Lyra1960

I went to USU and did a 2nd BS and also got into the University of Iowa and several other schools. It's entirely possible that some individual professors and departments look down on certain programs, but I think that is also not unique to online schools. I know that locally, some undergrad programs have better and worse reputations than others and you'd be surprised which ones, it doesn't always correlate to rank/format. I think it's also really important to remember to consider how your 1st undergrad looks. I'm pretty sure that that is what got me into grad school not my 2nd BS which just allowed me to be qualified to enter as a first year grad student. If you have a very strong overall profile, I doubt just going to USU alone would immediately bar you from entry. However, if everything is a little mediocre, it's probably valuable information to know so that you can carefully consider if you really want to apply to it. In terms of preparation, I'm just finishing up my second year and feel well prepared compared to my fellow classmates. First off, almost everyone has no idea what to do when clinic starts unless she is an exception and have been doing something prior like teaching preschool for five years. Sure, in some areas, others are more knowledgeable, and in others areas I am because I just took the courses and it has been close to three years since my fellow classmates took it. I hope that helps a little.

You should contact the USU COMD department first to find out if it is possible. It might be completely possible to set up, but also it might not be. Sometimes courses listed as independent study can be misleading and are specifically designated for a particular situation in mind (ie thesis credits or research credits). I'd recommend checking first.

I agree it is ethically questionable to say yes to two schools fully knowing that you will not go to one. However, I don't think it is at all unethical to say yes to one school and then find out you got off a waitlist and tell the original school you are not going. Also, if you "say yes" and do not give a deposit (when required) the school simple will not consider it an official yes and will not hold your spot. I do not think it is right to say yes to two school that do not require a deposit for the sole reason that you cannot make up your mind before the deadline. At some point you will have to and it's not fair to other students. However, I do think that everyone has the right to take up to the deadline to decide. It is courteous to turn down a school when you know for sure that you will not accept the offer before the deadline, but if you are really not sure, I think you deserve all the time up to the deadline to make an informed decision without feeling pressured from either the school or other students.

Speaking from experience with one school, I think the worst that can really happen is that you lose the deposit. If you say yes and don't give a deposit when one is required most likely when the deposit is due the school will just look to see who has sent in the money and if you have said yes but not given any money, they will give your seat away. Departments understand this happens all the time and really don't think too much about it. They expect a number of people who say yes to back out even right up to the first day of class, hence the deposit. If you decide not to go and have given money, you're just out of luck with getting your money back. Can't speak for every single school, but in general, I think this is what happens. If you are really worried, I'd just call the school and ask for clarification on their policies. Don't be shy, it's a legitimate question, and I doubt programs would be offended. You don't even have to state your name, just say I am an accepted student and was wondering about you policy on...

I don't think so, but you should double check with your graduate program. Here is what ASHA posts and it says nothing about a lab. http://www.asha.org/Certification/2014-Speech-Language-Pathology-Certification-Standards/#Standard_IV http://www.asha.org/Certification/Course-Content-Areas-for-SLP-Standards/ Here is an example from a school on what they consider to meet the standards which specifically states they do not require a lab to consider that the requirement is met. http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/communicative-disorders/documents/StandardIV-AChangesandDeparmentRegulationsPDF.pdf ASHA ultimately grants your Cs but it is the graduate school who tells ASHA that you have met the requirements so it's really up to them and specific schools might vary in what they accept. For example this school states that it accepts AP credit for statistics, and I know that the school I am attending does not. So it's best to take each school on a case by case basis.

BIO 1010. Funny the COMD dept actually recommends it on their website for students to take, but I have found from personal experience that the COMD adviser for undergrads gives okay advice sometimes and very bad advice others. I double checked with my grad school and they said it would be accepted. If in doubt, I would double check with your graduate school since they are in charge of signing off on the ASHA requirement when you go to apply for your Cs, and USU really has nothing to do with it. Hope that helps!

I'm taking an online one at USU. It doesn't have a lab, but I was told it meets the ASHA requirements.

