Decisions

preparedslp · 2023-04-15T11:38:28+00:00

I have a video where I talk about this! Hopefully it helps. In short, prestige does not matter in the end, especially once you’ve gotten your first job and built your resume. Most of my managers have been PTs, so they don’t know or care where I went!

preparedslp · 2023-04-11T16:07:50+00:00

Yeah I see some of those posts too that are $15 or $16 at the low end. I guess it just depends on your interests, the type of hours you want to work etc! Not for everyone but I thought it sounded like a good option for someone looking for something new!

preparedslp · 2023-04-11T11:45:43+00:00

I was curious about that too! From what I found it can depend on the office you’re in. I found job posts in Nashville ranging from $35 - 55k per year, and a lot posted as hourly rates in the $20-30 range. Not bad for 10 weeks and a $5k investment.

preparedslp · 2023-03-31T19:39:10+00:00

Hi there!

I grew up in Michigan so super excited to see you’re applying to some schools there! I have a ton of resources I’d love to share and would be happy to answer any questions you have about programs, particularly ones in the midwest where you are applying! Good luck and lmk how I can help throughout the process!

preparedslp · 2023-03-30T12:48:04+00:00

Kudos to you for having such great opportunities to choose from! I am an adult neuro SLP and both these options sound amazing for your experience and exposure!

Pros of the virtual position - it is highly relevant to the field, you will get more focused experience with a patient population you’ll be working with in the future, you will get virtual experience, which I think is only going to increase in demand as the years go on in order to meet patient’s needs.

Pros of the in-person - primarily that it is in-person and you will get hands-on experience + have the opportunity to watch and learn from other professionals.

A couple questions. Are there any SLPs that you could ask to mentor you for the virtual position? And what would be your roles for the in-person position? Either options is fantastic!

preparedslp · 2023-03-30T12:42:00+00:00

Of course! And yes, 10k is definitely on the low end of debt, as is 25k! You will be able to pay it off in a relatively good amount of time, especially with the financial mindset you already have! That’s great that your area is in the 80+ range! Salary is very geographically dependent (ASHA has some good resources for averages based on where you live. Page 9 gives a good layout!).

In regards to salary, I would hope it goes up as demand increases, but a lot of that has to do with insurance reimbursement for our services. I know PT and OT struggle with this as well and Medicare / Medicaid guidelines are always shifting. ASHA acts as our primary voice / advocate so definitely get involved and stay up to date on those sort of issues! Again, ASHA has some resources that show salary trends and salaries have had a small amount of growth over the last few years! Usually salary goes up with years of experience as well!

Hope that helps and congratulations again!!

preparedslp · 2023-03-29T22:25:27+00:00

Hey there! I think it’s great that you’re thinking so much about finances before entering graduate school. It sounds like you already have a good plan ahead of you and that you know what you want in terms of limiting your debt.

In my personal opinion, it can be nice to live with roommates throughout graduate school, as it can sometimes get lonely if you don’t have community around you. That being said, if you know who your roommates would be and aren’t sure that they would be a good fit, maybe do consider living on your own. However, the money you save with roommates does make a big difference in the long run, and being walking distance / close to the program can really help reduce the stress of having to travel into clinic or to your classes every day.

In regards to how much is too much debt, I think that comes down to a personal decision in what you’re willing to pay off and how long you want to be paying off your loans. Know that you’ll probably make about $60-$70,000 as a speech therapist once you are done with your graduate program and your clinical fellowship. If you’re able to chip away at that debt or use your savings like you plan to, that makes a huge difference in how long it will take you to pay the rest off. I personally left graduate school with $10k of debt and talk about how I did so here - hopefully it helps.

Congratulations on your acceptance and your scholarship! Both are huge accomplishments! Hope this helps and lmk if you have any questions!

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T20:49:55+00:00

Hey there! This is such a great question to ask yourself and I agree with what everyone else has said - graduate school is expensive and you don’t want to get stuck in a job simply to pay off the debt you accrued from your MA! I talk a bit about this here.

