leveling classes. If you'll be enrolled for a year or more, though: take multiple classes with the same professors, go to office hours, join (virtual) clubs that your profs are advisors for, and try to see if you can get involved with (remote) research opportunities. -Jo

Hello @p_SLP-to-be! I am not a SLPA, but I was very interested in pursuing that avenue over the next year if I was not accepted into KU's program. It can be worth pursuing the ASHA SLPA certification, depending on your circumstances: Job opportunities: different states utilize SLPAs at different rates. Some, like Kansas, hardly utilize SLPA's at all (instead, most school districts in KS hire speech and language paras). Other states, like Florida or Nevada, utilize SLPAs frequently. For a C-SLPA certification to be worth it for you, you should determine if job opportunities exist in your state, or you should be willing to move to a state with more opportunities. Licensure: ASHA's C-SLPA certification is brand new. I've heard through the grapevine that 2 states have adopted the ASHA SLPA Certification. In my own searches, I was not able to find any states that have adopted these standards yet. Therefore, in most cases, you would need to pursue your state's individual standards for licensure AND certification. I believe that ASHA intends for the C-SLPA certification to function as a nationwide standard, as is the case for the CCC-SLP. However, just like the CCC-SLP, you will still be beholden to state standards for licensure, even once the certification becomes standard. If your state has different licensure standards than ASHA, you will have to jump through those hoops. For example, in California, you MUST attend one of their specific, pre-approved SLPA programs or obtain a bachelor's degree in communication sciences - leveling courses or unapproved programs will not count, regardless of your C-SLPA status. Trajectory: If your goal is to become an SLPA, obtaining the ASHA C-SLPA certification would be advisable, as it's well within the realm of possibility that more states will change their licensure requirements to reflect ASHA's new standards. If your goal is to go to SLP grad school, I've heard that it can be incredibly beneficial to have relevant experience as an SLPA. However, some have found the cost prohibitive, others cannot find job opportunities close by, and still others have determined that the process to gain certification takes more time than they'll have before their next round of grad school applications. You'll really have to take a look at your individual circumstances to determine if this is the right path for you! This is a link to ASHA's SLPA Certification standards This is a link to the requirements of the individual states for SLPAs (click the state, then "support personnel") This is a link to the C-SLPA application This is a link to a reddit forum for SLPAs I created a thread on GradCafe for questions/comments related to SLPA certification here! Please don't hesitate to DM me if you'd like to talk in more detail, -Jo

Hello @BlueWaters! I truly believe that you should take the time that you need to be in a good headspace, but it might be a good idea to ask your advisors, a faculty member that you trust, and students in the program that you feel comfortable asking for advice about how this decision will affect your program completion. You might be able to use that feedback to alleviate any concerns that your family has. Moreover, as helpful as I try to be, they might be able to offer you more sound advice than strangers on the internet. Depending on your university, you might be able to find student counseling services that are free or low-cost. At my undergraduate university, seeing a therapist was approximately $15/session. I was able to schedule the occasional emergency session during a traumatic time in my junior year, and continued with these services until I could find a more permanent counseling service through my insurance. If you choose to go this route, your service provider might be able to assist you in navigating interpersonal concerns with your family members over your decision about whether or not to delay your placement. Best of luck, -Jo

@d_slp_2021 I linked the wrong post! My bad - I knew I had seen something about it but got mixed up on the program. A few undergraduate students said that they're running a week late due to storms and that decisions should come out sometime this week. This is the post. Someone else said that you should check your spam/trash, and that the email might come from cyndigoodson@austin.utexas.edu Best of luck, and I'm really sorry about the mix-up! -Jo

There was a reddit post about this school yesterday, and someone said that they emailed the director. The director told them that they were sending out decisions one at a time until the end of March. This is the post.

