Comprehensive Exam

[SLSpeech]

Hi everyone! Some of the programs I've applied to require students to complete a comprehensive exam at the end of their graduate program and some don't. Does this matter? 

[zurako]

It's an annoyance having to take it and study for it, but I wouldn't decide on a program just based on that. What matters most is how well the program will prepare you to become a good SLP! If you love both programs equally then maybe you can consider the comps as a factor? 

[slpisthedream]

My program has comps take place a a couple of days before the start of the last semester, so we get all of the summer to study. I don't know how yours is set up but mine is in sections and if we don't pass a section of comps we have to go to something called orals. we are basically infront of our professors while they ask us questions about what we wrote down and ask us to expand. Just about everyone who goes to orals passes at orals. My program gives us the option of writing a thesis or doing comps, and less than 2 people in each cohort chose thesis, comps is way more preferred.  I don't think it matters, as long as your institution is ASHA accredited you are good to go! 

[bibliophile222]

My program doesn't have a comprehensive exam and I really wish we did because I'm a good test-taker. I've heard other people say that comps aren't bad because you have to study for and take the Praxis anyways, so you're kind of killing two birds with one stone. However, if you're not into testing then it might be helpful to look at other options, like a thesis. For our program we have to write a portfolio, with an essay each semester discussing our courses and clinic experiences and how they meet ASHA and state requirements. It sucks, though, because it's really easy to procrastinate writing the essays. I'm in my second semester and still haven't written the intro and first-semester essays yet. Some people just wait until winter break of their second year and write the whole thing then. Hopefully that won't be me, but I'm not overly optimistic...