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Speech Therapy nightmare!

Please help!!!! Thank you!!
(edited 11 years ago)

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Reply 1
Hi,

Could I ask which university you are doing SLT at now?

I'm about to graduate with my first degree in music now, and have places at Manchester and Sheffield to start SLT undergrad in September. Also holding out for an offer at Leeds Met for a 3 year option. I'll be 23 when I start, so being older than everyone else is a real concern for me too! It seems that whilst some universities have plenty mature students on the course, others have hardly any, and I just don't understand why. I think that if I end up on a course just with school leavers it will really affect my motivation - I'm already struggling with motivation on my music course because of this, as most of my school friends graduated 2 years ago.

I know the post grad courses are really competitive- that's why I've chosen the undergrad route. I didn't want to take the risk.

I don't think I really helped answer your problem, but I definitely have the same concerns!
Reply 2
If I were you, i'd just stick it out. But then I am incredibly stubborn and a glutton for punishment. Why don't you try and cultivate a social life or some other activity outside of your course/course mates?
Reply 3
Original post by Lusanda
Hi,

Could I ask which university you are doing SLT at now?

I'm about to graduate with my first degree in music now, and have places at Manchester and Sheffield to start SLT undergrad in September. Also holding out for an offer at Leeds Met for a 3 year option. I'll be 23 when I start, so being older than everyone else is a real concern for me too! It seems that whilst some universities have plenty mature students on the course, others have hardly any, and I just don't understand why. I think that if I end up on a course just with school leavers it will really affect my motivation - I'm already struggling with motivation on my music course because of this, as most of my school friends graduated 2 years ago.

I know the post grad courses are really competitive- that's why I've chosen the undergrad route. I didn't want to take the risk.

I don't think I really helped answer your problem, but I definitely have the same concerns!




Hiya,

I'm at Man Met. There are a few mature students on the course...but some are 40 odd!! It sounds really silly because I'm only 22 so the age gap is only 4 years, but I think once you've already done uni, you grow up a bit and the age gap seems massive!! I agree with post-grad courses - whenever I've read forums etc. the students say they're really competitive and the work load is horrific!! I'm just not sure whether to stick my degree out (2 more unhappy years!) or to perhaps consider another profession (scary!). Do you think becoming an SLT is definitely what you want to go into?!

Thanks for your reply!!
Reply 4
Original post by weeve
Hiya,

I'm at Man Met. There are a few mature students on the course...but some are 40 odd!! It sounds really silly because I'm only 22 so the age gap is only 4 years, but I think once you've already done uni, you grow up a bit and the age gap seems massive!! I agree with post-grad courses - whenever I've read forums etc. the students say they're really competitive and the work load is horrific!! I'm just not sure whether to stick my degree out (2 more unhappy years!) or to perhaps consider another profession (scary!). Do you think becoming an SLT is definitely what you want to go into?!

Thanks for your reply!!


Where is it you've got your place for this September? Is there not an option to start in year 2 and transfer your credits?

It's really odd - some courses just seem to attract more people in our position/ give out offers to them!

I know exactly what you mean - 4 years really feels like a lot. I was 19 when I started my first degree, and came to Edinburgh, so some of the people on my course were only 17 when we started. I felt old then, so being 4-5 years older this time really makes me worried. And I'm an old 22 year old now - I've lived with my boyfriend who is self employed for the last 3 years, and lead a very domesticated life already.

I'm fairly certain SLT is what I want to do. I've given it a lot of thought, and considered many options (pretty much only 2 or 3 with a degree in music though haha) over the last 2 years or so, and always came back to SLT. I've not really enjoyed my first degree, although know there are plenty transferable skills. I didn't think I'd want to do anymore study when I finished, let alone do another undergrad course, but I can't wait to start now! My only concern really is my age (and finances...).

What was your first degree in? Did you enjoy it? What would your other career options be? Unless you want to teach, there aren't many options beyond working in a shop for my degree!

Great to talk to someone about all this! Really hope you figure out what you want to do!

xx
Reply 5
Thank you for all of your help! x
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by weeve
Hiya,

Not too sure if this is the right place to post but here goes!

I graduated from Leeds University last summer and in began a speech and language therapy undergraduate degree a couple of months later, in September. While I love the course, I'm so unhappy and am thinking of dropping out. The people on the course all seem so young and I really hate the city. I really want to become an SLT but I just don't think I can bare being there for another 2 years! I could drop out and work, then do a post-grad in speech therapy but I've heard they're really intense and I got a 2:2 in my first degree so I'm not sure if I would get a place. I've been offered a place at another university to start in first year this September but I may be in the same position - ie. with younger people on the course - but it is in a city I really like so potentially I could enjoy it much more. The problem is, I would be 26 by the time I graduated and that seems so old!!

