Hey guys, so I’m majoring in ASL interpreting, an uncommon major that isn’t in every state. As a current senior, I’ve narrowed my college search down to two schools: Cal State Northridge and Northeastern University. They both have excellent ASL programs, however I just really wanna get out of California. I’m sick of my town and county and I really wanna have a new college experience. I’ve also discovered that Northridge has an incredibly low graduation and retention rates, while Northeastern’s ASL program is accredited. Likewise, Northeastern’s co op program could give me the proper platform as well. My parents say if an emergency happens I’ll be too far away, but I’m sick of basing my future off of “if”. Northridge is an incredibly easy school to get into, and I feel like if I’m admitted all my hard work in high school would have been for nothing. I have been working towards admission into northeastern, and I know the cost will be manageable based off of FAFSA (EFC OF 17K) So I really just wanna be able to convince them. If anyone is curious about my stats I can post those as well. Regards.
Two comments.
First I’ll say that limiting your options only to colleges that offer ASL Interpreting as a major is going to narrow your choices too much. You can become an ASL interpreter without majoring in it - all you need is to study ASL intensively in college, enough to learn it fluently. You can then get certified as an ASL interpreter after college, or even during it if you live nearby another college that offers the certification. Many community colleges offer the interpreting license, too, if you already know ASL.
There are two other highly respected universities that offer ASL Interpreting as a major - Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Rochester. Both are less selective than Northeastern. (Rochester, NY is the the city with the highest deaf and hard-of-hearing population per capita, hence the concentration of ASL programs there.) There’s also Gallaudet University, which obviously is an excellent place to study ASL and Deaf studies.
But then there are universities that offer ASL courses and other courses in communication sciences and disorders that may suit your needs. Emerson College in Boston, for example, has a CSD major and coursework in ASL. Ithaca College has a speech-language pathology major and a department that includes coursework in ASL and Deaf studies and culture. McDaniel College has an ASL/deaf studies minor. There are also some public universities that offer significant coursework or majors in ASL, like UW-Seattle, UT-Austin and Ohio State, but if money is an issue they are unlikely to be affordable for you.
Secondly, it’s not uncommon for students to have a completely disparaging view of their own state’s public universities (especially regional ones) and a more positive view of out-of-state colleges. Lots of high school seniors want to spread their wings and become independent, and many of them believe that the only way they can really explore new things and grow is to move out of their state. But that’s not true. It wouldn’t be a waste of your work in HS to go to CSUN. Many students are less fortunate and cannot look forward to going to college at all, and you are lucky that a regional public university near you has the very specific/particular major you are looking (and an excellent program in it, no less!)
I don’t know what part of California you’re from, but CA is a really big state and CSUN is likely to have a bunch of new experiences with people you’ve never met before. It’s also an incredibly diverse university. I’m not a parent myself, but as someone a bit older, I could see why your parents might be hesitant to pay $17,000 a year for you to go to Northeastern when you could go to an excellent program right at home in CA for a lot less.
Northeastern does pledge to meet full demonstrated need. However, Northeastern is also a CSS PROFILE school, meaning that your EFC might be different from what you see on FAFSA. Have you tried Northeastern’s NPC yet? Besides, just because you think the costs will be manageable doesn’t mean your parents will. They have more insight into your financial situation, and furthermore, they’re not obligated to pay even if it IS manageable. They may decide, for example, that it doesn’t make sense to pay $17,000 a year when they could pay far less for you to attend CSU-Northridge.
I’m sort of have the same dilemma. My plan is to major in International Relations. The major isn’t too uncommon but a lot of schools I’ve looked at only had International Studies or International Business. So I live in California and I love it, but I feel like I need out, broaden my horizons and whatnot. I’m applying to UN Las Vegas, which my mom supports since my older brother lives in the area and my mom wants to move there.
But I also want to apply to Wash U and University of British Columbia. She doesn’t want me going to Washington because ‘You won’t have any family support.’ And obviously she opposes UBC, because that’s leaving the country. She said I can apply but I think she’ll be convincing me to stay close by. She hasn’t been too bad like she doesn’t care if I go to SoCal for school or stay up north. My grandmother on the other hand, wants me to go to school 40 minutes away from her. Who knows what’s going to happen.
My best advice is take the chance and apply. Also the poster above did mention your choice of major can be adjusted so you can still get the same career. Like I’ve chosen Political Science w/ concentration in IR, Comparative International Studies(?think that’s the name), and a double major. I know that finding ASL classes can be difficult SOMETIMES. I don’t remember seeing it as a major at some of my schools. But there are others where you can major in ASL or maybe there’s another name for your major. You can usually check sites like collegboard to search for schools specifically for your major.
