How to get an internship/shadowing gig as an out-of-field undergrad?

[bettafish293]

Hello!

I am a sophomore majoring in Social Work. My university does not offer an undergraduate degree in SLP or communication sciences, so I was advised that a BSW would be a good fit, considering a BSW degree requires quite a lot of elective space, and in that elective space I intend to take all of the SLP grad school prereqs (as those are offered by the university).

I understand that grad school is incredibly competitive, which is why I want to start beefing up my resume early on as much as possible. I was wondering, either if from personal experience or just common sense that I don't have, if anyone here has any suggestions on how to get some sort of internship, shadowing opportunity, or anything of the like with an SLP, audiologist, etc.? Is that even possible? Is simply shadowing an SLP something I could even put on a grad school resume/log hours for and would doing this even help me?

I've thought about calling local SLP's, but I also thought that maybe would just be really annoying to them. In all of the research I've done online, I haven't found a single "internship" opportunity for undergrads, which is really frustrating.

I know I'm a long ways away from applying to grad schools, but I can't help being completely overwhelmed with anxiety, seeing how difficult it is to even get in! I have a high GPA and I hope to maintain it/continue raising it, but I'm a terrible standardized test taker, so the GRE is a new nightmare all on its own. I'm still going to try my best to do well on it, but I want to be able to boost up my chances of getting into grad school with GPA/shadowing/internships/letters of rec. etc.

I'm sorry this is so long! I sort of went on a tangent here. I hope to hear from some of you soon!

[combustiblecake]

If you're looking for shadowing/observation hours, you could search for SLPs through ASHA's site.

For the GRE, Magoosh is excellent (although I find the math problems more challenging than they'll be on the actual test). Try their 6-month study plan. If you want to buy books, I have found Kaplan to be pretty good and the Manhattan Prep Books are extensive.

As for internships, I have found those to be hard to come by as an out-of field candidate. You could work as an ABA Therapist part-time, and most companies will train you to provide this kind of therapy. I also believe social work internships could also be transferable, and could enrich your statement of purpose. I've done my B.S. in Psychology, and considering both ABA and In Home Therapy positions. 

Finally, if you could study/teach ESL abroad that could also enrich your resumé. Bilingual therapists are very in demand. I did TAPIF (in France). However, I chose France because I already am a  native Spanish speaker. Spain, Korea and Japan have similar programs.

[Cowsy]

For volunteer opportunities, I had success with emailing a bunch of local school districts. I emailed the student services/special ed departments of probably 5 districts, and was put in contact with a few different SLPs interested in some help. I ended up volunteering with one weekly for about a year. I did lots of material organization/creation which was definitely educational, but also got to observe and just form a relationship with the SLP. Oh and I also ended up transcribing tons of language samples. I was kind of at a loss like you are, and had tried reaching out to private clinics but hadn't heard anything back. Reaching out to school districts was easy and effective for me! You'll have to get a background check and maybe sign a disclaimer or something depending on what kind of work you'll be doing. 

[Cowsy]

Also, you can look into volunteer opportunities at a local hospital. Even if you can't get a position volunteering directly with an SLP, it's good experience if you're interested in medical SLP. I volunteered at a local children's hospital, first in the family library/resource center, and later was able to get a spot helping out the interdisciplinary team who do ASD evaluation. I think it was all pertinent and helpful... good to interact with families of different cultures and definitely encountered kids with various communication disorders even when I was just helping out in the resource center. 

[thespeechblog.com]

On 9/9/2016 at 9:07 PM, bettafish293 said:

Hello!

I am a sophomore majoring in Social Work. My university does not offer an undergraduate degree in SLP or communication sciences, so I was advised that a BSW would be a good fit, considering a BSW degree requires quite a lot of elective space, and in that elective space I intend to take all of the SLP grad school prereqs (as those are offered by the university).

I understand that grad school is incredibly competitive, which is why I want to start beefing up my resume early on as much as possible. I was wondering, either if from personal experience or just common sense that I don't have, if anyone here has any suggestions on how to get some sort of internship, shadowing opportunity, or anything of the like with an SLP, audiologist, etc.? Is that even possible? Is simply shadowing an SLP something I could even put on a grad school resume/log hours for and would doing this even help me?

I've thought about calling local SLP's, but I also thought that maybe would just be really annoying to them. In all of the research I've done online, I haven't found a single "internship" opportunity for undergrads, which is really frustrating.

I know I'm a long ways away from applying to grad schools, but I can't help being completely overwhelmed with anxiety, seeing how difficult it is to even get in! I have a high GPA and I hope to maintain it/continue raising it, but I'm a terrible standardized test taker, so the GRE is a new nightmare all on its own. I'm still going to try my best to do well on it, but I want to be able to boost up my chances of getting into grad school with GPA/shadowing/internships/letters of rec. etc.

I'm sorry this is so long! I sort of went on a tangent here. I hope to hear from some of you soon!

HI!

I think it is great that you're starting now. 

