FutureSLP

I'm using my savings (originally intended to buy a house...oh well) and federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but I don't hear about how much financial aide I qualify for until July. If it's the full amount (aka. $20,500/year) then I should be more than okay. If it's not the full amount, I'll probably do Grad Plus to make up the difference. The financials of grad school are scary and were a huge decision factor when I chose my school. I'm staying in-state and the living expenses are cheaper where I'm going than where I currently live.

Ditto! There's no orientation type link on my school's website, at least not for graduate students. Nothing is on my sign-in screen either accept a "welcome to the program" type message. No word from the school or program. I'll wait another couple of weeks, then I'll start nagging!

It definitely varies by program, and it's the program that decides which of your classes count, not ASHA. I thought I had to take a bio course and Stats this summer, but my grad program is counting my biological anthropology course (did not have a lab) as my biological science requirement, and they take any non-remedial math class. They said my College Algebra course counts, and they don't require Stats. I might still take Stats anyway, but was really surprised that they didn't require it. I will not be taking a bio class this summer. Check with the top 2-4 schools that you're interested in and see what they say. Then aim for their requirements. You might still have to take a class next summer depending on the program, but that's not so bad.

Has everyone started getting info packets from the program you're attending in the Fall? I've only heard about my prereq requirements from my program director, but would really like to know about immunization requirements, CPR certification requirements, class schedules, scheduling clinical observation time over the summer, etc. Are you all getting this info from your programs, or am I insane for expecting this? I don't want to nag the program director about this stuff if it should be coming in the mail soon.

There is a lot of MGH information being posted in the SLP/Comm-Dis Masters Applicants thread right now. I'm sure you're checking it out, but thought I'd mention it just in case!

Definitely check with your program: they determine which classes meet the ASHA requirements. I was debating between 2 SLP programs a few weeks ago, and one of them counted my biological anthropology course for the ASHA biological science requirement whereas the other program said it wouldn't count and wanted me to take something like chemistry. I was prepared to have to do a biological science class this summer, and now don't have to. To avoid confusion and to make sure you take the right classes (and to avoid taking classes you don't need), check with your program director/advisor. If you're wondering which classes count, send along the syllabus of any class you're questioning and they can let you know where it stands. Good luck! P.S. I recommend Utah State for prereqs. I took a class at MGH and BU, and they cost so much $. Utah State has been wonderful. Yes, you have to get exams proctored, but I do mine for free at my local library. Very easy to set up proctored exams. P.S.S. Congrats on Northeastern!

I found a great place right next to campus last week, and it's $300 cheaper a month than the rent I pay here, so I'm very pleased. And, get this, it has central air--I have NEVER heard of a house in New England with central air! Northampton was a close second: I love their downtown. I've been so spoiled living on the T and walkable to restaurants/bars/etc the past 7 years, I wanted a place that allowed me the same spoils in Amherst. I'll have my car, but prefer not to use it. We should get together for tea or something when you and your husband get into town! You know I'll be back at least 2 weekends a month to see my SO, so I'll still semi be around Boston. Are you guys moving out here this summer or Aug/Sept?

Thanks! I really wanted to stay in Boston (especially for MGH), but couldn't justify the costs so I'm going to UMass in Amherst instead. MGH's average of ~80k or so for school vs. UMass' average of ~20k for school made my choice easy...at least from a financial standpoint. The living costs are cheaper at UMass too. I will definitely be headed back to the Boston area after grad school though.

Boston is a great city! Don't stress; there are a lot of housing options out here. Craigslist is generally a good way to go. If you're going to MGH and will have a car, the northern suburbs of Boston are worth looking into (Malden/Everett--avoid Chelsea!): very short drive to campus, and cheaper housing. If you don't have a car, you can live on the subway orange line in Malden/Melrose, and it's 15 minutes to downtown Boston from there (or 10-12 minutes to North Station, where the free MGH shuttle picks up out front and can take you to campus). It doesn't hurt to check out housing in Charlestown near campus, but it's usually very expensive. There's really only 2 parts to Charlestown: the projects (AVOID) and the ritsy, historical part on the waterfront and near the MGH campus. But if you get roommates it might be doable!

