Grad School Admission Chances

[billradzin]

Hi all, I'm brand new to being a member on the site, but have looked at posts like this for other members, so I apologize if this type of discussion is painfully old for you but I'd like other opinions on what my chances to a grad school are. I've basically been going my own route without having a good advisor or someone to talk to about my worries, so allow me to sort of type up my stats and experience etc so far, as well as what I'll be doing from here on out, and some constructive feedback would really be appreciated since I've been focusing more on getting stressed at my future, rather than my current studies. So, here we go, starting with my academics, and then on everything else. It is lengthy, but I want to provide everything to get the best opinions.

 

I'm a 21 year old, fourth year student, who is currently in his second year at a university after transferring from a community college that I spent my first two years at. My time at the community college was okay, I don't feel as though I learned all that much while being there. I ended up getting my AA degree with a 3.93 gpa. The classes I took there that pertain to my current Communication Sciences and Disorders major are: Gen Bio 1 & Public Speaking, which I both received A's in. Still being clueless as to what I wanted to pursue, I picked mathematics as my major during my first semester at the university. I don't really understand why I chose math, since I didn't even test into pre-calc, but I must have had some reason for doing so. I took computer science, college algebra, macroeconomics, and withdrew from a health terminology class which I only took to receive the max for state grants (my family is quite poor). Computer science I really loathed, and received a D, algebra a C, and econ an A-. I knew I wanted out of math, but was still unsure what I wanted to pursue, so in the spring I took gen psych (B+), and 2 pharmacy classes (both A's), along with withdrawing from geography and a different health terminology class. Geography, I thought I had to take to fulfill my gen eds, but after speaking with an advisor realized that receiving my AA from community college meant I no longer had to take gen eds. The health terminology class, I took because I had a sudden interest in physical therapy, but soon dismissed the idea (poor planning, admittedly). This all leads us to this semester, which I found out I wanted to help people who have communication problems and communicate in different ways, after working with a man who is deaf and communicates through sign language. I realized this a few weeks after the semester started, so I kept all my classes I originally had. Thankfully, most of them pertain to the CSD major. I am taking physics, pre-calc, developmental psych, advanced writing, and the previous spring health terminology class to sort of redeem the 2 withdrawals. Physics, psych, and writing pertain to the CSD major. I am expecting a D in physics, B in math, B in psych, and an A in writing with a B in terminology. I'll be starting a few CSD classes in the spring.

 

I know this is lengthy but bare with me.

 

IF I do receive my expected grades for the semester, I'll have a 2.56 cum. gpa for the university, with a major gpa of 2.93 from Physics, Gen psych, dev. psych, adv. writing, public speaking, and gen bio.

The rest of my major I simply need the 48 credits worth of CSD classes.

 

As for everything else I've done so far, it's minimal, despite working since I was 16. I worked in a nursing home to begin with then Walmart, then a bus company and now currently a PCA which I've been doing since may of 2013.

 

I'm quite nervous for the future, since I am in my 4th year and will have 2 more to complete my undergrad in this major, along with having a poor gpa right now compared to many others. I'm aware of most grad program gpa requirements etc.

 

This part will be hypothetical. IF I were to receive 4.0's on all the 48 credits worth of CSD courses, I'd end up with a major gpa of 3.64, IF I were to receive a 3.5 gpa on the 48 credits, I'd end up with a major gpa of 3.31. Not saying this is going to happen, but this is hypothetical. Along with those major gpa's, my cumulative gpa's would be either 3.54 or 3.26.

 

This spring I am taking the three courses of CSD I can take, as well considering taking sign language or Spanish language classes. I just feel as though it may improve my chances and my understanding of communication. As well as taking those classes, I'll be joining the CSD club, attempting to get a job shadowing experience with an SLP which I hope to do something like shadowing him or her once a week for a year, or something along those lines to get a good grasp of the job. Additionally, I plan on volunteering as a reading tutor at a local elementary school once or twice a week. Are a few years of volunteering, interest in the field, and shadowing etc. long enough to be adequate?

 

This is the end! So, I know there are a lot of "I plan on", and "Ifs", but I am confident I will do these things and will do well in courses from here on out since I am genuinely interested in the topic of CSD. I'm nervous about getting into grad school in the future because 1: My gpa will not be stellar, and my first two years at a university aren't necessarily stellar, 2: I haven't had any SLP or volunteer experience so far, 3: I haven't started pursuing SLP since the start, which I am concerned grad committees will see as a way to judge how genuinely interested in SLP I am. Any opinions after this long post? Thanks for reading.