To answer your main concern: No, there aren't really "internship" opportunities at your level. Your best bet is getting in some observation hours (unless you wanna go for an SLPA certification or work in ABA - both of which are great). To get those observation hours, you're just going to have to cold call lots and lots of people. I called a dozen schools, hospitals, and private clinics before I found a place I could observe. Once I did that, I still had to jump through paperwork hoops (background check, blood tests, etc). It's a lot of work. If you can't get an observation you might at least be able to set up some informational phone interviews (I was able to do quite a few of those!) with SLP's working in all sorts of areas. Ask about where they went to school, why they became an SLP, what their work is like now, etc, etc. Basically, be sincerely interested in their careers and you can learn so much. Did those interviews show up directly on my resume? No, but they taught me a lot about the field. 

To follow that up, any of these experiences are relatively insignificant if they're only going to be listed on your resume. I was just talking about this yesterday with my program director because she often gets emails asking, "Is this enough volunteer/relevant/observation/contact experience?" And it comes down to how much you learn from those experiences and how they impact your personal statement and letters of rec (and interview if you get to that). One observation hour that helps you write a kick-ass SOP is more valuable than 300 hours that shows up in your application as "and I volunteered at a summer camp for kids with Autism." I'm not try to be harsh or anything, but does that make sense? So, YES shadowing an SLP can absolutely be on your resume / SOP, but you have to interpret the experience. 

I hope that makes sense. You're on the right track starting early. Keep up the work! You'll find something. 

[bettafish293]

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 4:31 PM, combustiblecake said:

If you're looking for shadowing/observation hours, you could search for SLPs through ASHA's site.

For the GRE, Magoosh is excellent (although I find the math problems more challenging than they'll be on the actual test). Try their 6-month study plan. If you want to buy books, I have found Kaplan to be pretty good and the Manhattan Prep Books are extensive.

As for internships, I have found those to be hard to come by as an out-of field candidate. You could work as an ABA Therapist part-time, and most companies will train you to provide this kind of therapy. I also believe social work internships could also be transferable, and could enrich your statement of purpose. I've done my B.S. in Psychology, and considering both ABA and In Home Therapy positions. 

Finally, if you could study/teach ESL abroad that could also enrich your resumé. Bilingual therapists are very in demand. I did TAPIF (in France). However, I chose France because I already am a  native Spanish speaker. Spain, Korea and Japan have similar programs.

Thank you SO much for your response! I am so sorry to be getting back to you so late. I had no idea there were so many options available! I'm also glad to see another out of fielder trying to make the best of their outsider status  Thank you again!

[bettafish293]

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 7:02 PM, Cowsy said:

Also, you can look into volunteer opportunities at a local hospital. Even if you can't get a position volunteering directly with an SLP, it's good experience if you're interested in medical SLP. I volunteered at a local children's hospital, first in the family library/resource center, and later was able to get a spot helping out the interdisciplinary team who do ASD evaluation. I think it was all pertinent and helpful... good to interact with families of different cultures and definitely encountered kids with various communication disorders even when I was just helping out in the resource center. 

These are AMAZING ideas! Thank you so much. I'm definitely interested in medical SLP so that's something I am going to look into.

[bettafish293]

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 10:04 PM, mcamp said:

HI!

I think it is great that you're starting now. 

To answer your main concern: No, there aren't really "internship" opportunities at your level. Your best bet is getting in some observation hours (unless you wanna go for an SLPA certification or work in ABA - both of which are great). To get those observation hours, you're just going to have to cold call lots and lots of people. I called a dozen schools, hospitals, and private clinics before I found a place I could observe. Once I did that, I still had to jump through paperwork hoops (background check, blood tests, etc). It's a lot of work. If you can't get an observation you might at least be able to set up some informational phone interviews (I was able to do quite a few of those!) with SLP's working in all sorts of areas. Ask about where they went to school, why they became an SLP, what their work is like now, etc, etc. Basically, be sincerely interested in their careers and you can learn so much. Did those interviews show up directly on my resume? No, but they taught me a lot about the field. 

To follow that up, any of these experiences are relatively insignificant if they're only going to be listed on your resume. I was just talking about this yesterday with my program director because she often gets emails asking, "Is this enough volunteer/relevant/observation/contact experience?" And it comes down to how much you learn from those experiences and how they impact your personal statement and letters of rec (and interview if you get to that). One observation hour that helps you write a kick-ass SOP is more valuable than 300 hours that shows up in your application as "and I volunteered at a summer camp for kids with Autism." I'm not try to be harsh or anything, but does that make sense? So, YES shadowing an SLP can absolutely be on your resume / SOP, but you have to interpret the experience. 

I hope that makes sense. You're on the right track starting early. Keep up the work! You'll find something. 

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I took your advice about cold calling and I am now in the process of making a master list of names to call. I am hoping to try private practices, the local hospital, and possibly some school districts in the area.

Every time I go to actually make a cold-call, I end up freaking out and realizing I don't know what to say! Do you have any suggestions on how to properly word my questions, or even just how to introduce the topic to them?

