Jolie717

Cool - you're the only other veteran I've seen post here in the SLP forums - welcome! ? Many moons ago (ok 22 years ago, lol) I joined the Army Reserves - my MOS was 91 Delta - surgical tech. I (obviously) don't have any experience with post 9/11 status or Yellow Ribbon Program, but if you haven't already you should also look to see if you qualify as a "protected veteran." This status will qualify vets for preferential treatment/status for certain employment (including graduate teaching fellowships), college admission, and even significant tuition reduction in some states.

Nah - even interviews won't do it. Studies have shown that job interviews do not provide a good indication of how well an applicant does in a position. Interviews provide very superficial information about people - think about how well an introvert might do in a typical interview setting vs an extrovert. I think the universities do the best they can (for the most part) with the resources they have. I wouldn't be upset at someone who gets into a program over me based on stats alone, because there are so many other factors at play. I read an SOP that literally blew my mind for an applicant that had lower-end stats. This person also had amazing rapport and in-depth experience working with the faculty writing the letters of rec.

Yeah - housing is really crazy. My parents live in the SF Bay Area, and my dad was telling me about an article he read recently about Stanford students living out of their cars! Palo Alto is super pricey. I discussed it with my sister, and she knew a guy who was a part of a summer internship she completed at Stanford, and he lived in his car for the summer - and that was two decades ago!

That's good to know, however I am much more concerned with violent crime rather than property crime. The article you linked attributed a 6% increase in car thefts to this new ranking, at least in part. I had a brand new car stolen from me here in Los Angeles, and it was irritating, but honestly not that big a deal. And only a fool would steal my beloved but beat up 2003 Honda Element, lol. Seattle doesn't even make the top 100 list of cities with the highest violent crime rates. I live in an affluent neighborhood near UCLA in West Los Angeles - small 3 bedroom 2 bath homes (that need work) sell for well over a million. (We rent, ha ha - and thank God for rent control). That said, the homeless population has exploded here in recent years. Not three blocks from me, a homeless "tent city" of sorts has popped up. More tent cities are seen under all of the nearby freeway overpasses in our area. Once you get near downtown LA, and other areas in LA, they become even more commonplace. A young homeless couple was found "living" in my building's laundry room not too long ago, until our landlord put a lock on that door. My dog started barking like crazy at our side window one night, and my husband found a man with his bike and belongings entering our private backyard. Lock number two was installed, and beware of dog signs were put up. Sigh. It's sad really - there needs to be more shelters and more funding for these individuals, many of whom are mentally ill. I guess I can't really speak as to the drug problem in Seattle, or how it would affect me and my family. What is your (or your friends) experience? One of my younger brothers is moving there soon, so hopefully he can give some inside information. I will likely try to visit as well.

I'm also going to struggle making my final decision... As someone from Los Angeles however, the cost of living in Seattle is lower (especially with certain "off campus housing" opportunities - $1100 for a two bedroom apartment). Traffic is definitely worse in Los Angeles, the homeless population is much larger, and I'm fairly certain drug problems are more prevalent. San Diego is similar. The dilemma comes down to this, for me at least. How do you determine the true "value" of your SLP graduate education? You only get one shot at this for the most part - no "do-overs" lol. For example, will certain doors open that wouldn't have otherwise by going to a more expensive and more highly ranked / more prestigious university? Will my salary be higher if I train as a medical SLP (in a medical track program) than if I had studied elsewhere, and will it make up for the difference in the cost of the program? While I am not currently committed to pursuing a PhD or other doctorate degree, I might wish to do so in the future - how will my grad school choice influence my potential for acceptance into these programs? Additionally, the fact that it is impossible to predict finances and student debt throughout the duration of the program makes the decision especially difficult for me. What if I turn down a more expensive program due to a lack of initial funding, without realizing I would be qualified for a fellowship or significant aid in the second year of the program? Some of the scholarships I am applying for will not have final decisions made until late May or even June. But most programs want a decision by April 15th - how will this factor in for me? UW has not yet given the accepted students any financial aid info - they do have "recruitment scholarships" available for select students that they will email us about later (for the MedSLP students). This will be an important factor as well. I have read many forum posts that state that our profession is so in demand, that it doesn't matter what school you attend. This may be the case for many, but I don't buy it as a blanket statement of truth for all SLP majors. I intend to speak to some of my professors to get their take on my acceptances and what they think. Hopefully this will help me make my final decision!

Congrats on your acceptance that is "on the table." Sorry about your rejection to UW - but just think - you are going to study SLP where you are meant to study SLP. You will be where you are meant to be. I know that sounds silly and somewhat Zen, but I was accepted to the UW MedSLP program, and yet I doubt we (my family) can finance it. So bittersweet. Nobody on this forum should feel bad about a denial. Did you apply to Core or Med? Out-of-state might have an impact, but I am out-of-state as are others who have been accepted, so who knows? Honestly, no SLP major should beat themselves up about not being accepted to any program, no matter how high or low on the "list." We are a part of a VERY competitive major. More competitive than many majors that parents WISH their children chose, lol.

