queenleblanc

The masters program I am applying to is rarely funded- some scholarships and GA or RA opportunities exist, but not many. I am just going to get as many loans as I need to make it through. My undergrad and previous grad degrees are in music performance, and music Ed, respectively, so I am hoping to teach private flute lessons wherever I end up going, but I don't anticipate having much free time according to what I have heard from current students in my program. Your loans while you are fully enrolled are on deferred repayment, so you don't have to worry about repayment until you graduate plus six months, usually. I also am going to be pursuing part-time opportunities within music Ed / band adjunct instructing as well as retail gigs because let's be honest, I don't want to have to get loans for my groceries. My husband is pledging to move with me, so when he finds his full-time job, we will be able to pay the rest of our bills... We hope.

Keep in mind that teaching internationally is usually a two year commitment, and it may not be as easy to get in to certain places from year to year. Positions Teaching in Asia seems to be more readily found than Europe, so you may get lucky if you want s. Korea. Also, teaching in an American international school is different than teaching ESL in an international native school. Teaching in the American int'l school is highly competitive and they look for candidates with masters degrees in teaching or education. As far as the the IR part, I can't speak to that. I have been an educator for several years now, and looked seriously into teaching abroad a few years ago. However, I do believe that an experience like this can broaden your horizons, which may be appreciated by any future school in politics.

When I went to USC's info day in the fall, they said that when they send out admission offers, each candidate gets TEN DAYS to respond, and then they go to the waitlist. They only send out like 30 offers or something like that- the max they can enroll, and they fill each spot. There are only two programs in all of SC for SLP (USC and SC State), so I could imagine a lot of applicants. I think the program coordinator said they usually get 350 to 400 applications. The director, when asked, said that the first offers usually go to "the cream of the crop" and then they go down the list. I think I remember them doing a point system. So... even if you get waitlisted at first, you usually WILL hear something. Once all spots are full, they send out rejection notices.

Most universities have a file or web page attached to their admissions site where you can click on the application requirements. Some will specify on there whether an interview is part of it; some may not specify. You can always email / call the graduate coordinator for that program to find out if there are interviews, and if they have already contacted all possible candidates.

HA! I had the SAME thought! I'm hoping the competition isn't as crowded so that I can get a spot!!! ;-) I'm also waiting probably until the end of February for the earliest notifications, and that's if I even get one acceptance during the first cycle while "the cream of the crop" decides where they are going. Hopefully I will know something before the end of April as far as where I'm attending... but at this point, I'm just patiently waiting, obsessively checking email, and YES I did check the mailbox today, even though it is a federal holiday. Baseless wishes. :-/

I actually have been looking at the graduate handbooks for SLP at the universities where I applied. Almost all of them have a dress code spelled out, at least to some degree. I think most of them suggested business casual or better when around the clinic or anywhere that patients/clients might even have a chance to see you. I noticed on my visit to the University of South Carolina that scrubs were popular in the speech and hearing clinic. I would imagine that working with a younger client would suggest more comfortable clothing such as scrubs and solid-color shoes, while working with older clients would suggest perhaps the business casual dress. In coursework, it seems like the current grad students dressed like "put together undergrads" if you know what I mean. So... check to see if your prospective schools have a handbook, and you might be surprised about what it says!

Wow, Peru! I can't convince my husband to move much past NC, SC, or even the southern part of VA or the northern part of GA... and I kind of don't want to move too far from home either. That does sound like a great opportunity to work or teach abroad! From what I have heard, American-trained medical professionals in fields like SLP and others are in very high demand elsewhere. Thankfully there are limits on enrollment in the US so the market isn't flooded with SLP's... so I'm very hopeful that I'll be able to find a job after I (get accepted and then) graduate.

We have a bluetooth keyboard case for our iPad and we LOVE it. Highly recommended. Typing on the iPad screen is a bit frustrating, and this is easier (fewer typing errors, as well). I ordered it on amazon. Also look for a iPad stylus pen (don't pay more than $6) - we bought two for $5.99 and they come in handy for some apps and those times when you want to eat while using your iPad... :-) I'm also in need of a new messenger bag / laptop bag... my old one from undergrad years ago (2002!) is not big enough for my new laptop. :-( Planning to shop on Amazon. If you use a Discover card, you actually can access your cash back to purchase directly. I still have an old fashioned Sony mini-tape recorder with an external microphone. I figure I'll use that until I hear differently... might eventually switch to a computer-recorded device, maybe even a flip camera if I find the right price on something like that. As long as it has a jack for an external microphone (1/8" jack), I'm hoping it will be discrete enough to use for whatever purpose we will need! When I find the right messenger bag I'll post a link to what I end up buying! :-)

