Financial Aid

[empa1]

Can someone explain to me when I should be receiving information on financial aid from schools?  I am getting nervous about making a decision and I have received no finance information from programs I have been accepted to.  Also, there are so many different amounts reported for graduate schools' tuition.  Where should I be looking for the most accurate tuition rate?  & Are the rates that are being posted usually per year or semester?  I feel so out of the loop and confused so if someone can break it down for me I would be so grateful

[lifeispeachy]

I emailed each of my programs and requested information on the total cost of tuition. Some programs sent a nice chart explaining the total cost of the degree (not many though),  while others told me the total number of credits I would take each semester and linked the cost of tuition per credit hour to the email. From there you can calculate what the degree will cost if you know the number of credits and the cost per credit. These numbers are still estimates though and don't include additional fees that might be added to your bill or changes in tuition rate for the 20/21 academic year. 

I think the most important thing to note is that most "cost of attendance" pages are based on a school year (sometimes semester though, so pay close attention) and are based on the assumption that you will be taking 9 credit hours each semester. From what I've seen of the programs I've applied to, it looks like each semester is closer to 12, and every program has a summer semester which you also have to account for. Contact the programs and see what information they can offer you, and in the same email ask about any funding opportunities within the department. This can include RA/TAships, out of state tuition waivers, scholarship opportunities etc. They might come back and tell you there is nothing you can apply for, but at least you tried! Lots of the programs I've talked to say that TA/RA applications will be made available over the summer, so you might not know until after you decide where you are going. 

I hope this helps! Feel free to dm me if you have any questions. I've really been diving into the financial side of grad school, so I'd be more than happy to talk more if you want ?

[mmcat]

On 3/12/2020 at 1:41 PM, lifeispeachy said:

I emailed each of my programs and requested information on the total cost of tuition. Some programs sent a nice chart explaining the total cost of the degree (not many though),  while others told me the total number of credits I would take each semester and linked the cost of tuition per credit hour to the email. From there you can calculate what the degree will cost if you know the number of credits and the cost per credit. These numbers are still estimates though and don't include additional fees that might be added to your bill or changes in tuition rate for the 20/21 academic year. 

I think the most important thing to note is that most "cost of attendance" pages are based on a school year (sometimes semester though, so pay close attention) and are based on the assumption that you will be taking 9 credit hours each semester. From what I've seen of the programs I've applied to, it looks like each semester is closer to 12, and every program has a summer semester which you also have to account for. Contact the programs and see what information they can offer you, and in the same email ask about any funding opportunities within the department. This can include RA/TAships, out of state tuition waivers, scholarship opportunities etc. They might come back and tell you there is nothing you can apply for, but at least you tried! Lots of the programs I've talked to say that TA/RA applications will be made available over the summer, so you might not know until after you decide where you are going. 

I hope this helps! Feel free to dm me if you have any questions. I've really been diving into the financial side of grad school, so I'd be more than happy to talk more if you want ?

Hi there! I'm wondering the same as poster above about FA. Who did you email when asking your programs? Just the FA office, the SLP department, or someone else? Unsure of who is the most appropriate to ask. Thank you!!

[lifeispeachy]

11 minutes ago, mmcat said:

Hi there! I'm wondering the same as poster above about FA. Who did you email when asking your programs? Just the FA office, the SLP department, or someone else? Unsure of who is the most appropriate to ask. Thank you!!

Hey! If you are interested in applying to general university scholarships, there is usually a link to an application somewhere on the FA website. Most general scholarships are for undergrads, but I've seen some schools offering scholarships for grad students. Doesn't hurt to check, though the deadlines for these apps are usually in February.

For departmental funding (like TA/GRA positions, federal grants awarded to the SLHS department, or grader/hourly positions within the department), I would contact the Graduate Program Coordinator. This is likely the person who would have emailed you about your acceptance into the program.

Additionally, (and I haven't done this myself), at some schools you can work in labs outside of your department as a research assistant and earn tuition remission that way. My guess is that you would contact the department you want to work for and ask if there are any GRA appointments available. Like I said, I haven't done this, but I know it can be done at some schools. 

Hope this helps!

Edited March 18, 2020 by lifeispeachy

[mmcat]

14 minutes ago, lifeispeachy said:

Hey! If you are interested in applying to general university scholarships, there is usually a link to an application somewhere on the FA website. Most general scholarships are for undergrads, but I've seen some schools offering scholarships for grad students. Doesn't hurt to check, though the deadlines for these apps are usually in February.

For departmental funding (like TA/GRA positions, federal grants awarded to the SLHS department, or grader/hourly positions within the department), I would contact the Graduate Program Coordinator. This is likely the person who would have emailed you about your acceptance into the program.

Additionally, (and I haven't done this myself), at some schools you can work in labs outside of your department as a research assistant and earn tuition remission that way. My guess is that you would contact the department you want to work for and ask if there are any GRA appointments available. Like I said, I haven't done this, but I know it can be done at some schools. 

Hope this helps!

Thank you! I really appreciate that. Also, when you asked about cost of your program, did you email your graduate program coordinator? Thank you again!

[lifeispeachy]

1 hour ago, mmcat said:

Thank you! I really appreciate that. Also, when you asked about cost of your program, did you email your graduate program coordinator? Thank you again!

Yep! They were all really helpful and were able to point me in the right direction.

[mmcat]

1 minute ago, lifeispeachy said:

Yep! They were all really helpful and were able to point me in the right direction.

Thank you!!