FutureSLP
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Posts posted by FutureSLP
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Ugh, I'm jealous! I've had nothing but radio silence from BU and the anticipation is killing me.
Ditto! There's no orientation type link on my school's website, at least not for graduate students. Nothing is on my sign-in screen either accept a "welcome to the program" type message. No word from the school or program. I'll wait another couple of weeks, then I'll start nagging!
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It definitely varies by program, and it's the program that decides which of your classes count, not ASHA.
I thought I had to take a bio course and Stats this summer, but my grad program is counting my biological anthropology course (did not have a lab) as my biological science requirement, and they take any non-remedial math class. They said my College Algebra course counts, and they don't require Stats. I might still take Stats anyway, but was really surprised that they didn't require it. I will not be taking a bio class this summer.
Check with the top 2-4 schools that you're interested in and see what they say. Then aim for their requirements. You might still have to take a class next summer depending on the program, but that's not so bad.
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Has everyone started getting info packets from the program you're attending in the Fall? I've only heard about my prereq requirements from my program director, but would really like to know about immunization requirements, CPR certification requirements, class schedules, scheduling clinical observation time over the summer, etc.
Are you all getting this info from your programs, or am I insane for expecting this? I don't want to nag the program director about this stuff if it should be coming in the mail soon.
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There is a lot of MGH information being posted in the SLP/Comm-Dis Masters Applicants thread right now. I'm sure you're checking it out, but thought I'd mention it just in case!
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I really think it depends on your program, so I would check with them to make sure you will receive credit for it.
Definitely check with your program: they determine which classes meet the ASHA requirements. I was debating between 2 SLP programs a few weeks ago, and one of them counted my biological anthropology course for the ASHA biological science requirement whereas the other program said it wouldn't count and wanted me to take something like chemistry. I was prepared to have to do a biological science class this summer, and now don't have to.
To avoid confusion and to make sure you take the right classes (and to avoid taking classes you don't need), check with your program director/advisor. If you're wondering which classes count, send along the syllabus of any class you're questioning and they can let you know where it stands. Good luck!
P.S. I recommend Utah State for prereqs. I took a class at MGH and BU, and they cost so much $. Utah State has been wonderful. Yes, you have to get exams proctored, but I do mine for free at my local library. Very easy to set up proctored exams.
P.S.S. Congrats on Northeastern!
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I know it's gonna be tricky from a relationship standpoint, but you're going to love living there. I miss the Pioneer Valley so much. And coming from the city, you'll be impressed with how inexpensive it is.
You should get a place in Northampton, and make sure you're in walking distance from the Five College PVTA bus line (which will be free to you). You know to message me if you need any suggestions.
I found a great place right next to campus last week, and it's $300 cheaper a month than the rent I pay here, so I'm very pleased.
And, get this, it has central air--I have NEVER heard of a house in New England with central air! Northampton was a close second: I love their downtown. I've been so spoiled living on the T and walkable to restaurants/bars/etc the past 7 years, I wanted a place that allowed me the same spoils in Amherst. I'll have my car, but prefer not to use it.We should get together for tea or something when you and your husband get into town! You know I'll be back at least 2 weekends a month to see my SO, so I'll still semi be around Boston. Are you guys moving out here this summer or Aug/Sept?
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Thank you so much for the advice! I will definitely look into it! Have you decided where you are going? I see you were accepted to a few Boston schools. Congrats!
Thanks! I really wanted to stay in Boston (especially for MGH), but couldn't justify the costs so I'm going to UMass in Amherst instead. MGH's average of ~80k or so for school vs. UMass' average of ~20k for school made my choice easy...at least from a financial standpoint. The living costs are cheaper at UMass too. I will definitely be headed back to the Boston area after grad school though.
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I am also nervous about moving to Boston. I probably won't be relocating until August though. Congrats to both of you and I am excited to meet you both in a few months! MGH!!!!!!!
Boston is a great city! Don't stress; there are a lot of housing options out here. Craigslist is generally a good way to go.
If you're going to MGH and will have a car, the northern suburbs of Boston are worth looking into (Malden/Everett--avoid Chelsea!): very short drive to campus, and cheaper housing. If you don't have a car, you can live on the subway orange line in Malden/Melrose, and it's 15 minutes to downtown Boston from there (or 10-12 minutes to North Station, where the free MGH shuttle picks up out front and can take you to campus). It doesn't hurt to check out housing in Charlestown near campus, but it's usually very expensive. There's really only 2 parts to Charlestown: the projects (AVOID) and the ritsy, historical part on the waterfront and near the MGH campus. But if you get roommates it might be doable!
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For anyone moving to Boston: I'm headed out to western Mass. for grad school and am leaving behind a perfect job for a student. My boss would love to have another student work for her, so I'm posting on here in hopes that someone may be interested.
The job: plan and do activities with seniors in a nursing home in Chelsea (you would need a car to get to this job, though buses do run from Wellington Station to the nursing home). The job is pretty simple, the pay is good, and it's a feel-good job: your goal is essentially to make people happy. I have really enjoyed working here, and it provided plenty of study time. Activities are done at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm and they last for about 2 hours. So the time between those activities (aka. 12-2, 4-6) is perfect for studying.
