SLP0008

I'm in the same boat as you so this thread is great. What I plan on doing is finding an ABA job, I've found a good amount on the website indeed.com. I also plan on becoming a paraprofessional and working at an elementary school or wherever I can get a job tbh. I know in my state it's pretty easy to get your para license. All you have to do is have either your high school or 2-year degree and just need to pass a background check and pay the $100 for the license. It doesn't pay much but it's experience, just like the ABA. I also plan on retaking the GRE and shadowing as much as I can. 

Have you tried cold calling clinics about  SLPA positions? Many are small businesses and don't want to pay to advertise for job postings. It's worth a shot. If you are willing to move it's not too difficult to find SLPA jobs AZ and TX. I have been consistently employed in both states. Otherwise there is also habilitation - you are basically a highly qualified baby sitter for special needs kids. You may work with 1 family or have a few families depending on what they need. You are there to give parents a much needed break and you may get some ABA training on top of that. 

I'm so sorry to hear you're having difficulty finding a position. I was actually working part-time while in school! However, I assume you're looking for a full-time position after graduation. I was qualified enough for part-time, but I'm not sure I was qualified back then for full-time. ?  If you're interested, I would definitely encourage you to try going into it through part-time work if you're financially able and if you're unable to go straight into full-time. Where I currently live there is quite a shortage of ABA therapists/services, so it was easy to get a part-time position. There are lot of kids to serve here, and not many people to do it. A lot of part-time therapists in my area are people who came in with limited to no background in ABA, and they are then trained and supervised by BCBAs and graduate ABA students. Perhaps it's the same where you live? Maybe you can start part-time then move up to full-time after having gained some experience - a lot of my coworkers got their full-time positions that way. You can also try calling agencies you're interested in working for and explaining whatever experience you have with kids and/or ASD, your degree in communicative disorders, your interest in working with children with ASD, etc. and seeing if those experiences, despite not being ABA therapy, are solid enough to land you a position. 
I do hope you're able to provide ABA therapy! It can be really tough, but it is so rewarding! And our fields go together so nicely ? Good luck!

Yep! Same here! 16 SLPs on staff at my school. I have observed more than half of them and was a per diem floater teachers aide for about a year (got to see every behavior and syndrome in the entire school) then was placed as a full-time permanent teachers aide in a preschool ABA room and have LOVED IT. I don't think it's doing anything for me with adding any incentive for these programs, but who knows what's going on behind the scenes. I'd say if you can get yourself into a school or hospital setting or anywhere where SLPs are on staff, that it could add valuable experience you can speak about in your revised personal statements. And besides that, I say if you did not get competitive GRE scores, to retake it - because I think my scores are biting me in the butt with a lot of these colleges since many of the schools use them to weed out a percentage of the competition. All the best!  
Edit: Oh! And I just remembered the director of my program at QC, Prof. Ball telling me that during my year off I should try to gain experience in various populations so I have an idea which population I would like to work with. It would give your personal statement some focus and direction and show the schools that you have used your time wisely.

Yeah I work with kids with ASD, I think I overall know how to do therapy which is a great thing to apply with experience

Seconding ABA therapist! I'm working as a behavior interventionist and I feel like it has given me a lot of experience on how to do therapy and work with kids with ASD. It also got me a great LOR. Most agencies I've seen around my area are pretty flexible with schedules, too. If you still have more time and want something else to do, you could probably add in some shadowing in various settings as well.

Hey, I'm in the grad program at Georgia State now! They haven't sent out the interview list yet, but they should be emailing it soon

@SLP0008 Hi! I applied to Georgia State! I didn't know there was an interview but I haven't heard anything from them yet either. But it's good to know someone else applied!

Does anyone know any info about Georgia State? I know there is an interview March 3rd, but I don't know around when we will find out if we got the interview, or a lot about the program. Any info is appreciated!