jmk

I would ask more specific questions than your stats. 
Ex: What was your average GPA of accepted applicants past cycles?
Do you have a GRE minimum or cut-off?
What was your acceptance rate for the last cycle?
Do you place more weight on cumulative or last 60 GPA? 
I have found programs to be pretty responsive to the above. Some programs give more generic answers, and some list the above on their website. 
Armed with GPA and GRE of the last cycle, you can more adequately assess if you match with the school's stats. Obviously each year the applicant pool is a bit different, but if a school states that their average GPA of accepted students was a 3.8, and I have a 3.55 GPA, I am not going to apply as personally, I feel that my chances would be pretty slim. 

If you aren't planning to settle down right after grad school, and spend a few years working full-time with contract on the side, I'm sure you could pay it off pretty quickly. Something that hopefully should calm your debt fears a bit is remembering why you were drawn to SLP and your educational investment will bring you years of career stability and pleasure. Someone who was doing SLP "just because" and taking out 90k in loans seems more a cause for concern, particularly if they realize they want to go back to school two years into the profession. 
 
(for myself) I am limiting grad debt as much as possible as shortly after grad school I would like to buy a house, have a child, and work part-time (or in a school district.) If I only plan on making 60k/year after taxes tops, I won't attend a 90k program. 
 
Thus, if you are drawn to career goals, 90k in debt isn't too shabby if you're making 90k/year in a mainstream city after taxes. You'll be debt free in seven, eight years depending on other aspects of your budget. 
 
Meanwhile, if you are not drawn to career goals and only plan on working part-time, I would be quite concerned about that sort of debt load. Fulfilling your educational dream is awesome, but not when it comes to wrecking your future finances for the next twenty years. Also, if you creep into the 100k/over debt bracket, that seems quite the stretch for the $$ that SLP makes. 

I'm not sure which you qualify for, but DeVos is proposing an end to loan forgiveness programs as part of her education cuts.  I strongly urge everyone here to write their representatives in protest of these potentially disastrous cuts.  It's a disgrace, honestly. 

I think its $20 or 25 for a year. Basically, it's a bunch of therapy sessions video recorded. Mainly pediatrics focused. Some schools (like my undergrad) have students watch videos on it, and then comment, so you have a lot of input from other students RE the session in the comments spot for each video. Usually the clinicians talk about their sessions and tactics in the end of the video. I found it to be helpful! 

I was thinking (in all my potential free time post-grad...)
1. Learning some Spanish
2. Refreshing anatomy and phonetics and diagnostics material
3. Watching more clips on MasterClinican 
4. Potentially (long stretch here, though) volunteering again at the pediatric clinic or hospital I was at before 
5. Maybe reading some cool TBI/brain books
6. Buying some therapy materials at Lakeshore when coupons are out (I work w kiddos, so double purpose)

This is my second time going to grad school (first time was in a different field). The first time around I chose to self-disclose my chronic illness to my advisor/professor because I thought it would be good for them to know "just in case." I thought it was smart to be as open as possible. Unfortunately there is a stigma associated with my condition and telling my advisor about my illness was the worst decision I made in grad school. They told me I may not be able to continue because my condition was a liability. I had to get documentation from my doctor, and I finished the program successfully but it was harder because I self-disclosed and the professors made me jump through extra hoops.
This time around, I am going to go through the disability office and make sure I have protections in place before I share my disability with a professor again. If you go through the disability services office, they will give you a letter stating your accommodations, but the letter does not share your diagnoses. It is up to you how much information you want to give the professors in addition to the letters.
Maybe I just had bad luck, but I thought I should share my experience. I'm not saying it's smart to "hide" your disability, but I think it's good to make sure you are registered with disability services (or whatever it may be called) BEFORE sharing anything. 
I know I will need accommodations during grad school this time because my medical problems are a little worse now than they were a few years ago. But I'm going to go the official route this time. I encourage you to do the same to have the protections in place before you share with your professors.
 

Thank you so much to everyone for all your thoughtful words of encouragement!! I truly truuuly appreciate it! I am so incredibly happy to say that today I received an acceptance from LIU POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ????????????????????????? I literally cried tears of joy as soon as I saw the words "Congratulations" in the email subject. I am seriously so incredibly overjoyed. You were so right @plume. All I need is ONE! After 5 CONSECUTIVE PAINFUL REJECTIONS.... the 6th is a YES!!!! Thank GOD!!! ???