(cross posted on reddit) Rolling Admissions Valdosta State University (South Georgia, abt an hour and a half away from Tallahassee)- rolling admission, deadlines in July, October, and March University of Central Florida (Orlando) - rolling admissions, deadlines in October, January, and February Emerson Online - next deadlines are June 25 and October 29 Baylor Online - rolling admissions, next cohort deadline is June 28 Later Deadlines Pace University - April 1 Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University - April 15 Hampton University (Hampton, VA) - May 1 Midwestern University (Chicago) - May 1 Salus University (Philadelphia, PA) - May 1 Nova Southeastern University (FL) - June 1 Regis College is a developing program, (MA) - June 1 NYU (NYC)- Priority deadline is April 27, final deadline is June 7 Grand Valley State University (Track 2 Program) - June 15 South Carolina State University - June 15 DePaul University is a developing program, (Chicago) - July 1 Hardin-Simmons University is a developing program, (Texas) - July 1 Eastern New Mexico University - July 1 George Washington University - July 1 Nova Southeastern (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - July 15 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences - September 1 UT Dallas - September 15 The College of Saint Rose (Spring Start, NY) - September 15 Fresno State - October 1 Kent State University (Ohio) - October 1 Long Island University (Brooklyn) - October 15 University of Rhode Island (Spring Start) - October 15

Your job as a teacher's assistant is related to the field, so you could definitely draw on that experience for your personal statement in your next round of applications! I've heard in and around that it can help to email the programs that you received rejections from to ask if there are specific things that you could focus on before that next round, so that you know where you should focus your energy. People have had mixed luck with that tactic though, and sometimes receive canned responses. I've heard that it helps to email the admissions director directly to avoid those sorts of responses. If you don't want to wait a full year to apply again, you could look at programs that have later deadlines or programs that do rolling admissions. Nova Southeastern - July 15 Valdosta State University - rolling admission, deadlines in July, October, and March Midwestern University - May 1 NYU - Priority deadline is April 27, final deadline is June 7, classes begin in September University of Central Florida - rolling admissions, deadlines in October, January, and February Emerson Online - June 25 and October 29 Baylor Online - rolling admissions, next cohort deadline is June 28 UT Dallas - February 15 and September 15 Salus University - May 1 Here is a list of other opportunities that you could use to strengthen your application: Other Related Jobs/Volunteer Positions: Volunteer or work at a preschool: this experience will improve your knowledge of child speech and language development Volunteer or work with adults with intellectual disabilities: working with adults with communication differences will ready you for work in the field. In this sort of a position, you will likely gain experience with data tracking and goal setting as well. The process that we use to create and track goals at the company I work for is incredibly similar to the IEP process that SLPs use in school settings. Volunteer or work at a Speech Therapy private practice Obtain SLPA licensure if your state utilizes SLPA's. Clubs/Student Organizations (you can sometimes join as a community member even if you're not enrolled at a University): Best Buddies Start your own CSD or Pre-SLP club! Nancy over at the Sunshine Speechie podcast had some good tips on how she got a Pre-SLP club going at Clemson University, but I can’t find the exact post. I helped found a student organization that provides cultural equity training to undergraduates in pre-health majors. Leadership positions are highly sought-after, but they really do offer you a leg up if you can get one! A way to obtain leadership positions is getting really involved in the activities and events that organization is working on - they'll recognize your motivation and commitment and will be more likely to want to give you more responsibility. Observations/Job Shadowing: It’s always worth it to cold-call Speech Pathologists in your area to see if they’d be willing to let you job shadow for a day or two. Try to branch out: ask SLPs in medical settings, at schools, and in private practice settings. You could also sign up for the Master Clinician Network (I think it's $50ish) for informal observations online. I did this during Covid-19, as the observations that I had set up fell apart as soon as the pandemic hit. *keep in mind, these will NOT count towards the 25 guided observation hours required by most programs* Continuing Education/Professional Organizations: There are TONS of free and low-cost CEUs available since the start of the pandemic! They usually offer certificates for completion. Doing a couple of these will show your school that you are dedicated to learning more about the field Join the NSSLHA! If you can, ask a local university that does offer an undergraduate CSD program if you can sit in on their meetings. Try to find a practicing SLP that would be able to mentor you through your next application process: they might be able to edit your personal statement, help you polish up your resume, and they might be able to find you other opportunities that you wouldn't have otherwise known about! Undergraduate Research: See if one of your previous psychology or linguistics professors offers volunteer positions in their research labs. Most master's programs really want to see research experience, even if it isn't directly related to Speech Pathology. Offer to volunteer as a research assistant for a Speech Pathology professor at a few programs that you're interested in. If you're not able to move at this point, ask if they would accept a remote volunteer to work on administrative tasks. It never hurts to try! See if any local universities offer research credits as one-time, a-la-carte electives. You could work on your own research project, and may even be able to present your work as a poster or presentation at a research symposium or convention!

