Speech and language therapy: is anyone doing the course, or already a Speech therapist?

[soyabean]

I am thninking about a career change, doing the 2 year post grad speech and lang therapy course.(I work in local govt at the moment) I would be really interested to hear from anyone else doing it, or who has done it. We can't afford for me to be earning nothing so I'd be keen to hear how much you ended up getting grant-wise, and also how much time you have to spend studying. Thanks!

im interested in this as well soyabean, all i know is that i would have had to go to london to study, im kent, and that there arent many positions . il keep an eye on this thread as well

Hi 7up. I'm in London, so City or UCL wd be fine for me. Would you be doing the postgrad course too?

I tried getting on the course at UCL, got past the first step but didn't get past the interview...

An excellent website for SLT is \link{http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen/home.html\here}

Thanks Cristina that looks good. Sorry you didnt get on the course you wanted. Did they give you feedback to say why? Do you know how competitive it is?

soyabean, it was something i looked into a few years back but because i had a young son i couldnt commit to it, still a dream of mine but now a single parent of two boys so still cant commit to the studying and travelling. il get there one day, when im 60!!!!good luck with your adventure tho

yes I'm not at all sure if I can manage 2 years full time study as we have three children and both dh and I work PT, whcih works OK. But dont know if I can afford the time and thelack of money all at once.

I can't remember the exact feedback but I think it's because I knew exactly the kind of area I wanted to work in - deafness - and probably came across as too inflexible rather than very committed. I think they have a couple of hundred of applications and invite about 20 for interviews for only a handful of places.

UCL have some open SLT-related seminars on Wednesday lunchtimes, i still attend them now and again, i find it a fascinating area. If you have the time I recommend them (held at Chandler House nr Russel Square).

Thanks for that.What a shame you were misinterpreted though. Do you have family experience of deafness?I have been thinking I should try to do a bit of connected voluntary work first, so will have to look into that.

I'm a salt and I love it!!
Trained 10 years ago (at age of 28). Alreasy had a degree so did 2 year p/g course at City Uni in London.

Was sponsored by the health trust.
Didn't have kids then though.

what kind of work do you do now mizmiz? Its chidren and early language devt that appeals to me cos thats what I know about but hope I wd find work with adults interetsing too. Do you work FT/PT?

Soya,I was lucky enough to be sponsored as I agreed (and wanted) to work specifically with people with Learning Disabilities. However,I have worked with most client groups at least briefly but my great interest is people with minimal/no language who need an augmentative communication system,such as pictures or signs.

It truly enthralls me.

Most people start out wanting to do what you do actually.

Are you a Cantonese/Mandarin speaker btw? Seem to recall seeing your name on the Asian mothers' thread.If oyou are,it may be possible to get some money out of someone to sponsor you. Salts are in short supply,esp. those with languages other than English.
I work mainly through the medium of another languGE (PLEASE EXCUSE ME NOT DISCLOSING IT-
oops! as it identifies me quite clearly and I prefer to keep the work thing separate!)

Hi mizmiz yes I speak Mandarin although am not a native speaker. However I would be really interested in that side of things. I speak French too, if a bit rusty, so cd be useful. Do you mind if I ask (understand if you want to keep stuff private) how you got sponsored, I mean did you have a connected job before you started the course? Do hospitals/PCTs sponsor? I know you get fees paid if you get on a course, and think get NHS grant for living expenses if you are, ahem, mature (I am).
Do you work full time?

I'm also considering this now :) Having found out that the shortage in our county is devastatingly bad... And having spoken to a couple of people about it, am seriously considering it as an option.
If you have no degree (I have half of one lol in russian and politics) is it still possible?

Are you CATable sb?
I will reveal all!

Piff,you would have to do the four year degree course.
Yes,as a salt,you will never be out of work.
Very flexible conditions to in most places. A lot of the people I work with only work term time or finish at 3 to get the kids,or take long chunks of time off unpaid.
I am presently on a 3 year career break.

mizmiz thanks for all the info. I think I am catable as someone else did contact me a while back. got to go now but look fwd to continuing to chat

Aaargh sb!
Wrote you a long message but you don't take CATs.
Tell you what-CAT me and I'll pass it on.

Piffle,you have my e mail address anyway if you need more info..

hi soyabean...Im in my third year on the undergrad course at City.Without a doubt i'd say go for it...suck it and see!