Please help!!!! Thank you!!


As you are still in your first year, you can always see if you can transfer for second year at another university.

As your first degree is not a 1st or 2:1 (the only two classifications most MSc unis accept), and you didn't day what it is so could be unrelated to SLT, I very much doubt you would be in the running for a place on the postgrad courses.

There is a growing number of mature students on SLT courses nowadays: on my course, 70% of students are mature (ranging from 23 to 50). I understand that it may be easier to socialise with people on a similar age to yourself, but you also have to keep in mind that there will a huge mix of ages in your workplace during clinical placement/after you graduate, so it would be useful to acclimatise yourself to the mix now.
Reply 7
I'm just about to finish physio and I'm 34. 26 is nothing!

If it's anything like physio, you will be spending at least half of your time in years 2 and 3 on placement where you won't see your classmates for months, and you'll be out doing the job. If it's just feeling old that is your problem, I think that will quickly change when you are the spring chicken on the team. If you hate the city, can you ask to have your clinical placements in another town? I know with physio, we are allowed to request placements pretty much anywhere in the UK, so you could go do stints back at home etc.

I'd definitely advise against dropping out and starting again at another uni. How dull a year will that be re-doing everything you have already done!?
Reply 8
Original post by weeve
Likewise, I think it's a pretty unusual situation to be in!

Newcastle gave me an offer to start in September and I absolutely love the city, but they only gave me the option to start in first year (although I enquired about transferring into second year) and the course is 4 years so I just feel that I would be so old by the time I qualify!!! Ideally I would love to go to UCL or City (who rejected me when I asked if I could transfer!) as most of my friends who I graduated from Leeds with have moved down there and are enjoying the young professional lifestyle and I feel like I'm missing out! I'm not sure if whether I rang them on A-level results day and pleaded, whether they would let me?!! (I wouldn't even mind starting in first year if it was in London!).

My first degree was in Linguistics and I found it unbelievably boring!! The only good thing is that is is quite strongly related to speech therapy! I just fear that if I dropped out, I would end up with a crappy job for the rest of my life and really regret it!!

What else could you do with your music degree? Where do you think you will/would go to study SLT? Like you, I was initially really worried about studying another undergrad degree but came round to the idea and was actually excited about becoming an SLT, but when I got to Manchester, I hated the city, didn't particularly 'bond' with the freshers and so joined about a hundred societies in an attempt to make friends (all of which were unsuccessful ha!). How about you apply for the post-grad too? If Manchester and Sheffield have accepted you, it sounds like you have the right qualities to be an STL. Have you got any/much work experience with children/clients/SLTs?

Thank you for all of your help! x


That's great you have an offer from Newcastle. Shame about the London ones. I think if it were me I'd just try and stick it out, purely because 2 years is a lot shorter than 4! Are there any other health courses at MMU that would maybe have mature students on them? Such a difficult situation though, especially as you're not happy. As you progress through the years, don't you have more and more time on placement anyway though? So you'd be away from the younger students? Are you living in halls? (Couldn't imagine doing that again myself!)

I still haven't decided where I'll be studying. I have offers at Manchester and Sheffield currently, and I withdrew from BCU and MMU when they came through. I'm still waiting to hear from Leeds Met for a 3 year option. My favourite is Sheffield I think, although I've heard they have far fewer mature students there compared to Manchester and Leeds! So that's my worry!

I did apply for a couple of postgrad options this year, but was unsuccessful. I think my main problem was that I hadn't graduated yet, and so didn't have my degree result - even though I only applied to those who said this wasn't a problem.... Coming from a music (irrelevant) background also limits where I can apply to. If I'd got a place this year, I'd have gone for it, but I've chosen the risk free route in undergrad, which in the end will end up being pretty much the same amount of time anyway. The locations of the undergrad courses are much better for me anyway - I'd like to live closer to home (Bolton), and would hate to live in London (haha opposite to you).

Career wise, coming from music, unless you want to be a professional musician in some shape or form, and be unstable for ever, or want to teach, there isn't much option. I considered teaching, and also music therapy (no jobs, and absolutely nobody knows what it is), and briefly OT too. SLT is the first thing I've ever been passionate about though, so this just feels right!

Haha, I wish I'd done my undergrad in Linguistics! Although can understand it must get tedious at times! What are your other career options?
Original post by weeve
My first degree was in Linguistics and I found it unbelievably boring!! The only good thing is that is is quite strongly related to speech therapy! I just fear that if I dropped out, I would end up with a crappy job for the rest of my life and really regret it!!


