UNC or Vandy??

[bmdtarheel]

Alright, so I've narrowed my choices down to UNC-CH and Vanderbilt.  

 

I went to UNC for undergrad and work there now.  If I continue to work on the research project I'm on now for 20 hours a week (flexible schedule, related but not SLP), I have 100% funding and a stipend at UNC.  However, I kind of feel like I need a change and a chance to fully commit to my SLP grad school experience instead of feeling stretched in different directions.  I'm not totally sure which area I want to go into yet, which makes me think that I need to devote as much time as I can to experiencing as much of the field as I can. I keep thinking I know and then changing my mind.  For the most part, I think medical and pediatrics, maybe hearing loss.  Full funding is SO rare at UNC and it would be unheard of to leave grad school totally debt free... and still waiting on funding decisions from Vandy (I'm an alternate but at the info session they said they only made people who actually had a chance at funding "alternates").  But is the full experience at a top 5 school worth the money?

 

Does anyone have any insight?  Anything they've heard about people trying to work during this program?  Any pros or cons about either program?  I feel so fortunate to have these 2 GREAT options, but I'm so stressed trying to figure out which one is right for me.  Thanks in advance!!  And good luck to everyone else!

Edited April 8, 2014 by bmdtarheel

[SocGirl2013]

Sounds like you have great options, however I don't know much about SLP and highly recommend posting at the SLP forum for targeted advice. Good luck!

[bmdtarheel]

Ah, I thought I was--I'm new to gradcafe and I pulled up the wrong page.  It's posted there now

Edited April 8, 2014 by bmdtarheel