Agreed, not all programs are the same, but they do meet (haha or claim to meet during site visits) basic requirements. One example would be the number of clinical hours provided. ASHA requires 400 (25 obs and 375 clinical) hours. I know one very low ranked program (relative is a prof there) which can sometimes struggle to give students enough clinical hours (but they always manage to do so in the end) while many programs go well over (500-600 hours). This is NOT at all to say that every lower ranked program has trouble giving its students clinic time. Just one example of the point above. Another example of how programs differ could be how how supervises you on off site locations. Some schools have their own people supervise and some have the people at the site you are going do the supervision. I'm not arguing that there is direct correlation to such factors and ranking, but sometimes things like these can indirectly trickle down an impact opinion which is really all that the rankings seem to boil down to. I think its safe to say the rankings can mean something but not necessarily something good, bad, or even accurate. At the end of the day, any program that will lead to your C's should get you a job, so if that is ALL that you care about then they absolutely do not matter. However, when choosing a program they might be able to help you better approach how to ask questions relating to how much you will like the program/ how well you will fit in. For example, if a program is highly ranked then you know there is a higher probability it is more researched based and can ask about this aspect. If you like research this is great, but if you don't, you might be both more happy and successful at another program that is lower ranked.So, I think the rankings can be helpful not in telling you what program is better or worse, but by simple giving you a starting point from which you can delve deeper into a program to see if it is a good fit for your personally/learning style/personal goals within the SLP field. The one exception to this is indeed if you are thinking about pursuing a PhD. High rankings do tend to mean more research is being done and encouraged in students. Also, the academic world is vain and ranking (whether or not they should) matter. I think its worth noting too that at the graduate level, the overall school rankings / prestige mean pretty much nothing and are definitely weighed less in the field's eyes than program rankings. For example, if you are planning to pursue your PhD and you get into Columbia University and the University of Iowa, definitely go to Iowa unless there is some very very powerful outside factor drawing you away. And purely statistically, some very low programs can be much harder to get into due to numbers. For example, I applied to a higher ranked school which got around 250 apps and a local school with a much lower ranking had over 500 and both were looking for roughly the same class size. Of course you cannot calculate your odds based on number of apps and admits alone; you need factor in the strength of your own application. The overall types of applications received by the programs makes program competitiveness hard to compare among each other. However, no program is a safe bet these day, and I'm sure programs from number 1 to the bottom all admit some truly exceptional students. Hope that helps and I haven't ruffled too many feathers.

I visited. It was nice but too pricey for me. It's private, so in state and out of state tuition should be about the same unless I am mistaken. If you search northeastern in the search bar you can probably find a bunch of topics/comments relating to it. Also, I wouldn't let fear of moving to a different area hold me back. It's good to be practical (ie how will I acclimate to a new area given certain factors/ do I like cities?), but if it's just nerves I think you will find everyone welcoming almost any place you go as well as big adjustments to make even if you stay in state. Best of luck with your decision!

Yep, you must find your own proctor. USU has a website which should list all proctors in your area. If they do not have a proctor in your area or if they charge a fee then you can request a proctor you have found to be registered through USU. Usually they just have to be affiliated with some institution of learning (ex. library, school, university / just not a personal friend). Some people do say they have a hard time finding a proctor, but I never had any difficulty. Many libraries offer proctoring services for free or a marginal fee (5$), so I would start by searching the USU website to see if local librarians are listed or calling them if they are not and asking if they are willing become registered (it's quite an easy process for them). I also know a lot of students use proctorU. The upside is that you can schedule a test virtually whenever you want and don't have to worry about proctor availability. The downside is that they are pricey (around 25$ per test, depends on length of test and how far in advance you schedule). I have never used them, but it is another option.

You actually have a lot of flexibility with exams. I think all of mine have been open for a whole week during which time you can take them whenever you see fit (literally if you do it through proctorU you could take them on a Saturday at 4am if you wanted). I have a proctor through my local library, so I just email her a day or two ahead of time and drive right over when I'm ready.

Sorry, just wanted to check if you mean credits or classes? I think the usual credit load is if you want to finish in three semesters is 12,11, and 12 (4 classes each semester) not including any other classes you might want to take or need for ASHA. I agree, it's doable to work! I wouldn't recommend working full time honestly, but some people do. How much probably depends upon what type of work, how many credits you take, what type of learner you are.

Nope, haven't been to graduate school so can't speak from personal experience. This is coming from several family members who are professors in various fields, including one in SLP. Just to reiterate, I am not saying at all that masters PhD programs are superior to those without. All I am saying is, if one has a choice between two programs: one with and one without a PhD program AND is contemplating pursuing a PhD later, it is not a factor that should simply be ignored. I do agree that just knowing whether or not a program has a PhD program is pretty useless in itself. However, it is quite important when researching the program and should color the way one asks questions about it. For example, from everyone I have talked to in multiple fields the general consensus seems to be that departments with PhD programs TEND but, of course, do not always have more research going on, more fulltime (not adjunct) professors, a higher reputation, etc. These factors could be completely unimportant to someone who does not want to pursue a degree beyond a masters but can be very important to one who does and therefore should be looking into. If after one asks about these factors and finds them to be either untrue, not sufficient to outweigh the pros of the other school, or not relevant to their personal interest, then by all means choose the other school, but I feel that it is good to know all the same. One final comment. The family member who is a professor in an SLP program (lower ranked with no masters program) told me that over the years she has had many students apply to PhD programs. Some were successful and some were not. So it is entirely possible to be accepted into a PhD program without attending a school that has a PhD program. However, she also added that she felt like many of the students who did not get accepted deserved to be accepted and that the admissions committees were biased against them due to the low ranking program from which they came. Just food for thought. I am certainly not an expert and hope I haven't offended anyone. I just wanted to jump in because I felt like I was in a similar position as the original poster and wanted to add my two cents.