I have plainly told schools in my top picks that they are among my top choices ---- to me, that is different from going the extra step to tell them you'd accept the offer if given. I felt as though telling them they were one of my top choices helped my case because my program is very competitive and my grades from 7 years ago don't look as "hot" looking as the grades from the 2012 graduates fresh out of school. However, committing to accepting a potential offer of admission, and possibly later taking time to think about it looks unmatched and speaks something about your character to the adcomm - that you'd say whatever you need to say to get the offer. As far as part 1, I see no harm in letting them know that they are your one of your top picks. ETA: I meant to type "one of your top picks" rather than "first choice" because obviously you need to keep the ace in your hand. :-)

Whoever is interviewing you wants to know that you have put serious thought into your decision. Their feeling is that it might be a decision that requires more thought that just the span of time you have in an interview. I would express a high level of interest - speak to your desire to work in a specific area of research/focus, perhaps even suggest that there are a lot of positives for you to move to that area, to continue your studies in whatever program there... etc. I personally would keep away from basically handing them the blank check on your acceptance. Let them pursue you, too.

Those of you who got accepted to ECU ... on the banner application system, where do you look to see if they post an acceptance, etc? Do they post status online, or do you just have to wait to receive info via postal mail or email? According to the ECU website, supposedly they do have interviews for my program, but who knows if they actually do them or if they are just optional... anyway, any info you guys and gals could provide would be great!! Thanks in advance!

Yep, just as much as the ad comm wants to give you admission... they forward their recommendation to the people in charge of that. The graduate school as an entity offers the official decision, which starts rolling the ball in other ways- financial aid, assistantship details, scholarship stuff, housing info, student health, etc. Once the ad comm knows they want you, it is nice of them to tell you, although they certainly don't have to (and in many cases are not allowed to tell you; only the graduate school has that privilege). So you are IN if you get that communication from ad comm. The only thing that could be a problem is if your overall stats aren't at least the minimum according to the graduate school's individual standards, or they don't have an official transcript or whatever. Usually there aren't problems in this area because most graduate admissions offices are very thorough in vetting the applications before they are sent to committee. A lot of employers have this two-party check system: the manager makes the decision on who they recommend to be hired, but ultimately HR has to check credentials to make sure the potential employee meets the minimum standards for job requirements.

The only issue I would be concerned with as far as Penn State goes, is the accreditation piece that was mentioned. If they are at risk of losing it, I would not necessarily take the gamble of attending the institution. If there is no risk to their academic accreditation, as in, the "slap on the wrist" as far as the academia who helped to cover up the scandal but their actual teaching / structure is fine ... then it might be worth the risk IF the program / department is truly great. I also come from an undergrad and a previous graduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill. There was a scandal with the football team a few years ago regarding supposedly fake classes. I have a deep love and appreciation for that university. I actually took a class in the department that supposedly offered fake classes, and let me tell you, NOTHING about that class was fake. I was IN classes with basketball and football players who were ON SCHOLARSHIP, and nothing was fake about those classes. We studied in the same UG library, went to the same university writing center for help/advice, etc. My education was a challenge and I am proud of the GPA I worked my tail off to earn. So, my experience tells me that while there were some things going on that were wrong and academically despicable in a few VERY individual cases, that's not the experience of 99.99% of students at the university, undergraduate or otherwise. So, I applied for this graduate program as one of my top choices. I would absolutely be honored to get in. Perhaps that is another perspective to consider regarding Penn State, if you could see it from that view. Best of luck to those making decisions! I'm still waiting to hear back.

I know it sounds lame, but the last two times I applied for school- once for undergrad and once for my first graduate degree, my mom volunteered to do all of my fafsa stuff since it was their finances involved in it, so this is a first for me having to do the fafsa for my own school. We did it for my husband's masters degree program but that was via the schools instruction and timeline which was emailed to us once he was accepted. I wish all of this was a little bit easier! How about "we are both working now, but for school, I won't be working, so gimme money!" ;-)

Has anyone else already filled out the FAFSA and sent it to your prospective schools, or are you waiting to see where you get in? We are going to do our taxes probably in the next week or so, and then immediately start on the FAFSA ... I hope I'm not too far behind on it... from what I saw on my schools' websites, it didn't look like it was required beforehand. I double-checked on UNC-CH's site and it says to do FAFSA after admitted and not before. hmm....

I think you should try to observe a current TA teaching a course that you would likely end up teaching. That will give you an idea of what you might have to do as a TA, how to set up your lessons, etc. If TA'ing is not for you, it is okay to admit it and go somewhere else. If you are willing to give it a try, make sure you know what you're walking into; undergrads NEED labs that are taught by TA's who want to be there. In undergrad some years ago, i had the unfortunate experience of a lab taught by someone "made" to do it and they were absolutely terrible and I learned nothing, despite my willingness and desire to learn (it was economics).