Hello @Mayestr! You can find this information on ASHA's Edfind. I went through the first 100 results (10 pages) for you, and roughly a third of those schools admitted students with a 3.05 or below. 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 3.05. 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 University of Louisiana, Lafayette's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.01-4 University of Hawaii at Manoa's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.01-4 University of South Dakota's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.02-4.0 St. John's University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.03-4.00 Worcester State University's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.05-3.96 University of Nevada, Reno's GPA range for students offered admission last year was 3.05-4 Hope this helps! -Jo

@sydneyb You are so right, I don't even know where I pulled that figure from. I looked at the link you sent, and it looks like the $600/credit is true for in-state and out-of-state students with no additional fees. I thought it was one of the most expensive programs, but it's actually really reasonable. I would fix this info but I'm no longer able to edit the list. Thank you so much for catching this and letting me know!

Hi @moniquelprevost! SDSU offers Neuroanatomy and physiology online over the summer Jacksonville University offers CSD 350: Anatomy & Physiology/Neuroanatomy online over the summer (they have a full program, I'm not sure if they'd allow enrollment in a standalone course) I'm not sure if your top choice would accept a neuroscience course as an equivalent; if so, you have quite a few more options. -Jo

Don't quit, it seems like you have the motivation and the passion to make a career out of this! Wishing you all the best ?

