Is my plan in order? :)

[Kate22192]

Hi, friends!

 

Still in the preliminary works of grad school, but I've put together a haphazard little timeline, and was looking for someone to validate it and confirm it makes sense!

 

so, I'm applying to mostly NJ schools. For the most part, it seems they require anywhere from ABOUT 5-8 pre-reqs, around 18 credits. I'm still paying off a lot of undergrad debt, but will finish around this time next year. SO, my plan is as follows.

 

1. Spring 2016- Take 2 courses in USU's non-degree seeking program.

 

2. Summer 2016- Take 2 more courses!

 

3. Fall 2016- Take 2 more courses, for a total of six

 

4. Winter 2016/17- APPLY TO MY SCHOOLS! Depending on acceptances, take another couple of pre-req courses if needed before matriculation

 

5. Summer 2017- Take an online, or local, physics course. I have all my other ASHA requirements done, ASSUMING schools take my credit from AP Bio, listed as LL SCI (or something of the sort) on my transcript.

 

 

Sooo....does that sound reasonable? also, I have questions!!

 

1. Do you HAVE to do a full post-back at USU, or just select classes as a non-degree seeking student? If the latter, do you actually need to get "accepted" or you just kind of....sign up?

 

2. It seems like one Jersey school, Seton Hall, wants all the ASHA stuff done beforehand. Any idea if they would accept a student without one of those (physics or chem, in my case), and allow the student to do it the summer before?

 

 

Thank you all so much! Everyone on this site has been so incredibly helpful giving me advice so far

 

Kate

[delete-account]

Hey Kate -- 

 

Your plan sounds good. I am doing a prereq at USU right now. There is a form that you fill out to "apply" but it isn't anything strenuous. You do not have to do a full post-bac at USU -- you can just take what you want to take as a non-degree seeking student (I believe this is right, because it's what I'm doing right now). You can always call and ask to be sure. 

 

Have you taken the GRE yet? If not, that needs to figure into your plan somewhere. Summer 2016 would be a good time, so you can re-take it in the Fall if you don't do so well and still have your scores by the time you need to apply. 

 

If I were you, I would try to get the Physics/Chem course done as soon as possible. I know it's tempting to leave it for the end, because it does not directly apply to material learned in SLP grad school, but it is such a basic, across-the-board requirement that it's risky to leave it until the last minute. Grad schools are likely to accept you even if you don't have all of the specific SLP prereqs that they want, but missing an ASHA requirement is not as easily overlooked. 

 

When in doubt, email the department heads of the schools you're applying to and just ask them what they think. Showing that you're interested now, a year+ in advance, will get their attention. Good luck! 

[litesneeze]

Hi

When I applied this year for Fall 2015 in NY schools, some programs made it clear that AP credits or any classes you were barred from taking during your undergraduate career does not qualify under ASHA standards. I took AP Goverment and Politics and was not required to fufill the US History/Poli Sci as an undergrad, but need to take a college course in that category (as well as a foreign language) before the second year of graduate matriculation. Of course, not taking that course did not prevent me from getting accepted. However, different schools have different requirements in terms of the minimum amount of credits needed prior to applying. It is good to not assume so that you may plan accordingly.

Physics or Chemistry courses are great to take in the summer because you can focus on that one particular subject, especially if science is not your strong suit. As a Bio major, I took Physics A during the year and got a B but got an A when i took Physics B in the summer, which is usually more difficult.

[JFFA]

You can take your ASHA requirements in the summer after applying to grad school. I did and found it didn't effect my acceptance, but to be sure check with each school. However, it can actually be helpful if you complete them prior and do well because good grades especially in a hard science (ex physics/chem) look great on a transcript even though they are not directly SLP related. I from jersey but only applied one school in the state, Montclair. They accepted me (though I picked another school) without finishing all my ASHA requirements or the second bachelors from USU ( I had 8 classes done at the time). I also hear they are one of the very few school where it is easier (simple statistics wise: less applicants/more spots) to get into if you come in with NO prereqs because they have to reserve seats for their three year students so their prereq classes can run. I've heard William Patterson is quite disorganized in regards to their application process and their department faculty, but not personally a grad student in their program so don't wanna give them a bad rep without personal experience, just passing on word of mouth. Other than that I don't know too much about other Jersey schools, sadly we're a little limited. Def reach out to faculty as a prospective student, it's in their job description to reply/promote their department as daunting as it might seem to some students. Hope that helps a little. Best of luck! 