Hope this helps
Use net price calculators to get financial aid estimates. Do not assume that a college will use the FAFSA EFC to determine what net price you will pay. Also, have your parents said that they will pay $17,000 per year? Parents may not necessarily be willing to pay what the FAFSA or any given college expects them to pay.
Northeastern: https://www.northeastern.edu/financialaid/aid/calculators/
CSUs: http://www.csumentor.edu/finaid/pais/
Regarding graduation rates, they tend to track admission selectivity. Your personal chance of graduation is not likely to vary that much between different schools, unless a school is too expensive and you have to drop out due to running out of money.
You can become an ASL interpreter by taking community classes and getting certified.
Most people don’t get a degree in ASL. You will only interpret, you won’t be certified to teach or do much of anything else.
Northridge has one of the best programs in Special Education. If you want to do anything with the deaf and hard of hearing, then you may want to major in communication sciences.
I would not limit my major specifically to ASL. You could become fluent and certified without majoring in it. I would major in Communication Disorders and Sciences or Special Education with a special certification in deaf education ( if the school has this option) while also taking sign language classes. My daughter did not major in sign language but she took classes and went to monthly functions in the deaf community about 45 minutes from her school- she is now fluent in sign language.
There are agencies and hospitals that hire sign language interpreters, however you do not need to major in ASL in order to work at these places. You need to be fluent and possibly certified ( not sure). If you pick a different major while also becoming fluent in ASL ( lots of schools have classes) then it will open up your options in terms of schools and employment.
Northeastern is expensive and hard to get into. I am not sure what you mean when you say you are working towards acceptance. Additionally, you will likely be paying more than your FAFSA EFC. Applying to Northeastern is fine if your parents will pay the application fee, but I would also look for schools closer to California since it seems that your parents are not thrilled with you being on the other side of the country. I can’t say that I blame them- I would not allow my daughter to apply to west coast schools. That does not make me right, but it was one of my rules. If you add schools that have special education or communication disorders and sciences then your options will open up.
California is a big state. I assume you can stay in state and still be far from home. You say you are a current senior- that does not give you much time to add a few more schools. Good luck!
@juillet One thing I forgot to mention is I’ve already been taking ASL at my high school since freshman year. I’m practically fluent and I don’t want to start from scratch with these CS majors.
@“aunt bea” You need a bachelor’s degree for certification.
I know SLPs who work in hospitals and also work as ASL translators in the ER. They did not major in ASL. Additionally- can’t you take classes in ASL that are not entry level? Can’t you become certified in ASL without majoring in it?
This decision is between you and your parents, but I would advise my child to choose a different related major while still continuing with ASL as either a minor or an outside interest.
the results of FAFSA DOES NOT tell you what your family would have to pay!!!
NEU uses CSS Profile.
Please use the Net Price Calculator on the Northeastern website and see what the results are. Have your parents help you with this!
Very likely, you’re going to find that NEU expects your family to pay a LOT more than your FAFSA EFC.
And, you’ll have expensive travel costs.
FAFSA EFC does NOT tell you how much you’ll be expected to pay at most colleges.
Have your parents run the NPC on Northeastern’s website.
I think you misunderstand what FAFSA is about. That number is NOT the amount that colleges will expect your parents to pay…NOT AT ALL. And, as mentioned, NEU uses CSS Profile, not FAFSA for aid.
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Hey guys. So I’m basically putting Northeastern University as my top choice and I’m applying regular decision. Here are my expexted senior year stats:
Major: American Sign Language Interpreting
SAT: 1420
GPA: 4.33
Race: Black
Classes: Our high school doesn’t offer AP’s until Junior Year, but my freshman and sophomore years I took all honors classes possible. Here’s my junior year schedule:
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You have very good stats.
Please include some other schools that give wonderful aid, even if they don’t have that specific major.
@asinineayo since when?
I’m an SLP; I majored in CDis and had friends who were ASL interpreters; they never needed nor finished a bachelors degree to work as sign language interpreters. We’re in California.
I did have peers who worked with the deaf and hard of hearing and did receive degrees in Com Dis with an emphasis in HOH. I took courses in ASL, as did my peers, and we were often solicited to work at certain locations as interpreters. We weren’t certified. I am still asked to interpret, for conferences, but my ASL can be rusty.
You don’t need to go out of state to learn how to sign and get paid for it.
If you only major in ASL your jobs and income will be limited.
@“aunt bea” You’re right, my bad. Idk I’ve just got lots to consider. Thanks for the input.