Got dropped from my masters program

[SLPM23]

Hi everyone. It's been a very tough and stressful year for me. After one year of SLP grad school I got dropped from my program due to not making the GPA requirement. I got put on academic probation after the first semester and even though my GPA went up it still did not meet the requirement the second semester. I did everything I could to get good grades. I studied by a*** off, got together with study groups, made study guides, made flashcards, used quizlet, and read assigned readings, went in for extra help from professors, but none of it was still good enough. Like most speech programs it was very intense and sucked the life out of me. Not only that but I even had to go back to school in order to get the pre-requisites for speech just to get into a masters program due to not have a BA in speech (my original one was in journalism). So I used up 3 full and stressful years to have it all go down the drain. Yes I learned a lot but so what? Now I'm looking into developmental specialist, which is nowhere near as prestigous as an SLP. I feel like a failure. To make it worse I feel like I was backstabbed by one of my professors the first semester who gave me a D when I was not even expecting it. I was at a B and the very end I ended up with a D on my transcript. I went in to talk to the board about it but nothing could be done because they were not the ones teaching the class and this specific professor had her license taken away that following summer due to previous problems she had with students. So because she had to leave I was never given the chance to speak with her about my grade. So that was the beginning to my downfall and what I feel really screwed me over. I'm sorry I sound so cynical right now, but it is hard not to be when it comes to that scenario.

 

I have never heard of anyone getting kicked out from a speech path masters program and here I am. So much work put into to it and what do I have to show for it? Nothing. My moods have been up down from being negative and pessemistic to hopeful and trying to move forward. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[GeoDUDE!]

It doesn't seem like 1 D would destroy anyone's academic career, I would look at the choices you made beyond that course. 2 As 1 B and a D = 3.25 GPA. 

 

To be blunt, you might consider doing something that does not require graduate school.  If you feel like you are studying your ass off and you aren't getting good grades, the material might be to hard for you. Another possibility is you think you are studying your ass off when you really aren't, or you are being incredibly inefficient.

 

Either way, some evaluation is in order. 

[nugget]

To add to GEODUDE's post... do you notice a difference between your grades in the sciences and social science courses? Do you find social sciences courses easier to handle? It may not necessarily be a question of being able to handle grad school, but it may simply be a question of the subject area. If you are better at social sciences, another program like social work (as an example) might be easier for you to manage. But if you're more into the sciences, then I agree with GEODUDE that some careful reflection and analysis about the situation would probably be very helpful as you plan your next steps.

[SLPM23]

The courses I did not do well in were the sciences.

[lyonessrampant]

It seems like you have three options (more I'm sure but this is what comes to mind): 1) apply for the same type of program elsewhere 2) switch to and apply for a different type of program with few to no science courses and address the weakness in the SoP 3) switch to a field that doesn't require a graduate degree.  

 

Option 1 seems like it would be incredibly difficult to pull off.  Any new program will see the transcript from your current program and know that you were kicked out due to academic reasons.  I can't think of many programs that will want to gamble on you having the same results with them.

 

Option 2 seems like the route to follow if you can find an adjacent MA program that would let you eventually do the career you want to have (or a similar one that you'd enjoy).  This might especially be a good idea if you can transfer credits for the courses you did well in.  If you go this route, you'd need to make a strong argument for why your academic weaknesses in the sciences classes will not be a factor in this new type of MA.  Ideally, your LOR writers would also make this case (or at least one of them would).

 

Option 3 seems like the most immediately feasible.  This may be the best option in the short term even if you do go with option 2 just because it would let you get some distance from your former program, re-evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, perhaps do some more research on how to study for courses, etc.  

 

I can't say what I'd do in your situation, of course, but I think that making the decision to do something is important to help you move on from what I'm sure has been a crushing disappointment.  Best of luck.

[SLPM23]

Yeah my plan as of now has been to take the route of option 2 as you have described. I am applying for my MEd in special education where I know some of my classes can transfer over to and work in a similar field which is developmental specialist. I started a summer school class that is required for the degree and I really like it.

 

To be honest I have never really been an A student. Not because I don't make the effort but because it takes longer for me to study and remember things, like a LOT longer, especially with the science and math subjects. I've always felt I've had to study a lot more than most people which I know is not an excuse, but up until now I have always used it as an excuse. Like I would always study my ass off, but at the same time knowing I was proably studying more than the majority of others in my class. I would think that if for any reason I did not make a good enough grade it was because it takes me longer to understand things and not because I did not study hard enough. I realize now how much work I would have needed to put into my masters program to pull it off and even though I have confidence that I know I could, it now would be much more difficult to accomplish in the same field I was dropped from because it will show on my transcripts. I can't compare myself to anyone but me and understand what I personally need to do to pass my classes.

 

My father is a medical doctor and basically compared how much I'd need to put into it with med school (he would help me study for my neuro anatomy and cranio classes). I don't know if it is normal or not for people study as much as a med student would have to in a masters program but that's basically what I'd have to do. I did not fully understand the commitment I needed to put into it which is my own fault, but I know for a fact I studied just as hard and even harder than many of the girls in my program.

 

I don't know if what I'm saying makes any sense, but it's definitely been a learning experience. If I was 23 yrs old I wouldn't be freaking out quite as much, but I'm 27 and need to get my career in order ASAP.

 

I appreciate the feedback and advice.

It seems like you have three options (more I'm sure but this is what comes to mind): 1) apply for the same type of program elsewhere 2) switch to and apply for a different type of program with few to no science courses and address the weakness in the SoP 3) switch to a field that doesn't require a graduate degree.  

 

Option 1 seems like it would be incredibly difficult to pull off.  Any new program will see the transcript from your current program and know that you were kicked out due to academic reasons.  I can't think of many programs that will want to gamble on you having the same results with them.

