2016 Canadian SLP Thread

[OverCaffeinated]

Ok I know it's early but I figure it is never too early to start to freak out about slp applications...

I'll start.

My overall gpa is garbage. However so far for the the last 20 it is 3.67(ddropped from 3.7 after I took syntax. .. stupid syntax)

I currently volunteer with school kids wity artic disorders, I worked with aba therapist, I tutor a private client for an slp and total I have over 140 hours of volunteering

im also volunteering at a rehab doing research. So far I only got 20 hours to do but I hope that number will at least quadruple by September

My top choices are uoft and western because of my family obligations I can't move too far

and I'll also be applying to a few schools in the states like buffalo and Detroit and pits burgh

Ok I think I'm done..!

[speechies]

The earlier the better.. I am also starting to freak out about applications. My main concern is my subGPA, as I am only applying to U of T and I know they are very concerned with GPA. It'll be in the A- range most likely, but I have heard that that is not enough. My pre req GPA however is 3.88. 

 

My volunteer experiences have been really enjoyable. I've had experience with Aphasia, TBI, Autism, and am currently doing some accent addition. I have experience with adults and pediatrics. I also take part in 2 labs, one speech related, and one deals with child cognition.  

 

I have been following these forums for a while now and it is so great to freak out with people! 

 

I'll be applying to other programs as well, so that makes one big swing at SLP for me 

 

I was wondering what the application looked like? When you list your volunteer experience, are you able to give an explanation as to what you did ? Or is it just your title and # of hours?

[serendipity.]

I'm freaking out too! I'm only planning on applying to schools in Ontario (Uoft and Western). I'm mostly worried about gaining clinical experience. Currently, I don't have any but I'm planning on getting some volunteer hours in September - pretty close to the January deadline. 

 

Thankfully, my sub-GPA is good (3.97) but my overall GPA is 3.70. Does anyone know what my chances of getting into SLP are like by having a good sub GPA but not a lot of volunteer experience? If I were to just have the minimum (14 hours of volunteering) would that still make for a strong application?  

 

Any help/comments would be appreciated! 

[speechies]

I'm freaking out too! I'm only planning on applying to schools in Ontario (Uoft and Western). I'm mostly worried about gaining clinical experience. Currently, I don't have any but I'm planning on getting some volunteer hours in September - pretty close to the January deadline. 

 

Thankfully, my sub-GPA is good (3.97) but my overall GPA is 3.70. Does anyone know what my chances of getting into SLP are like by having a good sub GPA but not a lot of volunteer experience? If I were to just have the minimum (14 hours of volunteering) would that still make for a strong application?  

 

Any help/comments would be appreciated! 

Your SubGPA is amazing! I have heard mixed things. Some people do get in with the minimum hours and stellar GPA but some do not. I would suggest doing as much volunteer as you possibly can. If you can only do 14 then okay, but if you feel you can do more then go for it. I would also suggest getting experience with both children and adults. 

[serendipity.]

Thanks speechies!

 

I'll be working with children in September and volunteer in a voice clinic as well. Hopefully I'll be able to get some experience working with adults too. Crossing my fingers that I'll be able to get a substantial number of hours before the deadline. Your volunteer experience is amazing! Good luck on your application  

[danielle4114]

Hey Canadians, if you're interested in discussing Fall 2016 applications, there's a forum on the Canadian SLP site specifically designed to talk about SLP graduate school in Canada! Feel free to check it out! 

[ataylor]

I've recently become addicted to reading these SLP forums, but it's also made me extremely nervous to think about even applying to SLP programs in Canada.

 

I'm going into my 4th year of my Honours BA with a double major in linguistics and psychology. I get all As and Bs in school, but reading all of these posts, it doesn't seem like my chances of getting in anywhere in Canada will be very good! My GPA for last year alone is around the 3.5 range and this year I'm aiming for straight As but who knows how that'll go! I've volunteered since high school in an elementary school, helping children with their reading, spelling and pronunciation, and I will be volunteering this year with at least 2 different speech pathologists who work with children. I'm also hoping to volunteer with elderly people with Alzheimer's and brain damage, with a program that helps people with intellectual disabilities, and with a literacy program.

 

I don't think that I'm ready to apply this year in Canada yet, but I'm not sure what I should be focusing on...

I've debated going back and retaking courses that I didn't do so well in (especially prerequisites), or doing the year post-bac certificate program at Brock while I volunteer, or going for the CDA program (as that is also what my mom does) to gain some more experience and volunteer. I've also looked into Australian programs through OzTrekk, which is an option, but the debt would be insane and it's so far from home! I'd also like to prepare for and write my GRE so that I could apply in the States or Dalhousie/Alberta.

 

I just need some guidance and advice- I'm so stressed and have no idea what I should be doing!

