Registering for post-bacc?

[Kate22192]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm looking more and more into SLP but realizing how long of a process it is for an out-of-fielder. For the next year, I'll be paying off undergrad loans, then would have to do a year of post-bacc and then two years masters. This is while living at home with parents, and I don't want to be home that long if possible...kinda driving me crazy haha. So, on that note, I was thinking of seeing if I could start post-bacc classes this upcoming fall, and potentially apply while taking them?? To ideally start the masters the next fall.

 

SO, that said, can anyone give me advice on registration for post-baccs? As it is March now, is it too late to register for fall online courses? I was looking at Utah State due to its flexibility and cheap cost, but I think I missed it...?

[Lyra1960]

http://comd.usu.edu/htm/online-programs/communicative-disorders-2nd/admissions-comm-disorders-2nd

Unless I'm not reading it correctly, the admissions deadline for summer is April 1 and for fall is June 1st. I was out of field too and started the summer of 2014 and will finish the this semester (spring 2015). I applied for masters programs starting Fall 2015 (having completed 2 semesters at USU-8 classes in total). I think it's fairly common if not the norm to apply before you finish your post bacc. I've had several acceptances and am very happy with how my journey towards becoming an SLP has gone so far. As long as you have the prereqs, schools really don't seem to care where you took them or how. I know some people are worried about how online classes are going to be viewed by grad schools, but based on my personal experience top ranked to bottom ranked grad school all treat them seriously. What is more important is doing well in them and your 1st bachelors+gres (very important it seems). Applying to USU is very easy and they accept pretty much anyone who has the minimum requirements (basically a bachelors I think), so if you wanted you could probably even squeeze in an application to start for the summer term. Lol grad school applications are a little (meaning a lot, a lot, a lot, more stressful!) Warning the application process is a nightmare, but once you get through it, it's very rewarding. Hope that helps a little. Sorry if I got anything wrong, probably if you call, they'd be happy to answer any questions. They online program is huge and big money maker for them, so I'm sure they're always looking for new students/ to promote it. 

 

edit: lol just read, they will even accept applications after the deadline, they just will charge an extra fee

Edited March 27, 2015 by Lyra1960

[MonicaSLP]

I registered last year for USU summer classes days before classes started because I was still figuring out my plan. Definitely start with summer classes to move things along. I started last summer, applied this season, and will be starting grad school this fall. 4 semesters part time (including this summer to cover my ASHA requirements).  It's very doable and I’ve had only good experiences with my communication disorders classes with them.

 

I didn't take all the ones they recommend - I based my class choices on the requirements of my first choice school, figuring I would use the last summer for anything I missed if my plan changed. You can also take them out of order if you need to and ask them to lift the hold. Be sure to click on "non-drgree seeking". They have also been helpful any time i email, if you need help navigating it.

 

If you know your first choice schools, you can send them the list of USU classes, and they will tell you which ones they accept. Once I had that information it was much easier to know I was on the right track.

[neucool]

Actually, they won't let you register as a non-degree seeking student UNTIL April 1st for summer.

[Kate22192]

Thank you for all the responses, everyone. Some things are still confusing to me though....

 

Does USU have a post-bachelors option to do a FULL post-bac? and if so, is this separate from the non-degree seeking courses?

 

I'm just not sure how to approach this. I'm studying for the GRE now and plan to take it in June. I'd like Montclair or Kean; both are about an hour from me, tuition is doable if I get a grad assistantship. Obviously, two schools is a huge reach, so I suppose I'd also apply to Stockton, Willy P, Seton, and Monmouth.

 

Each one has a huge variety of pre-reqs it wants, so what do I do? Kean, for instance, wants 8 courses, while Montclair wants 5. HOWEVER, if you look at Monctlair's admissions site (it won't let me paste the link), they state:

 

"If the Speech-Language Pathology Admission Committee determines by review of official transcript(s)  that an applicant has successfully completed or is currently taking 2 (or fewer) of the pre-professional courses at the time of application review, that applicant will be considered Without a Background in SLP. If an applicant Without A Background in SLP is accepted into the program but chooses to complete the pre-professional coursework prior to entering the program during the fall semester, they should be aware that a maximum of two pre-professional courses will be applied toward their work program during the advising session. Subsequently, during the summer advising session, they will be placed on the Without a Background SLP track for fall semester matriculation."

 

What does this mean? If I enrolled in, say, three online courses in the fall and applied during the fall, without having completed them yet, what happens? Can I take the other two in the spring and be on the With a background track? I just don't get it....

 

 

Also, I do have a bit of time. I'm not going to start this summer; fall earliest. I'm going through a really really rough breakup right now and some serious anxiety issues and will be doing what I need to do to work on myself and sort all that out. The next few months I need to focus on me. But any help to plan my fall would be SERIOUSLY appreciated.

[MonicaSLP]

The earliest applications are due mid January (check your schools to be sure). So you will be able to finish the first few classes before then.

 

My biggest headache was also trying to balance which each school wanted. If you do the ones USU recommends

 

(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCsQjBAwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcomd.usu.edu%2Fhtm%2Fonline-programs%2Fcommunicative-disorders-2nd%2Fcourses-syllabi&ei=fJsVVargJ8efgwS5hYHABw&usg=AFQjCNGw3JeRxly4xTZydApVV9lr7REhLw&sig2=0rlTl7lbvhlTyteqdZNuXw&bvm=bv.89381419,d.eXY)

 

, you should be in good shape to cover most of it. Try to leave some extra room during the final summer though in case the school you decide on needs something you haven't planned for. And be sure to include the ASHA requirements too. I know you think you won't be ready to take classes this summer, but you may want to consider just doing one or two to get the ball rolling and get a feel for the classes. It might save you a huge headache in the end.

Edited March 27, 2015 by MonicaSLP

[Kate22192]

They recommend 12 courses?! See, this is what's confusing me. Since Montclair says 5 and Kean 8, I feel like I should only take up to 8! Other schools seem to want a bit more, but I figure if they let me in I could do it then....Hmm. There's so much to think about.

 

Does anyone have experience calling and speaking to admissions counselors? I was considering doing this for each school to see what they say. Montclair in particular, as their With and Without background tracks really confuse me. I just want to make sure I'm doing enough, but not TOO much, so I can start soon. With the way I'm paying my undergrad loans right now, I'll finish them about a year from now. Ideally, if I only have to spend another 5k or so on the pre-reqs, I can also do them and PAY them as I go before I start the masters, and maybe begin it after  next year.

[MonicaSLP]

They recommend 12 courses?! See, this is what's confusing me. Since Montclair says 5 and Kean 8, I feel like I should only take up to 8! Other schools seem to want a bit more, but I figure if they let me in I could do it then....Hmm. There's so much to think about.

 

Does anyone have experience calling and speaking to admissions counselors? I was considering doing this for each school to see what they say. Montclair in particular, as their With and Without background tracks really confuse me. I just want to make sure I'm doing enough, but not TOO much, so I can start soon. With the way I'm paying my undergrad loans right now, I'll finish them about a year from now. Ideally, if I only have to spend another 5k or so on the pre-reqs, I can also do them and PAY them as I go before I start the masters, and maybe begin it after  next year.

The admissions counselors didn't help me, but I eventually found an undergrad advisor who told me class for class the right ones to take at USU. It might take a while to find the right person, but be persistent. Be specific - "Here are the links to the syllabi for USU. Please tell me which classes will fulfill your requirements, or point me in the direction of someone who can".  Finding that person was a game changer for me and made me finally feel like I had a plan. Do this for your top choices and take as many as you can before next summer, leaving room for anything additional.