I would think 65 lbs is close enough to 50 lbs that you could get away with it - I've yet to see a dog scale in a leasing office! We also have a large dog, and I've looked closely at housing both in Portland and Eugene to figure out the pet-friendliness factor. We have a Great Dane, so we definitely can't fudge much, ha ha. I've found that larger apartment complexes with management companies tend to be less discriminating. That said, they are also more expensive too...

Northridge tends to finish reviewing applications later than the other Cal States. Last year they gave out answers during our Spring break - around April 9th or so. This year our break is earlier (March 19th - 27th), so I'm hoping we will hear earlier too.

I think being a NSSHLA member *can* be incredibly valuable, depending on what you take from it. I work part-time, am a mom who is actively volunteering in my sons' school, I shadow two SLPs, and have been a full-time student throughout my time in school. My campus, however, is a 30-40 minute drive from me, so given my lifestyle I was not able to be active on campus in any way other than my classes. What I have gained from NSSHLA is: an inside and current look into our field and A LOT of inspiration for my SOP and funding essays from The ASHA Leader, the ability to apply for scholarships only open to NSHHLA members, and the knowledge that I am helping to support our profession for both students and practitioners alike. I believe continuous membership also will save several hundred dollars down the line when we are getting our licensing - can't remember the specifics though. Did I put NSSHLA member on my apps / CV? Sure. I don't think it will be a deciding factor in admissions - but will it help me get to where I want to go? Most definitely.

Oh ok - I thought you were speaking specifically about certain schools, bcz I've seen many acceptances on our results page with overall GPAs well below 3.8.

I can't attend the open house either, but will try to do the "virtual" online part. Everyone I've spoken to and emailed has been super friendly - I'm sure they won't mind if you ask to speak to an advisor or professor. If you want PM me with your questions just in case I've already asked and received answers. And you don't have to respond to the acceptance - I'm sure they know we are waiting to hear about financial aid as well as other acceptances.

Which school are you referring to, with no acceptances under 3.8 ?

Congrats!

Congratulations! It's an amazing feeling, right?

Congratulations!!! If you remember to - pm me if you end up accepting and I'll do the same.

Just CSUN for me!

Nope. Best of luck to everyone interviewing though! (I hate interviews, lol).

I know someone who is interviewing on Friday at CSULB - apparently it's a group interview.

Here is the link for the CALP/CALT credentials: https://www.altaread.org/membership.asp (you don't need a master's in SPED, just a bachelor's from an accredited institution, no specific major listed)

You can do your FAFSA before taxes and edit any (hopefully minor) errors afterwards.

I too am anxious about funding! I'm waiting for info from the schools - already did my FAFSA and all. But I am also applying for scholarships, and have no idea when decisions are made! It's maddening! I wish all admission and financial aid decisions were made around the same time... Sigh. ?

PhDs are an entirely different animal. I believe most, if not all, are fully funded. It helps however if you bring your funding with you, so to speak. Then you get your pick of the best of the best. My father got his PhD in Physics at Stanford - fully funded with a stipend. Of course, he helped teach undergrad classes. My sister, on the other hand, won a Howard Hughes Fellowship. She was admitted to every PhD program she applied to - she deserved it, but the fact that she came with her own funding was highly attractive to all of the universities. She ended up at Harvard, for Genetics. Bottom line: all the more reason to go for a PhD in SLP (or something closely related) if you have it in you. And if you want the most options, try to get your own funding. ? Edited to add - oops was typing at the same time as above poster!

HUGE congratulations to you!!! See - it only takes one, right??? ???

I went for UW MedSLP due to my own background and interest in medicine. I was a surgical tech in the US Army Reserves, so TBI in veterans interests me. I am currently a Respiratory Therapist in the hospital setting, where many of my patients have suffered from anoxic brain injury, TBI, or stroke - along with a handful of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, paralysis and ALS patients. Plus acute respiratory failure ventilator-dependent folks. Mostly elderly/aging. I assist the SLPs with speech and swallow evaluations. Not sure where I will accept yet as I have to wait for all offers and financial aid info to boot! I applied to so few schools that each is my "top pick" for very different reasons. I'm finishing my undergrad at Cal State University Northridge right now. How do you like UW? Pros / cons? Best but least expensive areas to live for a small family? (Hubby, two boys, and a large dog, lol)! Thx and good luck!!!

I also applied to UW - probably won't get results until the second week of March or so, from what I gather. Did you apply for Med or Core? I think CSUN will be the latest school I will hear back from - I'm guessing late March to early April.