All of the 2021 fully online programs, w 20-21 stats (I posted this list as a comment somewhere else, but I keep losing it and it deserves its own post) Western Kentucky University Online Application deadline: February 3 (Fall start only) Admitted student GPA range: 3.5-4.0 Admitted student stats: 223 students applied, 74 were admitted, and 74 enrolled (33% acceptance rate) Requirements: writing sample, writing sample, references, video clip, prerequisite courses Accept out-of-majors? Yes, required prerequisite courses for admission include Speech-Language Development, Speech Science, Phonetics, Speech-Hearing Anatomy, Language Disorders, Articulation Disorders, Audiology, Assessment, Physical Science (Chemistry or Physics), Biological Science, Statistics, Social Science. These can be completed at a different university. See Prerequisite Courses Approved for Equivalency Average GRE: V 152 Q? writing 4 Total ballpark tuition cost: $45,000 Contact: Kimberly.green@wku.edu About: Synchronous online classes during the evening between 6 and 10pm. Six week on-campus Summer internship (first year) required. West Virginia University Online (requires move to WV, concurrent employment as a SLPA in WV) Application deadline: January 4 recommended date to submit application through CSDCAS to ensure verification by February 1 (Summer start only) Admitted student GPA range: 3.15-4.0 (min 3.0) Admitted student stats (residential and online): 132 students applied, 60 were admitted, and 33 enrolled (45% acceptance rate) Requirements: GRE, Personal interview, 3 recommendation letters, writing sample, from the WVU website: "Eligible to obtain Speech-Language Pathology-Assistant licensure in West Virginia. Students in this program will need to be eligible for a Speech-Language Pathology license in the state of West Virginia as well as follow the guidelines of the West Virginia Department of Education for Speech and Language Assistants." Accept out-of-majors? Yes, required prerequisite courses for admission include Phonetics/Phonology, Language Acquisition/Development, Anatomy & Physiology of Speech and Hearing, Speech & Hearing Science, Introduction to Audiology, Physics or Chemistry, Social/Behavioral Science, Statistics, Biological Science. Can be completed at a different university, see requirements. Average GRE: V 151 Q 149 writing 4.22 Total ballpark tuition cost: In-state ~$40,000 Out-of-state ~$102,528 (based on full courseload, 8 semester program. Keep in mind you'll be making a salary as a SLP-A during this time) Contact: jayne.brandel@mail.wvu.edu About: "The program begins in the summer and is eight semesters in length. Students accepted to this program will work as an SLP Assistant in the West Virginia schools while completing coursework online with periodic on-campus activities. Students will acquire clinical experiences in healthcare and educational settings. Students will receive a salary as an SLP-A, but may be expected to cover their WVU tuition and living expenses. Supplemental benefits and assistance may be available through individual counties within an SLP-A job offer." University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire Online (Part-time, not available to intl. students) Application deadline: Nov 1 (Summer start only) Admitted student GPA range: overall 2.89-4, CSD major average GPA 3.94 Admitted student stats (residential and online): 334 students applied, 130 were admitted, and 40 enrolled (39% acceptance rate) (total applicants to online program: 184) Requirements: GRE, 3 letters of recommendation, Personal Statement, 36 credits of post-baccalaureate coursework Accept out-of-majors? Yes, according to their website 78% of the online program's admitted students in 2019 had a non-CSD undergrad degree. Average GRE: V 151.4 Q 148.4 writing 4 Total ballpark tuition cost: $37,800 ($700 per credit, 54 credits) Contact: CSDOnlineGraduateCoordinator@uwec.edu About: "if you’re looking to take courses part time, our online program is set up so you can graduate in three years. Our online graduate program requires a short residency each summer while the rest of your clinic work can be done in your home community." University of South Florida Online (requires current employment at a Suncoast Consortium school district) Application deadline: Jan 15 (fall start only) Admitted student GPA range: 3.3-4.0 Admitted student stats (residential and online): 385 students applied, 118 were admitted, and 67 enrolled (31% acceptance rate) Requirements: Letters of recommendation, letter of intent, resume, GRE scores, and official transcripts should be submitted through CSDCAS, undergraduate degree in CSD and current employment at a Suncoast Consortium school district as a Speech-Language clinician Accept out-of-majors? No. Average GRE: V 153.4 Q 150.1 writing: 4.3 Total ballpark tuition cost: $26,660 ($430ish per credit, 62 credits) Contact: cford@usf.edu About: "The Suncoast Master's Consortium Track is specifically designed to assist bachelor's level professionals working full time as Speech-Language clinicians in one of the Suncoast Consortium school districts to complete their Master's degree. The Suncoast Consortium track is a 9 semester program that uses a combination of distance and on-site teaching to offer the same curriculum as taught on the Tampa campus. University of South Carolina Online Application deadline: December 15 (Fall admission only) Admitted student GPA range: 3.08-4.0 (3.0 min) Admitted student stats (residential and online): 461 students applied, 194 were admitted, and 71 enrolled (42% acceptance rate) Requirements: transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation (at least two from former professors), writing sample, resume/cv, GRE optional Accept out-of-majors? Yes, "Students with undergraduate majors in other disciplines take background coursework during fall and spring semesters prior to entry into the regular MS (distance education) curriculum that begins in the summer." No prerequisites required prior to admission, aside from the usual 4 sciences & statistics requirements. Average GRE: V 152 Q 150 writing 4.0 (GRE optional) Total ballpark tuition cost: $43,472 non-resident online ($572/credit, 76 credits not including prerequisite courses) Contact: cmholden@mailbox.sc.edu About: Part-time, 3 or 4 year curriculum, usually 2 courses each fall and spring w clinical practicum during the summer. University of Cincinnati Online (must live within a 4 hour radius of the university) Application deadline: January 1 Admitted student GPA range: 3.25-4.0 (3.0 min) Admitted student stats (residential and online): 303 students applied, 179 were admitted, and 110 enrolled (59% acceptance rate) Requirements: A grade of "B-" or better in all CSD courses, GRE, 3 letters of recommendation Accept out-of-majors? Yes, but they "recommend that you have completed some speech and hearing courses prior to application to help our admissions committee determine your potential for success in our program." Pre-reqs: Anatomy/Physiology, Audiology, Speech and Language Development, Statistics, Physical Science, Biological Science, Social Science, Human Growth and Development Average GRE: V 150 Q 146 writing 4 (GRE required) Total ballpark tuition cost: $44,164 Part time ($724/credit, 61 credits) $28,936 full time ($7,234/term) Contact: csd@ucmail.uc.edu About: "At this time, admission to the University of Cincinnati for this program REQUIRES that you live within a 3-4 hour radius of the University of Cincinnati as we are not able to support clinical supervision from greater distances." Minimum of 2 years full-time or 3 years (8 semesters) part-time. James Madison University Online Application deadline: Feb 1 (Summer start only) Admitted student GPA range: 3.38-3.99 (3.25 min) Admitted student stats (residential and online): 242 students applied, 71 were admitted, and 34 enrolled (29% acceptance rate) Requirements: GRE, writing sample Accept out-of-majors? Yes, pre-reqs: language development, Anatomy & Physiology, Phonetics, Acoustics, Statistics, Physics or Chemistry, Biological Science, Social Science, Average GRE: V 155 Q 151 writing 4.3 (GRE required) Total ballpark tuition cost: in-state $21,956 out-of-state $54,164 Contact: slp@jmu.edu (though you might have a difficult time: “Due to the number of inquiries receive, the JMU Online MS SLP program is not able to offer advising prior to offers of admission.”) About: “Admitted students progress as part of a cohort, and follow the curriculum as outlined. Academic coursework is offered online. Students will enroll in 2-3 courses per semester, over a three year period.” Part-time/online students are not eligible for funding. Idaho State University, Pocatello Online Application deadline: Feb 1 Admitted student GPA range: 3.21-4.0 Admitted student stats (residential and online): 365 students applied, 152 were admitted, and 58 enrolled (42% acceptance rate) Requirements: CSD Undergraduate degree, 3 letters of recommendation, writing sample Accept out-of-majors? Yes, but the pre-requisites should probably come from the university. They require 13-14 pre-requisite courses. Average GRE: no stats (GRE waived permanently) Total ballpark tuition cost: $29,778 (full time, resident) $79,644 (full time, nonresident) Contact: olcsd@isu.edu About: "Our online program is 3 years. It is an innovative program that allows students to complete academic coursework in the comfort of their own homes. It is designed for those who live in rural areas, or those who have work or other personal/family obligations that would make a traditional graduate program difficult. The academic coursework is completely online. There are two on-campus clinical practicum experiences held during the summers. The first summer clinical experience is held on the Pocatello Campus and requires 8 weeks of participation. The second summer clinical experience is held on the Meridian Campus and is 1 week. Summer clinical experiences on campus enrich the program and prepare students to continue with clinical work in their home town area. In the final summer semester, the student will complete an 8 week full-time externship in their hometown area." Emerson Online Application deadline: rolling admission (start fall, spring, or summer) Admitted student GPA range: 2.1-4.0 Admitted student stats (residential and online): 1545 students applied, 617 were admitted, and 352 enrolled (40% acceptance rate) Requirements: the usual sciences and statistics requirements, GRE (waived for 2021), resume, 3 letters of recommendation, essay, interview Accept out-of-majors? Yes, and pre-requisites are required but you can apply without having completed all of their specific pre-reqs; they will transfer credits from other universities Average GRE: V 153 Q 149 writing 4.0 (waived for 2021) Total ballpark tuition cost: $69,984 Contact: admissions@speech.emerson.edu About: "Build relationships with peers and Emerson faculty during face-to-face online class sessions. Choose between 5-term or 9-term tracks, and finish the program in as few as 20 months. Receive dedicated support, including assistance finding Emerson-approved, in-person clinical field placements. Complete any foundational courses you may need online as part of the program. Join our tight-knit community of supportive faculty, students, and alumni." +two weekend-long immersion experiences at the Boston campus. +team of dedicated placement specialists will help you find local sites within our national partner network where you can experience hands-on training. Used to have a complimentary wework space but I can't find anything about it on the website now but the post is still up on their instagram. Baylor Online Application deadline: rolling admission (start fall, spring, or summer) Admitted student GPA range: 3.0-4.0 (3.4 or greater preferred) Admitted student stats (residential and online): 1200 students applied, 396 were admitted, and 355 enrolled (33% acceptance rate) Requirements: GRE, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume Accept out-of-majors? Yes, no info on their website about transferring pre-requisites but you can apply without having taken theirs yet. Average GRE: V 150 Q 150 writing 3.5 (GRE required) Total ballpark tuition cost: $98,175 (full-time online) Contact: csdadmissions@onlinegrad.baylor.edu About: Christian university; they help find your placements. "The 45-credit SLP online program can be completed in five semesters (full time) or six to 10 semesters (part time). As part of the program, you will be required to complete clinical practica and a clinical internship." + "Both full-time and part-time students will complete a total of 400 field hours across three practica and one internship, totaling nine credit hours. The practica are each one credit and require a commitment of 16-20 hours per week. The internship is six credits and requires a commitment of 35-40 hours per week." University of Northern Colorado Online (Concurrent SLPA employment required) Application deadline: Feb 1 Admitted student GPA range: 2.5-4.0 Admitted student stats (residential and online): 229 students applied, 83 were admitted, and 26 enrolled (36% acceptance rate) Requirements: CSD Undergraduate degree (or their pre-reqs), GRE, 3 letters of recommendation, writing sample Accept out-of-majors? Yes, but "this program assumes an undergraduate background in Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, or Communication Disorders. Students who do not have such a background must complete a core of undergraduate courses prior to beginning the program." Levelling courses that are accepted Average GRE: V 153 Q 149 writing 4.25 Total ballpark tuition cost: $93,150 ($10,350/semester, 9 semesters) Contact: kim.murza@unco.edu About: 3 year program. "students must be employed as an SLPA or the equivalent, or under a Temporary Teacher Endorsement (TTE)/SLP, to participate in the online program." + "On-campus class meetings are required for two to three weeks during the first summer (third semester) of the program and a full-time, 12-week internship in a medical setting is required during the final summer of the program. All students must have access to the Internet" Tennessee State University Online Application deadline: July 1st of every even year (e.g. 2018, 2020, 2022) Admitted student GPA range: 2.98-4.0 Admitted student stats (residential and online): 416 students applied, 18 were admitted, and 18 enrolled (4% acceptance rate) Requirements: GRE or MAT, 3 letters of recommendation, writing sample Accept out-of-majors? Yes, 15 credits of levelling courses required Average GRE: V 150 Q 145 Total ballpark tuition cost: $39,697 ($749/credit, 53 credits) Contact: dhayes10@tnstate.edu, tsmith31@tnstate.edu About: HBCU, "The “Distance Education” format for the Master of Science (MS) degree in Speech and Hearing Science, offered thorough the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Tennessee State University (TSU), is a 53 hour degree program which begins in the spring semester of every odd year" East Carolina University Online Application deadline: January 15 Admitted student GPA range: 3.52-3.64 (3.0 min, 3.2 CSD major hours min) Admitted student stats (residential and online): 230 students applied, 132 were admitted, and 36 enrolled (57% acceptance rate) Requirements: CSD Undergraduate degree, GRE (waived 2021), Personal interview, 3 letters of recommendation, writing sample Accept out-of-majors? Yes, but their levelling requirements are different than most: 6 hours of biological sciences, 6 hours of behavior/social sciences, phonetics, language development, audiology, aural rehabilitation, phonology, anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, speech science, all with a B or better. Average GRE: V 153 Q 150 writing 4.2 (GRE waived 2021) Total ballpark tuition cost: $48,240 ($16,080/yr, 3 years) Contact: masterscsdi@ecu.edu About: "The MS degree is a 3 year, 54-60 credit hour program of study. The academic coursework is delivered mostly on-line; the clinical component is accomplished by completing direct patient contact hours in a variety of clinical settings. Graduation requirements include completion of at least 54 graduate credit hours and 400 clinical hours."

