Confused about these schools that require CSDCAS AND their own application...

[ENFPslp]

Some of my CSDCAS schools require me to apply through the common app, and then also through their own application. It's kind of confusing, especially because Iowa is charging me for the CSDCAS app AND their application. Is this how it's supposed to be? 

Also, when you send your GRE score to CSDCAS, do I have to send one to each CSDCAS university code? Or can I just send the scores to one of the codes and assume all the schools get access to it? Along the same lines, I've noticed schools want the GRE scores to be sent to both CSDCAS and their own application. 

 

Thanks so much

[lexical_gap]

Since you mentioned Iowa, I looked at their admission website for the SLP program.  The first application is to the general Graduate College at the university.  The second application is the department specific one via CSDCAS.

It's not uncommon to have two applications for a graduate program.  The CSDCAS is only seen by the department that houses the SLP program.  Many schools have a separate application for admission to the actual graduate school of the institution that is reviewed by a different panel.  Typically, the department for which you apply accepts students and recommends those students for admission into the university.  Assistantships open to all graduate students may be awarded through the general graduate school application, while the CSDCAS may help determine who receives department-specific ones.  Ultimately, your ability to enroll into a graduate program is contingent on admission to the university.  Theoretically, it's possible to get accepted by the university but not the department or vice versa. 

Some universities have you submit both applications right away.  Others will have you submit the application to the graduate school only after being accepted into the department.

I know of cases where international students were accepted into a department for graduate study but had admission status put on hold or were ultimately denied by the university due to issues obtaining visas and other required documents.

Hope this clears up some of the confusion.

[ENFPslp]

Since you mentioned Iowa, I looked at their admission website for the SLP program.  The first application is to the general Graduate College at the university.  The second application is the department specific one via CSDCAS.

It's not uncommon to have two applications for a graduate program.  The CSDCAS is only seen by the department that houses the SLP program.  Many schools have a separate application for admission to the actual graduate school of the institution that is reviewed by a different panel.  Typically, the department for which you apply accepts students and recommends those students for admission into the university.  Assistantships open to all graduate students may be awarded through the general graduate school application, while the CSDCAS may help determine who receives department-specific ones.  Ultimately, your ability to enroll into a graduate program is contingent on admission to the university.  Theoretically, it's possible to get accepted by the university but not the department or vice versa. 

Some universities have you submit both applications right away.  Others will have you submit the application to the graduate school only after being accepted into the department.

I know of cases where international students were accepted into a department for graduate study but had admission status put on hold or were ultimately denied by the university due to issues obtaining visas and other required documents.

Hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Wow that makes a lot more sense than it did 30 minutes ago. Thank you! Do you think that's why they require you to submit 2 GRE scores? So the graduate enrollment office AND the SLP Department get access to them? 

[lexical_gap]

Do you think that's why they require you to submit 2 GRE scores? So the graduate enrollment office AND the SLP Department get access to them?

That's my best guess.  Theoretically, the department can have a different cutoff than the university.  For example, the university could say "Our minimum GRE score is 300," but depending on competitiveness or difficulty of the specific program (let's say... biomedical engineering), the department could say, "The university says 300, but we want 315."  (Those stats are completely fictitious, btw.)

Edited October 8, 2015 by lexical_gap

[jpiccolo]

I applied to Iowa a couple years ago. I don't think I sent GREs to both Iowa and csdcas. But if you apply to multiple schools through csdcas you DO need to send them to every schools code! schools can't get access if it's a different schools code. Lots of extra scores to order but it's how it works. It's annoying but some schools want the separate app too which is two fees. The ones that did both apps were usually pretty simple though. I didn't have to submit everything twice, just wrote in the boxes that things were uploaded on csdcas. But always good to check the instructions. Every school has their own strange requirements. 

Edited October 8, 2015 by jpiccolo

[slporbust2016]

The schools that I am applying to through CSDCAS require me to also submit an application to their graduate school, BUT they all stated I only needed to send GRE scores and transcripts to CSDCAS. Just something to double check as it's expensive enough to pay application fees twice without having to pay for all of the paperwork to be sent again. 

Good luck!

[esopha]

I just sent my Iowa-specific application in, and I had to send separate GRE scores. I'm guessing the grad school looks at them separately.

Just read and re-read the instructions on every department's page. You'll figure it out!