NYU - Post visit

[mystiqueSLP]

Hi everyone! I know some people weren't able to go to NYU's admitted student event so I'm going to list a few things that I learned about at the event.

 

I don't know what constitutes as a "good" event or a bad one since this was my first (and most likely only) event.

 

Things that stood out to me:

 

- You can take pre-reqs concurrently with some graduate courses. You can also take some pre-reqs this summer.

- NYU really appreciates students who don't have a CSD background. Students who don't have pre-reqs aren't treated as "below" students who have a CSD background.

- There is on-campus clinical practicum and off-campus practicum. The school encourages students to finish all required courses before off-campus practicum so you get your pick of placements, more time to focus, and it will be cheaper since the two off-campus practicum courses are considered full-time even though they're only 1 credit each.

- On-campus practicum at the Cooke Center with adults with Huntington's disease

- There are off-campus areas affiliated with NYU in New Jersey and Connecticut so you can fulfill your off-campus practicum requirements there as well

- Different electives, including one on baby trachs, an inter-disciplinary course with nutrition science on dysphagia, and another with vocal performers

- NYU has a pretty in-depth curriculum (53 credits + 24 pre-req credits) and they claim that this allows NYU students to get better placements in the city over other NY schools

- Individualized advising and course plan so you take the classes you need/want and go at your own pace (you don't have to finish such and such by this date)

- Class sizes are typically around 20 students and since everyone is taking whatever class they need, the people in your class will vary which I find to be a lot more interesting. You get to meet more people and it isn't as boring where you're stuck with the same people in all of your classes who you may or may not like.

- Study abroad in Lund, Sweden

- All of the students said that the program was challenging and intense

 

Financial aspects:

 

- The financial aid package is the max amount including tuition, fees and room + board. You can choose to take what you need.

 

I talked with a few current students about how expensive NYU is. Almost all of the students said they were receiving financial aid (loans + work-study). They also said that they were not concerned at all about paying their loans off after graduating since, they said, that this is an in-demand field where getting a job is no problem and the average salary for SLPs in NYC is $120,000. They were all really confident that they would be able to pay everything off eventually. I asked if they knew anyone who graduated and had any problems and they said that everyone they knew had a job and were in the process of paying their loans back without an issue. They also said that they see the cost of NYU as "worth it", that NYU may be expensive but you get what you paid for.

 

I don't know if they were just sugar-coating but I also somewhat doubt that all of NYU grad students end up in a miserable sea of debt after graduating.

 

- Work-study includes any jobs around campus or doing research with one of the professors.

 

Overall feel:

 

- The professors seemed genuinely nice and excited to meet us. The financial aid lady was also really nice. The current students all seem to really love NYU's program and everyone was so friendly and open. It also seems like the students get along with their professors really well.

- They emphasized a feeling of "community" for their students and that a lot of students become friends with each other. They try to hold events and have fun but they also noted that you have to reach out.

- Their on-campus clinic is small but it looks really nice. There was an area for observations and another area where students can just study together. 

- The city itself is just great. Being able to do your practicum in such a large city with so many different types of people is awesome.

 

Random:

- There was food, the tech guy was really slick, and their pens had purple ink. One girl asked if NYU had a medical setting emphasis since she had an interest in that and the department chair told her that their program prepared them for any setting, she basically said "I want you to be able to observe and treat a client with what you have in your pockets".

 

I know this event was trying to draw students to join so obviously there was some sugar-coating involved. But with the rumors surrounding NYU's program, I must say that I'm impressed. I expected a disorganized mess with professors phoning it in and snotty current students who looked down on us. But the event was organized and done efficiently. The current students who took us for tours didn't try to finish up by any set time and stuck around to answer questions long after the tour was over (at least the student I was with did).

 

Either way, NYU sure knows how to sell itself! And personally for me, NYU offers a LOT more than Montclair in terms of clinical and real life experiences so I'm really leaning towards NYU now. I hope this helps someone and counters some of the bad rumors! Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them. Good luck everyone!

[orangeSLP]

I agree with EVERYTHING mystiqueSLP says. I was very impressed with the whole event.

[Michelle M]

Hey everyone!! 


Yeah, I am really thrown as to why there is this reputation as NYU not being as good -- I know that today was supposed to sway us to attend there, but to me it seems like a very well-rounded program that is rooted in in creating a good, broad knowledge base in order to make well-informed choices as a clinician. Did anyone happen to talk to any of the past/current students that had anything even mildly negative to say? Everyone seemed to love NYU sooooooooooooooo much, but I think there's always going to be positive and negative aspects to any program, right? 

[mystiqueSLP]

Hey everyone!! 

Yeah, I am really thrown as to why there is this reputation as NYU not being as good -- I know that today was supposed to sway us to attend there, but to me it seems like a very well-rounded program that is rooted in in creating a good, broad knowledge base in order to make well-informed choices as a clinician. Did anyone happen to talk to any of the past/current students that had anything even mildly negative to say? Everyone seemed to love NYU sooooooooooooooo much, but I think there's always going to be positive and negative aspects to any program, right? 

