Kate22192

I'm interested in graduating and getting a job in NJ as soon as possible as I'm likely staying in this state long-term. Moving out of state for school would delay that. Also, I have several doctors in-state that I see for medical conditions so it'd be a huge hassle trying to get to-and-fro.

No, I do live at home. With my family. But no one is near any of the NJ universities. All an hour and a half away or more.

That's a good idea, thank you. Hopefully some Jersey schools will tell me ASAP if I can get a graduate assistant position. My concern is getting a few acceptances and having no clue how to determine cost if I don't know which schools I did or did not get an assistant position with. I've considered moving but I just don't think it's in the cards. My whole family is here and I'm in a serious relationship that I really do not want to put on hold while I'm down south, and he absolutely cannot move out of state.

Hey everyone, I'm feeling very disheartened. Planning on applying to NJ master's programs this fall/winter. I have thus far taken 4 online pre-reqs and am taking two more this fall. My frustration no matter how I look at it is this....MONEY. I'm staying in NJ for a number of reasons. Schools range from in the 40k region to upwards of 90k. I guess I can see taking out loans for tuition if I cannot get a GA or TA position. Even that feels horrendous, though, being 24 now and having paid off 55k in undergrad loans just to do it again. My bigger concern is housing. HOW do you afford it? By this time next year, I could theoretically save around 20k. In NJ, there's no way that is enough for 2 years of apartment rent and food, even if I have a roommate. I simply refuse to take out loans to afford rent somewhere. So how do you do it??? I guess if I fail to get a GA or TA position, I could always work somewhere part time to pay rent. Otherwise, no clue. Also, can anyone suggest, would it be best to wait until I finish fall classes (December), get my grades, then send in all my appplications? I'm concerned because I've heard sending early offers a better shot at GA or TA positions but I'm hesitant to apply without having completed my 6 pre-reqs yet. Any advice seriously appreciated. Kate

Interesting. Thanks so much for this response. I didn't even realize the proctoring part. Does it have to be university testing centers?? For my USU courses, I've been using a proctor through my local library. I don't even know the closest test center to me; I live in the middle of nowhere hahaha. I'm wondering if the USU courses might just be a better idea. I'm used to their format and would know what to expect. I guess the biggest thing to consider is do I want to spend over $2000 instead of about $1200. That $800 difference is pretty darn big.

I'm looking into courses to fulfill ASHA's science pre-reqs but I'm very confused and frustrated. Ideally I'd like to take both bio and physics (or chem) at the same online school. My question is, without the option of a county college as mine does not offer these courses online, does anyone have opinions on self-paced courses? At this point, since I'm already doing pre-reqs at USU, I'm inclined to take bio and chem there. I was just really hoping to NOT spend $2000 on these courses. I know there are options like BYU's courses for about $600 each, but the self-pacing scares me. It looks like SO much material, and given that you have a YEAR to complete it? Anyone have thoughts or experience?

Hey everyone, After taking prereqs, I plan on applying to a Master's program this fall. However, I'd like to sign up for my ASHA science courses for the spring while I await school decisions. I already took plenty of social/behavioral sciences and statistics in undergrad, so I have my other two sciences to take. Does anyone know easy, cheap places to take these courses? Ideally for biological sciences, I'd like something like Anatomy and for physical sciences, perhaps physics rather than chemistry. I'd like a list of some potentials now so I can contact schools I'm applying to and see if they'd accept them. Thanks! Kate

Hi everyone, I'm currently taking classes at Utah State University online as a non-degree seeking student to hopefully apply for a Master's program this fall. My question is this: a few of the schools I'm applying to are asking for courses USU does not offer. Does anyone know an online program that allows you to take these as stand-alones? 1. Neurophysiology (or neuroscience, neuro bases of communication, etc) 2. Introduction to speech/language/hearing disorders (or communicative disorders).... (evidently USU's COMD 3120 does not count for this) 3. Introduction to Language Development (somehow COMD 2500 did not count for this for one school...) Thank you in advance! Kate

This is what my account currently looks like...

Ah! I'm confused. I did select non-degree seeking, but the app is still having me now select either COMD 1st bachelors or 2nd....so confused! :(

That sounds doable! Okay, great. One other question, if you don't mind. This site: http://comd.usu.edu/htm/online-programs/non-degree-seeking/admissions-non-degree indicates that the application process is quick and easy. I'm finding I'm being made to fill out a lengthy application. Is this correct? Plus. this application has me select an "Academic program." COMD 1st bachelors and COMD 2nd bachelors are listed, but not non-degree seeking. I just put second bachelors...

Too true. Speaking of, how much work would you say you did/do per week in the prereq courses? I work full time so plan on two per semester (spring, summer, fall, then applying next fall) and I'm anxious about how much work it might be..

Darn. I remember someone saying it was 800 something. According to the PDF, online undergrad courses are currently $299 per credit, so it'll be $900 each...

Really? Then, living in NJ, I imagine I have to register out of state. What difference does it make if the classes are online though...? And there's a ramification if you register in state when you live out of state? How odd! And Crimson, thank you for that info. That is indeed annoying, but it makes more sense now anyhow.

Thanks for the info! Maybe I'll just take 3400 to cover so my bases... What do you mean by in state or out of state though? Do the online classes made that distinction? I thought all the USU speech classes online were given in state tuition.

