General Personal Statement for Application for Graduate SLP program.
"Why and how did you choose to become a speech therapist?" I'm always asked that when people are intrigued by what I do. It has been years since I first got introduced to the field and yet every time I hear a new word uttered by a 2 year old or see the smile on a seventy-two year old man's face after verbally communicating successfully after much trial and tribulation, the reasons just seem to pile on. It is that personal gratification that cannot be expressed through mere words but experience. It is through this career path that I am reminded everyday how fortunate I am to improve the quality of a person's life through speech and language.
After earning my B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences at The George Washington University, I worked for 6 months at NHS Collingham Gardens, a child and family psychiatric unit in London, UK. During my time at NHS, I got to work with kids of autism and I acquired skills in restraint training and behavior modification techniques. When I finally returned home to St.Maarten in 2008 I was eager to start my application process for a Masters in Speech Pathology. During this time however I was also helping my family business. Two months later I walked into the doctor's office to get a prescription for my father and the doctor was elated to find out that I was pursuing a career as a speech pathologist. He had been calling everywhere for weeks in search for a speech therapist for one of his patients. I did not feel comfortable practicing without my masters and worked only under the circumstance that the doctor would be my supervisor.
Word spread that I was the sole speech therapist on the island and surrounding islands that I was immediately offered a job with the White and Yellow Cross Foundation. While I possessed critical skills to assist those in need, I also realized the need to continue my professional studies and enhance my knowledge in the field of speech pathology. This recognition led me back to the United States in the summer of 2009, where I participated in internships at AHRC in New York City and at New York University, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. At AHRC, I assisted an augmentative and alternative communication specialist and speech pathologist, working with adults who had developmental disabilities. At Rusk Institute, my internship allowed me to gain direct experience observing a variety of clinical programs in speech pathology at a major medical and research institution.
I returned to St. Maarten in the fall of 2009 and continued my work with the White and Yellow Cross as a speech therapist as well as in private practice. My internships strengthened my resolve to continue my education so that I would be better able to assist those with a speech disability.
In February of 2012 I got married and moved to Atlanta, GA where I now work as a licensed speech pathology aid and Spanish translator. Even though my new home is in Atlanta, I have not forgotten about the people on St.Maarten and neighboring islands. My life long ambition is to construct and establish a medically based speech therapy clinic that serves the Caribbean basin and telepractice on the island of St. Maarten. I am motivated to obtain my master's degree and provide the desperately needed services at the highest level of care to assist those in need.
The extensive resources available at the (UNIVERSITY) Speech Pathology Department will afford me the opportunity to acquire the critical clinical skills necessary to serve a diverse population of patients. I particularly look forward to enhancing my skills by having the opportunity to work closely with the highly qualified and experienced clinicians and medical staff as well as utilizing the state-of-the-art clinical and technological resources. I am aware that Speech language Pathology profession is challenging, but with dedication and patience there will be both small and large successes. I admire and have a great respect for this profession and can envision myself having an infinite amount of reasons why I've chosen to become a speech-language pathologist.
I am applying to Distance Learning Programs and 2 schools in state. For the Distance learning program I have to answer the following questions and include it somehow in my essay.
1.) Why are you interested in attending the CSUN Distance Learning Program for your graduate education? Discuss the specific factors that attracted you to this program and what you believe you can contribute which qualifies you as a good candidate for our graduate program.
I have to answer this specific question.
2) Describe yourself to the admissions committee. You may feel free to discuss anything that you believe to be relevant for consideration of admission to graduate school.
I answered this question... but also had poor GPA cause I started college by doing Pre-med. I graduated in 2007, I'd hate that my grades still affect me til today and can hold me back in fulfilling my dream of attaining a masters.
3) What are your long range professional goals in five years? In ten years?
I answered this question I believe.
4) What do you believe will be the greatest challenge(s) you will encounter in graduate school and how are you prepared to overcome it/them?
I have to answer this question.
Pls any and all help you can provide will be greatly appreciated! The essay is already due next week.
For a general personal statement, rather than an essay prompt, I thought this came off as overly informal from the first sentence. You may want to reconsider your approach/make sure that you have used the appropriate tone for starters.
Here are some general feedback:
- use active voice, not passive voice.
- use adverbs and adjectives sparingly.
- short sentences are preferable over long, wordy sentences.
- keep academic/professional information to lessons learned, skills acquired, etc.; there is no need to rehash what is already in your resume/CV (which I assume is either submitted with the application, or is asked somewhere else in the application)
I disagree. I do not think you answered the long-term goals piece. This will be your last paragraph. Be specific. Something like: "My long-term goal is clear: I hope to..." Then, build from here. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years? Do not be shy here. Be honest with them (and yourself). Do you want a leadership position in an organization? Public sector? Private company? Do you want to run your own company or clinic? Do you want to pursue a higher degree later on? Etc.
Good luck!
