justwaitin:)

I completely agree with this. When I first started making my long list of potential programs, I was looking all over the map. Now, I believe I will choose whichever school is the most affordable. I just can't get my fear of student loan debt out of my head! I cannot justify graduating with $100k in loans and a $600-$800 per month student loan payment on top of other bills, mortgage, and a possible car payment (hopefully not). No way! I don't want to make that SLP money in my new career and see NONE of it because of bills and loan payments.
At one of the interview days I attended, I asked the grad students of a very expensive program, "How did you justify choosing this program given how much tuition costs, and how did you become comfortable taking that amount in student loans?" Literally all of them said, "We just try not to think about it." !!!

I also got into Northwestern this morning! Really eager to see the results for the last two. 
 
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Undergraduate major: Anthropology (emphasis on sociolinguistics and psychology)
GPA: Undergrad: 3.62, Post-Bacc: 3.93
GRE: V157, Q151, AW 5.0
Research & work experience (education, exceptional needs, and healthcare)
 
University of Washington - Portland State University - Vanderbilt - Northwestern - Louisiana State University Health New Orleans - CSU Los Angeles
Applied - Accepted - Wait-listed - Rejected

I'm in my last semester of grad school and way past the point of applying, but I had a great week that's worth sharing: I took the Praxis, got my 375th clinical hour, and set up an appointment to fill out hiring paperwork for a long-term SLP sub position that will run from May to mid-June. It's been a looong time coming, but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel! 

If you want to reach more current grads or full-fledged SLPs, check out the reddit SLP sub. I bet someone on that sub has been to at least one of those schools and will help you out!

Finally heard back from every program and I was accepted to all of them! I will be choosing NIU because they offered me a very generous GA position yesterday.

I got into 1 of my top schools!! A little sad I was waitlisted to my 2 other ones but there is still hope with a waitlist!! I did decline my offer to Saint Mary's already , so whoever is on the waitlist for that program I hope this helps you!!

I got into Northwestern today!! I've been so nervous that I wouldn't get in anywhere, especially since my first three decisions were rejections, and then I was waitlisted from another. I'm so so proud of myself and thankful. A big weight has been lifted!

I got a call from Midwestern University-Glendale saying I got accepted!!!! 

Finally heard back from every program and I was accepted to all of them! I will be choosing NIU because they offered me a very generous GA position yesterday.

Finally heard back from every program and I was accepted to all of them! I will be choosing NIU because they offered me a very generous GA position yesterday.

Finally heard back from every program and I was accepted to all of them! I will be choosing NIU because they offered me a very generous GA position yesterday.

My wait is officially over as of today!!! I've now heard back from all 4 programs -- 3 acceptances!!! NO WAITLIST, NO INTERVIEW.  I feel super lucky about that!

I feel like every program that meets ASHA requirements for certification will get you where you need to go. Sure, there are more prestigious programs, but the goal is to get your CCCs and become a licensed therapist, right? So if both programs offer that, then there’s really no difference once you get out. Not being in debt will be a huge advantage in the long run, so I would definitely go with the cheaper program! 

No problem! Honestly, the way I think of it is: Students are advised to apply to as many schools as possible (sometimes 8-16!), but they can only pick one. They decide against schools for so many reasons, location, price, etc. For every school we are accepted to that we turn down, that's an acceptance for someone else on the waitlist. Stay patient!

Ahh! That's basically a mortgage payment!
You're definitely making the right choice, thinking about tuition costs before its too late. I hope you receive a great offer (GA position/waiver) from an amazing program!!

Yeah, cost of tuition is at the front of my mind. Originally, I was most concerned with what I felt was the "best" education, but now I just keep thinking "a degree is a degree" and if I could pay off my student debt within a few years, that is so much more appealing then paying loans back for the next 30 years of my life.