Hello @socalmom! That sounds like a pretty tough spot to be in. I have a few ideas, but they might not be all that helpful: Bachelor's degrees in CSD are accepted. Do you know how many more credits would be required by your post-bacc program to turn it into a bachelor's? What was your undergraduate degree in, and did you attend the same university for your undergrad and post-bacc? The gen-ed classes will probably transfer pretty easily. My post-bacc program was pretty extensive as well, so my plan B was to finish up that program as a 2nd Bachelor's degree. For me, it would have only required 2 CSD courses and some language credits, so just one additional semester. You might be able to complete these credits online or at a community college and transfer them over, which would lower the overall cost. Make sure you're hitting the minimum on-campus credits from the institution that would be issuing the degree. You might also see if any of the board approved SLPA programs (American River College, Cerritos College, Orange Coast College, Pasadena City College, San Joaquin Delta College, Santa Ana College, Reedley College) have courses that line up with those you've already completed - you might be able to contact the program and see if your credits would transfer, knocking at least a few semesters off. If you can handle a move, there are MA-SLP programs that allow/require full-time concurrent employment as an SLPA. (off the top of my head, the University of Northern Colorado Online, West Virginia University Online, and the University of South Florida Online) If you can handle a move, some states (like Kansas) have "speech para" positions in the schools - kind of like what an SLPA does, but it doesn't require any additional education beyond a HS diploma Hopefully others will have better advice for you. In the meantime, you could check out r/speechassistant. It's a new forum, and still pretty small, but they might be able to help. -Jo

