Spent mad cash on post bacc -- still not enough?

[butteryles]

Hello all --

Like lots of folks around here, my undergrad was NOT in speech in hearing science. After working as an English/ESL teacher abroad, I bit the bullet, quit my full-time job (and left my health insurance behind) to enroll in a university an hour away from my home to take 26 credit hours worth of undergraduate communication sciences coursework. Here are the general equivalents to the courses I took:

- Intro to Comm. Sciences

- Speech and Hearing Science

- Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech/Hearing Mechanism 

- Phonetics

- Language Development

- Phonological Disorders in Children 

- Articulation Disorders in Children 

- Intro to Audiology 

 

For some grad programs (Purdue, MGH, etc.), this general course listing seems to suffice. However, doing my hard research now on what "local" midwestern universities I can apply to, my options seem slim to none. Most programs require at least 2 more courses  than I have to meet the minimum requirements and, well, with taking stats and physics at a local community college this spring, I am just about financially maxed out. Still need to visit my top schools and apply, of course. That CSDCAS stuff ain't cheap.  

Any current students or applicants out there apply to schools with a bit less rigorous standards on post bacc work? I realize a fleshed out "undergrad degree" makes an ideal applicant in a way, but for a lot of us adults, it's just not a feasible path to take. 

I've e-mailed the "I'm so close" universities on my list for their approval of reasonable equivalent experience. A few were cool with my listing of CSD courses. Several have yet to respond. For a few places, I'm a mere 1 credit hour short of meeting their requirements. I am however, currently working as an assistant director/early intervention developmental therapist at a multi-discipline therapy agency. I feel like my job/life experiences give me a leg up on intense graduate study, but I'm also trying to fit myself into MOST of the boxes CSD programs require. 

Would love to hear from some non-traditional SLP hopefuls/professionals. I'll be trolling the forums tonight in search of those types! Best of luck to all applying. The competition is intense! 

Other Stats:

GPA: undergrad (French and Communication) 3.2, CSD: 4.0, Last 60: 3.9

GRE: V 157, Q 143

Graduate Programs on my Hit List:

Purdue University

MGH (Boston)

St. Mary's (new program)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Western Michigan University 

Wayne State (don't meet all post bacc requirements)

Michigan State (don't meet all post bacc requirements)

 

[Puffer Fish]

I know that many schools insist you have the post baccs/prereqs done before starting in the fall. In theory you could get accepted to a school, sign up for those two other classes for the summer at that location, and complete them before fall semester starts and be good to go.

[Crimson Wife]

Have you contacted the CSD department heads? I've found that some schools are fine with applicants who have all but 1-2 courses. I've yet to find a "working with multicultural populations" CSD class available online and my 2nd bachelor's doesn't offer voice or fluency. I might take those latter two elsewhere but it depends on my final list of schools.

[butteryles]

I've been reaching out to each department individually to check on their thoughts about my potential candidacy. Like you, I'm not finding a lot of online options for those missing pieces of coursework available. Some grad programs offer a class like clinical methods or what not right out the gate for non-traditional route SLP hopefuls. Good luck in your discoveries! Lots to think about, I know!

[Crimson Wife]

12 hours ago, butteryles said:

I've been reaching out to each department individually to check on their thoughts about my potential candidacy. Like you, I'm not finding a lot of online options for those missing pieces of coursework available. Some grad programs offer a class like clinical methods or what not right out the gate for non-traditional route SLP hopefuls. Good luck in your discoveries! Lots to think about, I know!

Your program didn't have an observations course? You can take that through Utah State (COMD 5900) or Eastern NM (CDIS 441). You could also check Wisconsin-Eau Claire and ID State since those both offer a wide selection.