Megan
What are the most difficult challenges in obtaining a degree in Speech and Language Pathology?
I'm planning to major in Communicative Disorders / Speech and Language Pathology. I hear it is pretty difficult to achieve. Is that true? If so, why?
#speech-language-pathology #speech-language-pathologist #speech-pathology #Communication-Disorders #Communicative-Disorders
2 answers
Kresta Lee Atkin
Kresta Lee’s Answer
Hi Megan, I graduated with my Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology 7 years ago. One of the challenges I faced is that it is a very competitive field to be accepted into a Masters program, and a lot of employers will require a Masters and a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). For example, my undergrad classes had 100+ students in them and most Masters programs accept around 25 students. My Masters program had 200 applicants and 20 were accepted. You’ll want to focus on keeping your GPA high and find experiences or skills that set you apart from other applicants. I volunteered at summer school programs so I could shadow the SLPs and I volunteered for some extra projects in a specific area (autism) during my undergrad studies. Think outside of academics as well; I completed most of my college education as a single mom, which meant I had excellent skills in time management and organization, strengths I listed when applying for graduate school. The academic programs are rigorous and clinical hours in different settings (hospital, school, rehabilitation center, etc.) and with different ages are required. There are both traditional and non-traditional academic programs available, but you may need to be willing to relocate or do intensive coursework during the summer. It may be difficult, but it is definitely doable, and it is a very rewarding career!
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Laurel Davis
Laurel’s Answer
I did a post-bacc program in Communication Disorders, worked for 2 years in public schools as an SLP on a conditional certificate, then decided I'd rather be a school psychologist (which is a similar career). The challenges my peers faced regarding this major and graduate school mainly involved how highly competitive it is. This is one degree where grades and GRE scores (especially the quantitative portion) are scrutinized in your grad school application. Keep your GPA up, join the student organization for ASHA, and do well on your GREs. I have several friends who are SLPs who may be willing to let you job shadow. I'd also love to share about school psychology. The main challenges I face for the 2 years working was a high caseload. This job is high in demand so you should expect a large caseload (but you can pretty much work wherever and the salary is always good).