The hours: I work 4-8pm Mon-Thurs, and 10-8 on Sundays (this works perfectly with my class schedule: class during the day, followed by work). However, these hours are flexible. My boss is very understanding about working around class schedules, so if you could only work some of these shifts, or are looking for alternate shifts, it would be worth discussing with her (9-4 Tues-Thurs may be opening up soon too).
When: You're looking at a start date of sometime in June/July.
If anyone is interested, please send me an e-mail/personal conversation on here. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.
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Thanks again for all the MGH info... but after having visited both MGH and BU this weekend it turns out that BU is actually the school for me! Haha, a complete change from what I though going into the weekend but I'm so glad I actually visited to be able to see so clearly that MGH is not the right fit and that BU is, phew! So now I guess I am trying to figure out living arrangements in terms of commuting to BU. I have google mapped the commute on the T from Davis Square to BU (I am at the eastern edge of campus and would get off at the BU East stop) and it says it is about 40 minutes, do you think that is accurate? Like I said I concept of how long a commute would be to make it crazy since I have never driven more than 15 minutes to anywhere where I live right now. Do you think it is worth it to have a 40 minute subway commute every day if it means getting to live with great roommates, in a great area, in a great place with rent of only $600 a person? Ah, I don't know.
I currently live near Davis Square and took a couple of SLP courses at BU last summer, and my commute took me about an hour on the green and red lines. It may sound like a lot, but that hour gives you some incredible time to study. I got so much reading and homework done on the train that when I got home I could just relax for a while.
So, in my opinion: don't see the commute as a period of wasted time. See it as constructive time. And it goes by so fast when you're studying. I was always surprised when I saw my stop coming up.
For those nights you might be at campus really late: cabs are plentiful in that area, and the cost to get home isn't that bad.
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Thank you, I certainly hope it pays off. I also plan on applying EVERYWHERE I can afford to this next year (I don't care if it means 25 places - I don't know that I could handle all rejections AGAIN and still pick myself up and try again) to statistically increase the likelihood that SOMEWHERE would take a chance on me. I was thinking about cold-calling/emailing places that have speech pathologists and asking if they would take someone willing to file/answer phones in exchange for some extra observation time. With this fall looking like it will be truly insane, I am thinking I also might just take the old GRE in July before it changes. I have some time now to work on the SOP (anyone willing to help edit?!
) and GRE study, and then it will be overwith by the time I can submit new applications. Plus, there is always that chance that with the new GRE (as with any new test) the schools won't know how to compare them quite as well as the old one. And my undergrad gpa being a 2.7 (my gpa in my postbac speech courses is 3.5) puts me as a fairly shaky candidate...and my 1160 5W wasn't quite enough to convince them. But as I said, if I try the GRE again, and hopefully improve my gpa even more, I will have a better chance this fall. I suspect organization will be key, though, so making a schedule is distracting/comforting me right now! 
Concerning the GRE: I had a lot of luck with the Kaplan vocab flash cards. You can find them for really cheap on Amazon.com. I just carried a handful of them with me where ever I went, and whenever I had a free moment I would study a word or two, with the goal of learning 20-30 new words a week. It worked out really well for me: so many of those words ended up being on the GRE test that I took. I knew the math section would be a crapshoot for me, so I aimed to get the highest score I could on the vocab/reading section.
SOP: I've been professionally editing for 6 years, so I'm happy to help if I can!
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I am in the SAME exact situation. I got into Emerson and MGH, but also got into state school which would cost me the same around $15,000 for two years. I thought about it a lot and for me it just did not seem worth it. I didn't think I could justify spending $80,000 more than I needed to for my education when many people have told me that to many employers where you got your masters does not weigh heavily. I looked at the salaries for SLPS on ASHA's website and from what I found one of the biggest indicators of salary for all areas of the field was how many years of experience you had under your belt, not where you went to school. The state school, similar to MGH and Emerson, had 100% job placement (as many schools probably do since SLP is high in demand) as well.
Whatever you decide, I think if you work hard you will be able to pay off your debt but it will take time. For me it was extremely difficult to say no to MGH because I have wanted to go there for years and I am such a competitive person. However, I just needed to take a step back and realize that in the end I don't need my career to be the center of my life. I want to eventually settle down and have a family and be able to enjoy life, which will take longer to do if I am on a 30 year plan to pay back my loans.
It is all about finding the perfect fit for you, so if you feel BU will offer you opportunities that are important to you that it is worth paying the extra money, I say go for it. I know it is such a difficult decision!! Good luck
Ditto ditto ditto! I went with the state school as well.
I still haven't sent in my decline to MGH yet though. Does anyone know if there's a way to e-mail them with a decline instead of mailing that paper form? Or would that be in bad form?
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Oh that is so great to hear! I would be taking mine at Utah State as well. Can you just kind of pick when you want to get on and do it or are there set hours?
Utah State offers all of their prereq courses every semester, including the summers. There is no set time for the lectures. They are posted so you can listen to them on your own time, so long as you meet homework/quiz deadlines. An important thing to know: you do have to have all of your exams proctored by a qualified official. I go to my local library to do this for free. For exams you usually get a 3-7 day window to take it with your proctor.