The post grad qualification is definitely a tough course ,however a woman i know managed it pregnant ,with a two year old ....she even managed to get herself a job to go to once she'd had the baby! you will meet some brainiacs that's for sure.

The NHS pay your fees and you get a means tested bursary...the older your kids are and the less your partner earns the more you get!...i think they make an allowance for mortgage payments but not for rent!(not that im bitter)

my dp earns about 20k..i get a grant of about 3k...plus subsidised travel on the underground.(my boy is 2.5 yrs....and delicious...i digress)

I also get a student loan of about 800 pounds a term.we totally manage...but i AM thrifty..

You would have to consider the course as full time employment and then some.On the undergrad grad course you get one study day,one placement day and three days of lectures 9-6 (roughly).im not sure if the post grads get a study day?

I study most nights and at least alternate weekends,but that is partly because i am soooo inefficient and can barely type andspend hours proof reading my work for typos and slack grammar etc.however once you get into a subject it can be so compelling you find yourself reading allsorts of stuff in the early hours.

i find i 'go underground' as term starts because it is really is very tiring, exhillarating,emotive, challenging, taxing...sometimes getting to sleep is tricky when your head is full.

I absolutely absolutely love it...it really is the most fascinating course, dotted with brilliant and inspiring lectures/peers/people ....

oh and mizmiz rules [sychophantic emoticon]

seriously ,im always reading your posts and thinking 'how clear!how helpful! how sensitive! how insightful! how easy to undersatnd..etc'

I, meanwhile am on a steep slope clinical skills wise...but getting there.

Looking at the nhs careers site on SLT, it would be a hike to Leicester for the course, which would put it out of reach for a year or so.
I might do an OU degree, cross credit my NZ uni credits and then do the SLT fast track after that maybe?

Mizmiz so sorry, I really appreciate your advice. I am now catable and will contact you.
Beansontoast that sounds fantastic, tho I am still worried abt the time commitment. My dp earns about the same as yours but our children are older and getting more expensive...
I'm thinking abt doing a bit of SALT related voluntary work one morning a week (if anyone will have me) for the next year, try to save some money,and try to get a place for Sept 2007.

Righto Soya!
I await your missive.

Thanks Bot!
I really do love it,and you never stop learning which is what makes it all the more exciting.
ABA and PECS are my big thing at present.
How is the course going??
Often wonder how you are getting on.
Met a girl at a party the other day in your year (Welsh girl,can't remember her name)She filled me in on all dept. gossip.
Hear that Susannah lost her dh..

good idead soy...im my experience voluntary work can be a brilliant insight.
i just rang my local slt dept and said i wanted to keep my oar in whilst i was pregnant,
they suggetsed we trade me doing tedious admin for them letting me sit in on a range of sessions! they treated me really well too...everyones a winner.whats more you dont have th epressure of having to learn/perform.

gush gush gush

as for you mizmiz...you were at a party.i am jealous!
and so was lovely welsh one...err should i name her....ummm no!ive only just started to get to know my year group this year as i was soo geeky last year! F is a right treasure and is organising our May ball on top of everything else.

...im pretty tired of the long haul aspect...if i hadnt taken a year off id be graduating this june...my original cohort are currently suffering the ambivalence that is ''yipppeee i can start work mixed with oh my god this is where the real work starts!''

we have had our four autism lectures...from Alison Stewart ...awesome and far too brief, but i suppose if its what you want to do you fill in the gaps yourself...ummm

its nice to have formally made your aquaintance oh revered miz

beans

Bot and Miz, Hi
Its the 'full timeness' of the two years that I'm really not sure about. (Jumping the gun I know, not having a place or anything, but just thinking it all through). I work 2/3 days per week now, and dh is also PT so we get to take kids to and from school, eat together, etc, and I find that this is all just as important as they get bigger.Ds1 is 14 and I really like being there when he gets home...He doesnt always want to talk but when he does I feel so grateful that I can be there for him. Dd starts sec school in Sept and ds2 is 6. So they all have v different needs etc and I just dont know if I am ready to devote myself to this, even though I think I would love the course, and the work. Sigh. Anyway, if I do get some vol work I guess I will really get a better idea of what is involved.

I have a friend doing the undergrad couse but she is so busy we havent met up for ages, guess that is indicative of how things wd be!

Miz i did cat you, sorry you wasted time writing and not being able to send last night.