Hi everyone!
It's been a while, and I'm happy to be back. I'm starting up my second year on faculty, and the first year was chock-full of activity. Now that things have slowed down a bit in my second year, I've decided to write an update on things I've learned this year that you might find helpful.
At Cal State San Bernardino, we currently have an SLP minor and post-bacc certificate program to prepare students to apply for Master's programs in speech-language pathology. The program is full-time, in-person for two years. Our Master's program is in the works (stay tuned, we're very excited). Last year I had the opportunity to mentor students, teach, help students with grad school interview prep, and also serve on admissions for our undergraduate program. It was a wealth of experience that solidified some recommendations I've had on how to optimize your undergraduate experience. I've been eager to share.
Over the last year, I've grown to really appreciate the student-run National Student Speech Language Hearing Association chapter. I have been consistently impressed with their engagement, creativity, and leadership. When I initially wrote my post about joining NSSLHA, I hadn't seen firsthand the full potential of joining a student-centered and student-run organization. Now, I wholeheartedly recommend it for every student. Joining an active campus group isn't just a resume item. Student groups provide real leadership opportunities. These opportunities can include serving as an officer of the chapter or leading a specific event or initiative. As an example, one student organized multiple campus visits at grad programs around Southern California. Another shared information about how to access funding for undergraduate research and travel. The chapter is also a hub for information sharing for everything from campus resources, to volunteer opportunities, and even professional opportunities. NSSLHA and similar types of student organizations offer students their first experience into building a professional network. The experience is invaluable.
You might be wondering what to do if your campus doesn't have a chapter. There are some options. The first one is to start a chapter. If the opportunity isn't there, organize amongst your peers to build it. The second option is to join another student organization with similar opportunities for engagement, leadership, and networking -- this could be a healthcare oriented student organization or student government. You don't have to be a NSSLHA member to get the opportunities I described.
Relatedly, another recommendation I have is that students try to attend an in-person post-bacc program, if possible. I hesitate to share this opinion because I know for many students, online programs make the field accessible and are the only realistic option for advancing toward their goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist. I also know that there are many high quality courses offered through online post-bacc programs. Still, no matter how high quality the coursework is, the opportunity to build a network cannot be matched by fully online programs. The incidental learning that takes place when students bump into each other in the hallway, hang around to talk to each other after class, or decide on an impromptu coffee and study session is not attainable in an online format.
Another major advantage of in-person programs is facetime with professors. I get to interact with my students in class, and I also see them when they're on their way to another professor's office hours or studying in the library. We're able to easily build rapport. I see firsthand evidence of their efforts in and outside of class, and this means I'm also able to provide more personalized feedback on their personal statements and interview preparation. More importantly, these are personal interactions and knowledge that I'm able to work into a letter of recommendation, so that I can share more detailed information beyond their grade and performance in a single online class.
What can you do if you're already in an online program or that is the best option available to you? I recommend students take two actions. The first is to attend office hours with real questions about the course content. You don't have to attend weekly, but with some degree of regularity. Attending office hours should be treated somewhat professionally. Arrive prepared with one or two questions or topics of discussion. For example, some students come to office hours to discuss their quiz results and learn from the items they missed. Other times, students come to office hours to share what they found interesting and ask questions about how it connects clinical care or how a graduate course may expand on that. The second action is to try to connect with other students. There are a few ways to do this. One way is to start a discord or group.me for students attending your program to share information about the program and the grad school application process. Another way is to attend events hosted by your state's speech-language and hearing association. This is also a great way to meet current SLPs and learn about leadership, volunteer, and scholarship opportunities within your state's organization. I have also heard of students connecting with a nearby NSSLHA chapter for in-person grad programs and attending their events. It requires a little creativity, effort, and putting yourself out there, but getting connected to peers will benefit you in the long run.
My final piece of advice for undergraduate students is to use every resource available. You want to consider campus-wide and department-level resources. Make a list of the resources available on campus and consider keeping a spreadsheet of the links available so that you can easily access them. Useful resources might include (but aren't limited to):
- Career Center: They can review your resume, help with interview preparation, help find jobs related to the field, and even help prepare your outfit for interview day.
- Writing Center: They can help review all of your course writing assignments, strengthen your writing skills, and review drafts of your personal statement.
- Career Fairs: If your campus hosts a career fair, plan to attend! There are a lot of internship and job opportunities that get you experience in healthcare and education.
- Office of Student Research: Look for opportunities to get stipends to support your research (mentored by a faculty member), stipends to support travel to conferences, and workshops for students interested in PhD programs.
- Counseling and Psychological Services: University is stressful, and most students are also dealing with stressors outside of school. Get support when you need it.
- Office Hours and Campus Tutoring: Do not struggle in silence! Your professors and the university want you to succeed.
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