The summer intensive at Teacher's college includes: Speech Science (2 credits) Language Development or Language Acquisition (2 credits) Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (2 credits) Audiology (2 credits) Phonetics (1 credits) Longwood University offers the following classes online over the summer: Introduction to Communication Disorders Language Development Morphology and Syntax Phonetics Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms Phonology and Language Disorders Introduction to Audiology Speech Science Neurology in Human Communication Introduction to Clinical Practice Aural Rehabilitation Idaho State University is offering the following courses (online, asynchronous) this summer: Clinical Phonetics (CSD3321) Speech Science (CSD3310) Anatomy & Physiology of Speech (CSD3350) Educational Audiology (CSD4460) Language Development (CSD3335) SDSU offers the following summer courses fully online, but make sure that the end date for some of these classes (8/22) doesn't interfere with your start date at your chosen program: SLHS 0513 Foundations of Speech-Language: Development SLHS 0320 Phonetics SLHS 0300 Introduction to Language Science (this might be an equivalent to speech science but you'll have to make sure) SLHS 0340 Principles of Audiology SLHS 0321 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Northwestern has a program that includes the following courses. Note, Speech Science does not seem to be offered as a part of this program: CSD 301 Anatomy and Physiology of Vocal Mechanism CSD 305 Phonetics CSD 318 Introduction to Audiology CSD 319 Aural Rehabilitation CSD 392 Language Development and Usage University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire offers the following courses online every summer: Anatomy & Physiology of Speech and Hearing Speech & Hearing Science Normal Communication/Language Development Phonetics Audiology All five classes listed are pretty common prerequisites for most programs, and quite a few universities offer summer programs online, so I'm sure there's more! -Jo

