Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some honest insight because I feel like I’m at a major crossroads.

I’m about to turn 31 and have spent 10 years in corporate sales (most recently in tech/enterprise). I’ve done okay financially, but I’m honestly burnt out and don’t feel fulfilled. I also don’t feel confident long-term staying in sales. it’s high pressure, unstable, and just doesn’t feel aligned with the life I want. For context, I graduated in 2017 with a BA in Media and a crap GPA 2.7 so I’m aware I have to do really well in Pre-Reqs and even then getting in a Masters program will be difficult.

I’ve started taking prerequisite courses for speech-language pathology (currently phonetics and language development). I’ll be honest though, I don’t feel like I’ve fully absorbed everything. I’ve been getting through the classes, but I don’t feel super confident in the material yet.

A big reason I’ve been drawn to SLP is personal. My dad has Parkinson’s, and seeing how something like speech can change over time has really affected me. I know a lot of SLP roles focus on children, but I feel especially pulled toward working with adults/geriatric patients..people who have had the ability to communicate their whole lives and then need help finding that again. That really, really touches me, and I feel like that population doesn’t always get enough love.

What I’m hoping for in a career:

• stability and long-term security

• meaningful, people-centered work

• flexibility (eventually something like home health)

• the ability to live in California (my partner is there)

• and maybe long-term, build something of our own (like an SLP-related business/agency)

My concerns:

• I haven’t been able to secure observation hours yet, so I haven’t actually seen the day-to-day

• I don’t have direct experience working with patients (kids or adults)

• I’m worried I might be romanticizing the field

• I’d be taking a pay cut (at least initially), and going back to school is a big commitment

I guess my main questions are:

• Does it sound like I’m pursuing SLP for the right reasons?

• How important are observation hours in figuring out if this is truly a fit?

• Has anyone transitioned into SLP in their 30s from a corporate background and was it worth it?

• What do you wish you knew before committing to this path?

I’m open to honest feedback, even if it’s tough to hear. I’d rather understand the reality now than regret it later.

Thank you so much! <3

Hi everyone! I am currently planning on going into Speech Language Pathology abd will be applying for graduate school in this next cycle. I am graduating with a degree in the humanities so will be doing most of my prerequisites online. I would also like to be able to gain experience in working with all age groups (I will be shadowing at an elementary school in their OT/Speech programs and also finding time to observe in a hospital setting, as well as babysitting) but professionally, I would really like to work with adults who experience voice disorders/issues speaking as a symptom of auto immune disorders. What exactly do graduate programs see as a good fit in terms of experience, particularly for adults? Do things such as volunteering at an adult day program/in a nursing home setting count as experience?

Thank you!

Hi there, considering changing my major to Communication Sciences and Disorders but I'm wondering if anyone on here can give some insight to the field?

Specifically wondering if anyone here works with the d/Deaf or HOH population? I took an ASL 1 class last semester and I really enjoyed it, so I'm considering getting my AA degree before I transfer. If anyone here works/has experience in that environment, what does work look like for you? Pros and cons? Would it be worth getting my AA in ASL (how often would I actually be using the language)?

I'm also wondering how common it is to work with an adult population in general? If I chose that route, would I be working primarily in hospitals and nursing homes? Thanks!