SLP @ Teachers College or Bloomington IU?

[annieplease]

Does anyone know how comparable these two programs are? I'm trying to decide which program to choose and it has been very stressful. Each place has its pros and cons.

[kayrlis]

Have you visited both (or either)? What about cost of living?

Bloomington would be much less expensive than living in NYC. My thoughts about Teachers' College are that if I went there, the most affordable living options--most likely living with friends from undergrad--would be a solid hour commute away, in an outer borough. That's another factor to take into consideration. You can find less-expensive, safe housing in New York, but it might be fairly far away.

Bloomington is beautiful, and I've heard it's quite liberal. I've only visited the areas around it (Oliver Winery, Nashville, Brown County State Park), but it is quite lovely. And Indianapolis, though not as big as NYC by any means, is a city that is right there. And IUPUI has a great med school if you're looking to get into the medical setting.

Have you called both the departments and spoken to actual human beings? I find that that's been helpful in my decisions for where to go for SLP right now.

[mscongeniality1]

Have you visited both (or either)? What about cost of living?

Bloomington would be much less expensive than living in NYC. My thoughts about Teachers' College are that if I went there, the most affordable living options--most likely living with friends from undergrad--would be a solid hour commute away, in an outer borough. That's another factor to take into consideration. You can find less-expensive, safe housing in New York, but it might be fairly far away.

Bloomington is beautiful, and I've heard it's quite liberal. I've only visited the areas around it (Oliver Winery, Nashville, Brown County State Park), but it is quite lovely. And Indianapolis, though not as big as NYC by any means, is a city that is right there. And IUPUI has a great med school if you're looking to get into the medical setting.

Have you called both the departments and spoken to actual human beings? I find that that's been helpful in my decisions for where to go for SLP right now.

I agree with all of this. My hometown is about 40 minutes from Bloomington, and though I'm about to graduate from IU's rival school, I must admit that Bloomington would be a wonderful place to live as a graduate student. As the above poster said, it is very, very liberal...probably the most liberal you're gonna get in Indiana, except for maybe parts of Indianapolis. The IU music/theatre program is top-notch so if you're into seeing operas or musicals or shows than that will be an easy place to do that for cheap or (possibly) free. Nashville is the cutest craftiest little town if you're into shops. Brown County is a wonderful hiking/outdoorsy place. Indy is fun, with Louisville and Cincinnati not too terribly far away either. I don't know a lot about either program, but I know that in general IU is strong in SLP. A lot of the people in my program are considering IU at the moment.

Personally, if I was choosing between the two schools, I would stick with IU, but that's because NYC would be so overwhelming for me! Hope this helps and best of luck in your decision. If you'd like to know more about the area, feel free to get in touch!

[annieplease]

Have you visited both (or either)? What about cost of living?

Bloomington would be much less expensive than living in NYC. My thoughts about Teachers' College are that if I went there, the most affordable living options--most likely living with friends from undergrad--would be a solid hour commute away, in an outer borough. That's another factor to take into consideration. You can find less-expensive, safe housing in New York, but it might be fairly far away.

Bloomington is beautiful, and I've heard it's quite liberal. I've only visited the areas around it (Oliver Winery, Nashville, Brown County State Park), but it is quite lovely. And Indianapolis, though not as big as NYC by any means, is a city that is right there. And IUPUI has a great med school if you're looking to get into the medical setting.

Have you called both the departments and spoken to actual human beings? I find that that's been helpful in my decisions for where to go for SLP right now.

I haven't visited IN or NYC. I'm from Los Angeles, California, so I assume NYC is relatively similar, just busier and more crowded..and more expensive. Next week, I'm flying out to visit Indianapolis and Bloomington, and the program. Here is my dilemma. TC is extremely expensive (2.5yrs, $87K tuition debt) and I'd have to work in NYC for 6 years if I want them to waive my tuition. Indiana is less expensive, and they're giving me a tuition remission for the first year and a $8K stipend my second year (3 yrs, $35K tuition debt). TC would give me a lot of connections. Indiana's program, although higher-ranked by U.S. News, might seem less highly regarded by some people, just because it's the midwest. Also, there isn't an extremely large population of Latinos there compared to NYC. However I think there has to be a good amount in Indiana since the bilingual program there has been sustained (I'm going for the bilingual program). I'm leaning more towards Indiana because the city life has been a drain on me, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be happy living in NY. But Columbia is such an attractive title; the diversity there is also very appealing. I'm just not sure if future employers will care about where I went to grad school. Also, do you know how reliable U.S. News rankings are?

