To try again in spring or give it up?

[Getmeintogradschool]

So I've applied to grad school twice now. First time all rejections. Second time 2 wait lists that turned into rejections and the rest were rejections too. I've come up with 2 options right now. The first is to take classes at a school that has spring admissions. To a. Improve grades and b. To show them how dedicated I am and they'll have a face with a name. Also volunteer with an slp to get that recommendation. This would not only require moving, paying rent but also more debt with more schooling

The second option is to drop slp since I've already put a lot of time and money into it. I'm already in debt and I don't want to waste more money on something that isn't happening. I'd love to finish what I started but I'm scared I still won't get accepted. If I did drop slp I think that I would find a nursing program and do that instead. That has a lot of science prerequisites that scare me though lol any advice is welcome! I just need opinions on what would be the smartest move.

[Getmeintogradschool]

Also does anyone know if spring admission is more competitive since there's such limited spots?

[MissV21]

I'm going through pretty much the same thing now. You keep asking yourself at what point is it enough? It's so hard to give up on your dreams. I didn't get accepted for speech and began a grad program in special Ed. I'm half way through the program and I still always think about speech. I decided to apply again for the upcoming year and if I did get in that would be half a masters in special Ed down the drain, but I guess I'm willing to take the risk. I think either way you'll be losing money, whether you move and try for SLP, or if you put money into another career in nursing. Personally, I would slowly work towards plan B (take a class or two in nursing) and also take an SLP course at a new school. It might seem bizarre, but I think you'll feel good that you're working towards plan B and also following your SLP dream. You can also try to get a job or do some volunteer work that relates to SLP during this time to help your resume. If you work towards nursing and SLP at a doable pace, you won't be putting all your eggs in one basket. Sure you'll lose money one way or another, but at least you know that in the end that you'll get something out of it. If you get in for SLP then great! If not, then you have some nursing classes out the way. I feel your pain, and I hope this helps

[Getmeintogradschool]

That's a good point. I planned on taking bio and psych again to improve my grades for speech and nursing so I could take those and then a couple speech classes. I guess they're both a gamble with money but one thing I refuse is to take gre again. My scores were average but there's no way I'd take it a 3rd time

[JustJay]

So I've applied to grad school twice now. First time all rejections. Second time 2 wait lists that turned into rejections and the rest were rejections too. I've come up with 2 options right now. The first is to take classes at a school that has spring admissions. To a. Improve grades and b. To show them how dedicated I am and they'll have a face with a name. Also volunteer with an slp to get that recommendation. This would not only require moving, paying rent but also more debt with more schooling

The second option is to drop slp since I've already put a lot of time and money into it. I'm already in debt and I don't want to waste more money on something that isn't happening. I'd love to finish what I started but I'm scared I still won't get accepted. If I did drop slp I think that I would find a nursing program and do that instead. That has a lot of science prerequisites that scare me though lol any advice is welcome! I just need opinions on what would be the smartest move.

 

I actually started undergrad as a pre-nursing major and all the prereqs I had for nursing were required for undergrad slp as well. If you go the nursing route I'm sure you can find some programs that will take most the prereqs you already have, you may have to add some A&P and an Intro Chemistry course if you don't already have them but those really aren't that bad. 

Edited June 8, 2015 by JaimeSLP

[Getmeintogradschool]

Yeah my prereqs aren't what they should be. So I feel like that hurt my grad app and also if I did nursing if need to improve the grades too. Did you take any nursing courses when you were that major? And can I ask why you switched majors? Just wanna know what I'd be getting into

[JustJay]

Yeah my prereqs aren't what they should be. So I feel like that hurt my grad app and also if I did nursing if need to improve the grades too. Did you take any nursing courses when you were that major? And can I ask why you switched majors? Just wanna know what I'd be getting into

 

I chose pre nursing at the time because my mother is an RN and I didn't know what I wanted to do as a career. Sophomore year is when I discovered SLP and felt it suited me and my interest more so I switched. If you go the RN route you should get an associates and not a bachelors especially since you've invested so much money into speech already. My mom is an RN with just her associates degree and she is still one of the highest paid where she works. With nursing you do have to be strong in the sciences and obviously you can't be squeamish at all   I only did the nursing prereqs, I never did any upper level nursing courses.

