MonicaSLP

Trying to remember everything I took at USU and how it was - phonetics - Great instructor (SM-D). A little quirky but passionate. Open book exams, relevant homework and readings. I liked it. language science - Same instructor as phonetics (SM-D). Also open book exams. Lectures were very helpful as she would work through questions similar to the homework assignments, so you can do examples then follow along with her work to check. One seriously annoying group project, or maybe I was just stuck with a bad group - but group projects do not translate well to online classes. anatomy of hearing (AP) - The fist section was acoustics and I was thrown by the sciency aspects of it, but did ok. After the first test was straight anatomy, and it was my first anatomy class, so I was frustrated by all the straight memorization at first, but once I got into a rhythm with it and learned how to learn it it was fine. She was informative but a bit dry. I don't think I touched the book at all - all lecture based. audiology (HJ) - very straight forward. didn't use the book. Lectures were given in understandable language and didn't presume that you had any other knowledge, which is nice. anatomy of speech - team taught by 2 TAs (CM and SS). One was better than the other, but both seemed flustered at times. I didn't like how it was taught, but since again, it was straight anatomy memorization, it's all in how you take your notes and prepare. speech science (CD)- this guy loves what he does, but is oddly monotone with an interesting sense of humor. Very, very smart guy, and knows how to relay his knowledge. Tough tests, but very doable if you work. bio (VR) - thought I would hate it, but I love it. She has lots of passion and is very approachable. chem (DF)- hate it. can't say enough terrible things about it. I honestly haven't learned a thing. My grade is fine, because he uses quiz questions on the exam, so I've seen most of them before. All of the other classes, even the ones I didn't love, I say are worth taking. Not this. Look elsewhere. I took stats at a local community college because USU required a test first, and once I took the test they had no more spots for me. And I'm taking observation and methods elsewhere because my grad program doesn't think that USU one covers what we need to know.

2500 was definitely underwhelming, which is too bad given that it's the first thing most people take. I think partially it's the nature of online, though that was probably the worst of them - busy work, time consuming assignments that didn't make you think, dry lectures read from an outline. The other classes were also a lot of straight memorization, but at least I felt like I was learning something, and the professors seemed interested in the topic.

USU Biol1010 with Vicki Rosen. The weekly lectures are usually an hour sometimes up to 2 hours. There is a quick 3 question quiz each week based on the lecture. There is an somewhat annoying homework assignment each week that takes about an hour - mostly based on the lecture, some from the text book. 4 proctored tests including a comprehensive final - shes drops your lowest (non-final) test score. Tests are based completely on lectures - take very good notes during the lecture, organize them based on the lecture objectives or study guide and study right from your own notes. Not bad at all, and I hate science. No labs. She's flexible if you need an assignment or test opened early.

I did. She did not know me personally at all, but I took 2 of her classes and got As in both. She gave me a list of things to send her and a list of schools I was applying to with their deadlines. She did it all very quickly. I didn't see the letter, but I got in everywhere so it couldn't have hurt. I also sent her my resume (career change), essay, and linkedin profile so she could see other recommendations I've been given. I only did it because I had no other academic recommended - my others were an SLP I observed with and my former boss (out of field).

I'm very happy with my bio class online through USU. I HATE my chem class through USU. I took statistics at a community college online (USU offers it, but you need to take a placement exam and by the time I took care of that I got locked out of the class itself). Don't volunteer to impress, volunteer to expand your interests and experiences. I'm a career changer and had no specific volunteer experience. If you have the time just do what you enjoy and what you'd like to learn.

Since this thread popped back up - I mentioned earlier the USU one. I HATE it. It is AWFUL. There have been classes along the way that weren't great, but this is seriously a huge mistake. The professor is DF - if there's a different professor to choose, go for it, but this one is awful.

I applied with only 5 classes complete - 2 from the summer and 3 from the fall. (I'm a returning student, out of field). I took 3 more in the spring and 3 more in the summer, finishing everything I needed including the ASHA requirements. As long as you can detailed a plan for them of how you plan on finishing everything in time you should be good. I guess it depends on the school, but none of mine questioned why I only had 5 complete.

