Expensive program with warm weather or not expensive with horrible weather?

[Lillies123]

Hey everyone!

I would love to get some insight form all of you on my admission decision. I am debating between Worcester State University in Worcester, MA or University of Central Florida in Orlando,FL. These are both for speech language pathology. My issue is: WSU Annual Tuition is $7,050 with $293.75/per credit hr opposed to UCF, whose tuition is $1121.44/credit hour for out of state students. So as you can see, there is a MAJOR difference in cost. Overall, I have heard nothing but great things about UCF's program and I have heard clinicians graduate well prepared. On the other hand, I haven't heard much about WSU's program. I would love to go to Florida to get away from the miserable weather in NE as well. So my fellow gradcafe friends, what would your advice or thoughts be on this issue? Florida (which is more expensive but has nice weather and an amazing program) or WSU(which has a good program as well with miserable weather and less expensive)? Have you ever had to chose between two universities like these?

[mandy]

Hey everyone!

I would love to get some insight form all of you on my admission decision. I am debating between Worcester State University in Worcester, MA or University of Central Florida in Orlando,FL. These are both for speech language pathology. My issue is: WSU Annual Tuition is $7,050 with $293.75/per credit hr opposed to UCF, whose tuition is $1121.44/credit hour for out of state students. So as you can see, there is a MAJOR difference in cost. Overall, I have heard nothing but great things about UCF's program and I have heard clinicians graduate well prepared. On the other hand, I haven't heard much about WSU's program. I would love to go to Florida to get away from the miserable weather in NE as well. So my fellow gradcafe friends, what would your advice or thoughts be on this issue? Florida (which is more expensive but has nice weather and an amazing program) or WSU(which has a good program as well with miserable weather and less expensive)? Have you ever had to chose between two universities like these?

It's a tough call. I would suggest you try to gather more information about the quality of the two programs. Sine you pursue your study, I would say the final choice depends on how much you can get out of your learning experience in a program so that you can find a good job in the future. As for the weather, I am in MN. The snowing winter time can last almost six months, but I am used to it now. I love my program because it gives me a lot of opportunities to enhance myself. Good luck with your choice. As long as you think it is worth it, at least you can say " I have no regrets"

[wtncffts]

So, I'm assuming there's no funding for either program? If so, as mandy says, you need to decide whether the difference in quality of the programs is worth the extra cost. That's what should be foremost in your decision, though; I wouldn't decide based on weather. Unless the weather, in your experience, actually causes you psychological problems, as I guess it does some people, I see no reason to put that much emphasis on it.

[Lillies123]

So, I'm assuming there's no funding for either program? If so, as mandy says, you need to decide whether the difference in quality of the programs is worth the extra cost. That's what should be foremost in your decision, though; I wouldn't decide based on weather. Unless the weather, in your experience, actually causes you psychological problems, as I guess it does some people, I see no reason to put that much emphasis on it.

Thanks for the advice. I have been putting together pros and cons for both to help in my decision. I haven't heard about funding yet for either program but I am assuming they will notify students within a few weeks.

[rising_star]

It's only two years, right? I say go to whichever will best prepare you for the career you want to have. Weather shouldn't be a huge consideration.

[Lillies123]

It's only two years, right? I say go to whichever will best prepare you for the career you want to have. Weather shouldn't be a huge consideration.

That's what I was thinking..it's only two years. The expensive program is exceptional and I heard it prepares you for the test to obtain your licence as a SLP. I haven't heard anything about the inexpensive program so I have no clue about the quality. I figured if it's only two years it won't break the bank too much. Have you gotten any financial assistance for your program? And if so, where did you look?

[solder]

If both programs are equal in preparing you for your future, in the words of a beloved AP Eng. teacher when I was trying to decide on colleges, "Follow the money" (or in this case the one that will cost least).

[one eyed rex]

I agree that the weather should be a minor consideration. But I'm moving from NC to MN for my PhD, so I'm clearly trying to justify my own decision here.

[Sleepy]

I think you should accept the offer based on where you want to live after graduation.

If you are planning to move back to RI but have made all your contacts in Florida, you will find it very hard to find a job and move back north.

But if you want to stay in FL, then it would be better to move there now, so you can network during school.

[switch]

I would vote for the university with the educational and local culture that will sustain you best. If one program is much better than the other. If one program emphasizes group work versus exams. If one is very conservative, religious, etc, and you're also conservative, religious or not. And also think about whether you will stay that after getting your degree, because a lot of alum networking is regional.

[juilletmercredi]

Assuming a 45-credit program, that's $50K of debt not including living expenses for UCF, vs. $13K for WSU. Let's say that you borrown $20K for living expenses in Florida per year, but $25K in MA to account for the different living expenses. That's still $90K at UCF but $63K at WSU.

