What do you think my chances are of getting in?

[futurespeechpath1]

I've been reading forum after forum about people who got accepted and rejected from speech path grad schools. I'm kind of freaking out because the people who were accepted have such higher stats than me. I'm double majoring in communication sciences and disorders and psychology, have a 3.5 GPA, I am only a junior so I have not taken the GRE but on practice tests I've scored a 285 which I know isn't that great but I've been studying hard. I have over 100 volunteer hours at the children's hospital, on the board of NSSLHA, president of my school's psychology honors society, am a campus student ambassador, on the board of 3 humanitarian clubs, volunteer once a month at a center for adults with special needs as well as a center for children with special needs, I'm a psychology research assistant, I speak Arabic as well as know sign language, and occasionally volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House. I know my extracurriculars are fine but everyone seems to have a 300 on the GRE and a 3.7-4.0 GPA I feel so average. My top schools are Saint Xavier University, Midwestern, Lewis University (they're opening a new program during my application season.) and Governors State all in Illinois. Has anyone gotten into any of those schools with a similar GPA and GRE? I'm freaking out I know my GPA isn't horrible but it's also not the best...it just seems so average.

Edited January 20, 2019 by The Hufflepuff Speech Path
Typos

[SpeechOblongota]

The best advice that I got is to sell yourself well. Use your essays to your advantage and tell the schools what the scores can't. Talk about your specific experiences and what you learned. There is no guarantee that you'll get in; even if you have better scores. Focus on the essays, get them started early, and proofread. Have a few people read it with suggestions. Leave your essays and then come back to them to proofread some more. There is nothing worse than spelling mistakes, not answering the questions fully, and general mistakes. 

As for the GRE, I scored better on the real test than practice tests. Use the practice tests to see where you have holes and study those areas. It's a critical thinking test, not a knowledge test, so focus on how to take the test because there are only so many vocab words you can memorize.

[futurespeechpath1]

3 hours ago, SpeechOblongota said:

The best advice that I got is to sell yourself well. Use your essays to your advantage and tell the schools what the scores can't. Talk about your specific experiences and what you learned. There is no guarantee that you'll get in; even if you have better scores. Focus on the essays, get them started early, and proofread. Have a few people read it with suggestions. Leave your essays and then come back to them to proofread some more. There is nothing worse than spelling mistakes, not answering the questions fully, and general mistakes. 

As for the GRE, I scored better on the real test than practice tests. Use the practice tests to see where you have holes and study those areas. It's a critical thinking test, not a knowledge test, so focus on how to take the test because there are only so many vocab words you can memorize.

Thank you! I'm trying to study at least three times a week and I plan to take it over the summer. Right now I'm trying to do my best in my current undergrad classes. The stories are making me nervous about people only with 4.0s getting in.

[kataphora]

Agreed it's all about selling yourself.  I've got excellent stats and I didn't get in the first couple times.... probably because I'm not really good at selling myself and I tend to be a little too uncertain and humble in my essays.  Other undergrad friends of mine had more 'average' stats and got in on the first try.

At the end of the day stats are boring numbers that don't tell the committee anything real about you.  The only way to actually stand out from the crowd is building a compelling narrative about yourself.  You've got so much going for you that I don't think you should have a hard time with that!  Rely on what isn't average about you, and the proven history of success that you clearly have.  You got this.   

[futurespeechpath1]

2 hours ago, kataphora said:

Agreed it's all about selling yourself.  I've got excellent stats and I didn't get in the first couple times.... probably because I'm not really good at selling myself and I tend to be a little too uncertain and humble in my essays.  Other undergrad friends of mine had more 'average' stats and got in on the first try.

At the end of the day stats are boring numbers that don't tell the committee anything real about you.  The only way to actually stand out from the crowd is building a compelling narrative about yourself.  You've got so much going for you that I don't think you should have a hard time with that!  Rely on what isn't average about you, and the proven history of success that you clearly have.  You got this.   

Thank you!! I don't think a 3.5 GPA awful but just kind of average. But I know I've been lucky enough to have gotten so much experience and I really hope that'll be a selling point in some way , I'm trying not to get discouraged.

[AlwaysaFalcon]

I think you have excellent extra-circulars! Plenty of evidence and experience to put in your letter of intent to prove that you are interested in the field! Also with all that experience I bet you have some people that would write on your behave an excellent letter of recommendation. I had lower stats than yours and was accepted! It took me three tries but was admitted  Don't give up! I'm a current student at Governors State University so pm me if you have any questions! 

[futurespeechpath1]

Thank you so much! Governors is probably my top school that I'm hoping to get into!