 

Option 2 seems like the route to follow if you can find an adjacent MA program that would let you eventually do the career you want to have (or a similar one that you'd enjoy).  This might especially be a good idea if you can transfer credits for the courses you did well in.  If you go this route, you'd need to make a strong argument for why your academic weaknesses in the sciences classes will not be a factor in this new type of MA.  Ideally, your LOR writers would also make this case (or at least one of them would).

 

Option 3 seems like the most immediately feasible.  This may be the best option in the short term even if you do go with option 2 just because it would let you get some distance from your former program, re-evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, perhaps do some more research on how to study for courses, etc.  

 

I can't say what I'd do in your situation, of course, but I think that making the decision to do something is important to help you move on from what I'm sure has been a crushing disappointment.  Best of luck.

[bsharpe269]

SPLM, do you know why it takes you so long to study? Do you get distracted easily or just generally need more time to absorb the info? There can of course be many many reasons why a student may need more time to study but your last post reminded me exactly of myself. I have pretty severe ADHD and did not start treating it until grad school (even though I was diagnosed in high school). I was sort of exactly like you... in most of my classes I could pull As and Bs but then in thsoe hard ones that I actually truely needed to focus, I would alwasys get a C or D. I graduated with a 3.3 for undergrad but I did get about 1 C or D a year when I came across one of those tough classes. Now that I am treating the ADHD, I have a 4.0 in my MS and have score >97% in every one of my classes in grad school.

 

I definitely think ADHD is overdiagnosed so I am not suggesting that if you need extra study time then you have it. I always knew that I could do a lot better than I did though. I knew that my intelligence level was definitely at the level needed to get As in the hard classes yet I never ever could. If this doesnt sound like you then ignore the advice but if you suspect that you could be experiencing something like this then get it checked out because my life has completely turned around after acknowledging and treating the issue.

Edited June 10, 2014 by bsharpe269

[SLPM23]

Yeah I completely understand because I am aware that I do have ADHD. I see a doctor for it and have been treated for it from the beginning, but unfortunately there must be something else going on because it still takes me a really long time to absorb information. I'm going to go see a neuropsychologist to get tested to see if he can help me find specific ways that would help me study more sufficiently. It is something that I have always dealth with on my own while still being treated for it. I never talked to my professors regarding it unfortunately until my grades started suffering in grad school. Had I acknowledged it I think I could have gotten the school to help make my schedule more suitable for my needs in order to succeed.

SPLM, do you know why it takes you so long to study? Do you get distracted easily or just generally need more time to absorb the info? There can of course be many many reasons why a student may need more time to study but your last post reminded me exactly of myself. I have pretty severe ADHD and did not start treating it until grad school (even though I was diagnosed in high school). I was sort of exactly like you... in most of my classes I could pull As and Bs but then in thsoe hard ones that I actually truely needed to focus, I would alwasys get a C or D. I graduated with a 3.3 for undergrad but I did get about 1 C or D a year when I came across one of those tough classes. Now that I am treating the ADHD, I have a 4.0 in my MS and have score >97% in every one of my classes in grad school.

 

I definitely think ADHD is overdiagnosed so I am not suggesting that if you need extra study time then you have it. I always knew that I could do a lot better than I did though. I knew that my intelligence level was definitely at the level needed to get As in the hard classes yet I never ever could. If this doesnt sound like you then ignore the advice but if you suspect that you could be experiencing something like this then get it checked out because my life has completely turned around after acknowledging and treating the issue.

[bsharpe269]

Yeah I completely understand because I am aware that I do have ADHD. I see a doctor for it and have been treated for it from the beginning, but unfortunately there must be something else going on because it still takes me a really long time to absorb information. I'm going to go see a neuropsychologist to get tested to see if he can help me find specific ways that would help me study more sufficiently. It is something that I have always dealth with on my own while still being treated for it. I never talked to my professors regarding it unfortunately until my grades started suffering in grad school. Had I acknowledged it I think I could have gotten the school to help make my schedule more suitable for my needs in order to succeed.

 

Have you tried multiple medicines because maybe the one you are on isnt workng for you? I tried two different medicines that didn't help at all before finding one that did.

 

Also, I have had to make other adjustments like making sure I exercise a few days a week at least and taking at least one day a week off of my meds completely (since my body seems to "get used to it" otherwise and it stops working). These things go a realllly long way in helping me focus. I am not sure what all you have tried or not so I figured it was at least worth telling you what works for me!

 

Seeing a neuropsychologist might help but honestly your symptoms line up exactly with mine when I wasn't on meds or on the wrong one. It really might be as simple as trying something else.

 

Anyway, once you sort this out, it might be worth talking to the department and explaining the situation to see if you can be admitted conditionally for a semester, provided you get a certain GPA that semester... it cant hurt to ask! Also, just to let you know, my bad grades in undergrad were always in the sciences too and I swear that I am a science wiz. If ADHD is your problem then the poor grades are not a reflection of your science abilities... they are simply a reflection of the fact that science classes can be difficult and require focus to understand the concepts.

Edited June 10, 2014 by bsharpe269

[perpetuavix]

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you should get in touch with the school's office of disability (the name probably isn't exactly that, but it's often something similar). There are legal protections for students who need accommodation to succeed. Just like students in K-12, you can receive additional time on tests, deadline extensions, provided tutoring, and extra study aids. I know it's much easier for students who come in with IEPs or 504 plans to get accommodations, but even if you were diagnosed with ADHD while in college, you're still entitled to these services, as long as you can properly document it. I don't know if you could make the case that you didn't succeed because of your disability and allow them to give you another chance, but if you do pursue another graduate degree, you're almost certainly better off working with the disability office to find the accommodations that work for you.