I completely agree with this. When I first started making my long list of potential programs, I was looking all over the map. Now, I believe I will choose whichever school is the most affordable. I just can't get my fear of student loan debt out of my head! I cannot justify graduating with $100k in loans and a $600-$800 per month student loan payment on top of other bills, mortgage, and a possible car payment (hopefully not). No way! I don't want to make that SLP money in my new career and see NONE of it because of bills and loan payments.
At one of the interview days I attended, I asked the grad students of a very expensive program, "How did you justify choosing this program given how much tuition costs, and how did you become comfortable taking that amount in student loans?" Literally all of them said, "We just try not to think about it." !!!

Go look at what your total cost will be for in-state vs. out of state. Then take those numbers and punch it into a student loan calculator. I worked it out for the schools I'm looking at. When I graduate my monthly payments will be something like $250 for in-state, vs. nearly $600 for out-of-state. Yikes!

Go for the cheaper tuition! 2 years will fly by and then you'll have to pay all of those loans back. Biggest CON that outweighs ALL pros in my opinion is having to pay out of state tuition which can be almost double the price. I wouldn't be able to sit in a program knowing that other people in my cohort are paying practically HALF of what I'm paying for the SAME degree/education/experience simply because I wanted to go out of state. I've been itching to go out of state to explore a new city and live on my own but to be honest, after I get my masters the opportunity is always there to complete your CFY in another city or to take a short-term contract/position to explore other cities. Calculate any undergrad loans you have, then calculate the tuition of the out of state school you are interested in... THEN calculate living expenses (monthly rent/food/gas etc. for two years of not being able to work) and add it ALL together. That total is what will be looming over your head when you graduate and for the next few decades if it's an insane amount. THEN look into what your average SLP makes in the city you plan on working in (I've been in the field for 4 years and have worked as an SLPA and as a bachelors level SLP in the schools, I have met and asked TONS of SLP's questions about salary) and it's typically no where near 6 figures or more than $50K starting out regardless as to what pops up on google when you search SLP salaries. Rule of thumb is to try your best to not graduate with more than what you will expect to be making your first year out of grad school. I think it's easy to be swayed by emotions but your future self will thank you if you make the smart decision to pick a program where you will obtain in-state tuition. 
 
I feel strongly about this as I have friends that are paying an arm and a leg for SLP programs and will come out with around $100K in loans for going out of state. I understand their situation because they were not accepted into any in-state programs due to extremely low GPA/GRE so they HAD to go where they were accepted. But if you are in a position where low GPA/GRE is not an issue, please consider saving the adventure for post-grad! The student loan crisis is no joke and it's very easy to get swept up into that statistic because these universities love to take advantage of young people that are trying to invest in their future. Out of state tuition is honestly a scam in my opinion and it's important to remember that all of these universities in America are businesses and operate as such. They are in it for the money. I've visited friends that are in out-of-state programs and they live in the funnest/hippest cities and have their own cute little apartments, take the train/subway to class etc and it seems like a dream when you come from a boring suburban town but if you look at how much you will be paying back monthly for student loans post-grad school it's simply not worth it. 

Honestly, I think it is very likely to get off a waitlist. At one of the schools I interviewed with, the four grad students who led the tour told us every single one of them was originally waitlisted. My good friend applied to one school – was waitlisted – then received an acceptance a month or so later. It happens all the time! Don't lose hope!

I'm nervous about this too. I graduated with my bachelor's from Arizona State with a 4.0, I finished my CSD prerequisites as a post-bacc with a 3.98, but my community college years are haunting me now (10+ years ago – back when I failed a PE class and got D's/retook math classes several times). CSDCAS shows my overall GPA as 3.51 now and I'm very upset.

Yay, congratulations!! That is such great news!

Good luck!! You can do it! I had a classmate last year who only applied to one school – ended up on the waitlist – but got in! It was a risk, but a great payoff to avoid spending $1000 on applications for schools he would never actually end up attending.

Good afternoon (depending on your time zone)!
How are you all doing?
How are you occupying yourself during the agonizing wait for results? Tips for others?
What's something positive and awesome that has happened to you this week?

Good afternoon (depending on your time zone)!
How are you all doing?
How are you occupying yourself during the agonizing wait for results? Tips for others?
What's something positive and awesome that has happened to you this week?