queenleblanc

Start collecting bed bath and beyond coupons-they take them if they are expired, too! Love their stuff for decorating! :-)

I bought a new book sack- a timbuk2 commuter messenger bag! Waited until I got accepted last week to pull the trigger on that purchase. We are also super-psyched about moving, my hubby and cat included!

I don't put a lot of stock in rankings, but what I have looked at is the success of the program's graduates. Passing rates on the Praxis, employment rates, as well as students who have gone on to pursue PhD's because that is something I eventually want to do. I also looked at the course schedule / curriculum of each program, what topics and how much of each topic I'd be taking. I found some programs concentrated a bit more on school-ages than I probably want, because I want to eventually work in SNF, rehab center or hospital as opposed to a school, and also teach at the collegiate level once I get more experience in the field. I think that rankings may play some sort of role as far as PhD prestige, but in a master's program, I just don't think it matters as much. If you like the school, the philosophy, have a prof or three that could serve as an advisor for a potential thesis, and you have a gut feeling about a program (a "vibe," maybe) - the ranking becomes secondary or even tertiary as far as what priority it plays, because ASHA is SO super-detailed on how it accredits programs. If it's ASHA certified, it should be a very rigorous program regardless of rank by US news. Now, if ASHA came out with rankings, maybe I'd put more stock into them as a major consideration.

Check with your program coordinator to make sure the class counts -- there may be a "course equivalency" form to fill out which compares the course syllabus from one place to another. USU has the syllabus posted below the course listing so you can do just that. I would think that they'd be the same, but you should check before taking ANY class that fulfills a pre-req, just to make sure the material is what THEY want you to study. Sometimes a different course name has the right material, which is why they usually ask for the course description. Wish I could be of more help!

Appalachian State, UNC-Greensboro, USC all do a 2.5 to 3-year program for those coming in with no prior coursework. UNC-G prefers that you enroll as a non-degree student and do your courses ahead of time simply because there are so many, but they do reserve spots for students to start and matriculate with the following year's in-field entering class. ECU has an online pre-req program you must email Dr. Cox by March 1st (9am) if you want in, and if you get a spot she'll let you know to apply as a non-degree student which costs $70 just to apply, so don't apply unless she tells you that you got a spot). UNC-CH pretty much won't look at your application unless you have the majority if your pre-reqs completed by the time you apply due to the competitiveness of all of the applicants. So I'd load pre-reqs into the summer/fall if at all possible for an application to UNC-CH. Longwood U requires pre-reqs to apply as far as I know, but they also offer all of theirs online and apparently VA in-state rates are really good because out-of-state rates are about 630 per credit!

Attending: ECU (on campus) Declining: Western Carolina (with funding), Appalachian State U, not staying on wait-list for South Carolina or UNC-Greensboro. There is an ECU thread now, let's meet on that thread if you're going to be a Pirate! ARRRGH!!

LeLe, are you in the intro to audiology class this semester? I took A&P last fall, and took Lang dev & phonetics last summer. Have we been in classes together? I'm K.Caldwell, FYI. :-)

Longwood is strict about pre-reqs. Since you don't have A&P done, you can't take the intro to audiology class. Since you don't have audiology done, you can't take the speech science class. I've done all my pre-reqs with longwood up to this point, but this summer they don't offer the last 3 classes I need (aural rehab, artic dis, and neural processes), so I'm going elsewhere for them. If you can take one or two classes with the university you plan to attend - do that as a first choice. I'm taking aural rehab with ECU online this summer since I need it for their program which I'm entering this Fall. I am taking one of the other two classes (artic dis) with Utah State online as a non-degree student (free application online, very easy to set up), and the other class (neural processes) with University of Alaska at Anchorage (which I'm still working to get confirmed). USU and UAA do NOT charge out-of-state admission for the DE courses, thank goodness!! USU does offer all of the classes you need, I think. check their website here: https://comd.usu.edu/htm/distance-education/online-post-bachelors-degree/online-post-bach-courses

Yay, tuckerma!!! :-). Quite a choice in your acceptances now!

