University of Texas at El Paso- SLP admissions

[maryjazz66]

Anyone applying to UTEP speech pathology program for the fall 2016 period?

Has anyone heard about the admission process? How competitive is it? How many spots available?

I am from El Paso but went to undergrad at UT Austin, I really want to come back to El Paso for my masters in SLP but I am freaking out about admissions! 

Anyone got any insight on this?

[Chai Tea Latte]

I have no insight, but I plan on applying.

[maryjazz66]

Great!

Have you started your application yet?

I have no idea how long the personal statement has to be for UTEP, I can't find information on it off of the CSD CAS page D:

 

[hopefulspeechie16]

Does anyone have more info on the program? Or living in El Paso? I'd like to apply but am not sure.

[maryjazz66]

 

Does anyone have more info on the program? Or living in El Paso? I'd like to apply but am not sure.

I'm from El Paso! It is a real nice city where you can find authentic mexican food pretty much anywhere! lol

Cost of living is VERY reasonable. You can get a nice two bedroom apartment for about 600 per room. Traffic in El Paso is also not a big concern. The I-10 can get a little crowded during peak hours but nothing too bad. ALso El Paso has been deemed one of the safest cities in the country according to crime statistics. My mom and I often leave our doors unlocked and nothing ever happens, and I live in the "ghetto". 

The weather is nice overall. During the summer it can get really hot and dry since we are in the middle of the desert but we enjoy nice template weather throughout. Except winter. Winter can get cold and we often get snow around december and january! We have mountains so if you like to be outdoors and hike there are a couple of nice trails! 

THe program at UTEP is a good one in my opinion. They offer different certifications such as the bilingual SLP as well as a traumatic brain injury specialization. I know that you either have to work on a capstone project or a thesis starting from your first semester all the way till the end. it is an ongoing project that you design carry out and receive feedback from professors. So they do like to do research experiences for their students. In El Paso you will most likely be dealing with a culture heavily influenced by Mexican tradition. 80% of El Pasoans are either Mexicans or Mexican americans and that is just because of our proximity to Juarez, Mexico. 

So knowing spanish is a big plus for this program AND the work you will be doing in the city. SLPs are very well paid AND needed in El Paso. El Paso covers a HUGE area in land and its population is about 700k people so there is lots of opportunities for employment. 

Edited October 12, 2015 by maryjazz66