Respectfully, I disagree that not having a PhD program is unimportant. It certainly may not be a deal breaker, and you probably will be able to get into a PhD program without a going to a masters program that also has a PhD program, but it having a PhD program can have certain benefits (broader range of research opportunities, greater program quality not necessarily from a clinical perspective but from a research perspective especially for one who wants to pursue a PhD later on), so while it may not be a HUGE factor, it deserves at least some consideration. I am contemplating a pursuing a PhD (not completely decided, but leaning towards it). I also had to option of going to a much cheaper school if not free program versus a more expensive school with more research going on. In the end, I chose the more expensive school. I will try my hardest to get a graduate assistantship through the department or another if I can, but if not I will take out loans. I completely see how this might not be the right options for many people, but I felt like for me given the factors in play for me it was the right choice.

I think if you have the time to do volunteer/ field related work that it is great, but that it should not come at the cost of school work. Probably the number one most important things to focus on (just my opinion, other feel free to disagree) are getting good grades in your remaining classes and taking time to make sure you go into the GREs as prepared as possible. I honestly don't feel like it is essential to have speech related experience (of course it can help), but at almost all schools, it is essential to have good grades. I was also an English major and took the prereqs. I got two rejections, one waitlist, and eight acceptances. Just general tips, makes sure you start the application process early, be aware of all deadlines and leave room of other people's mistakes when planing to meet those deadlines (ie. a school forgets to send transcripts, not your fault but you still have to meet the deadlines), and asks for letters of rec early primarily from professors who can attest to you ability to succeed in graduate school.

Sure, glad I could help.

Do you mean applying to Utah State's masters program while completing prereqs? If so, then yes, I applied before all my prereqs were complete and was accepted with funding. I think they don't really care as long as you will have had they complete prior to the first day of class. Hope that helps : )

I think you have to distinguish between asking a prof to write individual letters for each school versus simply sending the same letter. I wouldn't request a lot of individualized letters, but simple sending the same letter to multiple schools these days is very simple especially if it is online. I think in general professors really understand that you need to apply to a lot of places especially for SLP and they went though the process themselves and are happy to send as many as you need as long as it is not an obscene amount (perhaps around over 20). Don't be afraid to ask, it is actually part of their job to provide (within reason) letters of recommendations for students they feel they can recommend. I applied to twelve and had three professors send twelve letters each. Two I knew quite well and one not so well (though an online program). I asked before hand, I'm am planning on applying to twelve school, would you be alright with sending that many letters? The worse they can say is no. All replied that they thought it was reasonable. As mentioned before, just make sure you ask early. It can also help to be clear about what you want (what strengths to you want them to focus on in the letter, it might feel uncomfortable but it actually makes it easier for them if they have guidance so they aren't searching for what to say if they don;t know you too well/ know the field). Give specific and easy directions on how to submit letters (a spread sheet is always nice), and just encase they are not online make sure to provide prestamped and addressed envelopes. Just my two cents.

Thank you Ruby too!

http://comd.usu.edu/htm/online-programs/communicative-disorders-2nd/admissions-comm-disorders-2nd Unless I'm not reading it correctly, the admissions deadline for summer is April 1 and for fall is June 1st. I was out of field too and started the summer of 2014 and will finish the this semester (spring 2015). I applied for masters programs starting Fall 2015 (having completed 2 semesters at USU-8 classes in total). I think it's fairly common if not the norm to apply before you finish your post bacc. I've had several acceptances and am very happy with how my journey towards becoming an SLP has gone so far. As long as you have the prereqs, schools really don't seem to care where you took them or how. I know some people are worried about how online classes are going to be viewed by grad schools, but based on my personal experience top ranked to bottom ranked grad school all treat them seriously. What is more important is doing well in them and your 1st bachelors+gres (very important it seems). Applying to USU is very easy and they accept pretty much anyone who has the minimum requirements (basically a bachelors I think), so if you wanted you could probably even squeeze in an application to start for the summer term. Lol grad school applications are a little (meaning a lot, a lot, a lot, more stressful!) Warning the application process is a nightmare, but once you get through it, it's very rewarding. Hope that helps a little. Sorry if I got anything wrong, probably if you call, they'd be happy to answer any questions. They online program is huge and big money maker for them, so I'm sure they're always looking for new students/ to promote it. edit: lol just read, they will even accept applications after the deadline, they just will charge an extra fee