[treaclemineroad]

I'm freaking out too! I'm only planning on applying to schools in Ontario (Uoft and Western). I'm mostly worried about gaining clinical experience. Currently, I don't have any but I'm planning on getting some volunteer hours in September - pretty close to the January deadline. 

 

Thankfully, my sub-GPA is good (3.97) but my overall GPA is 3.70. Does anyone know what my chances of getting into SLP are like by having a good sub GPA but not a lot of volunteer experience? If I were to just have the minimum (14 hours of volunteering) would that still make for a strong application?  

 

Any help/comments would be appreciated! 

I am in the same boat as you, serendipity, my GPA is quite good if I say so myself (although I've never been able to pin down exactly what it is on the 4.0 scale -- overall GPA 11.80 and subGPA 11.90 on the 12.0 scale, which I assume is somewhere on the high end of 3.90-4.0? Possibly?) but I haven't got as much volunteer experience as I'd like, probably not much more than the minimum. Mostly TBI-related, mostly adults. I'd be interested to know which schools prioritize GPA over volunteer work, so I know where to concentrate my efforts, if anyone knows.

Also haven't taken the GRE yet, although I'm... maybe not as stressed as I should be about that, to be honest. It sounds pretty straightforward to me. Just brush up on the math basics, take a bunch of practice tests, and there are plenty of testing dates before the admission deadlines.

This thread is a bit funny so far, seems like everyone wants help and nobody can really be called an expert on the subject -- I want to help those who are asking for it but I don't know any better than you guys do. It's early yet, though. Hopefully we'll be able to assuage some of the stress as more information circulates.

Does anybody know some general admission reputations for the various Canadian schools? As in, which schools are harder to get into, which schools prioritize which aspects of an applicant's application? I'm still trying to decide where I should apply. I'd love to go to Dalhousie, though. That's my no.1 choice.

[halil]

Hey y'all! I've been a long time lurker on this site and I am so excited to finally be able to freak out with some other SLP applicants. Since I go to a very small institution, I am lacking in prerequisites so I'll only be able to apply to Dal this upcoming year. Anyone mind going through their stats? Relatedly, if anyone could be ever so kind to reassure me that I'm at least remotely competitive, that would be fantastic!

I'm entering my fourth year of honours psychology. My school doesn't use a GPA scale but from conversion scales I've looked at online, I estimate that I have a 3.9 cGPA and major GPA as well. Like I've already said, I don't have many prerequisites,  so dal is my only option.

I'm currently studying for the GRE and will be writing it next week. Based on my practice tests, I expect to score in the at least the 85th percentile for verbal and around the 50th - 60th for quantitative. Obviously, I don't have a specific score for my practice AW but I like to think that I'm half decent at writing I'm general, so I think I'll do half decent in that as well. Overall, I'm pretty concerned with my quantitative score, but I believe that I read somewhere that SLP programs put a little more emphasis on verbal and AW than quantitative (which would make sense, given the nature of the program).

I have quite a bit of research experience (especially for someone just entering fourth year). Last fall, I worked as an analyst for one of my professors on a project on doctor-patient communication (the content of this project was phenomenal and i think it will really help with working with clients some day). I also worked on a major group project with some fellow undergrads on improving mental health services on campus. We've presented this project at a couple of different conferences on our own campus and at others and I was awarded a communication for our work. I've been working with another professor since January on multiple language development - based projects. I've presented work from the lab both on our campus and at others and held a NSERC USRA this summer to design a new study on the relationship between syntax, morphology and reading comprehension in children and we'll be taking the study into local elementary schools this fall/winter and I'll be doing my thesis on this relationship as well.

Volunteering wise, I clocked 160 hours between two SLPs last year, with experience split between a pediatric case load and an adult caseload that included dysphagia, neurological impairments, voice therapy etc. I wasn't able to continue over the summer months due to the USRA and my class and lab schedule this year also prohibits me from being able to make it to the clinic, sadly. I've also volunteered as academic support for teens with behavioural and learning challenges at a local high school (again, since this is during the day while i have classes, I haven't been able to continue). I've been working as a youth leader at a local youth group since high school and I've worked with children who are on the autism spectrum, have articulation difficulties, learning disabilities, etc.

In general, do I sounf rleven remotely competitive? Or am I just hanging on a wing and a prayer? I know Dal doesn't require the same prereq as everyone else, but I remember reading somewhere that they do occasionally look for those who do have some previous linguistic/bio coursework. I don't have either, but I would hope my lab work would make up for this haha. Anyone know?

Also, anyone have any Plan Bs for if they don't get into SLP? Since Dal is my only SLP option, I'm also applying for school psych and educational psych programs that have some of us in reading/writing but I'm also interested in mental health as well.

Here's to entering freak out city for the next few months!

PS my apologies for any sort rambling/typos in this post, it's like 6 am where I live and I just had this burning sensation to connect with some other applicants because seriously, what's sleep?

