The　transient　wave　propagation　in　the　finite　rectangular　Mindlin　plate　is　investigated　by　the　analytical　and　experimental　methods.　The　generalized　ray　method　(GRM)　which　has　been　successfully　applied　to　study　the　transient　responses　of　beams,　planar　trusses,　space　frames　and　infinite　layered　media　is　extended　to　investigate　the　transient　wave　propagation　and　early　short　time　transient　response　in　finite　Mindlin　plate.　Combining　the　wave　solution,　the　shock　source　and　the　boundary　conditions,　the　ray　groups　transmitted　in　the　finite　rectangular　plate　can　be　determined.　Numerical　simulations　and　experiments　are　performed　and　compared　with　each　other.　The　results　show　that　the　transient　wave　propagation　and　early　short　time　transient　responses　in　the　finite　plate　can　be　studied　using　the　GRM.　The　early　short　time　transient　accelerations　are　very　large　for　the　finite　plate　subjected　to　the　unit　impulse,　while　the　early　short　time　transient　displacements　are　very　small.　The　early　short　time　transient　accelerations　under　the　unit　impulse　are　much　larger　than　those　under　the　unit　step　impulse.　The　thickness　and　material　characteristics　have　remarkable　effects　on　the　early　short　time　transient　responses.