Hi everyone, I have a few questions as I begin the process of taking pre-req courses. I'm going to be taking two this spring, as a non-degree seeking student at USU. My questions are as follows: 1) I know registration starts Nov. 20th. From experience, is it best to register RIGHT away or do I have some leeway? Also, are there sections with different professors like most college courses? 2) Does anyone know if you can take USU courses if you haven't done all their pre-reqs? Specifically, it seems like NONE of my schools I'll be applying to require COMD 3400, but they do require ones (like COMD 3700) where COMD 3400 is a pre-req. Any way to get around this? Thanks a bunch, everyone! Kate

Hello everyone! In the process of asking schools if potential courses I am looking to take online at Utah State match with their required prereqs, I am running into a few problems. Specifically, a course on "Neuro bases of communication" and "introduction to language disorders." I would like to take most classes at USU. However, does anyone know other online schools with those two courses where I could sign up the same way as USU and just take the two I need rather than a full program? Then you! Kate

Ah, good to know. What about courses such as "introduction to speech/hearing/language disorders" or "disorders of speech and vocal production"? Does anyone know of other online options where I could take these courses? Thank you!

Hi all, I'm currently looking at USU prereq courses and trying to match them with prereqs required by schools I'll be applying to. A few schools ask for a course like "Neurophysiological Bases of Communication" and I cannot figure out which USU course would cover this.... Any ideas? Thank you!

Ahhh, this makes more sense. I can see people would do a full post-bacc to increase chances of acceptance. Honestly, though, the time and cost associated with it just seems silly to me. I'll be applying to NJ schools for in-state tuition (and to be near my fam/friends), and most want UP TO 18 credits of pre-reqs. That's 6 courses. Ridiculous to do a full second degree when I can just take those six! And as for a list of science pre-reqs at USU, I'd totally love to see that, too...

Also, as another question, why do some people even decide to DO a full post-bac or a second bachelor's? At least when it comes to Jersey schools, they largely want from 5-8 pre-reqs, or up to 18 credits (6 classes at 3 credits each). What's the point of spending so much money and time on a full post-bac or second bachelor's when I can just take 6 classes instead?

Hi everyone, Thank you all so much for replying! It sounds like I need to go ahead and call or email all my prospective schools to find out what they recommend with regards to ASHA pre-reqs. Like I've said before, I want to continue working full-time while doing my pre-reqs and I do not want to start doing any before I largely eliminate my undergrad debt, so next spring is the earliest. With regards to ASHA pre-reqs, do you all know any acceptable science courses online? (does USU offer them...?) I'm hoping my AP bio credit counts, but if not, I'll need a bio course and then the physics/chem course as well. It's interesting that some of you indicate a school would accept me more willingly without SLP pre-reqs done, but NOT with ASHA pre-reqs. Does anyone know why that is? I'm specifically thinking about Seton Hall (which I likely won't attend, it's so expensive...), but their admissions page does indicate they'd like all the ASHA stuff done beforehand. I wonder if they'd still accept though...

Hi, friends! Still in the preliminary works of grad school, but I've put together a haphazard little timeline, and was looking for someone to validate it and confirm it makes sense! so, I'm applying to mostly NJ schools. For the most part, it seems they require anywhere from ABOUT 5-8 pre-reqs, around 18 credits. I'm still paying off a lot of undergrad debt, but will finish around this time next year. SO, my plan is as follows. 1. Spring 2016- Take 2 courses in USU's non-degree seeking program. 2. Summer 2016- Take 2 more courses! 3. Fall 2016- Take 2 more courses, for a total of six 4. Winter 2016/17- APPLY TO MY SCHOOLS! Depending on acceptances, take another couple of pre-req courses if needed before matriculation 5. Summer 2017- Take an online, or local, physics course. I have all my other ASHA requirements done, ASSUMING schools take my credit from AP Bio, listed as LL SCI (or something of the sort) on my transcript. Sooo....does that sound reasonable? also, I have questions!! 1. Do you HAVE to do a full post-back at USU, or just select classes as a non-degree seeking student? If the latter, do you actually need to get "accepted" or you just kind of....sign up? 2. It seems like one Jersey school, Seton Hall, wants all the ASHA stuff done beforehand. Any idea if they would accept a student without one of those (physics or chem, in my case), and allow the student to do it the summer before? Thank you all so much! Everyone on this site has been so incredibly helpful giving me advice so far Kate

You make a good point. I was considering getting my MSW for a while but ended up thinking...honestly, where is the payoff? To end up in mental health or likely a closely related field, making little money, with the same amount of high loans and with SIGNIFICANTLY more burnout. Versus something like SLP, with generally much better pay/room to move around and not the crazy amount of burnout I see all my MSW or MA in counseling friends have..

Well, guys, this is WITHOUT the grad degree. I'm saying, in about a year from now, I'll have that 23k paid off, assuming I'm still paying at the rate I currently am. Basically, I'll be 24 at that time and where I live is......difficult. Middle of nowhere, socialization is incredibly hard, and it's not a very happy situation. If I move out about a year from now with a roommate, I can manage to pay that 6k-10k that the post-bac classes will cost while continuing to pay rent. The STRUGGLE, then, is what grad school will do to me; and everyone else, I suppose. I currently make 39k before taxes. It's just such a difficult concept to consider taking out another potentially 50k or so in loans, and assuming I'm not working during the Masters, at least 20k or so more just to afford housing. Meaning, even though I only make 38k now, to graduate making maybe in the 50s (school setting) with.....70 thousand dollars in debt.