Linguistics makes up a good third of the structure of SLT courses, so if you find it boring, you might not enjoy that part of the course that much!
Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with interest, and thought I'd ask a few questions and give you a bit of background to me. Firstly, for those of you who have done a first degree and are doing SLT as your second, what grade did you get, and have you had any difficulty with the application process or being accepted anywhere?

I really want to do SLT, my first degree was in TEFL and Education Studies, so very loosely related I suppose, there was a sall bit of lnguistics, and psycoloogy around people's will to communicate but that's it. I got a 2:2 (mostly because there was a boy at home I was mre interested in than my degree, which I had decided wasn't for me after three months, but a great achievement in just completing it). I was just wondering if anyone with a 2:2 has had any difficulty? I will be applying for 2013 entry, and finished my degree in 2009, so I will still be withing the 5 year window. I was a mature student first time round, I never did any A'Levels, I just left school with GCSE's, and did an Access course the last time around. I will be 28 when I start again, and almost 32 when I finish (eeek).

I guess, to get to the point, has anyone done anything additional? I'm considering perhaps doing an open uni module or two in somethng healthcare related, or perhaps an A Level in biology (in one year) or an Access to Health & Social Sciences Course. I suppose the easiest thing to do is to speak to people in admissions. What experience, if any, did any of you gain in the SLT field prior to applying?

I am no fan of education...but I do want a career. I'm an administrator at the moment, exactly what I went to uni to get away from, and although I love my job, I just want a challenge. I'm clearly drawn towards helping people to communicate, and I think, while the year ahead and application could be a bit tough, I am ready for the next step.

Any help/advice much appreciated, and aplogies for intruding on your thread if this isn't the best place to post. Oh, my first choice at the moment is Newcastle (I have no idea why, I just like the thought of living in Newcastle). But I will get to as many open days over the coming months as possible.

Thanks in advance folks :smile:
OP, sorry to hear you're having such a tough time. I take it from what you've written and the fact that you really want to become an SLT that it's the location and the class that you dislike, rather than the course/modules you're studying? As Phoenix has stated, you will get a fair amount of linguistics on the course, but depending on which area of SLT you go into, you may not have too much practical use of it. I work in an acute hospital with adults, and I've never needed to spend 20 minutes parsing a sentence in great detail :smile:
Unfortunately this is a time when getting onto any SLT course (undergraduate, but even more so Msc) is extremely difficult. I would have to agree that having a 2:2 in your first degree, although it is very relevant, is going to make it very tough to get onto the Msc course. I think you would have to have a ridiculous amount of relevant work experience to give yourself a chance, and there's the risk it still wouldn't work out.
So I would certainly suggest carrying on with the undergraduate, but whether you leave or stay I think really depends on whether you can face another 2 years where you are. It's very easy for me/someone else to say it's only 2 years, half the amount of time you would spend studying elsewhere, but I know that 2 years is a hell of a long time if you're feeling miserable. Ok so you can't change your course mates, but have you met other people you get on with through societies/sports? It may be detrimental to making friends/meeting people, but (finances permitting), are you able to take yourself away to places you enjoy for the weekend- friends, home etc, just to give yourself a break from the city?
Have you explored all the options in terms of transferring to second year? It does seem a shame Newcastle won't let you do this, I suppose although the courses lead to the same qualification, the year by year structure isn't the same so they need to make sure you cover everything. In terms of older students, about a third of my year was "mature students" so later 20s and upwards. I know age does make a difference, but it's also about meeting people that you click with and they can be any age!
It's a really difficult decision, and obviously it's only yours to make, but what do your family/friends think too?
Reply 12
I'll be 27 when I graduate from the post-grad and I am very average in age on my course, so I really don't think graduating at 26 is old! x
Reply 13
I'm starting Occupational Therapy at Derby in September, and like you its my second degree, I know OT has quite a few mature student but similar to you I'll be 23 when I start so no doubt I'll be in the middle of age groups with 18yr olds one side and 30+ the other. And I know I'll feel really old compared to the 18yr olds as I've grown up loads since uni what with full time work and living with my boyfriend for over a year! But its the career path I really want for life/work satisfaction so it'll be worth it in the end. Stick it out, as its only 2 more years and once you get into work you'll probably find your the youngest in your new team! Try to find a social outlet outside of uni, such as gym classes or craft classes, its tough atm but I'm sure it will get better!
Reply 14
Original post by ashabumbleb
Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with interest, and thought I'd ask a few questions and give you a bit of background to me. Firstly, for those of you who have done a first degree and are doing SLT as your second, what grade did you get, and have you had any difficulty with the application process or being accepted anywhere?

