Conversation Between pimpom and Claire-H

I found it nearly impossible to write my personal statement, trying to fit in my work experience, why I wanted to do the course and get my personality across! I redrafted it so many times and got so many people to check it over for me!
What about you, what are you up to at the moment? Where abouts are you from and what is your first choice? I'm from Southampton but my first choice is Sheffield (nearer the boyfriend), if I get into reading or the london uni's i'll probably commute because living in London is crazy expensive!
Sorry for the long message!
Claire x
(fail, it was too long and had to post in 2 seperate posts!!)

Hi Naomi!
No worries, I only just noticed this one after 2 days so I can't be great at this forum stuff either! I only sent my applications off on Friday 25th though (Sheffield, Reading and City) and the week before for UCL so I'm obviously not going to have heard anything yet except for acknowledgments!
I know what you mean about a relevant job. I didn't have a job until the start of October (after graduating in July) and things were getting desperate! Unfortunately the job I talked about in my first post fell through because of funding cuts in the school But I still have the month or so experience I had there and the training (feeding, swallowing, communication, lifting/handling, toileting, hydrotherapy etc). I now work for the council as an admin assistant part time (so frustrating that it isn't relevant but I need money badly) and at an afterschool club for 1 hour a day working with primary aged children with downs/williams syndrome, autism etc, which is fun! I've also been asked to make a communication aid for a stroke client in the hospital I volunteer at and have done some experience in a special school in the AAC classroom (Thats all along with volunteering at the stroke association, parkinsons uk and shadowing therapists in mainstream schools, special schools and hospitals (mostly dealing with dysphagia and also being a mealtime assistant). I've had 3 interviews for speech therapy assistant jobs over the last few months (shortlisted from over 50 each time ) but have been unsuccessful - the only feedback they gave me was saying I was confident and passionate, but the successful people were newly qualified therapists so they were obviously gonna beat me to it Times are hard! But i'm proud of how far I got in the application process, must be doing something right..hopefully!

Hi!!

I've only just noticed your message - sorry I'm so bad at this forum thing! I applied practically as soon as the applications opened in September as I thought it might give me a better chance of getting a place - but I don't think that's true as I am still waiting for responses...
Although I did read on the thread that someone got rejected from Newcastle the day after they sent in their application so I suppose no news is good news

I kinda decided on my year abroad that this is what I wanted to do (as that was the point I would decide if I wanted to be a teacher... and decided against that!!) so knew I had to get some experience in during my final year. I'm hoping I did enough and I knew the job I got this year needed to be relevant too...
I just hope that I have got everything across in my personal statment - reading it back now I can think of loads more I want to add!
But yes I am worried it is so so competitive and you just don't know who else has applied and their level of experience. It sounds like everyone has such good experience I don't know how the unis can decide!
Where have you applied to? I've gone for Reading, Newcastle, Sheffield, City, UCL and Essex
And what are you doing at the moment - are you working?
Naomi x

Hi!
I joined this forum today (at 3am, I can't sleep :/) and noticed you're wanting to apply to the masters course for 2012 too! How are you applications going? Your work experience looks amazing, well done! I've been volunteering and getting work experience ever since I graduated in July (English Lang and Communication 2:1) and also work 2 days a week as a classroom assistant, working with children aged 2 - 19 with learning difficulties! I also volunteer every 2 weeks with the stoke association, parkinsons UK and in a hospital in the SLT department and I've had 5 seperate lots of shadowing. Jealous of your year abroad though - that will really make you stand out!
Are you as worried as I am about all of this or is it just me? I'm so stuck on my personal statement it's unreal!
Claire x