[Getmeintogradschool]

Yeah I would prob do an accelerated program.. No way would I go back to school for 4 more years of undergrad lol does anyone know how competitive spring admission is? Or how to find volunteer opportunities? Schools and private practices around me don't allow me to help out due to privacy issues

[timberlake]

Could you post some more info on your stats, where you've applied to in the past, etc??

[Getmeintogradschool]

3.3 overall. 3.6 in major. 154 V ,147 Q, 4 for writing. I applied all around the NY, CT, MA, NJ area.. I know it's more competitive here but I'm not really wanting to move to the Midwest. I know my scores aren't super great but I've had a year experience working at a psych hospital which is something different to add to the table

[CBG321]

I'd say think about if you're willing to move/apply to some new places and use that to base your answer on.  If you're willing to move you really want it and should go for it at those new locations.  If you keep applying to the same schools in the same area's your results might end up being the same, which would stink.

 

Good luck, I hope everything works out!

[lakegirl92]

If this is something you really want you shouldn't give up. I know it's extremely upsetting not getting in. It's my second time applying and I know some people who it's their third and fourth time applying, and they got in this time!! Just really try to build your resume and apply EVERYWHERE. If this is what you want and you can financially do it, you will move anywhere to get into a program. I am from the east coast and will be moving to the Midwest in August. I am so excited to start a new journey somewhere I have never been. My mother is also a RN and I see how mentally and physically draining it is. I know the pay is really well, but the pay can be really well as an SLP too. I would say don't give up if being an SLP is what you really want!! Good luck!

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

That's a tricky question... The money part of schooling and applications is the scary part. However, if you are able to, I think it may benefit you to retake the courses at a program you may consider applying at. I completed my post-bacc year at the program I will now be attending for my master's. The faculty said that they do not give preference to their own students, but that is a big lie (in my opinion). Most programs will say they don't, but they do. One professor even told me that when it comes down to your application and another student they don't know who is very similar, they are more likely to pick you. If they know you are a committed student from having you in class, it can only work to your advantage. It also works to your advantage if you can get faculty from the program to write you letters of recommendation for their own program. I think that these strategies  really helped me get into my program this year. I started out in the fall as a brand new student taking prereq courses. I worked my tail off on making the best impressions I could on the professors since I was going to be applying to their program in the spring. I had no expectations of getting accepted where I did because of how competitive my program is. It may be expensive to move and take classes, but it could be beneficial if the admissions panel can put a face to your name. 

 

I have heard that programs with spring admissions are less competitive since they get fewer applicants than the fall application cycle. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but that's the rumor I hear.

 

Best of luck!

[Getmeintogradschool]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate your answers! I think I'm going to enroll in a state school right near me and retake some classes work hard and get good recommendation letter to apply again. Thanks for he support! This is something I want to do! It's just hard to not get discouraged after rejections

[msolorio79]

Thank you for opening up about your situation.  I am in a similar boat, I have applied for two years in a row and have not been able get into a program.  Although, I was hired on as a Speech therapist by a district under a credential waiver.  Its a little crazy that I am performing all of the duties of a fully credentialed SLP.  It's been a wonderful experience and I hope it is enough to give me that extra edge that I need to get into a program. 

[SLPH2b]

Thank you for opening up about your situation.  I am in a similar boat, I have applied for two years in a row and have not been able get into a program.  Although, I was hired on as a Speech therapist by a district under a credential waiver.  Its a little crazy that I am performing all of the duties of a fully credentialed SLP.  It's been a wonderful experience and I hope it is enough to give me that extra edge that I need to get into a program. 