I agree with jmarti- rankings are not the deciding factor for me. They are for some people, but since my husband is moving with me, location become a bigger factor than prestige. I do want a PhD one day, so I do have an idea of which schools I prefer over others if offered the chance to choose.

For me, location and being out of field. Location mattered a lot for me. I only applied in NC and. SC. I considered Armstrong Atlantic U in Savannah (near SC), U of Georgia, and James Madison as well but after the apps i already have listed in my signature, I had spent enough money.

Consider Occupational Therapy - there are many universities with OT programs set up for out-of-field people because OT classes are difficult to get at the undergrad level. UNC Chapel Hill for one, has a good program in OT. It's a great way to get into healthcare but not necessarily 'med' school in the traditional sense. I think the OT requirements for certification are now a clinical doctorate (which is an entry-level from bacc degree), but I can't remember for sure. That may depend on the licensing or certification requirements of your state / country. Many programs have an optional thesis. I'm going for Speech-Language Pathology which is a medical / educational professional field. The clinical masters is all that is required and a thesis is optional. Having a degree in PT, OT, or SLP will give you a chance to work in a hospital, rehab center, skilled nursing facility, clinic, etc... lots of options for employment. They are also very essential fields and aren't going to die. These fields are in very high demand. Because of increased interest, admissions is very competitive, but it sounds like you will have the grades to compete (minimum 3.0, suggested 3.5 or higher to get into top programs). Good luck with your decision process!!

Looks like Arizona State sent out interview invitations according to the results page! Congratulations to those who are one step closer to being accepted!

I almost didn't apply to one of mine because the website was in such poor shape. It really is the public face of the program for potential graduate students. I did end up applying, because I am pretty desperate to get in somewhere on my first round of applications, but I definitely hesitated on this one. Broken links all over the place, no info to be found on things that were standard on other university sites, etc. I chalked it up to the re-certification process and that they are probably editing the website. Just last week the website did work better and showed up in a google search. HA!

What's sad is that I already have one masters degree loans to pay for. I have made some headway on them the past 6 years but they will be in deferment when I go back to school full-time, AND I have gotten loans to pay for my post-bacc SLP classes. So I am just imagining how horrendously high the overall amount will be when I get out of just the MS. Whew! Thankfully my undergrad was in a full academic scholarship; otherwise I would be up a creek without a paddle!

I am interested in a doctorate... I am undecided if I want to go with the research or the clinical doctorate. I am leaning heavily towards research. I am very interested in TBI or neurogenic disorders at the moment but that could change. I am out of field, so I definitely want to get the clinical masters and some experience before jumping into the doctoral program. Hoping for a GA or RA during my time as a masters student. RA would be ideal of course, because I may have a chance to work with a prof who could be a good advisor or recommender. I applied at two universities for my masters where they also have a PhD program that I REALLY like- USC and ECU. Part of me thought that if I would like their doctorate, maybe I would be even better prepared by doing the masters program with them. But... I also figured I would apply elsewhere, to increase the likelihood of acceptance, and to give me some other options at higher ranked places, or even a smaller cohort of students so I can get more individualized attention... We will see!! Thinking about getting through my CFY, maybe another two to three years of work after that to make some headway on the student loans, but then want to go back. I had a prof who did her PhD with Nova and was able to work through the process... I might be looking into that because by that time we will probably want to start having kids. I am already nearing 29 and not getting any younger! If not that, we are going to try to move to be close to Columbia SC OR Greenville NC. And I will just apply to them and we will start our family there. I have been talking with my post-back SLP program professors about preparing for grad school as well as preparing for a possible PhD application, and the best thing I heard so far is this: start looking at what research is being done. Read through some programs thesis listings. If you see a topic of interest, start reading their papers. That's my plan... Hopefully this summer while I still have online access to the Longwood Univ. library. :-)

^^^ like. I am glad that the Saturday delivery is going on at least for now. I heard a blip about that on the news and because I was mentally gone after the headline, I didn't wait to hear the particulars. Haha! I checked the mailbox today, and nothing.... Not even a bill. I think that is something like cruel and unusual punishment!! Today was the app deadline for two of my schools (Appalachian State and Western Carolina U) and the last app deadline to wait for. I double checked even yesterday (or maybe forty-checked?) that all my application materials for them said "complete." :-)

I up-voted it to clear it out. Oh, and btw, on my apps, the only ones that are easy to find a status are the apply-web ones. The ECU banner system app doesn't seem to indicate a place wher the app status might be updated or even listed at all. UNCG's app system seems like it might have a place but all it keeps saying is submission status submitted. Unsure if that status will ever change or if I just have to wait to get a letter in the mail. :-/. I wish schools would be more consistent. It's not like grad school application software should be rocket science... Pardon the expression...