I'm taking my final 2 prereq classes through them now and would definitely recommend them. I'm not a fan of online classes in general, but the professors at USU are very responsive and the lectures are well done--some professors even post MP3's of their lectures so folks can download them and listen on their ipods, etc., when it's more convenient.
For more information on their online classes, check out their website: https://comd.usu.edu...negrad-overview
I also found Brynne Davies, a postbacc advisor for these classes, to be very responsive and helpful: brynne.davies@usu.edu
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confession: I've totally been avoiding the subject of "so, uh, are you going to move with me or not?" If I'm being completely honest, I think the move would benefit him as well...he has a good job, but it pays really poorly, and I think he can do better. Plus, his family all lives in the same area they all grew up in, mom has never lived outside a 1M radius of where she is now, etc. I think it would be a good experience for him to really live somewhere else that's not an hour and a half away from home (I don't count college, since we all moved back for summers, winter break, etc.). blah!
My SO has never lived away from his family either. While I originally thought the same as you--that some distance and a new city would be healthy for him--I have learned that isn't always the case for everyone. Nothing will make him budge from this town and his family, and it is something I have come to terms with. I know that dating him means that I will forever live in this area with his family. Sometimes I have trouble with that since I've always been a wanderer. Now I will be going to school 2 hours away, and he will not be moving with me. Even though it's only 2 hours (and still in the same state!), my SO won't budge. And a good part of him is bitter that I did not choose to go to a school here instead.
I hope in your case your SO is a little more open to it! But sometimes it's just a losing battle. Some people love new places, others freak out over the slightest change.
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I haven't heard from Emerson either. I'm pretty sure I am going to go to Rush, but I would like to know anyway!
I called them yesterday and they said my application is till under review. I guess they're still trying to get through all of them.
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Hey everyone! I hope you're all getting the good news you've been waiting for!
I'm curious, how much do you think is too much to pay for a SLP masters? Even the programs in my home state (yay resident tuition!) are going to run 30-50k when you factor in living expenses. I'm nervous at the possibility of taking out that many loans - what's your opinion?
I think this really depends on the applicant. Some people are open to paying more, others are not. There is no standard "too much" for schooling.
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If you're using craigslist, you should check out padmapper.com. It combines craigslist ads with Google maps, and it is amazing. You can even filter down the results so it shows only what you're looking for. Saves you from wasting time scouring through dozens of craigslist ads.
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FSU has a beautiful campus, and there's a lot of nightlife lined alongside the campus on Tennessee St. There are bike paths and conservation areas nearby too. It does get hot as hell down there though. Even a 5 minute bike ride around campus can leave you sweating through your shirt.
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I contacted a couple of my SLP programs with this question, and they both replied that funding decisions for assistantships will be determined in the next 2-3 weeks. Some schools offer it with their admissions decision, but others wait to see who their incoming class will be before offering assistantships. It doesn't hurt to contact the program and ask.
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Yeah, I definitely know I want to be in the medical setting. I'm not that interested in peds, but I love adult neurogenics.
Me too!
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Yep, me too. I don't think the chances for me are good in either case, but that's okay. I read that Emerson gives their merit aid based only on numbers (GRE and GPA). My GRE is okay, and I don't have a real GPA, so I don't think I'm really in the running.
I'm holding out hope for the MGH envelope... but so many people have reported finding out about the merit aid by phone that I'm just, you know, trying to stay positive.
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Emerson might give merit aid based on numbers, but ALL of their faculty have the funds to take on grad students as either teaching or research assistants. So even if you don't get merit aid, it is easy to approach a professor about working with them for the semester. Friends of mine that went to Emerson all said it was pretty easy to get paid to work with a professor, and it alleviates some of the cost.
From what I have heard, MGH has limited types of options. Which is infortunate, because I would LOVE to go there, but am not willing to drown myself in student loan debt.
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I am deciding between BU and MGH too and it is so hard! I got offered money at both but a little bit more at MGH and it already has a cheaper tuition in general. I am not from the area so I haven't visited either school, know where they are in Boston or really gotten a feel for their programs. Both great schools on paper but I am very conflicted. Does anyone know these schools better and could offer any insights? I am planning on going to the open houses for them which are April 2nd but I wish I could find out more before then.
I live in Boston and have taken courses at MGH and BU, and know their clinics pretty well. I'm happy to try and answer any questions you may have. Send me a message if you're interested!
A side note: MGH is cheaper tuition-per-credit wise, but is actually more expensive in the long run because they require more credits to complete their program. An MGH professor tipped me off on that one.
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SLP/Communication Disorders Masters Applicants
in Speech-Language Pathology Forum
Posted
I'm using my savings (originally intended to buy a house...oh well) and federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but I don't hear about how much financial aide I qualify for until July. If it's the full amount (aka. $20,500/year) then I should be more than okay. If it's not the full amount, I'll probably do Grad Plus to make up the difference. The financials of grad school are scary and were a huge decision factor when I chose my school. I'm staying in-state and the living expenses are cheaper where I'm going than where I currently live.