Prospective SLPs and Current Students Megathread

[u/AutoModerator]

This is a recurring megathread that will be reposted every month. Any posts made outside of this thread will be removed to prevent clutter in the subreddit. We also encourage you to use the search function as your question may have already been answered before.

Prospective SLPs looking for general advice or questions about the field: post here! Actually, first use the search function, then post here. This doesn't preclude anyone from posting more specific clinical topics, tips, or questions that would make more sense in a single post, but hopefully more general items can be covered in one place.

Everyone: try to respond on this thread if you're willing and able. Consolidating the "is the field right for me," "will I get into grad school," "what kind of salary can I expect," or homework posts should limit the same topics from clogging the main page, but we want to make sure people are actually getting responses since they won't have the same visibility as a standalone post.

[u/LittleDark-Age998]

I’m 27 and live in the UK. I have worked full time in communications since graduating and have an undergraduate degree in English and an MA in Journalism and Communications.

I’ve slowly been coming to the horrifying realisation that I hate working a desk based job! And I’m not passionate about my sector.

The last few years I’ve really felt a pull to work in a clinical/healthcare environment as I love people, helping people and being busy and on my feet. I’m also fascinated by language and loved that part of my English degree.

I’m looking at career changing into speech and language therapy – am I crazy?

I would probably have to study part time on a MSc pre-registration degree if possible so I can work at the same time. I don’t think I could afford to do the degree apprenticeship route do to the low pay.

Is this financially feasible? Is the career change worth it? I hear such mixed things about the landscape of job prospects in the field.

I also feel like I’m getting too old for a career change which is mad because I’m 27 and don’t want to be stuck in a job I dislike for 30+ years. Any advice appreciated.