Hi @slp2023 and @traveling_slp! You should have no problem applying for your CCC's and licensure when graduating from a program that is in candidacy for accreditation, I've just heard that it involves a little more paperwork. For certification, "All graduate coursework and graduate clinical experience required in speech-language pathology must have been initiated and completed in a CAA-accredited program or in a program with CAA candidacy status." -ASHA There is previous advice on this forum to this effect, see: -Jo

If anyone wants to chat I made a groupme for Summer/Fall 2021 admits: https://app.groupme.com/join_group/66961947/Z1ytvPfK

@meadymalarkey Thank you so much! I've had this horror story in my head about a 40 hour/week internship or externship + clinic clients + after-school classes in the same semester (I don't remember where I found it, probably reddit). Glad to know this isn't the typical experience! What's the difference between an internship and an externship? I've heard this differs depending on the program.

@bibliophile222 this is immensely helpful! I'm sure my schedule will be different, I was just wondering what I could expect. Thank you for the very detailed response!!

@slptobeee you bet! My own two cents: Everyone will weigh pros/cons differently when deciding on programs. If you're reeeeeally type A like me you might come up with a weighted list of things that matter to help you line the schools up with one another based on your criteria. One of your criteria could be ranking if you end up deciding that it does matter to you. I did this when deciding on schools to apply to, and it helped me realize that there were really only one to two programs that I wanted to focus on. It could be applicable to deciding between schools that you've been offered admission at, though! Things that I look for in a program, from most to least important: 25% If the faculty research interests and program specialties match my interests (I'm interested in early childhood language development, autism spectrum disorder, disability & special education law, speech patterns in adults with intellectual disabilities) I'm very interested in research, and could see myself pursuing a PhD in the future. 25% If the program guarantees placements in medical and school-based settings, and if those placements are negotiated on the graduate clinician's behalf 18% commitment to diversity and atmosphere welcoming atypical SLP students 15% If funding is available, and if these opportunities were offered to more than 20% of the incoming class: as a former teacher, I'm very interested in teaching at the collegiate level in GTA positions. 10% tuition <15k (A), 15-25k (B), 25k-35k (C), 35-45k (D), 45k+ (F) 5% housing and weekend employment opportunities 2% praxis pass rate (all of the programs I was looking at had pass rates in the upper 90's so this wasn't much of a determining factor for me) Dealbreakers: Whether the program is located in an urban, suburban, or rural area (I'm a city girl and not willing to budge, even for two years.) From there, I would give the programs letter grades based on each factor. Fake example: Let's say a program had 3 faculty members with a similar background or research interest (A, or 100 points), medical and school-based placements were guaranteed but no mention of how they were negotiated (maybe a B+ so 87 points), funding was available, but not to many and no mention of the number of GTA positions (C, or 70 points), tuition was $38,000 (D, or 60 points), the atmosphere was nice but not great (B, or 80 points), the housing options were amazing!!! (A, or 100 points) and the praxis pass rate was 98% (98 points). I would add them all up by weight (100*0.25)+(87*0.25)+(70*0.15)+(80*0.18)+(60*0.10)+(100*0.05)+(98*0.02) = 84.81 Then I'd just compare the schools to one another using that scoring system. I just really like having something more concrete than a pro/con list, but that's just me! -Jo