I chose San Francisco State! 
My alma mater, so already know program/clinics/professors A few friends attending program Parents an hour away  Can live at home / commute the first few weeks while finding housing Job already here Friends/family already here Great dating potential with tech boom  Volunteered in spots where I could potentially do internships/CF Most affordable by far  Awesome city that I haven't tired of yet Great clinical rotations and opportunities  A school where people will at least know the name/where it is  Diverse and liberal program emphasis, program, and city  Higher starting salaries and lots of job opportunities  Cons: my alma mater, so less room for growth potentially. I wanted an adventure. Not as well-ranked as other programs. High cost of living. 15 of the people are from my undergrad class, so less new folks to befriend. 

@jmk I just called and they said they received my COC today so hopefully I get that official invitation to accept soon. I'm excited you created a group!
 
 
Hi ISC, 
its nice to meet you and congratulations! I have not yet received that email where I can accept or decline. I believe it's because they need my COC on file first. 
I am also feom LA and I am looking for housing up north. I applied for housing however I don't know if I will get a spot. I am open for roommates to. I understand that housing can be pricey. We can perhaps discuss more about it in private message.
 
 

Just made a facebook group! 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/506931359696295/
or SFSU Communicative Disorders Class of 2019! 

I checked but nothing. I think is because I just did it a couple of weeks ago. It does say to wait 4 for it to be processed. Thank you guys! 

What pb&j said- it should already be in your student center! My FAFSA from 2015 got messed up, so I have to deal with financial aid first hahaha. But if your FAFSA was fine, it should be in student center! & most students get a grant. 

I was already sent an email about my financial aid package. You should check your student center, you may already have information too! I was given a State University Grant that I believe is given to most graduate students in the CSU system, work-study, and loans. 

I did too. I really like Idaho's communication with the applicants. 

I decided to commit to IU today!!! If anyone else commits there let me know! Good luck to everyone in their decision making

I would personally choose the most affordable school as a whole (cost of living in the area, transportation etc). If you are between schools with similar cost, then I would consider the specializations each program offers. Honestly, the most important thing for me is getting the core education on the field. I think once you are out in the workforce you will acquire and learn from your work experiences, without paying 20K more. I think you will certainly have this if you choose to work in multicultural environments after your studies. Also, you choose to apply to certain schools because they fit your criteria, I would definitely go with the most affordable one. 

I was accepted at Eastern WA, not sure if I'll be attending though, so hopefully the spot will help someone else out! 
I really need to sit down and make a spreadsheet about costs.  Eastern WA emailed me a week ago asking me to do a financial aid thing, which I never did, because I assumed I wasn't going to get in....whoops. 

I finally got an acceptance! Woooo!!! Still waiting on WWU (top choice), but I'll be more than happy to continue at WSU if it's not good news from Western.

Calculating costs is almost as equal a nightmare as it was choosing schools to apply to. I'm factoring in tuition (I wish programs just gave you a breakdown up front instead of trying to figure out summer costs, etc.), average rent, etc.  

Calculating costs is almost as equal a nightmare as it was choosing schools to apply to. I'm factoring in tuition (I wish programs just gave you a breakdown up front instead of trying to figure out summer costs, etc.), average rent, etc.  

Congratulations!! @jmk I just got home from work and I also got a conditional acceptance!!! I am so happy right now! My first acceptance and my number one choice. Life changing day.

I got what I THINK is an acceptance letter via snail mail. 
"The CD department is prepared to recommend admission provided the following conditions are met: bachelors degree in progress, and certificate of clearance (background check)."
I assume this is a conditional acceptance...why couldn't they just have been very loud and clear, haha?! 
Edit: I emailed two of my old professors (from SFSU), and it is an acceptance, haha. 

You got in! Congrats  

YAY CONGRATS!

I got what I THINK is an acceptance letter via snail mail. 
"The CD department is prepared to recommend admission provided the following conditions are met: bachelors degree in progress, and certificate of clearance (background check)."
I assume this is a conditional acceptance...why couldn't they just have been very loud and clear, haha?! 
Edit: I emailed two of my old professors (from SFSU), and it is an acceptance, haha.