SLP1719

I'm married, no kids. I'm going to have about an hour commute to grad school, though my father in law lives 15 minutes from the campus in the event I need to stay over in bad weather etc. My husband knows he won't see much of me on weekdays, but we know that grad school isn't forever, there are short breaks in between semesters, and we always spend Sunday afternoons prepping meals together for the week, so I'm not totally bummed about the schedule change. It's only a brief period during your lifetime together! As it is right now, three days a week I'm at work 8am-7:30pm and home after 8pm, so we're kind of already getting used to that.

I like to get textbooks as etextbooks whenever possible, because I like being able to keep them on my iPad so that I can access them offline from anywhere, without having to lug large books with me. I also like that most etextbook apps (Kindle, Pearson, etc.) allow you to search for keywords and highlight within the text. I did not purchase an iPad for school, but had one prior to starting pre-reqs and have found it useful for my textbooks. I also like the possibility of adding AAC apps to my iPad in the future so that I can play around with them on my own time. I program AAC devices at work now, and sometimes I would really just like to have access to the app without being under a time crunch so that I can really see all of the features and options on a particular program.

All SLPs that I have spoken to advise getting the TSSLD. Some grad programs offer all of the requirements (including student teaching placement) as part of your normal grad school curriculum, but others don't; so check with the specific program you're looking at. Also, FWIW, I don't know the exact timeline for this; but I heard that if you don't work in a school position that requires the TSSLD for at least 2-3(?) years within a 5 year period of getting the TSSLD, the TSSLD expires and you have to re-take exams to re-obtain the certification in the future. On the other hand, if you went directly into a school setting that required your TSSLD right after you obtain it; the TSSLD becomes permanent after 5(?) years. So for example, if you were to graduate with your TSSLD and get a CF job that turns into a permanent job in a SNF, since you are not using the TSSLD, it would expire after 5 years. I don't know how complicated it is to obtain the TSSLD after it has expired.

I haven't heard anything from Sacred Heart or Iona. I didn't want to keep waiting and accepted the offer from my top choice.

I am a career changer, and am not a member of NSSLHA. I don't think lack of membership had bearing on my application. I was accepted to two schools in NY.

The same coworker also told me that she continues to get phone calls from other agencies/facilities looking for people to pick up per-diem or temporary home health care shifts for SLPs, but she has to keep turning them down because there aren't enough hours in the day for her to do all of it, lol. She basically said that if you want to make extra money in this field, and have some medical experience, the hourly type shifts are always available once you start looking for them. It's not a full time job with benefits, but if you already have a full time job with health insurance, etc., it's a nice way to make extra money towards paying hefty loans off.

Was going to share the same article, I read it this morning. I was banking on PSLF when I first was interested in changing careers to SLP in 2015, but that's no longer the case. I was accepted to two programs so far, waitlisted at one, rejected from two, and still waiting to hear from two. Of the two that I was accepted to, one is a much closer commute (thinking about gas, toll, mileage expenses for two years!), and $20k+ in tuition less than the other program. I accepted the offer to that program (NYMC) right away. It's still more expensive than the RMUoHP tuition that I just googled, but it is in the NYC area so everything here is more expensive to begin with. When I talked to a few of my SLP coworkers about prospects for loan repayment, one of them told me to start looking for per-diem or part time hours at a SNF or hospital as soon as I get my C's. She said that the income from one or two per-diem shifts per week at a hospital ten minutes from her house is more than enough to make her loan payment each month. She also picks up more hours there during paid breaks from the full time job to earn even more towards paying the loans off faster. This was a relief to hear!

SUNY New Paltz offers communication disorders pre-requisite courses online, with no travel to the campus ever required. I'm going to grad school for SLP so I'm not familiar with AuD program pre-req requirements, but New Paltz does offer an under-graduate level audiology course online, in addition to speech science and aural rehabilitation. I took 10 courses there (finishing my last two now) as part of a post-bacc certificate program that they offer... meaning I was able to apply for a private student loan to cover the tuition because I am earning a certificate at the end of the program. I never visited the campus, just took my courses online a few each semester. I enjoyed the CMD417 (audiology) course.

Since I am commuting to grad school, I asked current students of all programs I visited if they had a far commute, and what parking on campus was like during the week. Some campuses had ample parking for commuters, others were a crap-shoot and you'd be circling around following people waiting for a spot. When you're coming from an hour+ away, things like that matter! I also asked current students if they work in addition to their coursework and placements, and if so; how many hours per week they feel is feasible given their academic course load.

Proximity to my home; I am a career changer and not in a position to relocate my household for grad school. The commute to NYMC is about 50 minutes, vs. 1 hour and 45 minutes to the other program I was accepted to. Cost; it's $20k+ in tuition less than the other program that I was accepted to thus far. Medical experiences; I am not interested in working in a public school setting. I am going to pursue my TSSLD at NYMC so that I am prepared for any work environment after graduation (and because I'd need it anyway to work as an SLP at the agency at which I am currently employed), but realistically I have no interest in working with typically developing school aged kids. I currently work with nine SLPs and several of them do per-diem work at local hospitals and SNF/rehabs, and they advised that if you have some experience in the healthcare setting, there are a ton of opportunities in my area to earn more money by doing per-diem or part time work. I also like that I was accepted 48 hours after interviewing, emailed them late on Friday evening to notify them that I had paid my deposit (per their instructions after depositing), they replied at 8pm on a Friday night to welcome me into the program. And now, four business days later, I have my email address set up, financial aid application done, medical paperwork for my immunizations/records, and online access to the portal/etc. established. I like their efficiency

I work with 9 SLPs. Their unanimous advice was to go to the least expensive accredited program that I got into.

I am in the group! My initials are A.H. I friended everyone in the group today.

I removed myself from the Mercy waitlist today. Fingers crossed that you get some good news very soon!!!

When I was looking to get SLP experience after quitting a job from out of field to pursue grad school pre-reqs, I found a private school in my area that provides services to children and adults with ASD. I interned there unpaid, and it turned into a paid position... HOWEVER, similar agencies are always looking for qualified direct support professionals. I went through the general orientation at the start of my employment and have been able to pick up shifts as a DSP for the agency on a per-diem basis. It gets me a ton of experience working directly with children with ASD with their respective communication needs. My work experience gave me a lot to talk about and reflect on in grad school interviews and SoPs on my grad school applications.

Both interviews for different programs that I've attended so far were very generalized questions that weren't necessarily related to the field. A lot of problem solving type questions, self-reflection (how do you handle stress? Name a person that inspired you and why? three adjectives to describe yourself and why.). I have a lot of work experience out of field and was able to draw on personal experiences, even though I don't have much SLP experience.