Gallaudet Questions

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markat

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:] Hi there, first time posting on these forums.

Alright, so I am hearing with a keen interest in ASL. My school is a feeder school for the deaf and hard of hearing, and through my ASL courses I've befriended many and wish to continue learning the language.

I happened to do a lot better on the SATs than I imagined, so when I got an email from Gallaudet inquiring more information on my admission I was blown away.

The truth of the matter is that I'm not a native signer and while I would love LOVE the experience of going to that college, I don't know much about that one percent of hearing population allowed to go.

1. Do Deaf people have any opinion on that small percent of hearing people going to Gallaudet?
2. What steps do I have to take to approach replying to this email?
3. Obviously conversational fluency won't be enough. Will I automatically be discarded for my knowledge of the language?

Thank you, I appreciate any help I can get. :)
 
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Alright, alright I'm sorry.

After reading more threads on this board, I noticed that it's not right to talk about Gallaudet and I apologize.

Sorry for my mistake. :ugh:
 
Hi Markat -

First of all - I want to clear this up for you. You are allowed to talk about Gallaudet on this board. There is no rules against that. You are free to ask questions about Gallaudet.

I don't know how the admission department processes it now than it was when I was a student there. I was there 10 years ago and by now, I'm sure that things have changed a lot now than it was 10 years ago.

I'm sorry I can't be much of a help. Perhaps other members on this board will give you a better insight to this.

There's one thing I do know of - You won't be automatically discarded for your knowledge of ASL. When I was a student there - Hearing people were only limited to Graduate School but as of now, They accept hearing people in the undergraduate school.

Perhaps they wanted to inquire you about your knowledge of the Deaf Culture, Deaf Education and things like that? If you are only going to Gallaudet to learn or to expand your knowledge on ASL, Then I would suggest for you to brush it up on learning about the Deaf Culture and Deaf Education.
 
1. Do Deaf people have any opinion on that small percent of hearing people going to Gallaudet? Well the Deaf will hated you ut the deaf will love you

2. What steps do I have to take to approach replying to this email? nothing

3. Obviously conversational fluency won't be enough. Will I automatically be discarded for my knowledge of the language? Sign daily and you'll be fine.
 
I'm answering your questions from the perspective of a HUG applicant. I lost my hearing one month before I applied to Gallaudet. I was planning to go there anyway, I have been signing my whole life. But one month before I applied, I had a scuba diving accident and lost partial hearing. I was told it would return, so I applied as a HUG applicant. My status is now "regular" student because I was eventually diagnosed with a hearing loss, but when I was accepted to Gallaudet, it was as a HUG.

It's not "one percent of hearing population" - it's two percent of any incoming class. So the actual number varies from year to year. If there are 100 freshmen, 2 of them can be hearing, 98 will be deaf/HOH. (Usually there's more than 100 though!)

Yes, some people do resent that hearing students are allowed at Gallaudet. It's something you have to get used to. There is a culture of "reverse audism" at Gallaudet, and anybody who tells you otherwise is lying or misinformed. However, it's not really a big deal. Just as a deaf person in a hearing school is always aware that they are deaf, HUGs at Gallaudet are always aware that they are hearing. That's about as far as it goes. You're aware of it, sometimes it comes up in class, sometimes people ask you about it. But it's not really a big deal, and it is rare that someone will actually tell you they think hearing students shouldn't be at Gallaudet. When I encountered that kind of attitude, I told the person that they needed to take it up with Gallaudet administration. The fact is, Gallaudet allows hearing students. Once you are a Gallaudet student, you are equal to everyone else and you should never forget it. You can do anything that any other Gallaudet student can do. If somebody doesn't like hearing students, they need to try to get the policy changed, not take it out on the students themselves.

As for your signing skills, when you come for an interview, they will test your signing skills. Conversational fluency is actually quite sufficient in many cases, you don't need to be a brilliant ASL signer. However, hearing students are not accepted into the New Signers Program that takes place every summer. You are expected to have the ASL skills when you arrive, not pick them up as you go. (I know of one exception to this, and he's lucky that he's actually getting by pretty well now, he could have had a hard time.)

Definitely come to Gallaudet if that option is still on the table for you. (I realize this thread is a little old.) The last open house of the year is tomorrow, so I guess you won't make that, unless maybe you're already coming! Gallaudet is a really awesome place, and it is the best place for anyone who wants a career working with deaf people. No other place will prepare you like Gallaudet.
 
Hi,

This is my first time posting. I recently applied and was accepted but I am not a HUG applicant. I am HoH but recently discovered that I have moderate hearing loss. For the majority of my life I didn't sign, I used speech like a hearing person would. I am not sure the contents of the email but I think you should reply to the email sincerely and express your interest if you are really interested in attending. As a new signer I have chosen to enroll in the New Signers Program this summer to enhance my skills. I am also attending Silent Weekend in Orlando, FL which from what I hear is very intensive. I also emailed my regional admissions counselor and she said where needed there are ASL/English translators for students who need them. I don't think you will be discarded because you aren't fluent in ASL.

It's truly a wonderful opportunity and an honor they are interested in you applying since they only accept a few HUG applicants and I wish you the best of luck! I know I'm excited about this summer. :wave:
 
It's a little bit different for HOH applicants vs HUGs. Yes, HOH students can attend NSP and have voice/oral interpreters if necessary. HUG applicants are not allowed these accommodations, it is expected that if you come to Gallaudet, you already have conversational fluency. They give an ASL test to all HUGs though, and if you pass that, you're fine. HOH applicants don't have a test.
 
what the heck is HUG? :scratch:
 
I still think it's worth giving it a shot especially since this person has a background in ASL. His or her fluency may be better than they think it is. Good luck
 
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