[AS0178]

I went into Linguistics thinking I wanted to do SLP but then decided I would just finish my honours. Now I've changed my mind but I am worried it will be too late to boost my marks enough to even have a shot! I currently don't have a very high average (b/b+ range) and I'm intimated by all the near perfect GPAs I have seen. Ive taken all the prereqs and have b+ or a- average in all of them. In first year when I was sure I wanted to do SLP and actually put in the work I had an A average so I'm confident I could get fairly high marks this year and have set up volunteering with 2 SLPs. I'm wondering if I bring my marks up in my final year is it too late or could I still have a chance? 

[OverCaffeinated]

hey guys!

 

glad other people are also freaking out!

the application is based out of 1000 points which is divided between your ref, gpa, volunteering, etc

500 of it goes towards your GPA  *faints* (last 20 credits dont forget)

the rest is divided between the rest of the requirements (i dont know if equally or not)

i know that someone got in last year and they had a 3.9 gpa... not sure if that helps at all (probably freaks everyone out more!)

[OverCaffeinated]

I went into Linguistics thinking I wanted to do SLP but then decided I would just finish my honours. Now I've changed my mind but I am worried it will be too late to boost my marks enough to even have a shot! I currently don't have a very high average (b/b+ range) and I'm intimated by all the near perfect GPAs I have seen. Ive taken all the prereqs and have b+ or a- average in all of them. In first year when I was sure I wanted to do SLP and actually put in the work I had an A average so I'm confident I could get fairly high marks this year and have set up volunteering with 2 SLPs. I'm wondering if I bring my marks up in my final year is it too late or could I still have a chance? 

if you have a good last 20 gpa you still have a good chance!

[AS0178]

if you have a good last 20 gpa you still have a good chance!

ok thanks so much!! 

[speechies]

hey everyone

when are you guys beginning your application on orpas ? Are we allowed to begin and save as we go along ? This is my first time applying

[OverCaffeinated]

hey everyone

when are you guys beginning your application on orpas ? Are we allowed to begin and save as we go along ? This is my first time applying

week from now on the 17th

yes u can save and continue at any time

[Mymyd]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone been able to start the admission process on ORPAS? 

The 2016 application doesn't seem to be open yet (it still only shows 2015). I thought it was supposed to start on September 17.

Thank you!!

 

[nins]

hey guys :)
im a current first year SLP student at Western. I got in after my second time applying so I know quite a bit about the application process. If anyone has any questions about the application or about the program at Western, feel free to send me a message! I love helping people out as I know how much of a daunting process this all is!

[speechies]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone been able to start the admission process on ORPAS? 

The 2016 application doesn't seem to be open yet (it still only shows 2015). I thought it was supposed to start on September 17.

Thank you!!

 

same here !

[r4chung]

hey guys
im a current first year SLP student at Western. I got in after my second time applying so I know quite a bit about the application process. If anyone has any questions about the application or about the program at Western, feel free to send me a message! I love helping people out as I know how much of a daunting process this all is!

Hey there  

I'm applying to Western this year (assuming I'm able to get a reference from the SLP I volunteer with) and was wondering if you'd be able send me a message sharing your stats? 

Thanks! 

[OverCaffeinated]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone been able to start the admission process on ORPAS? 

The 2016 application doesn't seem to be open yet (it still only shows 2015). I thought it was supposed to start on September 17.

Thank you!!

 

yeah thats my bad, i was looking at CSDCAS. ORPAS is currently not open. hopefully soon!

[hopetobeSLP]

I contacted ORPAS and received this reply in regards to when applications will be open : 

"The 2016 application will be available in October 2015. We do not have an exact date as of yet."

Sort of frustrating since last year the program requirements chart was updated on September 8th and it's now almost October with no updates or date that applications open! 

 

[OverCaffeinated]

I contacted ORPAS and received this reply in regards to when applications will be open : 

"The 2016 application will be available in October 2015. We do not have an exact date as of yet."

Sort of frustrating since last year the program requirements chart was updated on September 8th and it's now almost October with no updates or date that applications open! 

 

what makes it more frustrating is that they are very aware of how competitive this is and how stressful it is to be in this position. and they couldn't care to add a little note on the website, like hi, this will be open early october. thats all i really want!

[lindzzz]

Last year the U of A changed their application process to be online only.. it was meant to open on October 15.  They changed it to November 1. Then changed it til mid November. Then the end of November.. then the first week of December.  I ended up having to apply during exams.  The worst part was I couldn't give my references the form to fill out until the online application opened - so they all had to do it during exams/Christmas time. It was awful

[OverCaffeinated]

for those applying to CDA as a back up plan, ontario colleges opened up the fall 2016 applications 

[OverCaffeinated]

The 2016 application will be open later in October. Please continue to check our website for updates.

 

still no proper answer