Admission rates

[speechtobe]

A popular topic of discussion here is how difficult it is to get into a Speech Pathology Grad school, but just how competitive is it?

Do you think that most applicants in USA will get into some university if they keep trying or maybe most will not get in and have to settle on another career?  Or perhaps something in-between?

[Soon2beSLP]

Interesting topic. I like to think about it like this. I you go on ed finder on asha you can see class size for masters programs but also class sizes for undergrad. In comparison to each other most schools will have a large undergrad and a MUCH smaller grad. No granted some people do choose to do masters in different programs but it looks like out major is super hard to get into (yay for us). I imagine that if people keep trying they'll eventually end up somewhere however.

[speechie575]

I spent SOOO much time on ASHA ed find before I applied trying to find schools that were in my GPA/GRE range. Even though I knew I wouldn't go to a school more than 5 or 6 hours away, I looked at every state and every school to see what I thought my chances were. I thought my grades were pretty average, and was looking to find just one school I thought I'd fit into perfectly. I ended up applying to 11 schools because I scared and worried myself to the point where I barely even believed I'd get in anywhere. I spent over $1000 on apps (and because I took the GRE twice). Fast forward to the end of April and I have gotten into 4 schools, one of them being my top school that was way out of my grade range according to ASHA ed find. Long story short, if there is anything that I have learned from this experience, it's to give yourself a little more credit and believe that you will get in somewhere!! I wish I applied to half the schools I did and saved money. Write an awesome personal essay, have a job or two related to the field on your resume, have decent grades, and I'm confident you will get in somewhere! One thing I don't regret is taking the GRE a second time. I boosted my verbal score 5 points (145 to 150) and that definitely helped me in my opinion. 

[PlieThenRose]

If you are 21/22 and didn't get in right out of grad school, find a teachers aide/rehab aide/nursing assistant job or if your state allows, an SLPA. Something to expose you to the real world. If this is something you want, you will get it. Maybe not on your own time..but don't give up! 

It is insane how competitive this field is...which is why I didn't pursue a career or Bachelors in it.  Little did I know how much worse it would be 5 years later after I decided this was always the field for me ? 

But if this is the field and career for you...keep exposing yourself to the field and don't give up applying...all the money spent on apps, etc will be worth it in the end when you are working the job you love (and have a decent salary that will help pay off those loans!). 

Good luck!!

 

 

[slpintraining17]

10 hours ago, Murr57 said:

I spent SOOO much time on ASHA ed find before I applied trying to find schools that were in my GPA/GRE range. Even though I knew I wouldn't go to a school more than 5 or 6 hours away, I looked at every state and every school to see what I thought my chances were. I thought my grades were pretty average, and was looking to find just one school I thought I'd fit into perfectly. I ended up applying to 11 schools because I scared and worried myself to the point where I barely even believed I'd get in anywhere. I spent over $1000 on apps (and because I took the GRE twice). Fast forward to the end of April and I have gotten into 4 schools, one of them being my top school that was way out of my grade range according to ASHA ed find. Long story short, if there is anything that I have learned from this experience, it's to give yourself a little more credit and believe that you will get in somewhere!! I wish I applied to half the schools I did and saved money. Write an awesome personal essay, have a job or two related to the field on your resume, have decent grades, and I'm confident you will get in somewhere! One thing I don't regret is taking the GRE a second time. I boosted my verbal score 5 points (145 to 150) and that definitely helped me in my opinion. 

I did the exact same thing! I ended up applying to 5 schools, taking the GRE twice (worth it), have a 3.73 GPA, decent work experience, research, and only got into one school, waitlisted from 2, rejected from one, and waiting on one more. Search for what is going to be a good school in your range. I think everyone can get into a school if you search what's the right one for you. 

[WannabSLP124]

Yes, I think I read somewhere that the admission rate was 20% of applicants, but I don't know how that is skewed when you take into account that people are applying to multiple schools. People often don't get in the first time they apply, but if they keep at it, and do things to make themselves better applicants for the programs they want to get into, then I think most people will eventually get in. 

This year (my third time applying) I applied to 10 schools to help increase my odds, but I kind of wish I hadn't. It was a lot of money, and I ended up only getting into/waitlisted at schools I really wanted. I would say if you focus on the schools you really want, and you are a good match for, your chances are better. Any "safe" schools I applied to - but didn't necessarily want to go to unless it was a last resort - I was rejected, not even a waitlist lol. My advice would be not to do this - quality over quantity :-)

[K8eCastle]

The odds are not great, but you have to remember that every part of your application counts, not just your GPA and GRE. Strong letters of recommendation, a good personal statement, and an interview (if the school does interviews) will help boost your chances! I got into three schools with decent, but not great stats, including one where I was specifically told "we weigh cumulative GPA the highest." It is hard, but not impossible!

[SpeechLaedy]

Look here... The odds felt like they were heavily attacked against me. I applied to 8 schools, all of which had between 6% to 25% acceptance rates. I worked so hard on a SOP that I was really proud of, but honestly, with all the fifteenth word count limits, I couldn't for everything I wanted to say in any each school. The schools that bag longer word limits were the ones I really got to delve into any I'm so passionate about this career. And those actually happened to be the schools that I got interviews for (and so far, one acceptance to!). Meanwhile, I my gre scores were Q:141, V:152, AW: 3.5. Keep in mind that if you have a low wiring score (below 4.0) and land an interview, you're most definitely going to have to write a short essay. I really think that I had great letters of recommendation because my profs knew me well and I stayed in touch with them. But I really think the SOP made the difference for me. A better GRE score would've upped my chances a lot more though. I hear some schools won't even look at the rest of your application if your GRE isn't at a certain minimum. So just do your best with everything,and be consistent with what you have presented if you worked really hard. 

 

And to answer your questions, I think it's hard to say if every applicant will eventually get in somewhere. It depends on so many factors: how many schools they apply to, if they apply in a less competitive state, their stats, etc. So it all depends. Some people do change majors after a certain amount of cycles of rejection - and some people may get into a program, but it could be after their 4th time applying. So whether or not they choose to continue trying is another factor.  I certainly considered that after being rejected from most of the schools I applied to. But if you really want this and have the money to keep applying semester after semester, then that's the person that probably won't switch. And some people switch, only to find that they wasted time in a career they don't care for and come calling back to speech on bended knee lol So be mindful of that as well. Just go for what you're passionate about with full force and you should be okay! 

[AlwaysaFalcon]

As someone who has applied to three different application cycles here is the advice I will give:

If nothing is keeping you an a certain area apply to a wide range in schools!

 -While it completely depends on the number of applicants per cycle and what a school is looking for an a applicant I found that I had more waitlists and acceptances when I applied to a wide range of school instead of sticking with my home state and surrounding states and applying to newer programs.

 

Add more then the bare minimum of letters of recommendations

 -Instead of doing 2 or 3 this year I added an extra letter or recommendation from my boss during undergraduate and I think this helped immensely!

 

Take the gre more than once (may apply)

 -While I had no desire to take the gre again since I'm not the best at standardized tests, I took the gre one last time and was able to improve my writing score from a 3.5 to a 4. I think this showed schools I was persistent and I was capable of showing my potential in graduate school.

 

If you can volunteer or work in the field.

 -This year I volunteered in an integrated preschool and not only was able to get a feel of working with multiple professionals but I was able to see what working with kids would be like and shadow an slp. Such a cool experience!

 

I hoped that helped! A lot of that was a repeat of what other people said but that's the advice I'll give. Don't give up! I've heard it takes people 2-3 times to be accepted but it'll be worth it once you get in  !