For a two year program, I don't think you should go anywhere for location or weather considerations. There is no law saying that you'll have to stay in the Northeast your entire life. You can pursue jobs in the South or other warmer regions later on in life. You don't have to go to school nearby where you want to live - it's ideal if you can, of course, but people move states all the time. Particularly in fields that require licensure, if you can get reciprocal licensure in another state you are usually good to go. And with email and the telephone, you can make contacts anywhere, especially if you go to professional conferences and networking events. I have contacts in many different parts of the country - in fact, most of my contacts are NOT in New York.

I also do not agree with the "university culture" argument. That's an undergraduate thing. When you are in grad school, the atmosphere of the university doesn't affect you as much; it's more about the atmosphere of your particular departments and the resources that are available to you.

[Lillies123]

Assuming a 45-credit program, that's $50K of debt not including living expenses for UCF, vs. $13K for WSU. Let's say that you borrown $20K for living expenses in Florida per year, but $25K in MA to account for the different living expenses. That's still $90K at UCF but $63K at WSU.

For a two year program, I don't think you should go anywhere for location or weather considerations. There is no law saying that you'll have to stay in the Northeast your entire life. You can pursue jobs in the South or other warmer regions later on in life. You don't have to go to school nearby where you want to live - it's ideal if you can, of course, but people move states all the time. Particularly in fields that require licensure, if you can get reciprocal licensure in another state you are usually good to go. And with email and the telephone, you can make contacts anywhere, especially if you go to professional conferences and networking events. I have contacts in many different parts of the country - in fact, most of my contacts are NOT in New York.

I also do not agree with the "university culture" argument. That's an undergraduate thing. When you are in grad school, the atmosphere of the university doesn't affect you as much; it's more about the atmosphere of your particular departments and the resources that are available to you.

This is EXCELLENT advice. I actually decided on WSU because of the low cost. In addition, WSU is only about 50 something credits and UCF is 70 something credits...resulting in more debt! I thought about it logically as jullietmercredi put it, two years and you are done with a program, not in debt and you can go ANYWHERE your heart desires. Yes, I am sure I would be able to network with more people while in Florida, but if I attend professional conferences, etc. maybe I can build connections that way as well. I probably won't even be able to enjoy that wonderful weather anyways! Thank you all for the advice!

[joops]

I wouldn't call the weather in MA horrible. It can be bad, but it doesn't have the 5 month winters I have endured in Western NY the past four years.

[switch]

Assuming a 45-credit program, that's $50K of debt not including living expenses for UCF, vs. $13K for WSU. Let's say that you borrown $20K for living expenses in Florida per year, but $25K in MA to account for the different living expenses. That's still $90K at UCF but $63K at WSU.

For a two year program, I don't think you should go anywhere for location or weather considerations. There is no law saying that you'll have to stay in the Northeast your entire life. You can pursue jobs in the South or other warmer regions later on in life. You don't have to go to school nearby where you want to live - it's ideal if you can, of course, but people move states all the time. Particularly in fields that require licensure, if you can get reciprocal licensure in another state you are usually good to go. And with email and the telephone, you can make contacts anywhere, especially if you go to professional conferences and networking events. I have contacts in many different parts of the country - in fact, most of my contacts are NOT in New York.

I also do not agree with the "university culture" argument. That's an undergraduate thing. When you are in grad school, the atmosphere of the university doesn't affect you as much; it's more about the atmosphere of your particular departments and the resources that are available to you.

I've been in about four graduate programs so far, and I left undergrad about 15 years ago. University culture is very real. I would hate to go to a highly religious, conservative program. Look at what happened to the conservative student who refused to deal with gays as counselling patients and she got kicked out of her graduate counselling program. Some programs use a lot of collaborative groups; others are competitive. Some groups emphasize professional ethics; others are very international. It's ridiculous to assume all the programs are exactly the same and you can make regional schools like "Mercy College" or "Wayne State" relevant in states that have never heard of these universities.

[switch]

This is EXCELLENT advice. I actually decided on WSU because of the low cost. In addition, WSU is only about 50 something credits and UCF is 70 something credits...resulting in more debt! I thought about it logically as jullietmercredi put it, two years and you are done with a program, not in debt and you can go ANYWHERE your heart desires. Yes, I am sure I would be able to network with more people while in Florida, but if I attend professional conferences, etc. maybe I can build connections that way as well. I probably won't even be able to enjoy that wonderful weather anyways! Thank you all for the advice!

No. It's NOT excellent advice.

Universities talk all the time about "fit." Ignore the "fit" talk at your own peril. It's immature to say that all universities are the same and just differentiated by their price tags.