Since I don't have any in-state post-bacc programs, I chose to pursue just the leveling courses, aka, pre-requisites. I have ended up with more debt than I thought, simply because I didn't know where to start looking to take the pre-req courses for the least amount of money, and I stumbled into SLP late last spring, too late for the one in-state option I could have done- by the time I contacted the program to see if I could get into the classes, they had 140 on the waiting list so I had to look out of state. I was not on on these forums at the time and had to navigate it on my own, so I found Longwood U in Virginia, and each course with them out of state has been about 1900. Totally more than I wanted to spend, but I didn't know about many other options that would have been cheaper. You are in the right place! Here is what I have found that might help: Utah State. You can do the second bacc program, or you can apply as a non-degree student (free app) and just take the leveling classes required by the places you want to apply. Most programs have the list of pre-reqs they want, so it might be cheaper. It is around 800 a class, not too bad! Plus, it seems that most of the classes in the post-bacc program are available every semester, and I think you can take up to 5 at one time, which is awesome. You WILL need observation hours, even as an out-of-field student, some will make them up in the fall upon enrolling or in the summer prior, but most require them to be completed prior to enrolling in the fall. Some require observation hrs for course credit. USU is the only school I have found that offers obs hours for credit via the online method. I am lucky in that my program this fall requires the hours but they don't have to be for credit, so I can save the extra 5-600 that the credit would cost. It looks Ike exams have to be proctored. University of Alaska at Anchorage. They offer the specific pre-reqs that ECU requires, and these are similar to most other schools. Around 800 per course. Apply as a non-degree student (free app), and check the course sequence schedule, because not all classes are offered every semester. Vermont. Online program as well. They don't have all of the pre-reqs on the list for places I applied, but their program is one to consider. Longwood. Love the classes I have been taking, if you can swing the cost of out of state tuition. It is in Virginia. There are ways to get in state tuition but I cannot. Exams are usually on your honor, and some are even open book because the material is so extensive and the content being tested is vast. I have enjoyed my profs thus far, too. I mostly functions through blackboard, but it is totally self-driven learning. That freedom can be very good for some people. After three semesters, I am tiring of having to motivate myself with courses that don't have work due every day but with big assignments and tests, but that also has been great since I work full-time. The assignments we do cover a lot of material and content, so I do feel like I am learning what I need to know. I wouldn't suggest more than 2 courses per semester if you are also working full time. I would suggest making a spreadsheet of all of the schools you are interested in applying, what pre-reqs they require, and then apply to the programs that are the most affordable as far as the number of courses you take before, as well as the programs that you are willing to take what they require because you like them so much. I found that some programs do seem to focus more on school vs. medical, but you will get a well-rounded education in all programs. Look at faculty research interests, grant funding for research projects, how many semesters the program is, and the set up of your clinical hours. Some programs spread out the clinicals with the courses and you dive into clinicals right away. Others give you a semester to get settled in your coursework, then start on clinical rotation. The program where I am going this Fall. ECU, the entire last semester is the full-time internship with no other classes (except for the thesis option I am taking). Each program has similar course sequencing, but the load of the courses versus your internship might change your mind on the program. Some people coming from their undergrad in CSD might be totally ready to jump into a part-time internship the first semester, and I would not be. If you want the thesis option that most programs offer (some might require), check to see if there are profs that do what you think you are interested in writing about and researching. I have a list of about five topics right now simply because I wanted to start somewhere but I know the first semester of study will help me narrow that down). Some programs require comps (comprehensive exams) at the end. Some will let your passing the Praxis replace the comp requirement. Another thing to consider, if you are interested in not having the comp during your last semester. As you research, you will find several schools that may be more geared towards out of field students, in that their list of pre-reqs is not as long. Some programs want that heavy CSD background from an undergraduate degree so their list of pre-reqs is extensive. Some programs are three years for out of field students, so you don't take ANY before you apply, while others make you start the summer prior so you enter with the other in field students in the fall right on the same pace. Do look at the cost of the program. GAships might be available to help with cost at some universities, but how commonly are they awarded to SLP students is something to ask about. If you know you don't want the expensive program cost, take that into consideration when you choose where to apply. No sense in wasting an app fee if you wouldn't go if you got in, just my $0.02. It would be difficult for me to give you a list of schools to consider, but the places I applied are all in my signature below. Depending on your geographic preferences, you may want to look into them. Feel free to ask questions about any program in particular! Just in case no one else says this- make sure you only apply to ASHA certified programs. You can find out what programs are certified, what areas of research they have, etc, on ASHA.org and look for EdFind. You can search by state, online, offering a PhD, etc... Have fun, and good luck! Come back with questions! I wish I had found the grad cafe earlier last spring when I started on this journey. Hopefully someone else can learn something from my experiences!

Yeah, it hurt a little bit to turn down the WCU offer... but I do like the ECU program better, and since I own the house near there (dang mortgage!)... us moving back to the house will save us about $800-$1000 a month in savings that the scholarship / GA offer just couldn't touch (~24k over two years). I'm a numbers person, so I have spreadsheets for my logistical comparisons, and point values for the fit of the program (etc)... plus, since my hubby says he would be able to get a job in Asheville (about 1 hr from WCU) but not right there in Cullowhee, and I just do NOT want to commute an hour to campus... we knew what the choice needed to be! Plus, I'm already thinking ahead to the thesis and who my potential advisors can be... just fell in love with the ECU program from the get-go last spring. :-)

This is totally asinine. I have to take a few more pre-reqs this summer, and one of them (thank goodness) I will be able to take online with ECU (aural rehab) so I will have in-state rates (about $350 for the class in total, yay!) -- but to cut down on transcript fees in the future, I was hoping to find one university offering the other two classes I need. Fortunately, I CAN find two schools that offer the classes - USU for Artic and Alaska for Neural Processes of Language... but I really wish I could take both of those classes at one place, and USU doesn't offer the right neural processes class, and Alaska doesn't offer the artic class during the summer session!! UGH! So... in honor of the frustrations many of us have been experiencing with regards to applications, or even pre-req courses, here is a great youtube video worth a minute to help release the pressure. My "facebook" meme says: Dealing with frustrations on taking SLP pre-req classes that can't be taken all at one place... "AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT!" :-) enjoy!

