Out-of-field student; unsure about whether or not to do a post-bacc

[Reneé]

Hey everyone! I have wandered through the forums here for quite some time. However, this is my first post, so forgive me if this topic has already been brought up ten thousand times. I am about to enter my final semester (besides one last summer class this year) in undergrad. Long story short, I am a transfer student and majoring in CSD would have put me behind by two semesters had I kept the major, so I decided to do Psychology with a minor in CSD.

   I love the field, though, and I know it is what I want to do. There was a brief period when I considered doing Clinical Psych, but I had a gut feeling the entire time that I just knew SLP is for me, especially after having first-hand experience seeing, essentially, a "day in the life of a Clinical Psychologist" when I worked with the faculty. I guess I am just looking for some advise, considering my unique situation. I am getting married in September, and my fiance just graduated this December. He is job hunting at the moment, and wherever he gets a job, I will join him there once I finish up with undergrad. I am just unsure about whether or not I should take the leap (both time-wise and financially) and do a post-bacc program in SLP. I have taken several CSD classes, but I still do not meet all the prerequisite requirements for many of the schools I plan on applying to. I'm considering distance learning programs given my uncertainty of where on Earth I will be living... and I guess I'm just confused about what direction to take. 

   I have not taken the GRE yet. However, I have indirect experience. I taught Sunday School and worked at a Nursery simultaneously for 4 years. I volunteered for two years at a nursing home. I also worked as a research assistant for a year. My GPA is a 3.5 right now, and I'm thinking it will remain in the 3.5-3.6 range... but my CSD coursework GPA is a 4.0. I have several faculty members who would write (what I believe would be) great LORs! It's just all of this uncertainty has me, like many of us I'm sure, very anxious about getting into grad school. I read all about how so many well-qualified students are not being accepted, and I worry about taking on more debt for a path that is not promised, especially when I have friends who completed tech programs at community college and are so well off right now. It is disheartening when your dream seems far away, and I'm wondering what the best path is to take...

   In my situation, what would you all do? Take on the post-bacc/2nd bachelor's journey, or maybe try applying for a cycle and see how it goes? Any advise at all would be greatly appreciated!

   

Edited January 3, 2016 by Reneé

[Crimson Wife]

Most of the deadlines for starting this coming  fall are either past or in the next 30 days. Given that you have not yet taken the GRE, I don't think it is a realistic goal to apply for next year. Might as well start the 2nd bachelor's since you will need to wait until next cycle to apply anyways.

[koalalover1]

You could always look at cycles that start in Spring instead of Fall? Although your options may be more limited.... 

Edited January 3, 2016 by koalalover1

[SLPgradstudent]

I agree with CrimsonWife, many deadlines are past or about to pass, so don't worry about trying to apply for Fall 2016 admission.  Have you looked into taking classes through USU?  If you already have a CSD minor, it might make sense to take classes (at USU or elsewhere) as a non-degree seeking student.  (At USU you can only transfer in 2 classes or something like that for the 2nd bachelor's program.)  Just take the ones you need for the programs you think you want to apply to.  Or if you don't know which programs you might apply to, just start with the ones you know you're missing.  The nice thing about an online program is that you can take classes no matter where you live.  If you have to move mid-semester, no problem.  That's one of the reasons I chose USU, not knowing where my fiancé would find a job.  It's hard not knowing where you might end up if that's a major factor in choosing schools to apply to.  But I think if I were you, I would start post-bacc classes, maybe this summer if you can manage even one class.  I know at USU at least, you can take anywhere from 1 to 6 classes a semester.  It's great to have that kind of flexibility.

You could also start GRE prep now.  Give yourself several months to prepare, take practice tests, see if you want to take a prep course, etc.  You want your GRE scores to be as strong as possible.  When there are so many candidates, it's easy for schools to simply eliminate candidates below a certain score.  Also, way to rock that 4.0 CSD GPA!  Keep that 4.0 if at all possible when you take post-bacc classes, and I think you'll give yourself a really good shot at getting into grad school wherever you end up.

Congratulations on your engagement, and good luck planning!  It can be overwhelming planning a wedding while still in school, but you can do it!

[NorcalSLP]

Portland States post bacc program is non competitive (if you apply you are accepted) and the application is open until the cohort is full (I think usually June ish). It is not distance learning so you would need to move to Portland, but it is a good reputable program. Just something to consider. But when you do apply. I recommend both extended masters and post baccs as the EMs are a very tough ticket even for people with near perfect applications. 

[thespeechblog.com]

Hi! I'm not sure if I understood everything, but if I did...

My first though is that instead of applying for and doing a post-bacc, you should consider broadening your grad school options to schools the offer a 3-year leveling program. This means that if you're accepted (and you've got a shot!) you might save some time and money. Because even if you finish X's Post-Bacc it's possible that school's Y and Z require a course that wasn't included and they'll put you to do it anyways. Make sense?

With this time you have between application cycles I'd say

1) DON'T Lose touch with those awesome LOR writing professors

2) DO take a GRE prep course so you rock the GRE (I recommend Magoosh!)

3) IF you want to, consider taking a few post-bacc courses that you think would be accepted by most grad schools. That way, if you don't get in, you've at least started that post-bacc option.