For anyone moving to Boston: I'm headed out to western Mass. for grad school and am leaving behind a perfect job for a student. My boss would love to have another student work for her, so I'm posting on here in hopes that someone may be interested. The job: plan and do activities with seniors in a nursing home in Chelsea (you would need a car to get to this job, though buses do run from Wellington Station to the nursing home). The job is pretty simple, the pay is good, and it's a feel-good job: your goal is essentially to make people happy. I have really enjoyed working here, and it provided plenty of study time. Activities are done at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm and they last for about 2 hours. So the time between those activities (aka. 12-2, 4-6) is perfect for studying. The hours: I work 4-8pm Mon-Thurs, and 10-8 on Sundays (this works perfectly with my class schedule: class during the day, followed by work). However, these hours are flexible. My boss is very understanding about working around class schedules, so if you could only work some of these shifts, or are looking for alternate shifts, it would be worth discussing with her (9-4 Tues-Thurs may be opening up soon too). When: You're looking at a start date of sometime in June/July. If anyone is interested, please send me an e-mail/personal conversation on here. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

I currently live near Davis Square and took a couple of SLP courses at BU last summer, and my commute took me about an hour on the green and red lines. It may sound like a lot, but that hour gives you some incredible time to study. I got so much reading and homework done on the train that when I got home I could just relax for a while. So, in my opinion: don't see the commute as a period of wasted time. See it as constructive time. And it goes by so fast when you're studying. I was always surprised when I saw my stop coming up. For those nights you might be at campus really late: cabs are plentiful in that area, and the cost to get home isn't that bad.

Concerning the GRE: I had a lot of luck with the Kaplan vocab flash cards. You can find them for really cheap on Amazon.com. I just carried a handful of them with me where ever I went, and whenever I had a free moment I would study a word or two, with the goal of learning 20-30 new words a week. It worked out really well for me: so many of those words ended up being on the GRE test that I took. I knew the math section would be a crapshoot for me, so I aimed to get the highest score I could on the vocab/reading section. SOP: I've been professionally editing for 6 years, so I'm happy to help if I can!

Ditto ditto ditto! I went with the state school as well. I still haven't sent in my decline to MGH yet though. Does anyone know if there's a way to e-mail them with a decline instead of mailing that paper form? Or would that be in bad form?

Utah State offers all of their prereq courses every semester, including the summers. There is no set time for the lectures. They are posted so you can listen to them on your own time, so long as you meet homework/quiz deadlines. An important thing to know: you do have to have all of your exams proctored by a qualified official. I go to my local library to do this for free. For exams you usually get a 3-7 day window to take it with your proctor. I'm taking my final 2 prereq classes through them now and would definitely recommend them. I'm not a fan of online classes in general, but the professors at USU are very responsive and the lectures are well done--some professors even post MP3's of their lectures so folks can download them and listen on their ipods, etc., when it's more convenient. For more information on their online classes, check out their website: https://comd.usu.edu...negrad-overview I also found Brynne Davies, a postbacc advisor for these classes, to be very responsive and helpful: brynne.davies@usu.edu

My SO has never lived away from his family either. While I originally thought the same as you--that some distance and a new city would be healthy for him--I have learned that isn't always the case for everyone. Nothing will make him budge from this town and his family, and it is something I have come to terms with. I know that dating him means that I will forever live in this area with his family. Sometimes I have trouble with that since I've always been a wanderer. Now I will be going to school 2 hours away, and he will not be moving with me. Even though it's only 2 hours (and still in the same state!), my SO won't budge. And a good part of him is bitter that I did not choose to go to a school here instead. I hope in your case your SO is a little more open to it! But sometimes it's just a losing battle. Some people love new places, others freak out over the slightest change.