Hey guys, My cousin is looking to apply to PA school in the upcoming application season and I'm looking to find out more information for her. She graduated from undergrad in PRTM and has been working at a SNF as an activities coordinator as she has been taking additional courses generally required for PA admission. Are there active discussion forums for people interested in grad school for PA ~ On here or on another site? She is interested in the schools that don't have quite as long of a list of science pre-reqs (I can't remember which ones), although she is willing to do the classes as part of the program if needed. She's primarily interested in staying in the southeastern US (SC, NC, GA, TN maybe). Any ideas for me to forward along to her? Thanks in advance!

Your time is coming jmarti!! Get on those wait-lists and start after the POI's to sway someone your way!! I definitely see you making it into one of the schools you will love. It's going to happen. I am in complete admiration of your courage to keep pushing on, thinking about making your application stronger, etc., in spite of the disappointments right now. To be totally serious, from what I see on last year's and the year before's forums, there are SO many people that got accepted in mid-April after the first cycle made their commitments. I will def. be praying for you!!!

Thanks! It was fairly easy to decide- the right fit for me. It is hard to believe i was able to get in at one of the two schools tied for my top choice, considering how many applicants there are to each of these programs! Another person posted that the distance Ed program at ECU got over 250 applicants. The campus program has gotten around 300 in the past; I never heard how many applications they got this year, but I am definitely grateful to have gotten one of those spots. It feels like I won the golden ticket from the old "Charlie and the chocolate factory" film. (Picturing grandpa dancing, right?)

I am headed to ECU this fall... On campus. Anyone else yet?

What a difference a week makes, right guys and gals? Last week this time many of us were still just waiting to hear something, anything. Now, a few of us have made decisions, many of you have tough decisions to make, and the question of funding is yet to be answered! I have to admit, I haven't seen much of jmarti in here lately so I am worried about her! I hope all you guys still waiting to hear will get much-deserved answers very soon. :-)

I was also highly interested in the neurogenic disorders research, as well as the aphasia lab. I like that they have a lot of different research labs and professors that really pursue research iseveral different areas. By-gones for now, but maybe I will eventually be back to looking at USC one day!

The results board is the one in grad cafe- where people post their admission results. There isn't a way to check ECU admissions status on a website as far as I know, but I could be wrong. Dr. Cox has been sending emails with the results.

I just declined my (funded) offer a few minutes ago- hopefully one of you can get it! Would have loved Western if I didn't have the house near ECU, and my hubby has to find a new job near school, so I wasn't too keen on living in Asheville and commuting that long to classes every day!

I own a townhouse near my grad school this fall (I am returning to it, thank goodness), but after school is over and we want to move again, we plan to contact a property management company and let them take care of finding a tenant and manage the repairs so we don't have to think about it once we move again. Since you will be so far away as the owner, it would be in your interests to have someone local to the house manage any repairs and advertise/walk-through potential tenants. Now, if you KNOW someone personally who wants to rent it, that's great, private rental may be better, but if you don't, the property management company can do all the legwork to do a background check on your tenants, etc. Just something to think about. I would start advertising around 60 to 45 days before you want to move and post the "availability date" in your advertisement. But that also will depend in your local market, so check with other rental listings to see when they are listed versus date available, that may give you some guidance to follow.

The only program posted in the results board as of this morning seems to be the DE program. Not sure about the campus program, though they did state March 15th notifications.... Maybe they will send out the rest of the on campus program notifications today? My situation was unique because I got accepted into both programs so they couldn't exactly hold back that info once I was told about getting into the DE program; that could be why I found out but not many others have. Edited to add, I also have not heard anyone mentioning they are in a wait list for either program, but the first wave of applicants notified have until April 15th to decide, so that may happen around mid-April, which is only my guess. Dr. Cox may be able to provide more answers if you haven't heard by next week.

Thanks for the UNC-G update! I was going to email just to find out and clear up the last application, but this definitely makes sense. I am secretly hoping someone else benefits by my turning down the wait list spot when they finally notify me.

For Appalachian State University, the response period is quick for first round of acceptances... They only have until March 22nd to respond. This bodes well for anyone wanting to go there, too!

People who got accepted this week have until April 15th to respond, after which they will be notifying anyone about open spots. I would think that the notification about April 16th communication is that those people are likely to get accepted but they are waiting for the first round to respond.