SLP/Communication Disorders Masters Applicants

[NadoGirl8]

Anyone else attending Arizona State in the Fall?

[teatime]

Anyone starting at Hofstra in the fall?

[caffeinerd]

Maybe it would be more appropriate to start a new thread (if one hasn't been created yet, sorry if it has -- posting on the fly!) BUT... what is everyone doing to finance their lovely SLP degrees? I am 1000% grateful for my acceptance and really looking forward to this part of my life in the fall, but I am kind of starting to worry about how much all this will cost.

What kind of loans are you all taking out (not just for living, but books, supplies, and so on), if any? Oh, and what about living situations? Is everyone making a big move, or staying pretty local? I'm just trying to get a feel for what students seem to do. I am on the young end of the spectrum and this is a huge lifestyle change for me, as I am sure it will be for you all, too. Any comments about money/living/expenses are welcomed and appreciated. Good luck to you all in finalizing your plans.

[tayfray]

Maybe it would be more appropriate to start a new thread (if one hasn't been created yet, sorry if it has -- posting on the fly!) BUT... what is everyone doing to finance their lovely SLP degrees? I am 1000% grateful for my acceptance and really looking forward to this part of my life in the fall, but I am kind of starting to worry about how much all this will cost.

What kind of loans are you all taking out (not just for living, but books, supplies, and so on), if any? Oh, and what about living situations? Is everyone making a big move, or staying pretty local? I'm just trying to get a feel for what students seem to do. I am on the young end of the spectrum and this is a huge lifestyle change for me, as I am sure it will be for you all, too. Any comments about money/living/expenses are welcomed and appreciated. Good luck to you all in finalizing your plans.

It's going to be rough.

I'm taking out federal loans (I wouldn't touch a private loan with a 10 foot pole) Direct Loans and then Grad Plus to pick up the slack, in combination with dipping into savings. I'm making a cross-country move to one of the most expensive cities in the country and going from two incomes to one.

It's a big change and it's not going to be an easy couple of years, but I'm trying to stay positive.

[dogfishing]

Maybe it would be more appropriate to start a new thread (if one hasn't been created yet, sorry if it has -- posting on the fly!) BUT... what is everyone doing to finance their lovely SLP degrees? I am 1000% grateful for my acceptance and really looking forward to this part of my life in the fall, but I am kind of starting to worry about how much all this will cost.

What kind of loans are you all taking out (not just for living, but books, supplies, and so on), if any? Oh, and what about living situations? Is everyone making a big move, or staying pretty local? I'm just trying to get a feel for what students seem to do. I am on the young end of the spectrum and this is a huge lifestyle change for me, as I am sure it will be for you all, too. Any comments about money/living/expenses are welcomed and appreciated. Good luck to you all in finalizing your plans.

I'm cobbling things together with a small scholarship, federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans and then a grad PLUS loan. Not ideal, but there wasn't much of a choice for me. Just crossing my fingers that my scholarship will increase in my second year! And I'm making a big move (Seattle to Boston)... ack. This is stressful as hell for me and I'm definitely open to any gems of wisdom!

[JMont]

It seems like SO much money. I am staying local which helps but I hate the thought of MORE loans. Anyhow, I will be taking out Stafford loans. I agree with ealrier poster, no private loans for me. I was blessed to get a partial scholarship, if I didn't I can not afford it at all.

[FutureSLP]

Maybe it would be more appropriate to start a new thread (if one hasn't been created yet, sorry if it has -- posting on the fly!) BUT... what is everyone doing to finance their lovely SLP degrees? I am 1000% grateful for my acceptance and really looking forward to this part of my life in the fall, but I am kind of starting to worry about how much all this will cost.

What kind of loans are you all taking out (not just for living, but books, supplies, and so on), if any? Oh, and what about living situations? Is everyone making a big move, or staying pretty local? I'm just trying to get a feel for what students seem to do. I am on the young end of the spectrum and this is a huge lifestyle change for me, as I am sure it will be for you all, too. Any comments about money/living/expenses are welcomed and appreciated. Good luck to you all in finalizing your plans.

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.

[flotsam]

How can that be? They offered you a full free ride and then didn't offer you admission? Did you try calling the SLP dept. and telling them about this? It sounds like the communication is messed up there, ironically, with the SLP dept and the dept of grad studies.

Today was a day of great highs and great lows. I received two offers of graduate assistantships with full tuition waivers at Georgia State University. Then, I was notified by the SLP program that I would not be accepted off the waitlist and that the program was full. I am so upset. I would have had school completely paid for....

[tpatoatl]

How can that be? They offered you a full free ride and then didn't offer you admission? Did you try calling the SLP dept. and telling them about this? It sounds like the communication is messed up there, ironically, with the SLP dept and the dept of grad studies.

