Hello,
I am applying for graduate programs in speech-language pathology and was wondering if I could get some help/advice on my statement of purpose? Any criticisms and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your time! :)
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Cake, milk, and snack were examples of words she struggled pronouncing. Although she used those words frequently and knew exactly what they were semantically, she pronounced them as heyht, milht, and snacht due to her language impairment. As stated in her individualized education program (IEP), one of her speech goals set forth by the speech-language pathologist (SLP) was to increase intelligibility by producing the /K/ sound in the initial, medial, and final positions in words. Through persistent recitation and a controlled amount of patience, the speech-language pathologist had helped her attain a 5% achievement within a year.
Working as a special education paraprofessional, I developed an interest in language disorders upon witnessing the communication difficulties of children with special needs. By observing the clinical work of the speech-language pathologist on site, I recalled my language experiences as a child. Coming from a Chinese-Filipino background in the Philippines, I grew up in a community where the majority shared the same cultural views as I did. To me, the idea of multilingualism was nothing out of the ordinary until I moved to the United States. Experiencing the cultural and linguistic differences between individuals in this country made me realize the value of my cultural background and how it provided me the ability to communicate effectively in several languages. Seeing the communication struggles of the children I worked with, even in just one language, led me to dedicate myself in studying about language disorders in children and the communication experiences of bilingual/multicultural individuals.
My interspersed academic background and extracurricular activities contribute to my motivation to succeed as a speech-language pathologist. During my undergraduate study in psychology, I took several courses that discussed language development, sensory processes, and cross-cultural development. I also completed courses in elementary Spanish where I learned basic communication and insight on various Spanish-speaking cultures. The knowledge I gained through these social science and foreign language courses proved to be beneficial as I continued to work with children with disabilities. And as I pursue to become an SLP, I believe that these foundations would remain useful to my preparation in graduate school. On the other hand, my experience in research settings ï which were obtained through volunteer work and internships ï taught me skills in administering research studies and the importance of research to any field.
The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology offered at ABC University appeals to me for two reasons. First, my interest in language disorders in children and bilingual/multicultural issues in communication are both seen across the research interests of the Communicative Disorders (CD) faculty at ABC University. Second, given the rich cultural and linguistic diversity found in the Bay Area, I feel that the opportunity to work with individuals of all ages and different backgrounds is a unique experience that I would not find in many places. For these reasons, admission to the program ï despite being a challenging experience ï would be an opportunity for me to be prepared by the well-renowned CD program at ABCU as I start my career in speech-language pathology.
Having stated my purpose and motivations, my ultimate career goal does not end upon successful completion of a master's degree in communicative disorders. Beyond that, I hope to show my sincere interest in helping individuals with communication difficulties by providing services to them with personal warmth. Specifically, I aim to work with bilingual/multicultural children with special needs and those in underserved populations. Nonetheless, I am also willing and open to serving individuals of all ages and background. Ultimately, however, my purpose remains the same regardless of where my journey in speech-language pathology takes me. Whether in a private clinic or in a public school setting, I hope to build rapport and help individuals improve their communication abilities and thus their life experiences.
I am applying for graduate programs in speech-language pathology and was wondering if I could get some help/advice on my statement of purpose? Any criticisms and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your time! :)
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Cake, milk, and snack were examples of words she struggled pronouncing. Although she used those words frequently and knew exactly what they were semantically, she pronounced them as heyht, milht, and snacht due to her language impairment. As stated in her individualized education program (IEP), one of her speech goals set forth by the speech-language pathologist (SLP) was to increase intelligibility by producing the /K/ sound in the initial, medial, and final positions in words. Through persistent recitation and a controlled amount of patience, the speech-language pathologist had helped her attain a 5% achievement within a year.
Working as a special education paraprofessional, I developed an interest in language disorders upon witnessing the communication difficulties of children with special needs. By observing the clinical work of the speech-language pathologist on site, I recalled my language experiences as a child. Coming from a Chinese-Filipino background in the Philippines, I grew up in a community where the majority shared the same cultural views as I did. To me, the idea of multilingualism was nothing out of the ordinary until I moved to the United States. Experiencing the cultural and linguistic differences between individuals in this country made me realize the value of my cultural background and how it provided me the ability to communicate effectively in several languages. Seeing the communication struggles of the children I worked with, even in just one language, led me to dedicate myself in studying about language disorders in children and the communication experiences of bilingual/multicultural individuals.
My interspersed academic background and extracurricular activities contribute to my motivation to succeed as a speech-language pathologist. During my undergraduate study in psychology, I took several courses that discussed language development, sensory processes, and cross-cultural development. I also completed courses in elementary Spanish where I learned basic communication and insight on various Spanish-speaking cultures. The knowledge I gained through these social science and foreign language courses proved to be beneficial as I continued to work with children with disabilities. And as I pursue to become an SLP, I believe that these foundations would remain useful to my preparation in graduate school. On the other hand, my experience in research settings ï which were obtained through volunteer work and internships ï taught me skills in administering research studies and the importance of research to any field.
The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology offered at ABC University appeals to me for two reasons. First, my interest in language disorders in children and bilingual/multicultural issues in communication are both seen across the research interests of the Communicative Disorders (CD) faculty at ABC University. Second, given the rich cultural and linguistic diversity found in the Bay Area, I feel that the opportunity to work with individuals of all ages and different backgrounds is a unique experience that I would not find in many places. For these reasons, admission to the program ï despite being a challenging experience ï would be an opportunity for me to be prepared by the well-renowned CD program at ABCU as I start my career in speech-language pathology.
Having stated my purpose and motivations, my ultimate career goal does not end upon successful completion of a master's degree in communicative disorders. Beyond that, I hope to show my sincere interest in helping individuals with communication difficulties by providing services to them with personal warmth. Specifically, I aim to work with bilingual/multicultural children with special needs and those in underserved populations. Nonetheless, I am also willing and open to serving individuals of all ages and background. Ultimately, however, my purpose remains the same regardless of where my journey in speech-language pathology takes me. Whether in a private clinic or in a public school setting, I hope to build rapport and help individuals improve their communication abilities and thus their life experiences.
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