I really want to do SLT, my first degree was in TEFL and Education Studies, so very loosely related I suppose, there was a sall bit of lnguistics, and psycoloogy around people's will to communicate but that's it. I got a 2:2 (mostly because there was a boy at home I was mre interested in than my degree, which I had decided wasn't for me after three months, but a great achievement in just completing it). I was just wondering if anyone with a 2:2 has had any difficulty? I will be applying for 2013 entry, and finished my degree in 2009, so I will still be withing the 5 year window. I was a mature student first time round, I never did any A'Levels, I just left school with GCSE's, and did an Access course the last time around. I will be 28 when I start again, and almost 32 when I finish (eeek).

I guess, to get to the point, has anyone done anything additional? I'm considering perhaps doing an open uni module or two in somethng healthcare related, or perhaps an A Level in biology (in one year) or an Access to Health & Social Sciences Course. I suppose the easiest thing to do is to speak to people in admissions. What experience, if any, did any of you gain in the SLT field prior to applying?

I am no fan of education...but I do want a career. I'm an administrator at the moment, exactly what I went to uni to get away from, and although I love my job, I just want a challenge. I'm clearly drawn towards helping people to communicate, and I think, while the year ahead and application could be a bit tough, I am ready for the next step.

Any help/advice much appreciated, and aplogies for intruding on your thread if this isn't the best place to post. Oh, my first choice at the moment is Newcastle (I have no idea why, I just like the thought of living in Newcastle). But I will get to as many open days over the coming months as possible.

Thanks in advance folks :smile:


You don't state whether you are applying for postgraduate or undergraduate. I am guessing you're applying for undergraduate as you don't meet the requirements for Newcastle postgraduate course. I applied to undergraduate with a 2:2 and as I had passed the 5 year mark I took OU modules.

I would write to every university you wish to apply to to ask what their requirements are and whether you have enough. For example some places would ask that you have a Biology qualification at some level, others ask that you have a foreign language (Strathclyde asked for me to have a foreign language at Standard level). It may sound obvious but read the entry requirements carefully including the bits not relevant to you to give you an feel of what they're like. For example Newcastle require Biology, if your Access course isn't in Biology you'll need something.

Open days are marvellous. The SLT entry threads for each year are really helpful in getting a sense of not just what experience you need but what you need to get from them in order to fill out your personal statements, pass interviews etc. For example my experience is fine on paper but if I had wanted to apply to Sheffield I didn't get enough from my work experience to answer the questions they seemed to ask. As a rule get as much volunteering as you can with as diverse as groups as you can and workshadowing/work experience with SLTs is a really big help not just in terms of telling them you've done it but also as stated before in terms of getting good information for PS and interviews.

In summary, it doesn't matter about the 2:2 as long as you've met their entry requirements.
(edited 11 years ago)
Thanks Keeth. I did ring admissions at Newcastle Uni, and was strongly advised to get as much experience as I can and most importantly do an A Level in Biology....so my summer is going to be spent with my head in the books. I'm going to go down the Access to HE route again too, it's a course I am familiar-ish with, although when I last did it you had to simply pass the course, now I am lead to believe that there's a merit and distinction involved too, so I'll have to get my head aroud the marking system. It's going to be a challenge but I simply cannot do admin any longer. My best friend is a teacher and has some in her class with speech difficulties so she's going to se if I can go in and assist and shadow the SLT working in her school. I'll have to wait for a while to get any other placements because I work full-time and don't have any annual leave left now until November when my leave year starts over. So I'll have to joy of crammin all that in until the appliation deadline. I will probably write around in Mid September and have some placements lined up as soon as my leave year starts again :smile: Thank you though for your help.

Oh and Weeve....have you made a decision? best of luck to you :smile: x
Oh, p.s. I'm going for undergraduate....I don't think I'll ever be ready for post grad, the essays are just too long and involve waaaaaay too much typing (and reading) for my liking :wink: x
Original post by ashabumbleb
Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with interest, and thought I'd ask a few questions and give you a bit of background to me. Firstly, for those of you who have done a first degree and are doing SLT as your second, what grade did you get, and have you had any difficulty with the application process or being accepted anywhere?