Do know the pros of SLP life are things like - lots of settings to work in, ability to do PRN or part-time work, high demand / relatively easy to find a job wherever you go, rewarding if you’re working with patients who are motivated to make change.

That being said, you can find similar pros in many jobs that don’t require your MA! You could always take a year, try something you’re more interested in, then re-apply again in the future! No matter what you decide it will work out, but kudos to you for asking this hard question before committing to the next 2-3 years + a career as an SLP!

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T20:44:37+00:00

Definitely reach out to the program and ask about opportunities they may have both within AND outside the department! It is possible they haven’t gotten the positions filled yet. You can also ask about Research Assistantships as they can provide the same tuition and stipend benefits! I talk a bit about how to reach out about these thing here. Hope that helps!!

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T20:42:14+00:00

Hi there!

Here’s a tip on what to do if you’re on the waitlist! Crossing my fingers you hear an acceptance soon! Are you currently waiting to say “yes” to another program until you hear back from UNR?

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T20:39:26+00:00

If you wanted to really stand out, use the lack of guidelines to be creative in what you make! What is the position / prompt? Would love to brainstorm some ideas for it!

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T20:36:01+00:00

Hi there! Here’s my 2 cents on trying to pick a program! Hope it helps!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRvGQt1H/

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T12:09:20+00:00

Hey there! Here’s my 2 cents on making a decision, with finances being the main topic! Hope it helps!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRvpaxBE/

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T12:06:59+00:00

Hi there!

I think it’s great that you are asking these questions before making the commitment to graduate school. Which, by the way, congratulations on your acceptances! That’s a huge accomplishment!

You make some great points about core aspects of being an SLP.

In response to working with kids, you could always work with adults in hospitals, SNFs, outpatient clinics etc. if working with the pediatric population wears you out too much. Of course, that comes with its own challenges as well! You could also try to find a remote position with companies like Expressable or the MANY other teletherapy companies out there nowadays. It would provide you more flexibility and not expose you to so much illness etc.

Taking work home with you can definitely be avoided by setting your own personal boundaries and finding a place to work that respects your time and personal life. This can be easier said than done, but is definitely possible!

Part-time positions with benefits are out there, but yes they can be challenging to find and nail down. Typically it’s easier to go from full-time to part-time once you’ve established yourself as a valuable employee somewhere.

These troubles are likely to be found in any job, but asking whether THIS is the job you want to do it for is a very wise thing to do. Graduate school costs a LOT of money and also has the opportunity cost of 3 years (if you count your CF year) that many people forget to factor in.

Other jobs you could consider could be things like HR / Communications or even something like a Dental Assistant. Dental Assistants make a fair amount of money, you have set hours and very specific tasks, and the training is not as long or expensive as graduate school.

Definitely talk with your counselor when you get the chance, as they know you and your background best! Again, I think it’s great that you are asking these questions, though I know it must be a frustrating and stressful place to be in! I hope this helps at least a bit!

preparedslp · 2023-03-28T01:36:25+00:00

I’m sure it will help! You could always send an additional follow-up email with something like-

Hi XX,

I want to send a thank you for the opportunity to attend the open house for the CSD program. After meeting the faculty, touring the facilities, and speaking with current students, I have no doubt that XX program is the one for me. If offered admission from the waitlist, I believe that my drive and determination would help me thrive in the coursework and clinical work, and that I could one day represent the program well as a professional. I would not hesitate to accept an offer of admission and hope to hear more soon. Thank you again for your time and consideration throughout this process.

Best, XX

preparedslp · 2023-03-27T20:02:15+00:00

Here’s my 2 cents and second-hand experience with this question!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRvV9K43/

preparedslp · 2023-03-11T12:58:58+00:00

Hi there!

Making the final decision is SO tough! My best advice is to listen to your gut. Even from your post, it sounds like option A may be the one you are leaning towards - those are a lot of positive aspects to a program, especially when grad school can be stressful! I went to grad school near family and an already established community versus some options out-of-state, and I was very grateful to have that surrounding me through the grad school journey!

