GRAD SCHOOL INFORMATION SESSION

Jackie Maggio and Jackie Cohen are both first year grad students. They were both re-entry students. Jackie Maggio is on a Pediatric Autism track, while Jackie Cohen is on a Neurology track right now. They spoke about the admissions process, their typical day at grad school, specifics about the GW program, and then answered any questions that anyone had.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

-         Admissions process is very detailed. You can now do a lot of it online. Find recommendations first because that takes the longest to get done.

-         Take your GREs early, there is no set score that they are looking for, greatly depends on applicant pool. Writing section is heavily weighted in a lot of schools.

-         What would you recommend focusing on for your personal statement

o       Something unique

o       Didn’t write just one essay (JM) but JC applied to just one school and included a writing sample because you do a lot of writing in grad school

o       Show interest in something (ie if your interested in autism) – JM

-         Did you go on interviews?

o       JM – did phone interview

o       JC – did  a group interview after she was accepted at GW.

o       JM – NYU does mandatory interview.  If you don’t go they will call you and ask why

§         10 people in a room interview you.  Give you a blue book and ask you like 5 questions to answer. Or send you a topic to respond to at certain and give you 20 minutes to answer it and respond back.

§          

GW GRAD PROGRAM

-         In the clinic

o       4 classes instead of 3 for the first time this year

o       During orientation assigned 2 or 3 tracks for first 2 years

o       Externships-1 pediatric and 1 adult. They are each a semester. At the beginning you sit down and tell them what you are interested in and they try to place you somewhere that will give you the direct experience that you want.

o       2-10 clients in total

o       Last yr during your external you only have 1 track

o       While working with your clients in the clinic, you come up with goals and treatment plans. It is very self driven, but have an advisor who will help you. You have to use the internet and research what to do with the disorder that the client has. It is a very independent program, but they think it is helpful to use this as a way to learn. At first it can be very intimidating and scary, but it is well worth it. You’re not by yourself, supervisors are there, feel satisfied after a while because you did the lesson plan and it worked.  You don’t think you’re qualified but you are. 

o       You learn as you go “method to the madness” – if you do something wrong get slapped on your wrist and you’ll never do it again or learn what’s right.  They find your skills and weaknesses and work to make you the most successful and strong clinician you can be – LBS

o       Supervisors know you haven’t done this before. There are two weeks of classes before clinic starts. The classes focus a lot on treatment. You usually have big projects and a midterm and final.

o       Second year is supposed to be less stressful.  People helping you in different ways than clinic

o       Second years say that first year is hard but it helps prepare.  Second years all say they are highly praised by supervisors.

o       First year schedule usually consists of Monday class, Tues/Wed off but Wed is a big clinic day, Thursday class, and Friday prosem and class after. You need a B average to remain in the program.

o       You are assessed in the clinic not by a letter grade but with an assessment packet.

o       How is the balance of clinic and classes?

§         It is a lot – 2 hours of planning time for each hour of teaching.  Have to have written plan usually 24 hrs ahead of time. 

§         JM – part time job which she doesn’t recommend

o       How did you get accepted at reentry?

§         Every school different

§         Need to maintain a B

§         Some schools do a summer intensive program

§         GW you take 8 core classes through out a year (4 each semester)

§         Apply directly to masters program

o       How rated during session?

§         Supervisor wont come in to session unless having a lot of difficulty or they want to look at something

§         Scale of 1-4

·        Criticism is to make you better

·        Positive does balance the “not so positive”

o       If have special interests do you have a say in clinics you get?

§         Depends on the track

§         Practice from Professor Brewer comes in handy for audiology

o       Are either of you interested in PhD

§         Down the road but would first like to be in the real world – JC

§         JM – needs a break but maybe down the road

§         GW doesn’t have PhD program

OPINIONS ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMS AND HOW TO DECIDE ON THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR YOU

o       What are well known programs

§         University of Maryland – because close to ASHA

·        Classes are very difficult – focus more on what happens in the classroom then clinic

§         Dr. Linda Bland-Stewart commented that you want to be in a program that gives you what you want and need for specializing. She explained that there is a difference between clinical programs and research-based programs. Some of the research based programs have professors that are not around a lot to help.

§         Research – not as strong of program as clinical – look into what kind of program you want

§         RESEARCH I RESEARCH 2 or TEACHING COLLEGE – important buzz words when looking at schools

§         ASHA has a great website for grad school

§         It is important to look at how many professors are on the faculty, faculty – student ratios, supervisor to student ratios

·        Overwhelming if too many people and cant get in touch with advisor

§         ASHA website should tell you if more of a clinical or research school

§         Want to ask what the expertise of the school

§         Talk to as many people as you can

§         Make an informed decision. Graduate school is a huge commitment and what you want to do for the rest of your life

o       Jackie Cohen commented that you don’t have to go to grad school right away

§         Took 2 years off to work in elementary school and that’s what brought her to speech

o       If have pictures of clinic its very important

§         NYU is very small – LBS not impressed with the clinic but very good placements (external)

o       You need to look into what your daily life is like, where you can do work, comfortable safe environment.  Not at home a lot

o       Hasn’t heard great things at Columbia – all 3 – they haven’t been audited by ASHA in about 10 years which is bad you want to be audited often – because won’t meet the most recent requirements

o       Columbia – students felt faculty wasn’t as available

o       BU and Emerson – heard good things but don’t know much

o       NYU – didn’t seem like they put emphasis on students and interview style

o       UCONN – good program

o       Northwestern – very research oriented

o       You can email clinical director or ask for grad student to talk to. They will tell you about the program. You should ask a grad student what a typical day is like in their program.

o       If you are a sophomore or junior, become heavily involved in NSSHLA – VERY good to see because it shows that you are interested in the field and that you will continue to be throughout grad school.

FURTHER QUESTIONS

-         Email JMAGGIO@gwu.edu