The School Situation

Here it is in all it's glory:

Currently I am enrolled in an American Sign Language Certificate Program through Saint Paul College. After this semester is over, I will only have two classes left to complete for the certificate requirements - so close! After I receive it, I will be able to apply for jobs that are looking for people with ASL experience, which I would love to be able to find so I can gain more experience!

If you checked out the certificate link, you might have noticed that there is also an Associates Degree in Interpretation/Transliteration that Saint Paul College offers and might be wondering why I am not in that program since I want to become an interpreter. First, I came into SPC with very little ASL skills and Deaf knowledge. In order to apply for the program, you have to complete ASL I through IV along with both a math and English class. I just completed those classes this past fall semester ('09) and applied for the program this spring; which means I would enter the interpreting/transliterating program this fall (if I get in, haha).

This is not the only interpreting program I have applied/will be applying for though......

Starting in 2012 (the year I would graduate from SPC with my associates) the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf will be implementing a new rule in which any person who wants to become a certified interpreter on a national level (so basically to take the test to become a RID registered interpreter - which is very important) needs to have at least their Bachelor's in any one subject. Right now they only require an Associates - which I would have but it would no longer be valid to take the exam. This is a great idea but for right now it's very frustrating for me as I have to figure out where I will be going to receive a Bachelor's. Yet another change of schools and paperwork to fill out.....endless paperwork....

Sigh.

But in the long run, it's a great idea. I just now have to decide if I will stay at SPC for interpreting while also attending another school for my bachelor's OR attend a school that offers a bachelor's in interpreting. While I love the instructors at SPC, I'm not a fan of how the place is run so I'm definitely leaning towards a school that offers a bachelor's in interpreting.

Here are some of my options: St. Catherine University
Columbia College Chicago
William Woods University
Gallaudet University

While St. Kate's is in my native state of Minnesota, the one major major drawback of attending school there is money. I believe it is roughly $40,000 a year to attend school there. That's a lot of dough. A LOT of dough!!! It is also an all-girl school which means that my ASL classes will most likely be even more female-dominated than they already are....which is sad. Other-wise it is close to everyone except my sister and her family and I would be able to live at home and commute to school (which I already do).

Columbia College Chicago is in (surprise!) Chicago. I've been there only once or twice and have no real collection of it. This school seems really awesome, I would not need a car, it is close enough that I would be able to go home every once-in-a-while, and I could live on campus. It's around $20,000 a year which is really great for a private college!

William Woods University is located in Fulton, MO which is about an hour and a half away from St. Louis (where my sister lives). This is also a private school and the tuition would be about $23,000 a year, but I would also have to factor in either investing in a car that is reliable or plane tickets to come home and see the family. I would definitely spend many weekends at my sister's (which they might not like...) but would probably live on-campus. My sister has a friend who graduated from this school and she speaks very highly of it.

And finally Gallaudet University, the only Deaf university in the nation. Gallaudet is located in Washington D.C. and is roughly $22,000 a year. I would live on-campus, would most likely not have a car, and would have to factor in plane ticket costs. They are extremely selective when it comes to hearing students which is one of the reasons why I am not jumping down their throat to join them - I would most likely not be accepted unless I had very strong backing from my ASL teachers here in MN. When I was younger and first learned about it, I was very adamant that this is where I wanted to go to school and I still do, I'm just being more realistic about being able to attend.

Each of these schools offer a Bach in interpreting and each have their pros and cons. I want to be able to make the best informed decision for my future in ASL and the Deaf community as well as a decision which I will be happy with. I was thinking of applying to Gallaudet for a master's later on but right now, everything is still up in the air.

There are a few other schools with ASL/Interpreting options that I am still looking into, but for now, these four I feel really strongly about.

Monday I have a meeting with Doug Bahl, one of my instructors who is very well-known in the Deaf community. I'm hoping to have positive feedback from him and to hopefully receive help in deciding the best option for my future.

If anything, I can simply stay at SPC and go to Metropolitan University for their major in Psychology or try to get into the U for one of their programs (most likely psychology, social work, geography, family and consumer science, or apparel design....I can't make up my mind but I'm pretty positive I'll also try to get my teaching certificate......argh decisions decisions!).

And one last little wrench that has been thrown into my plans........remember those last two classes I need to take for my certificate? Only one of them is being offered this summer so unless I can somehow convince them to offer both, I will be one class short of getting my certificate. Really?!?!?!? Just one more thing to figure out I guess!

A quote which I will be living by for the next few weeks:

"Courage means to keep working a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods." – Denis Waitley


Wish me luck!