[ImHis]

 

I'm quite nervous for the future, since I am in my 4th year and will have 2 more to complete my undergrad in this major, along with having a poor gpa right now compared to many others. I'm aware of most grad program gpa requirements etc.

 

I can understand your sentiments. Fortunately, you still have a lot of opportunities to raise your GPA. The greatest advice I learned from people who were accepted is that your preparation is not a race. You are competing against yourself. For that reason, I would strongly concentrate on those CSD courses over anything else. If you need to go part-time to maintain the 4.0 in CSD, there is nothing wrong with it. Those are very high stakes since admissions told me they weigh them the most and more scrutinized if you are a CSD major.

 

Drop the courses that are not required by ASHA or most schools.  If you want to be more marketable, maybe take Spanish but your priority is to focus on those CSD. If you feel that you are starting to slip in your classes, be very assertive, bug the prof and say NO to any distraction/activity. If you don't need to work, do not work. If you need to, cut down on your hours.

 

I noticed you listed a lot of plans for extra-curricular activiites. It might be a good idea to first shadow different areas before making a commitment. Also, examine and reflect where your interest/motivation was in your classes to help you decide. I LOVED research and interacting with adults and applying everything I learned from my anatomy, psychology, audiology and acoustics and so I worked with an SLP who specialized in medical rehab and just did sporadic observations of articulation and child language. I understood everything he was saying when he was telling me about why a certain maneuvre is being done. All I can say is it was enchanting to see everything come alive. So, if you do finally decide to materalize your plans, make sure it is one that will enjoy and show some passion. You'll know it becasue it'll be a hobby, you aren't wasting your mental resources. It is one part of your profile from where you might also request a glowing LOR and expand in your personal statement so make it memorable and worthwhile

Edited October 9, 2014 by Articklish

[billradzin]

I appreciate your response, something that I have difficulty doing is forgetting about the work so far, and focusing in on what is important now without freaking out about the future. I feel as though (in the event I enjoy CSD) that once I start working on classes pertaining to a major I am confident in, I will do well. Only time will tell. Again, thanks for the reply.

[slpfall14]

It's ok if your first 2 years in university were not great.  Many graduate programs only look at the last 60 units.  Do some research and identify which schools those are and look into applying there.  Just make the rest of your undergraduate career count.  Shoot for A's and B's and you'll be fine.  I'm currently in graduate school and my GPA wasn't very high.  You definitely have the opportunity to raise your GPA.  Like the previous poster sort of hinted at, I'd recommend looking at the graduate programs that you're interested in and seeing what pre-req classes they require.  Start taking those classes. Drop the "unnecessary" ones.   Also, the fact that you didn't start with speech from the beginning is ok.  I have a BA in an un-related field. 

 

Your situation is not impossible and you can make it to grad school.  Based on your story, it's in the cards for you.  Good luck.

[billradzin]

Thanks for your thoughts, it's easy for me to get my head down on something like this but it is encouraging to read responses like yours and the earlier one.

[SandS2009]

Hey everyone, IDK how to post my own blog but I was just wondering if anyone knows how important GRE scores are? I have a 3.7 GPA in undergrad SLP & AUD, I currently work in EI as a sub teacher, and I'm taking my GRE in 2 weeks and am super nervous if I will get into any grad schools at all, does anyone know if you have a low GRE and a high GPA what are the changes of getting accepted to schools in NY/NJ?

[Chandru1]

FYI: there is a "start new thread" button. Use that instead of posting the same thing verbatim on multiple threads.

Given that NY is a desirable area, you're going to want good test scores. Have you been preparing for the GRE?

[SandS2009]

Really? I couldn't find that anywhere, maybe my brain is just too fried today lol. Honestly all I've done is bought the book, I'm taking 6 classes along with work I've barely had time to open it =( hopefully late nights of studying will help me 

[SandS2009]

FYI: there is a "start new thread" button. Use that instead of posting the same thing verbatim on multiple threads.

Given that NY is a desirable area, you're going to want good test scores. Have you been preparing for the GRE?

I found it! Lol thanks so much..amateur =/