 

ps. some schools do accept AP for some asha requirements, some do not, if in doubt ask each school before hand, they will tell you. Like mentioned above, also check credit and grade requirements (some schools are C some B, and prob a few other school have even different cut offs), and even possible course titles they will accept. I got a course entitled "society and gender in science and engineering" to count as my ASHA social science course even though in my opinion it is not a social science course. On the other hand, some school might by picky about what they consider to fulfill other ASHA requirements, the very same school has very rigid guidelines for the stats course it accepts and wouldn't accept something like a stats 101 course for the ASHA requirement"

Edited June 1, 2015 by JFFA

[Kate22192]

Hi everyone,

 

Thank you all so much for replying! It sounds like I need to go ahead and call or email all my prospective schools to find out what they recommend with regards to ASHA pre-reqs. Like I've said before, I want to continue working full-time while doing my pre-reqs and I do not want to start doing any before I largely eliminate my undergrad debt, so next spring is the earliest.

 

With regards to ASHA pre-reqs, do you all know any acceptable science courses online? (does USU offer them...?) I'm hoping my AP bio credit counts, but if not, I'll need a bio course and then the physics/chem course as well.

 

It's interesting that some of you indicate a school would accept me more willingly without SLP pre-reqs done, but NOT with ASHA pre-reqs. Does anyone know why that is? I'm specifically thinking about Seton Hall (which I likely won't attend, it's so expensive...), but their admissions page does indicate they'd like all the ASHA stuff done beforehand. I wonder if they'd still accept though...

[Kate22192]

Also, as another question, why do some people even decide to DO a full post-bac or a second bachelor's?

 

At least when it comes to Jersey schools, they largely want from 5-8 pre-reqs, or up to 18 credits (6 classes at 3 credits each). What's the point of spending so much money and time on a full post-bac or second bachelor's when I can just take 6 classes instead?

[Mpc11g]

Kate22192, I've decided to do the USU second bachelors for a couple of reasons. One, I'm not sure where exactly I plan on attending graduate school and I am coming from an out of program undergrad degree with no pre reqs. Two, financial aid is only available for degree seeking students which is mainly how I will be paying for my leveling courses. And finally, my undergraduate GPA was less than stellar and I'm hoping that with a solid second bachelors GPA I will be able to apply to a wider variety of programs.

Going back to the beginning of your post (this may be a dumb question), but is there a list on ASHA's website that lists all their required courses? I can't seem to find it anywhere. If someone could post a link that would be very appreciated

[Mpc11g]

Ok, I did some more research and answered my own question has anyone had experience taking any of these pre reqs at USU? If so which courses did you take? I need a biological science and a physical science.

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

Also, as another question, why do some people even decide to DO a full post-bac or a second bachelor's?

 

At least when it comes to Jersey schools, they largely want from 5-8 pre-reqs, or up to 18 credits (6 classes at 3 credits each). What's the point of spending so much money and time on a full post-bac or second bachelor's when I can just take 6 classes instead?

 

I'm kind of similar. The school I go to let me take whatever classes I wanted without going through any big ordeal. I literally just applied to the university, was accepted, and picked out which classes I wanted to take. For money reasons, I applied as a degree seeking student so I would be eligible to receive federal loans, even though I was only planning on doing the prereq courses and then transitioning to grad school (I was a little scared about doing this).  Many of the grad schools in the midwest require the classes of phonetics, A&P of speech, speech science, language development, language disorders, artic & phono disorders, audiology, and fluency. I took all of these and didn't have any problems with not having the desired prereqs. I didn't really care about it not fulfilling the requirements for a second bachelor's because there's no use in paying an arm and a leg for a second degree that would be pointless.

[Kate22192]

I'm kind of similar. The school I go to let me take whatever classes I wanted without going through any big ordeal. I literally just applied to the university, was accepted, and picked out which classes I wanted to take. For money reasons, I applied as a degree seeking student so I would be eligible to receive federal loans, even though I was only planning on doing the prereq courses and then transitioning to grad school (I was a little scared about doing this).  Many of the grad schools in the midwest require the classes of phonetics, A&P of speech, speech science, language development, language disorders, artic & phono disorders, audiology, and fluency. I took all of these and didn't have any problems with not having the desired prereqs. I didn't really care about it not fulfilling the requirements for a second bachelor's because there's no use in paying an arm and a leg for a second degree that would be pointless.

 

Ahhh, this makes more sense. I can see people would do a full post-bacc to increase chances of acceptance. Honestly, though, the time and cost associated with it just seems silly to me. I'll be applying to NJ schools for in-state tuition (and to be near my fam/friends), and most want UP TO 18 credits of pre-reqs. That's 6 courses. Ridiculous to do a full second degree when I can just take those six!

 

And as for a list of science pre-reqs at USU, I'd totally love to see that, too...