CO_SLP_Grad87

Plus I don't have to live in Greeley, I can always commute from a surrounding city

Thanks for the advice...I think I might have not been giving Northern an entirely fair comparision because I was so focused on Boulder. I'm sure they have some amazing facultly members and even if they don't have a go to Aphasia person, I can tell they have faculty that work with adults and do some interesting ressearch. I emailed the staff at Northern with my questions and asked to come visit campus. I emailed CU-Boulder earlier this week (before recieving the GA offer) with some questions and still haven't heard back. I know they are a little short staffed, but it's a bit concerning that it would take them this long to reply to an email. It's possible that the Northern faculty are a little more student focused because their time resources aren't as drained by other responsibilities, which is important to me. Graduating with 40,000-50,000 in debt is going to change my post-grad life and make me put on hold a lot of other things. Really great advice, I think I needed to hear it.... At the end of the day I am going to get out of a program what I put into it and there's no reason I can't land a dream job graduating from UNC.

I was thrown a bit of a curve ball earlier this week. After writing schools to decline their offer and inform them I had accepted at CU-Boulder, the University of Northern Colorado extended me a full-time graduate assistantship and stipend. I moved to Boulder hoping to be accepted at CU a year ago and have really fallen in love with the city, I've made great friends and feel like I want to spend the rest of my life here. That said, it's hard to pass up an offer to leave graduate school debt free...so the facts CU-Boulder -Funding undetermined. There is a possibility of getting a half-time TA or GA position, but you must apply and we were told the positions are very competitive. I have TA and GA experience, so I might have a leg up in the application. Either way I'll have to make a decision before I know. -I can keep my part-time job at the whole foods here to help with expenses -Nationally recognized faculty + research -Faculty whose research interests match mine (aphasia!) - Expensive, I'm looking at around 50,000 in loans if I receive no funding -At the open house I was impressed with their clinical placements and feel confident I would land my dream job graduating from this program UNC -Located in Greeley, a not-so-great farm town to live in -Fully funded, plus stipend = graduating loan free -I will land a job, likely a good one, because Im in the right field -I won't be as competitive of an applicant for the clinical placements and subsequently jobs I go after -I'm not sure if there are any faculty doing research in my area of interest. I've emailed them inquiring about this, but am waiting to hear back. I know in the moment my heart is stuck on Boulder, but I'm worried it's a decision I will regret two years out when I start making those loan payments...Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated!