SLP Grad School - Fall 2016....should I wait another year?

[Lescush]

Hi all,

I have my Bachelor of Science in Child Development, so I had to take all of the prerequisites before applying to SLP masters programs. So I'm currently enrolled in a postbac. program to get the prereqs (should finish all by fall 2016), and I was planning on applying to schools for Fall 2016 semester. I'm having second thoughts of whether it is even worth it for me to apply this year. Here's my situation:

-I have a 3.6 GPA.. taking the GRE in 2 weeks and haven't had much time to study and I'm not the best at standardized tests

-I don't have a ton of volunteer experience or research experience in the field, but I've been working with children with special needs as a behavior interventionist for the past 2 years

-I've only observed 2 SLPs 

-I do have a lot of extracurriculars, marching band, band service organization, leadership experience in clubs, etc. but none related to SLP 

 

Applications are expensive. The GRE is expensive. And it seems as though getting into grad school in California for SLP is near impossible. I'm looking for advice - should I wait and apply for fall 2017 and get more experience, volunteer, and prep for GRE? OR should I go for it and apply for fall 2016?

I appreciate any advice, tips, or even recommendations for grad programs. Thanks in advance!! 

[Puffer Fish]

I say go for it now! You'll never know if you don't try; there's always people who have more experience than you, and there's always people with less experience than you, and sometimes you find that all three of you got into the same grad school program(s). It really comes down to what you can and will do in the future at that school, among other factors. Your GPA is phenomenal, you have some experience, and you have a lot of activities that show your ability to commit to hard things plus lead others. I'd say you have a shot at least somewhere.

I have an out of field degree too and chose to wait to apply until I had most of the classes done. I wish I hadn't; I found out too late that one of my few in-state schools offers a out-of-field specific track of their program to fill in the gaps. If I had applied last year I might be there right now, not worrying about applications and the future...but I didn't.

Don't let yourself regret that you didn't at least try this year.

[Lescush]

 

I say go for it now! You'll never know if you don't try; there's always people who have more experience than you, and there's always people with less experience than you, and sometimes you find that all three of you got into the same grad school program(s). It really comes down to what you can and will do in the future at that school, among other factors. Your GPA is phenomenal, you have some experience, and you have a lot of activities that show your ability to commit to hard things plus lead others. I'd say you have a shot at least somewhere.

I have an out of field degree too and chose to wait to apply until I had most of the classes done. I wish I hadn't; I found out too late that one of my few in-state schools offers a out-of-field specific track of their program to fill in the gaps. If I had applied last year I might be there right now, not worrying about applications and the future...but I didn't.

Don't let yourself regret that you didn't at least try this year.

Thank you so much for the encouragement!! I really appreciate it. I didn't realize how competitive SLP grad programs are until recently! It's absolutely nuts. But you're right, I'll never know if I don't try. Are you applying to any online programs? I'm attending ISU online for the prerequisites and considering applying to some online programs for master's. 

[Puffer Fish]

 

Thank you so much for the encouragement!! I really appreciate it. I didn't realize how competitive SLP grad programs are until recently! It's absolutely nuts. But you're right, I'll never know if I don't try. Are you applying to any online programs? I'm attending ISU online for the prerequisites and considering applying to some online programs for master's. 

i am not applying for any online master's programs. My leveling courses are online and I already know it's not my ideal learning environment. I'm also only applying to east coast schools, so...