 

The only negative thing I heard from the current students was about how expensive the program is, which is very true. It is a BIG negative but it's sort of like designer shoes - expensive but well-made even though regular shoes would work just as well. It's really up to you on what you prefer.

 

I went to the state school for undergrad so I'm really excited about maybe going to school in the city, sounds so glamorous for me! 

[orangeSLP]

To me, the NYU reputation seems to be negative due to the cost alone. I haven't heard/seen on this website anything specific about why the program is not great besides "tuition is absurd." I do think that if you have been accepted into more than one program, it is easy to look at the tuition at NYU comparably to other schools and wonder if you're getting THAT much better of an education for the money you are paying. However, those of us who have only been accepted here are in a different position, weighing wether the money will be manageable to pay off, or if it is simply too much to feel comfortable with. I truly think that the talk of bad reputation is solely due to the cost of the program after visiting yesterday. To me, it seemed like a great program, just a matter of whether or not you personally feel OK with paying it off. 

[ald360]

so glad that you guys had a great experience yesterday!!! i also wanted to say since i went to undergrad there that i had a chance to observe two therapy sessions conducted by NYU grad students at the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Center in the Huntington's Disease Unit. The student clinicians seemed to really enjoy their time there and were learning a lot about functional communication and making therapy unique to each individual client. This is a VERY experience if you are interested in the medical/neurological aspects of speech! The only thing is that it is a bit farther uptown from NYU, so you will have to take the 4/5/6 and walk there (it's near east harlem/central park).

[puertosurf]

Thanks for posting, this is great!

 

Can anyone else confirm that 120K is the average salary in NYC? I haven't heard that before. On Glassdoor, average salaries are 65K, but on Indeed they are in the 100+ range.

[mystiqueSLP]

Thanks for posting, this is great!

Can anyone else confirm that 120K is the average salary in NYC? I haven't heard that before. On Glassdoor, average salaries are 65K, but on Indeed they are in the 100+ range.

You're welcome!

And it was something a current student and an admitted student from out of state were talking about and agreed on like it was common knowledge. I don't know if it's true but to hear the admitted student agree makes it seem like less of a sugar-coated fact contrived by NYU at the very least.

Edited April 5, 2013 by mystiqueSLP

[clydeyo12]

Thanks for the detailed info mystiqueSLP! This allays a lot of the doubts I had about the program. It looks like anyone who attends NYU will get a great education and some awesome experiences in the city to boot!

 

At this point I will probably not be accepting. I got unofficial word that I am getting into the program at my post-bacc school and I have an interview next week for an assistantship in their speech clinic! Great opportunity for me and maybe a free education. I admit though, I'm a bit jealous of the NYU attendees! I'm sure we'll all have a great experience though =)

[seahorse]

Is it really true that the average salary in NYC for SLPs is $120,000? That seems insane to me. And makes me want to move to New York after grad school.

[slpf13]

seahorse,

I am sure that is not the case for starting SLP CFY students. It might take a few good connections/years to get up to that range even in the city (I think that's what the poster was referring to). Considering the cost of living of the city, transportation, and paying off the loans from NYU or Columbia..that salary is just what one would need. But, yes, SLPs do seem to earn higher wages here because of the population density and the prime location. But, consider the cost of life in NYC first!! lol! Even $120 K might not be enough!
NY also requires extra certification especially to work in schools, including the TSSLD certification if you want to work in a school or anywhere near children (clinic, school, or hospital) and NY also requires re-licensing and continuing coursework every few years. All of that might be on ASHA. So, yes nice salary (eventually) but long road.

[mystiqueSLP]

Is it really true that the average salary in NYC for SLPs is $120,000? That seems insane to me. And makes me want to move to New York after grad school.

Definitely just the average, I'm sure there are some really rich SLPs out there that increased the average slightly I've heard that starting salary is around $40,000 in the city (not sure though). And I think NYU allows you to get TSSLD through their program but I'm not sure about that either.

And congrats clydeyo12!!!

Edited April 6, 2013 by mystiqueSLP

[Michelle M]

Hey is anyone DEFINITELY going to NYU??? I really have nooo idea which school I'm going to choose... !

I also got into Columbia TC and I just don't know what to do! I know NYU has some "reputation" as not being good, but I felt a warmer reception from them than I did at TC for some reason. 

Edited April 9, 2013 by Michelle M

[mystiqueSLP]

Hey is anyone DEFINITELY going to NYU??? I really have nooo idea which school I'm going to choose... !

I also got into Columbia TC and I just don't know what to do! I know NYU has some "reputation" as not being good, but I felt a warmer reception from them than I did at TC for some reason. 

 

 

I don't think NYU's "bad" reputation is true at this point. Whenever I look it up, I just see people repeating, "I've heard that NYU's reputation isn't great!" without any facts to back it up and it was probably started by some bitter student.

 

What was the TC event like? Similar to NYU? Less friendlier? I thought NYU's event was just really welcoming and friendly. I'm waiting to visit Montclair (apparently they don't have an official day for admitted students to visit so I'm not too impressed at the moment).

 

I'm 70% sure I want to go to NYU but Montclair's tuition cost is so tempting....

[Sunny1234]

This post is from last year; thought I'd bump this up for everyone wondering about NYU.