<p>I'm torn as to whether I should attend the college I'm crazy about which doesn't have my intended major or the college I'm not so crazy about but has my major. I'm interested in studying speech-language pathology/ communication sciences and disorders. I've found that most schools that offer this major are large state flagship universities. I've got my heart set on a beautiful liberal arts school, though, which obviously doesn't offer this major. If I did attend this school, I could still go on to get my masters in speech pathology, but would require an extra year in grad school. Would going to my favorite school be worth it? Have any of you been in a similar situation? I appreciate your thoughts!</p>
<p>There is no perfect college out there and until you’re a student you’ll have no idea whether you actually love it or not. Don’t give up something as important as being able to take the major you want for an idealized picture of a college that may or may not be true.</p>
<p>I would let other factors determine your decision if you really can’t decide. See how much money the schools will cost you or if the school without your major has other programs you would be interested in.</p>
<p>FYI, to get a masters in speech with no undergraduate background in the subject would likely be another three years of school – one post-bac year to get the requirements to even apply to a program and then two more to get the masters. If you are set on speech, I’d do some research and try to find a school with that major that you can be happy attending.</p>
<p>I understand. I guess I should have been more specific. I should have said one additional year in graduate school in addition to the two years required to get an SLP degree. I really am interested in speech pathology, but the pickings in my state are pretty slim. Thank you for your input!</p>
<p>If I were you, I would apply to a range of colleges/universities, including LACs and universities that offer your major. You may very well change your mind about your major before May 1st and then you will have plenty of options. No reason to limit yourself early.</p>
<p>Searches on CC’s SuperMatch tool (limiting school size to “small” or “very small” and selecting Speech Pathology/Communications Disorders majors) yielded several LACs that offer your major or something close:</p>
<p>The College of Wooster in Ohio, a well-regarded school profiled in the book Colleges That Change Lives, has a Communication Sciences Disorders major. Wooster has 2,080 students, a range of excellent merit-based scholarships if you are qualified, and a well-known required Independent Study for all students. [Communication</a> Sciences Disorders - College of Wooster](<a href=“http://www.wooster.edu/academics/areas/communication/major/disorders]Communication”>http://www.wooster.edu/academics/areas/communication/major/disorders)</p>
<p>If you are female, St. Mary’s College of Indiana is a beautiful liberal arts colleges with a Communicative Disorders major. It has 1,500 students and shares cross-registration privileges with neighboring Notre Dame (which may expand your opportunities for classes, research, and social life). <a href=“https://www.saintmarys.edu/majors/communicative-disorders[/url]”>https://www.saintmarys.edu/majors/communicative-disorders</a></p>
<p>If you are more size-flexible, University of Tulsa offers a Speech-Language pathology program as well. Tulsa has 4,600 students and offers excellent merit scholarships (including full tuition, I believe, if you are a National Merit Finalist.) Tulsa also has a graduate program in Speech-Language pathology.
[Bachelor</a> of Science in Speech-Language Pathology - University of Tulsa](<a href=“http://www.utulsa.edu/academics/colleges/henry-kendall-college-of-arts-and-sciences/Departments-and-Schools/Department-of-Communication-Disorders/Programs-of-Study/Undergraduate-Majors-and-Minors/Bachelor-of-Science-in-Speech-Language-Pathology.aspx]Bachelor”>http://www.utulsa.edu/academics/colleges/henry-kendall-college-of-arts-and-sciences/Departments-and-Schools/Department-of-Communication-Disorders/Programs-of-Study/Undergraduate-Majors-and-Minors/Bachelor-of-Science-in-Speech-Language-Pathology.aspx)</p>
<p>Truman State University has about 5800 undergraduate students and offers a major in Communication Disorders. It is termed a “public liberal arts college” in that it offers the cheap tuition (and great scholarships!) of a public university while still maintaining the small size of a liberal arts college. Like Tulsa, Truman also houses a graduate program in Communication Disorders.
[Truman</a> State Communication Disorders - Truman State University](<a href=“http://comdis.truman.edu/curriculum/whyTrumanUG.asp]Truman”>Communication Disorders Department - Truman State University)</p>
<p>Other smallish colleges that came up on the search that I don’t know much about: The College of Idaho, Butler University, California Baptist University, Emerson College, Ithaca College, Calvin College. You will need to do your own research on these programs/schools.</p>
<p>You may be able to have it all :)</p>
<p>Ithaca College has a very respected speech pathology major, look into it!</p>
<p>Some more links–</p>
<p>Calvin College: [Calvin</a> College - Communication Arts and Sciences - Speech Pathology and Audiology](<a href=“http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/academics/speech-pathology/]Calvin”>The Department Of Speech Pathology And Audiology | Calvin University)</p>
<p>Butler University: [Communication</a> Disorders - Butler University](<a href=“College of Communication Commencement Ceremony | Butler University”>Speech, Language, & Hearing Science Programs | Butler University)</p>
<p>Ithaca College: [Speech-Language</a> Pathology and Audiology - School of Health Sciences and Human Performance - Ithaca College](<a href=“Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | Ithaca College”>Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | Ithaca College)</p>
<p>Also talk to your parents…can they afford the extra three years of college on top of the price of four years at a LAC? That is a factor in your decision as well.</p>
<p>And you can look into Emerson College as well.</p>
<p>^I second Ithaca: small liberal arts college with great speech pathology program.
You may also want to check Nazareth in NY and Elms in MA.
You could apply to your favorite LAC, the State universities with that major, and a handful of schools listed above. Then you’d pick based on fit and financial aid. :)</p>