Hello @slptobeee! You can find quite a bit of information about this already in this forum: search "rankings" in the top right corner, and make sure to click "in this forum" if you only want to see results for the SLP forum. This is what should pop up. Selected responses:

@bibliophile222 & @AlwaysaFalcon, What was your experience with the time needed to complete externships, clinicals, internships, and other placements? I'm still a little in the dark about what each of those terms would encompass in the world of SLP grad school. For reference, in my undergraduate education degree, I had multiple fieldwork experiences in my sophomore and junior year, with one full-time 12 week placement the first semester of my senior year and one full-time 16 week internship during the spring semester. Our college classes were held after school during our placements. While I am fully anticipating that the cognitive load will be greater when I move into graduate placements, would you say that your schedules were similar in your programs? Could one expect to spend more or less time, in your experience, working in the field over the course of their program? Thank you for offering to answer questions on here! -Jo

Just wanted to see if anyone here has had success with seeking SLPA or Speech & Language para positions on Linkedin. Or, if you're a CF, did you use this site at all in your job searches? Also, feel free to drop your handle or PM me, I'm trying to grow my network a bit and would love other undergrad/grad student connections. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jomyersonline/ See: r/slp: Is it worth making a LinkedIn profile in SLP? r/slp: What are your opinions regarding LinkedIn? A blog post from all the way back in 2011 about groups to join on Linkedin, most of which are still applicable

@ck907 this is great, thank you! How did you hear about these programs, was it word-of-mouth? I haven't been able to find a comprehensive list for applicant programs yet, only those that have already been awarded candidacy. I'd love a list of applicant programs too! Medical University of South Carolina The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina is an Applicant for Candidacy by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. - from chp.musc.edu University of Southern California The SLP Master's program is not listed on the program list for the Keck School of Medicine yet, but there is a catalogue overview of the program available. "The USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) of the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) is proud to announce the opening of a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program anticipated to open in the Fall semester of 2021. The University of Southern California Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is an Applicant for Candidacy by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)." - from USCcareers.usc.edu

Hello @Bspeech! I'm not sure about programs that haven't applied for accreditation through the CAA yet, but this is a list of all the programs that have entered the candidacy stage for accreditation by the CAA within the past two years: Gannon University was awarded candidacy in 2020, contact villanue001@gannon.edu Lewis University was awarded candidacy in 2020, contact tveale@lewisu.edu Stony Brook University was awarded candidacy in 2020, contact Renee.fabus@stonybrook.edu Xavier University was awarded candidacy in 2019, contact Gwallace@xula.edu Concordia University was awarded candidacy in 2019, contact elizabeth.eernisse@cuw.edu Lebanon Valley College was awarded candidacy in 2019, contact scesa@lvc.edu Nevada State College was awarded candidacy in 2019, contact Angel.Ball@nsc.edu Thiel College was awarded candidacy in 2019, contact mbmason@thiel.edu There are quite a few more programs in the candidacy stage. Programs are in this stage for 5 years, I believe, before they can apply for full accreditation. Programs accredited within the last year, if you'd like to attend a program that is fully accredited but still new: Augustana College has been accredited since 2/2020 Maryville University has been accredited since 2/2020 Midwestern University, Arizona has been accredited since 2/2020 Saint Mary's College has been accredited since 2/2020 The University of Delaware has been accredited since 2/2020 And just for fun, these are some historically accredited programs with new aspects to their programs: Stephen F. Austen State University's Distance Program is new (2020) University of Nebraska, Kearney's Distance Program is new (2020) Jacksonville University's satellite program in Daytona is new (2020)