Career Changers

[leelabee]

I am considering leaving a semi-related field (vocal music teacher) to go into Speech Language Pathology (to specialize in Voice Disorders). I am wondering what other fields people are leaving to go into Speech Pathology and also how they knew they were sure they wanted to go into SLP? Thanks!

[lexical_gap]

I left teaching to go into SLP.  I have a background in education, linguistics, and theater.  After substitute teaching for 5 years, I discovered I teach best one-on-one or in small groups, which led me down the path to SLP.  Looking back, this field is what I tried to piece together in my first undergrad combining education and linguistics.  I even remember thinking, "I wish there was field where I could teach about language without being an English teacher."  That said, I'm glad I went the education and linguistics routes first because it gave me a solid foundation upon which to build my CSD courses.

[queenleblanc]

I'm in my 6th year of teaching music and I am switching to SLP.  I had several personal reasons I won't reveal online, but a big draw for me is the actual field -- after I started doing some research and LOTS of reading by researchers in the field, I found that I just had this hunger for the many areas that an SLP works in, everything from young to old, individual to small group, rehabilitation, and helping students long-term overcome things that cause great hindrance in their own participation in the society around them.  

 

Additionally, I have observed many students at all levels of K-12 as well as in skilled nursing facilities who desperately need the services of SLP.  It is just astounding how many I could help if I could switch to the area of SLP rather than classroom music instruction, no matter what age group I taught (2 years at each level).  Aside from my own dissatisfaction with music education and public or private school music education, I found that my career dreams are elsewhere and SLP fit that bill 100%.  I have a huge passion for research in voice disorders as well as neurogenic disorders (widely apart, I know) - and I found programs with research going on in those areas as well as a few others (don't want to limit my possibilities since I'm a career changer).  I also would like to eventually pursue a PhD.  That's as much as I can say online in a public forum, as there are other reasons behind my change, but I am beyond thrilled to be starting on campus in the Fall ~ done in 2 years, and then we'll see!! 

 

If you are considering this drastic career change, here are some questions to ask yourself:

 

1) Are you dissatisfied with music education? In what way?  Could that be changed if you got into a school with the "right" administration or the "right" philosophy?  (if yes, then a drastic career change may be extremely difficult to stick with long-term; if no, because you are frustrated with the politics of classroom education or public school, have you explored private school at all, and would that be something to consider making a temporary educational career for a year?) 

 

2) What about SLP inspires you?  Can you pinpoint any particular areas of research that you just would like to read and read until you can read no more?  

 

3) Are there areas of music ed that you would like to continue, and can you continue those aspects privately / personally?  Sometimes the musician or the music teacher inside of us needs an outlet -- would you be satisfied with simply teaching a few private lessons, going in for contract-style work, singing/performing in community organizations, etc?  

[kingspeech]

I am considering leaving a semi-related field (vocal music teacher) to go into Speech Language Pathology (to specialize in Voice Disorders). I am wondering what other fields people are leaving to go into Speech Pathology and also how they knew they were sure they wanted to go into SLP? Thanks!

 

Be sure to contact these programs to ensure that you can specialize in Voice. Vanderbilt has a specialty track; I'm not sure about most of the other places on your list, since I was limited to a geographic area when I searched. But I did speak to someone from UNC, and she said I would NOT be able to do a thesis in voice disorders there, which is why I didn't apply. There would not have been a faculty mentor for me; I'm not sure if that situation is permanent, or if someone was on sabbatical. If you're not looking to write a thesis, ask how many clinical rotations you'd be able to do in their voice center.

 

If you can go anywhere in the country, I would check out the backgrounds of SLPs at various voice centers, and see where they went.

[lorenzojojo]

I am also leaving teaching to pursue SLP. I am in my sixth year of teaching and have been wanting to become a reading specialist forever. Language arts, reading, and speaking are really my passion and the subjects I love to teach most. I started doing more research into SLP and find it incredibly fascinating. Aspects of reading are part of SLP, as well as so many other areas of speech and language that I find interesting so I'm ditching the reading specialist idea and going back for the SLP masters. I'm still exploring the field so I'm not sure what I might want to specialize in someday or even if I would stay in in a school district or if I would work with a different population altogether. I'm really interested in all aspects of language (semantics, pragmatics, literacy), fluency, and cognition although I'm sure the more I explore, the more I'll learn about all aspects of the field. Another part of SLP that appeals to me is being able to work one on one with people. I love working one on one with students and often find I'm at my best as a teacher when giving that individual attention. I've been working with a student with selective mutism this year and I nearly cried when she talked for the first time in front of her classmates. I plan to volunteer at an Autism center this summer as well as shadow in early childhood and adult programs to get a good range of experiences. I hope that after getting a better sense of what I might want to specialize in or enjoy the most, I will also get a better sense of schools that will be the best fit for me as I go through this application process for Fall 2014.