I think your experience should definitely boost your application next year. You should really consider schools with Spring admissions.

[elisas390]

So I've applied to grad school twice now. First time all rejections. Second time 2 wait lists that turned into rejections and the rest were rejections too. I've come up with 2 options right now. The first is to take classes at a school that has spring admissions. To a. Improve grades and b. To show them how dedicated I am and they'll have a face with a name. Also volunteer with an slp to get that recommendation. This would not only require moving, paying rent but also more debt with more schooling

The second option is to drop slp since I've already put a lot of time and money into it. I'm already in debt and I don't want to waste more money on something that isn't happening. I'd love to finish what I started but I'm scared I still won't get accepted. If I did drop slp I think that I would find a nursing program and do that instead. That has a lot of science prerequisites that scare me though lol any advice is welcome! I just need opinions on what would be the smartest move.

My advice would be to not give up if SLP is what you truly want! I was in a similar boat. I graduated with my bachelor's in Psych three years ago, and decided to transition into the field after taking a co-op clinical child psych class my senior year with an internship attached where I ended up working closely with a speech pathologist in a school setting. I fell in love with the field, applied to a few schools before I graduated that didn't require any prerequisites, and was accepted to one (GWU), but decided I didn't want to travel that far from home. I took the time to do online prerequisites with USU, I retook the GREs to boost my score, and applied the second time around for fall 2014. That cycle, I was rejected from all schools I applied to. I realized from this forum and from firsthand accounts that NY was impossibly competitive for this field, but I was adamant about staying here because this is where I wanted to establish myself. I ended up taking on a full time position at a school for children with special needs, was able to sit in on and assist in speech sessions with our SLP, and got great one on one experience. I applied for Fall 2015, and was granted two interviews at local NY schools both less than 15 minutes from my home. Unfortunately I was waitlisted at both, as well as a few others that didn't require interviews. After a few months, I basically gave up all hope, but was still gearing up for spring apps, as discouraged as I was. Then, I got a call from one of the two local schools yesterday granting me admission for Fall 2015, and I honestly could not be happier that I'm on my way to accomplishing what I set out to do. I know that it's so disheartening to be rejected and to be hindered by obstacles, but DO NOT let it knock you down. Your moment WILL come, I know it. Try and build up your observation hours, volunteer at a local hospital with a speech department or at a rehab facility, even try to become a 1:1 aide at a special needs preschool or in a district. The professionals you work with are also great resources; I built up great relationships with my colleagues and they were able to write me glowing recommendations that I believe helped. Once you FINALLY get that acceptance, what you went through to get there will just make it that much sweeter! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send me a PM!

[mr479]

To me, this sounds like you could potentially set yourself up for failure. I recommend not overdoing it. Max 2 classes. Also, you're not going to be eligible for financial aid as a non-degree student, so you aren't going to acquire more debt. You have to be able to pay for these classes out of pocket. Good luck!

[Aquote name=MissV21" post="1058286565" timestamp="1433728324]I'm going through pretty much the same thing now. You keep asking yourself at what point is it enough? It's so hard to give up on your dreams. I didn't get accepted for speech and began a grad program in special Ed. I'm half way through the program and I still always think about speech. I decided to apply again for the upcoming year and if I did get in that would be half a masters in special Ed down the drain, but I guess I'm willing to take the risk. I think either way you'll be losing money, whether you move and try for SLP, or if you put money into another career in nursing. Personally, I would slowly work towards plan B (take a class or two in nursing) and also take an SLP course at a new school. It might seem bizarre, but I think you'll feel good that you're working towards plan B and also following your SLP dream. You can also try to get a job or do some volunteer work that relates to SLP during this time to help your resume. If you work towards nursing and SLP at a doable pace, you won't be putting all your eggs in one basket. Sure you'll lose money one way or another, but at least you know that in the end that you'll get something out of it. If you get in for SLP then great! If not, then you have some nursing classes out the way. I feel your pain, and I hope this helps