UNC School of Medicine
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does it matter if I do not have a major in speech pathology or a communications studies degree?
No, as long as you have a bachelor's degree. However, applicants for either the speech and hearing sciences program or audiology program are strongly encouraged to complete as many of the prerequisites as possible prior to entering the program. When applying, please submit an "enrollment verification" of the prerequisite courses that are in progress and describe your future course of action in your "personal statement".
2. What are the prerequisites for Masters program?
Please see the section entitled "Pre-professional Coursework" for more detailed information. In addition to the pre-professional coursework, we require an undergraduate course in statistics. We strongly recommend that students complete this course before beginning graduate studies. A grade of B- or better is required in order to get credit for the course.
3. What are the prerequisites for the Au.D. program?
Please see the section entitled " Pre-professional Coursework" for more detailed information.
3. What is the minimum GPA?
The minimum GPA is 3.0, however, those who are admitted into the program typically have higher GPAs. The average GPA ranges from 3.5 - 3.7. See profiles of admitted students under "programs of study."
4. What are the requirements for the GRE?
The Graduate School (SLP) and the School of Medicine (Au.D.) recommend that admitted students obtain a combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. If the test is taken multiple times, the highest score in each section is taken. However, students with lower GREs may also be admitted due to other outstanding qualification (e.g., high GPA, excellent recommendation letters, etc.).
5. What are the institution codes for the GRE?
The institution code for UNC is 5816
Department Code - Speech and Hearing 0620
Department Code - Audiology - 0602
6. Is the GRE analytical section considered by the admissions committee?
No. Just the verbal and quantitative sections.
7. How many pages are needed for my personal statement?
No more than two pages double spaced, 12pt. font, 1" margins. Full name on each page.
8. What types of things should I include in my personal statement?
You should write about why you are interested in becoming a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. For example, maybe you have a relative who has some type of communications disorder; maybe you've volunteered at a daycare or some place where you've seen a child receiving speech therapy; maybe you know someone who has a head injury (traumatic head injury) and is receiving speech therapy; or you know someone who has a hearing loss and was helped with a hearing aid. What has interested you in wanting to become a part of this field? In addition, write about any of your experiences related to working with children or adults or participating in research opportunities. For MS students this statement will be your only interview. Please use it to let us know who you are. Please don't forget to put your name on each page.
9. I'm not a very good standardized test-taker, but I have a good GPA. Will the admissions committee still review my application?
Yes. The admissions committee also considers how your recommenders rated you on your letter of recommendation. You must submit 3 letters of recommendation 2 of which need to be from from those who know your academic work best. If you have been out of school for awhile, please employ your professors in your prerequisite classes.
10. Could I have an application mailed to me?
Applications can only be submitted online.
M.S. SLP applications and Ph.D. applications can be reached from the How to Apply section at this address:
http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/sphs/
Au. D. applications can be found at this address:
http://admprosapp2.admissions.unc.edu/Allied_Health/DEFAULT_ALLIED.ASP
11. Could I make an appointment with a faculty member?
Due to the large volume of requests, we are unable to conduct individual tours or interviews. We do, however, offer information sessions for prospective students. Attendance at information sessions does not enhance a student's application nor penalize students who are unable to come to UNC. These sessions will be held on Friday, June 5; August 7, and November 6 at 1:00 P.M. in Bondurant Hall, Room G10. It is not necessary to register for these sessions;however it would be helpful to have an email from you so we can contact you with any changes to the schedule. Please contact Ina Diana
To view schedules visit Au.D. Info Session or M.S. SLP Info Session.
12. Where do students have practicum opportunities?
We are proud to offer a wide range of clinical opportunities at medical, educational, and private practice settings, including: UNC Hospitals, UNC Dental School's Craniofacial Center, UNC Center for Development and Learning, the Veterans Administration Hospital, the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, augumentative communication classrooms, area classrooms for children with speech, language, and hearing disorders, and local private practices in audiology and speech pathology. Clinical Education
13. My undergraduate program did not offer the prerequisites. Are individuals admitted that do not have all the pre-professional coursework?
Please see the section entitled "Pre-professional Coursework" for more detailed information. In addition to the pre-professional coursework, we require an undergraduate course in statistics. We strongly recommend that students complete this course before beginning graduate studies.
14. What is meant by a "partial transcript?"- A partial transcript is defined as a record of education that either has not been completed (such as a future graduation date) or has been sent in "unofficial" form and an "official" copy with the university seal has not been received yet. The transcript will still be described as "partial" even after semester grades have been submitted. It will only be "complete" when degree is posted or work has been completed at an institution. Keep checking on line and you will get an email from us if we are missing any transcript information.
15.Where do I find the form needed for my letters of recommendation? Are these particular forms required?
The form can be found on the graduate school website under "forms" at gradschool.unc.edu. A letter can be submitted from the recommender ALONG with this form. Please make sure that you give YOUR address to the recommender and you will submit it with your packet to us.
16. Is it acceptable to have 4 letters of recommendation?-If you have an additional recommendation to submit, print a copy of the suggested recommendation form and submit it directly to CB # 7120.
17 .Why is the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences deadline different than the Graduate Schools? The deadline of January 1st is set by the Graduate School for applicants who desire to be considered for financial aid through the financial aid office. Submission of the application and $77. fee by this date is mandatory. Individual programs set deadlines for applications to be considered regardless of whether a student is applying for financial aid. The Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences has chosen a December 15, 2009 deadline for students applying for the Masters degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences.The deadline for students applying for the Doctorate in Audiology is January 2, 2010.The deadline for students applying to the PhD program is January 8, 2010.
18. How many of your students pass the Praxis Exam each year? In the past 10 years, every student in the two clinical programs at the University of North Carolina, Audiology and Speech and Hearing Sciences, has passed the Praxis Exam the first time they attempted it.
19. How many of the students who begin the clinical programs at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill (AuD & SLP) complete their program of study and earn their degree? The AuD program has graduated three classes of students since it was begun in the Fall of 2002. All nineteen of the students who entered between 2002 and 2004 have completed their program of study and graduated. Their graduation dates for the class entering in 2002 was 2006, those entering in 2003 graduated in 2007 and students who entered in 2004 graduated in 2008.
The Master’s program in Speech and Hearing Sciences also has a very high rate of student retention and on time graduation. In the previous 10 years, of approximately 275 students, one was counseled out of the program and another student left in the first month for family reasons. Students completed their programs of study as scheduled when they began graduate school.
20.Are your students able to find jobs upon graduation? Students in both the AuD and the SLP graduate programs receive excellent clinical educations. As a result, our students are heavily recruited by employers in a wide range of settings from all across the country. Every student who wants to be employed has been successful in finding a job within a short time after graduation. In fact, many students have employment waiting for them as soon as they graduate.
21. Do I need to fill out any additional forms if I want to apply for departmental awards and scholarships?
Please complete and submit the Allied Health Sciences departmental scholarship application when you submit your online applicaton so that you may be considered for merit and need based assistance. This will also make it possible for us to notify you about financial award information at the same time that you receive your acceptance letter.
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