laurengreen1

I'm 'part-time' and this is my first semester...I spend about 30 hours/week for 9 units. This includes 'class time' as well since my program is all online. (My internships haven't started yet though).

Hi there! So I'm a SLPA in CA and attending CSUN online, and will be moving to MD in a few months. I'm wondering if anyone out there is a student and currently working in the field. Does MD have SLP on waiver jobs? I know some states have them (basically emergency credentials for schools that are short-staffed on SLPs). I can't find any information about it. TIA!

I'm a SLPA and just started grad school (online). If you're a distance ed student, it can be done but you won't have much of a life outside of work and school. Once internships start, you won't be able to work FT though--if at all--because you'll have to be at your fieldwork site at least 2 days a week. I don't start internships until Jan but I'm already feeling overwhelmed with job + grad school so I will be transferring clients/cutting back hours over the next month. The nice thing about working at a clinic (at least where I work) is that your schedule is up to you so you can take on whatever size caseload/hours work for you.

I believe Hampton University offers fall and spring admissions--also when I looked into them last year it looked less competitive than other programs. CSUN and JMU distance programs also start in the spring. Don't lose hope! I didn't get in the first year I applied either. I think getting my SLPA experience/ license (and subsequently a really strong reference from my SLP supervisor) is what got me in this time around. Good luck!

Waitlisted, but really leaning towards CSUN anyway. Good luck everyone!

This is my second year applying, but I made the mistake of only applying to one school--which only accepted around 10% of applicants--last year. (I did my post-bacc online at USU--you can see my stats below). This year, I was planning to cast a wider net and apply to at least four programs. Luckily, I got my acceptance to CSUN (online) before the deadlines for two of the other schools I was planning on applying to (ISU and JMU online), so I ended up only applying to two--CSUN and ECU. All that said, I agree with CBG321--the fact that you applied to a lot of schools definitely will help your chances of getting into one. Good luck!

This year orientation starts 5/11, regular classes start 5/26. However, I think it varies from year to year. If you're interested in applying for the distance program starting in May 2016, I'd talk to admissions now. I would think the scheduling wouldn't be a problem, but again, I'd ask admissions. It's hard to reach them sometimes, but they usually get back to you in a day or two if you leave a message. I don't know what the cost of the residential program is, but distance is $43,500 ($750/unit) for the whole three years. It doesn't matter if you're a CA resident or not since there is no state funding for the program--don't know if that applies to the residential program as well.

We heard already because the distance program at CSUN is on a different application/enrollment cycle than the residential program. (Apply between July 1-Sep 1, find out end of Jan, start in May). Cohorts for the distance option only start in May, unless that's changed. I chose distance ed because my husband is in the army and we'll be moving this fall, but we have no idea where we're going. Like Charlotte, I also really liked USU's distance ed program and found that it worked really well for my learning style and lifestyle. I also like the idea of continuing to work (at least part-time) throughout the program, since it's 3 years instead of two. I also have a friend who graduated from the distance program and was very happy with it. Good luck with your applications!

They are similar in a lot of ways. Neither one helps with clinical placements. They're both three years --about 1 yr with just classes followed by two years clinicals + classes. However, ECU has much smaller cohorts and I feel like the program is more organized. What I like better about CSUN is that it's more flexible in that it's more of an anytime, anywhere sort of program (probably more similar to what we experienced at USU). ECU probably provides more interaction with professors, but it also requires you to be available at certain times. Also, CSUN's online program is available in all states and ECU's isn't. The biggest benefit of ECU for me would be in-state tuition rates if my husband gets stationed in NC. However, we're Californians and eventually want to come back here...so it would be nice to have a degree from a CA school.

CSUN was also my top choice, but I also like ECU a lot. I'm leaning towards CSUN, but if I get into ECU, we'll see what happens...a lot depends on where my husband's next duty station is.

Me too!! Yaaaaaaay! And congratulations!! Is Northridge your top choice or are you going to wait it out for the other schools you applied to?

Thanks! I just finished with my SLPA program at Northridge, but I'm sure the info will be useful to others. @ mo~: It's a bit late, but my clinical supervisor (from my SLPA program) is hiring me @ $25/hr in her clinic. I think school districts pay around $20/hr for new SLPAs and the SLPA pay range in CA (schools and private practice) is around $18-$30/hr depending on years of experience.

You usually submit the FAFSA at the beginning of the year so that you're covered if/when you start school in the fall. As the previous poster said, it doesn't take that long to do and it's pretty general. Wherever you end up going, you're going to need to have completed a FAFSA if you want financial aid. Just make sure it's sent to all the schools you applied to.

I got mine in my personal email, but my CSUN email is set up to forward to my personal email...I think they just sent it to CSUN email.

Yeah that's what I was leaning towards. Thanks!