I think you're completely right about the ranking, that was more of a personal view point that takes into consideration that research is a factor I probably consider more heavily than most. As mentioned above, I think it's a solid program. I guess essentially all programs theoretically SHOULD be really solid, even the lowest ranked program, because of the pretty stringent requirements ASHA has for accreditation. I think graduating from any program should give you pretty equal job placement opportunities based upon the fact all programs report almost 100% employment. Given that fact, I'd be completely lying to say there's not a bit of pure vanity in my wanting to go to a school that has a "high ranking". While I do think the rankings a rough but good idea of programs' strengths, the system used is pretty non scientific anyways. I'm pretty sure it just a survey sent out the professors, so it needs to be taken to a grain of salt. I'm from New Jersey, so I applied to a lot of programs on the east coast, but I'm actually leaning more towards programs further away. So far, I've gotten good news from Northeastern, UConn, Hofstra (NJ), and Montclair (NJ), Utah State University, and Purdue (IN). I'm pretty sure it's between USU (just finishing my post bacc there) and Purdue for me. Northeastern and Hofstra are just a little too big and expensive for me, and Montclair is a little too close to home lol. UConn seemed interesting, but they basically said there is no chance of funding for students (from the department at least, no idea about outside sources) and (just from my personal correspondence) haven't seemed overly receptive to visits (ie, no open houses for admitted students, I emailed the director and got a nice but kindof distracted type of response). Still, it's probably a great program for some, but I have good fortune of being able to be a little picky with programs. (The deeper I get into this process, the more I realized how lucky/spoiled I've been with being accepted. The first two responses I got were rejections, and I panicked, but since then it's been very rewarding). Haha, I think I'm so glad I had not idea how stressful this process was before I started it, else I might never have dared try to go through it. How about you? Wishing you the best!

Planning on applying, I wonder how competitive it is. And will def be looking into housing soon.

Just wanted to say I had a completely different experience with Utah State. I guess everyone has their own and is entitled to their own opinion, but in that spirit I just wanted to put that out there so there are multiple points of view. Compared to other schools they were very organized, said when to expect an interview and when to expect an answer. I got that from very few other schools. Also, I did not speak directly to them, but I did not get the impression they only look at the last 60 credits from all the material posted. They might emphasize it, but in the application and on the website it instructs to send all transcripts. I was certainly never encouraged to lie in my application process.

I was also at the open house and totally agree. Basically, my interpretation was that funding is very limited and will only be given out after the deadline for acceptance. It's basically merit based scholarships (around the top 25-30 percent can expect something), but they are given in credits. For example, they will wave five credits of tuition, so you don't have to pay for those credits. It sounds like even if you are the candidate with the highest scores/gres this is the best you can expect from the SLP department itself (don't know about other sources). As said above, she said they like spread the money around as opposed to giving a large sum to a few individuals, so I think if you are hoping for a complete or even significant scholarship, this is not the school for you. There are GA positions, but, as I understand, at Northeastern's SLP program, they do not give a tuition waiver and stipend as most do, ONLY a stipend. (She said something like SGA positions give tuition remission, but the department does not offer them.) As for only letting know students in the summer, I think this is actually pretty common, but some other schools certainly do a lot better with telling there students before the deadline. It is true though that many schools only let their departments know their budgets in the summer, so many don't like to commit before then. I had one school offer me a medium size scholarship and say there was a possibility of full tuition remission but they could not say for certain. My general impressions went like this: Pro: -UMMM it's in BOSTON -Building and Clinic are nice (though small clinician room) -overall nice atmosphere - relatively well know school with lower mid level ranking slp program (if you care about that stuff) - buddy system, paired with a second year student mentor, seems like a great idea to me! Cons: -Tuition, it's very high with not good prospects for funding -You need a car IN BOSTON ugh -application process: I got my admission very early, but some still haven't found out! they were very unapologetic about this and said it was basically random. I got lucky, but how can students plan to attend an open house when they don't even know they were admitted. I wouldn't. It just seems both lazy and insensitive on the department's part to me. -Cons for me (but not necessarily for others): -not very research based (only about 10% of students complete a thesis- and since tuition is by credit, you might have to pay more to complete a thesis) - a lot of adjunct teaching, she tried to view this as a positive aspect, saying that this way teachers were currently practicing, but for me it's negative - somewhat larger program from an SLP perspective -only 20 hours of onsite clinic time before being sent offsite, (pretty sure most schools do a lot more onsite first) To sum up: I think if you can afford it, it's seems like a solid program in a nice area. Can totally see who you could have a BLAST while getting a really solid education. For me, however, the cost of living and tuition with little prospect of really significant funding combined with it's lack of research cause me to cross it off my list. So glad I visited though, I can see how it could be a great choice for someone if its the right fit. Hope that helps people, just my personal impressions, please correct me if anything is wrong.

I'm out of state and don't think I can make it either, I'd really appreciate the input too!