Thank you again, and I apologize for the late reply!

[ccran]

I was an out of field applicant (linguistics and computer science), and as far as experience, I emailed a few local hospitals and rehabilitation facilities to see if I could shadow/observe. Some already have graduate students that they are busy with during the school year, so I offered to shadow over my winter break, which they approved.

This is (as far as I can remember), the e-mail that I sent:

"Good morning, ___:

I am a senior at ___, and beginning to apply to Speech Pathology graduate programs. The majority of these programs suggest that you fulfill some or all of your observation hours (25 hours total) before you begin graduate classes. 

I noticed that ___ allows student observation, and I was wondering if you allow undergraduate students to participate in these observations and if I could complete them when I come to Houston in January."

 

I also worked as as a research assistant in multiple labs on campus (that weren't necessarily related to my major). One worked with children, and one mapped brain images. I was able to say how these related to my future career in my statement of purpose. If your university offers research opportunities, I'd look into that!

[thespeechblog.com]

On 9/29/2016 at 6:03 AM, bettafish293 said:

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I took your advice about cold calling and I am now in the process of making a master list of names to call. I am hoping to try private practices, the local hospital, and possibly some school districts in the area.

Every time I go to actually make a cold-call, I end up freaking out and realizing I don't know what to say! Do you have any suggestions on how to properly word my questions, or even just how to introduce the topic to them?

Thank you again, and I apologize for the late reply!

For wording, just be honest, sincere, and respectful!

• "I'm interested in becoming an SLP. I'm currently an undergraduate, but I want to learn more about the field. I know you are super busy, and there are all sorts of HIPAA requirements, but I was hoping there might be some observation opportunities"
• "I was wondering if you need any help from volunteers. I'd be happy to do anything from filing papers to preparing xyz..."
• "I'm interested in becoming an SLP, and I was wondering if I could speak with you about your career path..." 

Maybe offer to cover the cost of your own background check (if necessary!). If you're going into a hospital, it might be easier to go into their "volunteer" department and get set up that way (then you get the training, vaccinations, etc, etc). You can request to be put specifically in an SLP dept. That's how I did it and I basically traded volunteering (organizing the materials closet, cleaning the supply cabinet, translating care plans, scanning docs) for the opportunity to observe 

[bettafish293]

On ‎10‎/‎2‎/‎2016 at 4:43 PM, mcamp said:

For wording, just be honest, sincere, and respectful!

• "I'm interested in becoming an SLP. I'm currently an undergraduate, but I want to learn more about the field. I know you are super busy, and there are all sorts of HIPAA requirements, but I was hoping there might be some observation opportunities"
• "I was wondering if you need any help from volunteers. I'd be happy to do anything from filing papers to preparing xyz..."
• "I'm interested in becoming an SLP, and I was wondering if I could speak with you about your career path..." 

Maybe offer to cover the cost of your own background check (if necessary!). If you're going into a hospital, it might be easier to go into their "volunteer" department and get set up that way (then you get the training, vaccinations, etc, etc). You can request to be put specifically in an SLP dept. That's how I did it and I basically traded volunteering (organizing the materials closet, cleaning the supply cabinet, translating care plans, scanning docs) for the opportunity to observe 

Thank you! I am definitely going to try that. When it comes to shadowing/observing, how would I actually document proof as an undergrad? I have found several resources about grad programs having specific requirements for logging hours, but nothing on the undergraduate level. Is it just a word of mouth thing, or is there something I can do to prove I have completed the observation hours, so I am able to put them on my grad school applications and resume?

I'm sorry for all of the questions. Thank you for your help!

[thespeechblog.com]

Oh that's a great question! Schools will vary in what they accept / ask for. 

I'd create simple form documenting the basics (Date, time, length of observation, location, etc). If it makes sense given what you're observing, also a space to note the population you're observing, treatment approach, and disorder. I'd also definitely include a space for you to write reflections and questions.

Finally, you must have the name, signature, and ASHA license # of the supervising SLP (who obviously has to have CCC to have a license #). 

I did all of the above except getting that ASHA license # (because I didn't know about it). Almost 3 years later when I got into grad school and found out I needed it, I wrote to the SLP and she gladly drafted a simple 1-page letter confirming everything and included the #. 

[bettafish293]

2 hours ago, mcamp said:

Oh that's a great question! Schools will vary in what they accept / ask for. 

I'd create simple form documenting the basics (Date, time, length of observation, location, etc). If it makes sense given what you're observing, also a space to note the population you're observing, treatment approach, and disorder. I'd also definitely include a space for you to write reflections and questions.

Finally, you must have the name, signature, and ASHA license # of the supervising SLP (who obviously has to have CCC to have a license #). 

I did all of the above except getting that ASHA license # (because I didn't know about it). Almost 3 years later when I got into grad school and found out I needed it, I wrote to the SLP and she gladly drafted a simple 1-page letter confirming everything and included the #. 

Thank you SO much for your help!!!! You have helped ease my anxiety tremendously.