MA-SLP FTW

Congratulations! Holy cow what a roller coaster!

Last year SCSU's letters didn't go out until the last week of March. Blah.

Just sent a e-mail to South Carolina notifying them that I will not be attending. I know I technically have until the 19th to decide but my heart's not in it. I hope that this means someone else who needs good news will get it soon!

I think that the diversity of specialties in this field are absolutely fascinating! Thanks to all of you for sharing. The research project with which I've been assisting has definitely influenced me, but my grandfather has primary progressive aphasia. There is definitely a possibility that I will want to do everything by the time I've completed clinical rotations! I also didn't expect to be as "into" the research process as what I am. Although I can't imagine giving up clinical practice completely. Congrats to everyone who got good news today! Nothing for me but a gas bill and a Valupak. Boo!

Just to get an idea - what kinds of specialty interests do y'all have? I sort of feel torn between literacy/early intervention and neurogenic issues. Closely related, I know!

Lord have mercy! Did any of you see this? Apparently Cambridge sent acceptance e-mails to some students afterthey had sent the same students rejection letters. I used to think that that Silence of the Lambs was scary, but that's only because I hadn't seen this: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/07/cambridge-sends-offer-emails-rejected-students_n_1325883.html Awesome way to start the day. Is it too early for Thin Mints?

Do you think I could get the post office to screen all mail that isn't from one of my schools? Every time I see a little white envelope I get excited, but it's only an offer for car insurance. No, State Farm!

The letter said in bold and underlined print that there would be no exceptions to the Mar 19th deadline. I may try to explain my situation, but the wording seemed fairly definitive. Worth a shot considering how unlikely it is that I'll be able to throw $500 at them next week (the money must be in their office by 4:30pm on the date of the deadline). Even if it all goes downhill from here, I've been accepted at one school at that's all it takes. Hopefully if I have to give up my spot at USC it will go to someone who really needs it!

My current and permanent addresses are one and the same. I went back to school after realizing that I couldn't get anywhere (I wanted to be) with my English BA (warn your friends!). Their response policy is even more frustrating because I'm married and while my husband can probably find a job in the area, I don't want to put down $500 before we have some idea of where he could work. If I'm lucky I'll have heard back from two more schools by that time. I don't expect to get funding anywhere (my 1st degree GPA isn't doing me any favors), so it's vital that he have some leads on employment. I know I shouldn't be complaining, but I was hoping that they would better accommodate out-of-state students. I so wish I had my ducks a row sooner and could have finished school while I was single! Much easier moving one person than two. How's everyone else faring today? jbw2815's right, it's pretty quiet.

Came home today to an acceptance letter from South Carolina! I feel super blessed to suddenly have a choice in where I go, and hope that everyone else runs into that problem very, very soon! Hang tight; we're in the home stretch! P.S. Has anyone else applied to/heard from USC? Per my letter, the response deadline is Mar. 19th. I know I have to take a final pre-req course over the summer, but I feel like this date is pretty early, especially b/c I won't have heard from all of my schools by then. Just makes the "non-refundable" $500 deposit seem extra steep. Insight?

I agree with the other posters who have suggested looking at what research is presently taking place at the university. Also, remember that it wouldn't be difficult to go back for a PhD after you get your Master's, but once you've gotten the doctorate, you're sort of obligated to give part of your time to teaching/research instead of focusing entirely on clinical work. In the end, listen to yourself and forget about us! You've gotta do what's best for you!

Hey, redheadedaisian, I would by no means consider myself an ultimate authority on this subject but here's what I do know (b/c I've looked into it myself): - After completing some MA-PhD programs you do not get your Cs (Certificate of Clinical Competence), which means you would not be able to practice clinically (bummer, right?). For most programs (not sure about yours) the reason why you can get the PhD so quickly is because you are not required to put in clinical hours. - If you get your MA/MS with your Cs, you can get your PhD and still practice clinically. But it is considered a research/teaching PhD, so you'd be expected to divide your time. - There is a massive shortage of research in the field. There is also a shortage of PhDs in the field. This means that many programs who offer the doctoral degree are pushing students to get the PhD without having practiced clinically (even if they have their Cs). Even though I want to get into research/teaching eventually, I want to practice clinically first. I can't imagine trying to teach a group of students without having firsthand/practical knowledge of the subject. That being said, part of the reason some graduate class sizes are so small is because there is not a lot of available faculty (read: PhDs). Availability of clinical observation sites also contributes to this number, but the bottom line is that if more of us decided to get PhDs and teach, programs could accommodate more students. And finally, a shortage of research in the field means we're not advancing our craft! So ends my plug for going back to school (a third or fourth time). Not sure about the MA/MS distinction, but I hope this other stuff helps. I've been talking to some faculty about it and wanted to share.

Thanks the_rain_in_spain, although I'm pretty doubtful at this point it is somewhat reassuring to know that everyone got that "friendly" update. But ahhhhhhhh! Why couldn't they just tell us in the e-mail? Commence Thin Mint therapy.

OK, so MGH sent me an e-mail that said I'd be getting "official" word in the mail after they sent out letters Mar 7th. Has anyone who has gotten in gotten an e-mail like this? I'm thinking that if the folks who were accepted got phone calls that letters don't sound so great. Good thing I have the weekend to overanalyze this.

Incredible! Congratulations!! (*Stares down phone*)

Starting to wonder what my mornings will be like without compulsively checking my application status at every school and on this website. Hang tight, everyone! Some schools didn't send out word until the last week or two of this month last year. Happy Friday!

Thanks guys! Love the optimism - and congratulations, agregory!

Pact that as soon as we hear something we'll post to put the other two out of their misery?

@jbw2815 I haven't heard anything either. Hoping they still have some more people on the "in" list!

Tick tock tick tock... hope everyone gets the news they want to hear very soon!! Sorry basketball fans, anxiety about hearing back from SLP schools is what really brought about the term March Madness. P.S. Can you tell I just discovered the extent of the emoticon options?

Here's hoping the rest of the schools hurry up and send out letters so people can make their picks and you can get off of that wait list!

Squealed out loud in my class yesterday when I got my acceptance e-mail. I hope that everyone gets good news soon!

@SLP-Allie @trina @SunnyWade Thanks so much! That seems totally reasonable and I'm excited to have such great feedback about them. Now to wait and see if I'll actually need to use this info

Thanks @Casey11 @marie1214. It's so good to know I'm not the only one who hasn't gotten word from a single program! I still get palpitations every time I check the mail, but I have 4 boxes of Girl Scout cookies on standby. Let's hope I don't need them! Also - is anyone finishing up pre-reqs over the summer? Where are you taking them? I may have to pursue an online option and I am hoping to find a program with good distance ed. classes.

I was in your same boat a few years ago. I am currently waiting to be accepted into MS/MA SLP programs. I am not sure what you should choose, but if I had to do the process over again, here's what I wish I would have known: - How competitive it is to get into each program. I know this seems short-sighted, but this is my second year applying to programs and I still may not get into school. It would mean I've dropped over $10k on pre-req classes without having a degree to show for it. Just something to think about. - Job market once you get out. SLPs are in-demand across the country. Not sure about the other fields, but I imagine that you're probably set no matter which one you choose. - Cost of programs. I have friends who got out of Masters programs only to find out that they can't afford their student loans. They're having to rely on family or get second jobs instead of diving head-first into their new careers. Don't know if I've helped at all, but those are the things on which I had better educated myself before going back to school. **It would not have changed my decision to pursue Speech-Language Pathology, but I would have avoided a lot of frustration and disappointment discovering that it's not as easy as it used to be. Good luck!