I've been out of school for longer than you, and also studied theatre and also media. I didn't do USU full time, but I did up to 3 classes at a time. I have kids so I only was able to dedicate 2 full days a week to classes (meaning, at least 9-5, kids in daycare). 3 classes in 2 days was absolutely do-able if I really focused throughout the day and treated it like a full time desk job. On rare occasion I would take a couple of hours on the nights on weekends, usually just before an exam to study, but the actual work didn't need much more than my allotted time. If I had additional days of daycare it would have been completely reasonable to take a full course load. Most of their classes really guide you through the material - with study guides, and most material coming from lectures rather than reading. I learned to take really good notes and for most classes studies from them more than the book, and I got the 4.0 that I also really needed. I was VERY nervous about online classes, but it ended up being an excellent choice.

I also graduated in 2000, but with a low 3. Got my 4.0 at USU and a decent GRE. Got in everywhere I applied (also couldn't move). Have a KILLER essay and references - assuming you have a good amount of work experience there's a lot those references can say about you that grades cannot. Try to make a connection at the school (see the thread not getting in and then getting in. It might take a nudge to remind them to look more heavily at your other attributes. Even call the schools before applying and be straight forward, asking what would be helpful - extra observations, volunteering etc. I have been a much better student this time around, and the stakes are different when you make a major life change and your work ethic is different. Good luck! It's not easy, but very worth it!

I took it last semester. Print the study guide. For his lectures, each is fairly brief and really only covers 1-2 topics. Find the study guide questions that relate to the lecture you're watching and take notes under each study guide point. Write the explanations in your own words after each brief lecture, because it seems like more information than it actually is, and if you move on to the next video you'll get overwhelmed with info. So basically, one video and the corresponding study guide points at a time. Understand it before you move on, or it'll be too easy to get lost. You have to understand each concept and not just memorize definitions because of the way he writes the tests. After you do that for each unit, when you go to study you should have a very thorough study guide, and shouldn't need to re-watch videos unless there's something specific you need help with. If you can look at a blank copy of the study guide and thorough explanations from your head, you should be ok. If there's something you don't understand, he's good at answering discussion board questions. Good luck!

I'm taking one at USU online right now. No lab. I'm not really a fan of the class at all, but it gets the job done. I don't know if it's too late to register.

I didn't take either of those, but KF also taught 2500, correct? If so, not a fan. I wanted to like that class because I was excited to learn more about the field and get my first real intro into it, but she was so dry and had no passion. I started questioning my overall decision because this class gave me no spark at all, and I was hoping it would help gear me up and get me excited for this long journey...

Sorry....right there with you but with difference classes. I've done USU's classes too, but not their full program. Audiology is an easy A. The info is completely fed to you via the lectures - if you have time, work ahead in the class This class doesn't require deeper understanding like speech science does. Watch lecture, take good notes, and do as many "weeks" worth as you can in a week and take exams early. Get this one out of the way. I had a love hate relationship with speech science, but work those study guides. If you understand everything in there, you've got your A. Watch his lecture with the study guide in hand so you can kind of fill in the answers as you go and then study from that. The exams are well written and make you think and apply the knowledge. As for his quizzes - busy work. Don't read the chapter - the questions go in order of the textbook section. Scan for the answers - the wording the the same and doesn't make you think. Nothing in the quizzes is on the exam unless it's in the lecture. I like the projects because they helped reinforce the lecture material. This summer I'm doing clinical methods at another school which I'm looking forward to (just started today). And bio101 and chem101 which are making me angry, bitter, and lazy for a million reasons. i also feel like I'm about to earn my first non-A's.

Happened to me undergrad. Got rejected from my first choice. I called the school, talked to a a few people, resubmitted a new essay, and I got in.

I was also mass comm undergrad and have 2 kids, and just finished USU classes. I found them easier than I thought they would be, but I did dedicate 2 full days a week (kids in school) and some extra weekend studying when needed. That was for 3 classes a semester. They are well organized, and to some extent I feel like they feed you the answers. So much is multiple choice, and many tests are based strictly on lectures. I didn't do much reading. BUT I was told by one highly ranked grad program they they are becoming disenchanted with USU and that the students who come from there aren't as prepared as others. So now I'm nervous about starting my grad program :/