The main thing that's holding me back from Columbia is living in NY for the next 7+ years. I'm going to feel like in indentured servant. And I also don't know how appealing a title from IU will look to employers from California. I don't know how state licensing works either. Supposedly, IU is highly regarded in this field, but is it highly regarded by people outside of the midwest?

[gretel]

I haven't visited IN or NYC. I'm from Los Angeles, California, so I assume NYC is relatively similar, just busier and more crowded..and more expensive. Next week, I'm flying out to visit Indianapolis and Bloomington, and the program. Here is my dilemma. TC is extremely expensive (2.5yrs, $87K tuition debt) and I'd have to work in NYC for 6 years if I want them to waive my tuition. Indiana is less expensive, and they're giving me a tuition remission for the first year and a $8K stipend my second year (3 yrs, $35K tuition debt). TC would give me a lot of connections. Indiana's program, although higher-ranked by U.S. News, might seem less highly regarded by some people, just because it's the midwest. Also, there isn't an extremely large population of Latinos there compared to NYC. However I think there has to be a good amount in Indiana since the bilingual program there has been sustained (I'm going for the bilingual program). I'm leaning more towards Indiana because the city life has been a drain on me, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be happy living in NY. But Columbia is such an attractive title; the diversity there is also very appealing. I'm just not sure if future employers will care about where I went to grad school. Also, do you know how reliable U.S. News rankings are?

The main thing that's holding me back from Columbia is living in NY for the next 7+ years. I'm going to feel like in indentured servant. And I also don't know how appealing a title from IU will look to employers from California. I don't know how state licensing works either. Supposedly, IU is highly regarded in this field, but is it highly regarded by people outside of the midwest?

What do you mean "waive my tuition?" Are you talking about the BOE scholarship? If so, keep in mind that those are very difficult to get, so do not go to TC if you're depending on that scholarship. My friend got one for OT, but I've heard that they've become rarer for SLPs, especially with the budget crisis that is affecting New York state (and everywhere, obviously). I was thinking about the BOE scholarship, too, but like you, I don't want to be required to live in NYC for ages. I love it here, but life happens, and I may want to/need to move after school.

I have a friend who went to a CUNY for SLP, and now she's living in Portland, Oregon working in a school and very happy with her life. She said that nobody cared that they didn't know much about the school she went for her master's degree. Wherever you go will be ASHA-certified and will give you numerous internships to put on your CV, and that is what matters the most. Oh, and of course your quality of life and happiness matters the most!

Personally I would go to IU! Have you ever seen Breaking Away? Rent it immediately. It seems like a wonderful place to be a student!

[annieplease]

What do you mean "waive my tuition?" Are you talking about the BOE scholarship? If so, keep in mind that those are very difficult to get, so do not go to TC if you're depending on that scholarship. My friend got one for OT, but I've heard that they've become rarer for SLPs, especially with the budget crisis that is affecting New York state (and everywhere, obviously). I was thinking about the BOE scholarship, too, but like you, I don't want to be required to live in NYC for ages. I love it here, but life happens, and I may want to/need to move after school.

I have a friend who went to a CUNY for SLP, and now she's living in Portland, Oregon working in a school and very happy with her life. She said that nobody cared that they didn't know much about the school she went for her master's degree. Wherever you go will be ASHA-certified and will give you numerous internships to put on your CV, and that is what matters the most. Oh, and of course your quality of life and happiness matters the most!

Personally I would go to IU! Have you ever seen Breaking Away? Rent it immediately. It seems like a wonderful place to be a student!

Thanks Gretel for the tips! I was referring to the NYCDOE Scholarship. I do realize that it's a chance thing too and that the scholarship isn't guaranteed. Which programs did you get into and where are you going?

[gretel]

Thanks Gretel for the tips! I was referring to the NYCDOE Scholarship. I do realize that it's a chance thing too and that the scholarship isn't guaranteed. Which programs did you get into and where are you going?

Well definitely apply if you choose TC! I don't like the thought of committing to 8 more years (including graduate school) in NYC, but on the other hand it would be nice to have a guaranteed job.

I was accepted to Adelphi, Hunter, and TC. I was wait-ilisted at NYU. I haven't made my decision yet, so I'm trying to find out as much as possible before I do so.

Edited April 5, 2011 by gretel