The graduate assistantships are through student activities, not the SLP department, so I'm not sure it would matter. When I wrote my letter of continued interest to the program director, I had told her that I was a finalist for two graduate assistantships...and then yesterday I receivedthe rejection email from her. I'm not sure what else I can do...email again? She said the class was full. I just cannot believe that I would have had the opportunity to have everything paid for....I mean, it's once in a lifetime. I just don't understand.

[flotsam]

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I think you should make a phone call or, if you are local, go in and visit with the powers that be. At this point, emailing sounds like you won't be able to state your case effectively. Put the names of the people who've given you the financial offer before the dept or, better yet, speak with those who have extended the financial offer and find out how this happened in the first place. Who is in charge of screening applications and offering admission? Do they have a copy of your GA letters? If the money is being offered through the student activities dept, don't they check their admissions list before making offers? I wonder if this lack of communication and organization is prevalent at this school.

Has this happened to anyone else? Maybe someone can offer me some words of advice of what to do?

Edited May 14, 2011 by flotsam

[caffeinerd]

Has this happened to anyone else? Maybe someone can offer me some words of advice of what to do?

Ummm... That is ridiculous. I am really sorry about this. I realize that the class is full, but I agree with Flotsam -- if you're local enough, go in and talk with the head of the department and possibly the people who offered you the aid. Is there even a waitlist you could be put on the for the last-minuters who drop in August? Or, if they have given you a definite 'no' for this year, maybe there's a way you could defer on that awesome aid for a year and reapply again next year? With the thought of having the aid again? Can you do that? You must have had a pretty awesome application to be given a full ride! I'm not sure how these things work (older and wiser people, feel free to jump in) but try to explain your situation and maaaaaaaybe they could work something out, even if it's a year from now. Let us know how it works out! Good luck.

[messybrownhair]

If there are any other girls starting at Bloomsburg this fall, I'd love to talk to you!

[_willow]

Congratulations to everyone for being accepted! I'm a newbie and just from reading this thread it seems that we have a bright group of future SLPs!

I was one of the few that did not make the cut. I applied to four schools, all close to home. I was rejected from two and waitlisted at the others. It's disheartening, but I don't intend to give up! I have a good GPA (3.67) and broke 1000 on the GREs, I just didn't stand a chance with hundreds of other applicants. I'll be shadowing an SLP and working at a skilled nursing facility in dietary this summer and fall, and I plan on reapplying to a few schools that offer spring admission.

I was reading and I haven't seen this mentioned, so I thought I would ask - what about distance education programs? I know that Nova offers one and ASHA lists a few others, but it seems like you have to reside in that state to be in their programs. I'd like to stay close to home, so if I don't get into a physical program I'd like to at least apply to two or three distance ed programs. Can anyone recommend some that you've heard good things about?

Once again, congrats on getting in and best of luck this fall!

Edited May 18, 2011 by _willow

[leesta]

Congratulations to everyone for being accepted! I'm a newbie and just from reading this thread it seems that we have a bright group of future SLPs!

I was one of the few that did not make the cut. I applied to four schools, all close to home. I was rejected from two and waitlisted at the others. It's disheartening, but I don't intend to give up! I have a good GPA (3.67) and broke 1000 on the GREs, I just didn't stand a chance with hundreds of other applicants. I'll be shadowing an SLP and working at a skilled nursing facility in dietary this summer and fall, and I plan on reapplying to a few schools that offer spring admission.

I was reading and I haven't seen this mentioned, so I thought I would ask - what about distance education programs? I know that Nova offers one and ASHA lists a few others, but it seems like you have to reside in that state to be in their programs. I'd like to stay close to home, so if I don't get into a physical program I'd like to at least apply to two or three distance ed programs. Can anyone recommend some that you've heard good things about?

Once again, congrats on getting in and best of luck this fall!

I know Cal State Northridge has an online program. The deadline for the new cohort is September 1st: http://tsengcollege.csun.edu/cds/

[maddie4luv]

Does anyone have information about East Carolina's online program? I was just accepted off the wait list (!!) but don't know much about the program. It's 3 years, which isn't my favorite part, but it's doable.

Any info would be most welcome!

Thanks

I know Cal State Northridge has an online program. The deadline for the new cohort is September 1st: http://tsengcollege.csun.edu/cds/

[stephpop]

It seems like SO much money. I am staying local which helps but I hate the thought of MORE loans. Anyhow, I will be taking out Stafford loans. I agree with ealrier poster, no private loans for me. I was blessed to get a partial scholarship, if I didn't I can not afford it at all.

Thankfully, I am getting in-state tuition, so it's not as expensive as it could be, but I am also getting direct sub- and unsubsidized loans. Also, I am still applying for GA positions, which would help tremendously!