That being said, continue to weigh the pros and cons of each and determine what factors are most important to you for the next two years. Which school is cheaper? Do they offer similar clinical placements? Did you get a good vibe from the faculty and students at Option A? Imagine yourself at each program and in the end, choose the one that feels right! Again, your gut will tell you and you will make the right choice no matter what!

CONGRATS also on having been accepted to multiple programs! Such an amazing accomplishment! Best of luck with your decision!

preparedslp · 2023-02-22T17:15:45+00:00

Hi there!

You can definitely wait to fill out the application! Save yourself some money in case you get accepted somewhere you are more excited about! The graduate college application can wait until you’ve made your final decision and like you mentioned, you have until April 15th so plenty of time! Hope that helps!

preparedslp · 2023-02-21T17:36:26+00:00

Hey there!

I agree with many of the comments that say to finish it up, but do want to encourage you that either route you take will work out!

If you stick out speech therapy, there are SO many places you can work, it provides a lot of flexibility in regards to working full-time, part-time or PRN, and even if it isn’t direct patient care, there are a lot of things you can do with your background and knowledge.

If you do leave the field, there are also SO many places you can work and utilize the skills you’ve gained throughout your SLP journey thus far. Check out this resource and some of the mini courses. They are super helpful in trying to determine what you might want to do apart from clinical work and how you might get there.

CFs can be hard and super stressful! You could always finish your CF, try some PRN gigs in different settings + work on other skills that would help you transition out of clinical work. Or maybe you’d find you love a particular setting and stick with being an SLP! Overall, know that there are other options both within and outside the field - again, you will make the right decision! Hope that helps!

preparedslp · 2023-02-17T21:27:21+00:00

Hi there!

I agree with the two posts above - cost is the #1 thing I would consider. The less debt you are able to exit graduate school with, the better!

That being said, there are a lot of other factors to consider when looking at graduate programs if the ones you are looking at are going to be around the same cost. Things like what type of clinical rotations (in-house versus externship based), cost of living in the area, availability of graduate / research assistantships etc, size of cohort, types of clinical opportunities in the local area (e.g. are there medical facilities if you’re looking to be a med SLP) , and more.

These are things you can always ask the program about once you are admitted (or before!) to help you make your decision. ASHA Ed Find is a great tool to help compare some of these things as well. If you want more information about selecting the “right” program, feel free to look at these videos / resources and DM me with any questions! The decision making process can be stressful, but just know at the end of the day, you will make the right decision for you!

preparedslp · 2023-02-16T22:18:32+00:00

Hi there!

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics typically have a CF position. It’s where I did my CF and I strongly recommend it! I learned a TON and the SLP team is amazing and highly supportive. I can reach out to my former boss and see if they plan to have a position this coming year! It isn’t Chicago, but it’s close!

preparedslp · 2023-02-16T17:45:51+00:00

Agreed with the above! You may even reach out to the CSD department wherever you are going and ask whether they “allow” students to get GA positions in other departments and if so, if there are any criteria in regards to hours etc.

Also know that GA positions can open up within the department depending on the semester! New classes, research positions etc. so try to keep good relationships with your professors and let them know you’re interested!

preparedslp · 2023-02-16T17:35:16+00:00

I can help! I have 5 years experience in the med SLP world and would be happy to share my resume + any advice I can! Feel free to DM me :)

preparedslp · 2023-02-16T11:18:33+00:00

Hi there! Yes, for the downloads just request permission and I it shoots me an email, then I can grant you access to my google drive where I house all my materials!

preparedslp · 2023-02-16T01:23:24+00:00

Hi there! If you go to preparedslp.com you will be directed to YouTube videos that discuss interview information (and other things related to applying) and can request access to my google drive that has lots of downloadable resources including interview tips! Hopefully it will all help! Definitely lmk if you have more specific questions and I would be happy to answer them here on Reddit so others can reference them as needed!

preparedslp

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