I really want to do SLT, my first degree was in TEFL and Education Studies, so very loosely related I suppose, there was a sall bit of lnguistics, and psycoloogy around people's will to communicate but that's it. I got a 2:2 (mostly because there was a boy at home I was mre interested in than my degree, which I had decided wasn't for me after three months, but a great achievement in just completing it). I was just wondering if anyone with a 2:2 has had any difficulty? I will be applying for 2013 entry, and finished my degree in 2009, so I will still be withing the 5 year window. I was a mature student first time round, I never did any A'Levels, I just left school with GCSE's, and did an Access course the last time around. I will be 28 when I start again, and almost 32 when I finish (eeek).

I guess, to get to the point, has anyone done anything additional? I'm considering perhaps doing an open uni module or two in somethng healthcare related, or perhaps an A Level in biology (in one year) or an Access to Health & Social Sciences Course. I suppose the easiest thing to do is to speak to people in admissions. What experience, if any, did any of you gain in the SLT field prior to applying?

I am no fan of education...but I do want a career. I'm an administrator at the moment, exactly what I went to uni to get away from, and although I love my job, I just want a challenge. I'm clearly drawn towards helping people to communicate, and I think, while the year ahead and application could be a bit tough, I am ready for the next step.

Any help/advice much appreciated, and aplogies for intruding on your thread if this isn't the best place to post. Oh, my first choice at the moment is Newcastle (I have no idea why, I just like the thought of living in Newcastle). But I will get to as many open days over the coming months as possible.

Thanks in advance folks :smile:


Original post by keeth
You don't state whether you are applying for postgraduate or undergraduate. I am guessing you're applying for undergraduate as you don't meet the requirements for Newcastle postgraduate course. I applied to undergraduate with a 2:2 and as I had passed the 5 year mark I took OU modules.

I would write to every university you wish to apply to to ask what their requirements are and whether you have enough. For example some places would ask that you have a Biology qualification at some level, others ask that you have a foreign language (Strathclyde asked for me to have a foreign language at Standard level). It may sound obvious but read the entry requirements carefully including the bits not relevant to you to give you an feel of what they're like. For example Newcastle require Biology, if your Access course isn't in Biology you'll need something.

Open days are marvellous. The SLT entry threads for each year are really helpful in getting a sense of not just what experience you need but what you need to get from them in order to fill out your personal statements, pass interviews etc. For example my experience is fine on paper but if I had wanted to apply to Sheffield I didn't get enough from my work experience to answer the questions they seemed to ask. As a rule get as much volunteering as you can with as diverse as groups as you can and workshadowing/work experience with SLTs is a really big help not just in terms of telling them you've done it but also as stated before in terms of getting good information for PS and interviews.

In summary, it doesn't matter about the 2:2 as long as you've met their entry requirements.


I have exactly the same concern. I know I have the academic potential, I just chose the wrong first degree that I really wasn't interested in (except the biology modules which were interesting, I did Biomedical Science) and I'm really, really passionate about this field. I'm really concerned that I'm not going to get in anywhere with this 2:2 though, especially the number of places seem to have been cut everywhere. But I do have experience so I'm hoping that helps and I'm not rejected right away on account of not having a 2:1 as City pretty much said at their open day. I've met people that went there with 2:2 but they said they had 600 applications this year so now 2:1 is the cut off point.

I am applying to one undergrad course though so hopefully I get that if all the rest reject me. Not sure if I can fund three years of living costs though but my mum is on a very low wage so I hopefully I get as close to the maximum as possible.

It's amazing how stressful it can be before even submitting an application! (I'm applying for 2013 entry).
Reply 18
Original post by Blue Rose
I have exactly the same concern. I know I have the academic potential, I just chose the wrong first degree that I really wasn't interested in (except the biology modules which were interesting, I did Biomedical Science) and I'm really, really passionate about this field. I'm really concerned that I'm not going to get in anywhere with this 2:2 though, especially the number of places seem to have been cut everywhere. But I do have experience so I'm hoping that helps and I'm not rejected right away on account of not having a 2:1 as City pretty much said at their open day. I've met people that went there with 2:2 but they said they had 600 applications this year so now 2:1 is the cut off point.

I am applying to one undergrad course though so hopefully I get that if all the rest reject me. Not sure if I can fund three years of living costs though but my mum is on a very low wage so I hopefully I get as close to the maximum as possible.

It's amazing how stressful it can be before even submitting an application! (I'm applying for 2013 entry).


Hey :smile: when did you complete your first degree? If you can show evidence of financially supporting yourself for 36 months then the NHS will give you the full bursary.
Original post by Spence_LJS
Hey :smile: when did you complete your first degree? If you can show evidence of financially supporting yourself for 36 months then the NHS will give you the full bursary.


I graduated in 2010. I thought still living at home meant they just needed proof of my mum's income.

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