[slp 500]

I definitely would like more info about it. What 3 schools offer them? I would love to get some done during the summer and online if possible.

hi

i dnt hav a under grad in slp aswell

i am told i need to take prerequisites n dat my course duration would

be any where between 3 1/2- 4 yrs

i hav applied for m.s in slp n hav got admission in csu- east bay

and hav got admission aswell for fall 2011

i need to get credits for the following prerequistes

1.general psychology

2. elements of probability and statistics

3. developmental psychology or child cognative deveopment

along with all the upper division courses within the slp dept

can i apply for online courses for all the subjects mentioned above..???

is der any way that i can reduce the time period of of my course to say

2 1/2- 3yrs

il be looking fwrd to any reply

thanx

[slpgrad1]

I have been accepted to the Nova distance program. There is no SLP program in my area. I start in fall of 2012. You do not have to live in Florida for the distance program. The only residential requirement is a weekend in the summer prior to the program start.

I know Cal State Northridge has an online program. The deadline for the new cohort is September 1st: http://tsengcollege.csun.edu/cds/

[leelan10]

That seems unnecessarily harsh and vague, too! Sorry you had to receive that. But it seems as though you're better off going elsewhere if they treat people like that!

That does seem rough....I'm just applying now for next fall and i'm absolutely terrrified! Do you mind offering up your stats (gpa, gre, etc)?

[vpeters25]

Seeing as the last posting is from July, I don't know if anyone will read this, but I was wondering whether it makes a difference if you visit the schools you plan on applying to. I believe someone mentioned that they thought it didn't really matter and another person said that the clinical director remembered her name from visiting, so I was just wondering what other people thought. I am going to be applying to out of state schools and it would be a bit costly to travel to all of them, but if it really would make some sort of difference, I would go out and visit at some point. Thanks!

[caffeinerd]

Seeing as the last posting is from July, I don't know if anyone will read this, but I was wondering whether it makes a difference if you visit the schools you plan on applying to. I believe someone mentioned that they thought it didn't really matter and another person said that the clinical director remembered her name from visiting, so I was just wondering what other people thought. I am going to be applying to out of state schools and it would be a bit costly to travel to all of them, but if it really would make some sort of difference, I would go out and visit at some point. Thanks!

I saw your bump!

In my experience, it doesn't make a difference/impact at all. It seems to me that many many schools get many many applicants, and I doubt they would have even remembered me from just a tour. With the exception of the school I was already taking classes at for undergrad that also has a Master's program, I didn't go to any of my schools before I applied. None of my friends did, either. I didn't apply too far from home, so even if I did visit it would only have been a max 3-hour-or-so drive, but I would *never* have paid big bucks to go fly out of state for a school I wasn't even accepted at yet. I understand completely about the delicacy of picking the right places to apply to, don't get me wrong. But, unless you are particularly curious about a specific program or, say, there is a professor that you really want to meet with in person, I'd say don't even bother. Much of what I gleaned from schools that weren't within reasonable driving distance in order of importance was from 1) their websites/brochures, 2) professors I emailed, and 3) current students. There's no reason proper research can't be done from your desk at home.

I did, however, visit all of my admitted schools AFTER I was accepted, and I'm glad I waited to be sure I didn't waste time and money. I didn't want to rule any place out until I was sure it wasn't right for me. Plus, if you've been admitted at a school, it's likely you'll get more personal attention because all your things will already be on file. By that point, talking to potential professors was beneficial and helpful in making my choice (and some of them recognized my name if they had been on the admissions committee).

I hope this helps! App season was an extremely stressful time, so making deliberate decisions is a great way to go about completing those applications. Good luck to you! I'm no expert and I'm not sure where you're located, but feel free to PM me anytime with specifics (I still check this every now and then).

[vpeters25]

Thanks for the reply! I'm out in California, and I don't plan on applying to any of the schools out here. They get sooooo many applicants for their programs and I am ready for a change (not to mention the fact that the CA public school system is crap right now). How did you go about contacting current students? I was thinking about doing that, but I wasn't quite sure how to find out who to contact, etc.

[Tall vanilla latte]

Received the teach DOE NYC full scholarship!!! Woo hoo!

[fsustar83]

Any Fall 2012 SLP applicants? I haven't started the application process yet, but I've narrowed my list down to:

-Florida Atlantic Univ.

-Florida State Univ. (distance & on-campus)

-Univ. of Florida

-Univ. of Central Florida

-Univ. of South Florida

-Portland State Univ.

-Univ. of Oregon

-CSU Chico

-Univ. of New Mexico

I guess I've based my choices mainly on where I wouldn't mind living. I live in South FL right now, and am finishing up my pre-reqs at FAU in Boca. This process is so nervewracking!

[caterpillar]

Hi fsustar83 - I lurk these boards for my husband, who is going to be applying for fall 2012. He's currently attending PSU's post-bacc program, and will be applying to Portland State, University of Washington, Sacramento State, and San Francisco State. Good luck!