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speechie264

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    Plan B

    in Speech-Language Pathology Forum

    Posted

    What if you do graduate with a B.A. in Speech-Language Pathology. One or even two years pass and you cannot get into a program for your Masters. Has anyone thought about getting your Masters in a different field? Like Rehabilitation Counseling.

    Any ideas?

    I'm just trying to prepare just in case things don't go my way.

    Unfinished Degree

    in The Lobby

    Posted

    Hi everybody

    I was just wondering has anyone had two majors but only finished (graduated with) one, but has thought about finishing the second? Is it possible to transfer units to a different university to finish the second major? I know my current school states that once I graduate with a B.A. I won't be able to do a second.

     

     

    Undergraduate SLP Struggling

    in Speech-Language Pathology Forum

    Posted

    It's great that you're looking for advice so here's my two cents:

    Most graduate schools have a 3.0 minimum GPA, but depending on the school that can be a 3.0 overall, 3.0 in the last 90 credits, or 3.0 in the last 60 credits. Some schools do conditional admission so if you don't meet the 3.0 cutoff, they can admit you with provisional conditions such as meeting a certain GPA within your first semester or you'll be dropped from the program. They will only do this though if you have stand out aspects of your application that show you are promising. I think the most important thing you can do is be realistic... if you're feeling like the core requirements for your major are too difficult and you're just passing, graduate school may not be a good idea since most graduate schools require their students to earn a minimum of a 3.0 in their classes. Many graduate schools will see a low major GPA as a red flag. There are quite a few schools who require a 3.5 MAJOR GPA, 3.2 major GPA, or at least a 3.0 major GPA.

     

    As for me, I will have a 3.5 overall GPA, 3.5 in the last 60 credits, 3.3 in the last 90 credits and a 3.2 in the major. Depending on the school, there are multiple aspects that they're looking at in your GPA. The unfortunate reality for this career path is that a decent GPA doesn't cut it since there are way too many applicants for the number of spots in graduate programs. I have a decent GPA for grad school in general, but with SLP grad school.... I have days where I feel like I won't get in anywhere when I apply.

     

    If you REALLY want to pursue SLP I recommend a few things:

     

    Retake the major classes you got below a B- in. I know this sounds terrible, but I had to really think about retaking one of my major classes and doing so would really help me with my chances for grad school admission so I'm biting the bullet and doing it.

     

    If you're really struggling with these classes, but you still want to be in the major, get help! Get lots of help! Study groups, office hours, extra online research on what you're studying, etc. Seriously! Some of these classes come naturally to others, but some of us have to put a lot of work in to do well. Be willing to do the extra work!

     

    Do lots of volunteer work related to the SLP field. It's as easy as signing up for Volunteermatch.com and looking through the list of volunteer opportunities. I personally chose to look through opportunities involving disabilities and senior citizens. If anything, volunteer in your department such as with NSSLHA.

     

    If your department has a speech and hearing clinic and you can sign up for observations, I HIGHLY recommend doing that. You need to have 25 observations hours by the end of your major anyway, but the more the better. If your class is focusing on stuttering, sign up for a fluency session. If your class is focusing on aphasia or apraxia, sign up for a neuro session. That way you can study the books and see a real therapy session using that information. Make sure the clinical supervisor signs your observation sheet at the end of the session so you get credit for it.

     

    Check in with yourself. Am I doing well on my tests/assignments? if not, why? Am I putting sufficient study hours in every day? Am I going to class every day? Am I taking good notes? Is my study time actually productive? (Not checking facebook periodically and texting). Are my study strategies helping me or hurting me? If you're taking a full load of credits (15 credits), you should be putting in five study hours per day for six days out of the week. I go to University of Washington and this is what is recommended by academic counseling. Structure your study time and be accountable.

     

    Most importantly, stay positive. You will feel inadequate at times and it really sucks. All of us feel like that at some point. What you have going for you though is that you're still a sophomore. You have time to fix a few mistakes and utilize the years left you have in your undergrad to get your GPA up and prove what you can do! This probably won't be the last time you may have a bad test score after endless hours of studying. But if you're determined, your academics will slowly improve and you will learn a lot about how far you can push yourself.

     

    Celebrate your successes. Did you do well on a pop quiz? Be proud. Did you go to class every day of the week? Be proud. Did you get a B+ on your test? Be proud! And when you fall short, have a good cry if you need, then pick yourself right back up and keep moving forward with new knowledge about what doesn't work.

     

    If you really want this, you CAN do it!

     

    I agree with MBSLP

    The best thing that you have is that you are a sophomore. I am in the same boat. I am senior, well now to be a super senior. My current gpa is also a 2.8 and I am in the same situation as you. But there is more hope for you than me to amend your gpa. When i graduate, even if I get 4.0 in my last 2 semesters (30 units) and retake 3 courses (that I received D, my freshman year) I would end up with only a 3.1. So yes you can do it, and do it better. If I can raise my overall gpa from a 2.8 to a 3.1 in a year, imagine what you can do in 2-3 years. I would recommend retaking any course with a D, and if you need to take an extra year to improve your gpa than do it.

    If this is really what you want to do you need to get focused (answer some of the question from the previous post), god knows I wasn't, and now I'm paying for my mistakes. But I'm not giving up, there are several posts I have read in this site that had had lower gpa's and still got into a grad school, and it is because they made sure that the other stuff was excellent (GRE scores, Letters of Rec, Personal Statement, Lots of Observation Hours). That is what I will be focusing on. It is a great profession to be part of, and it is worth the time, energy, money, and tears you put into it.

    Good luck and I wish you the best in your journey.

    Make me stand out!

    in Speech-Language Pathology Forum

    Posted

    Hello everyone, I am new to this website and was hoping for some advice.

    Can anyone give me advice on the things I can do to stand out? (volunteering/shadowing/experiance) I have tried to reach out to some SLPs in schools setting but with little success. I still have a year as an undergrad, so I still have time to polish my resume.

    Maybe share some of your experiences that were successful in getting you into grad school. I know it is very competitive, and I want to add to my resume to give me a higher chance on getting accepted into a grad program. I also like to mention that I do not have the best GPA according to the stats I have read. However, I am working on improving it.

    Thank you so much.
    :)

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