Advice for next application cycle

[Mayestr]

Hi everyone,

I hate to be another stats post but I need advice on programs to apply to with a low gpa. My gpa is a 3.05 from UNC Chapel Hill, with a CSD gpa of 3.39. I majored in psychology and linguistics but initially was nursing. I had a bad freshman year due to a traumatic brain injury and two deaths in the family. My gre scores are 153V 147Q and 4W. I have good grades in my prerequisites, nothing below a B. I graduated in December and currently work full time as a special education teachers assistant. I have also shadowed a school and hospital setting,  and volunteered to visit kids in the hospital as Disney characters. I also work part time as a funeral director assistant in my family business. I have other non CSD related extracurriculars. I am currently on the waitlist for one program this year but no luck with the rest. Im hoping to find programs that are lenient with gpa and also need advice on what I could do to strengthen my application next year. Thanks so much

Edited March 17, 2021 by Mayestr

[jomyers.online]

4 hours ago, Mayestr said:

Im hoping to find programs that are lenient with gpa

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

Edited March 18, 2021 by jomyers.online

[jomyers.online]

6 hours ago, Mayestr said:

what I could do to strengthen my application next year.

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!

Edited March 18, 2021 by jomyers.online

[Mayestr]

Omg @jomyers.online thank you so much! That’s so much info! I’ll definitely try a couple of these and look into the schools. I’ve reached out to a few places who said they aren’t taking on anyone due to covid, but I’m determined to keep looking. Thanks again! I’ll definitely reach out if I have more questions!