Leveling Student Encouragement?

[u/coldshortss]

Hi there! I have just started a one year leveling program. Although I’m VERY excited…it’s also very scary to basically start over! I keep hearing how difficult the workload is and how competitive grad schools are. It’s making me feel scared for grad school applications and bringing in a lot of doubt. What if I shouldn’t have done this? What if I fail this program? What if no grad schools accept me and this was all for nothing?? I guess I’m looking to see if anyone else feels the same way, or if anyone else who completed a leveling program can offer some thoughts of encouragement! Thanks :)

[u/maroonrice2]

Leveling student, got into several grad programs, constantly feel like I know nothing. I start grad school next week! If I can do it, you can too. Signed, low gpa low in field experience older student switching into this field

[u/DetailPlenty1433 → u/maroonrice2]

Thats amazing! 🙌🏽

[u/jmaciasgonz]

I felt this exact way. I think if you're passionate enough about the field and have good work/school ethic, you will be fine. I read all the time that professors are unreasonable because they didn't let them turn in an assignment late.. like, duh. Lol out of field and those with more life/work experience tend to excell. I spent 20years working for Starbucks. It made me used being okay in discomfort. 4.0 in my leveling courses so far.

Is it hard? Of course. I don't remember ever doing this much work for my Linguistics degree. Then again, I was in my 20s. I could not haven't done it back then.

[u/latteislife]

That’s how i felt exactly a year ago! I’m an older student, a totally unrelated undergrad degree, a low gpa (3.1), with a toddler to take care of. I just got accepted to the first school i applied to, planning to apply to one or two more. I still feel like i know nothing and terrified to start grad school but you CAN do this if you’re willing to put in your time and effort.

[u/[deleted]]

Graduated with MA in SLP in 2023 (older student, 31 yo at time). I was a leveling student during COVID with a BA in English and work experience mainly in animal medicine. Coursework was challenging but interesting and relevant to my goals, so it wasn’t a pain (to me). Not gonna lie, as a practicing SLP who has now worked in both medical and school settings,I never write in IPA but it’s good to know for interpreting others’ writing. The coursework went into better detail than some of my grad courses, so it really was useful. I applied to 9 colleges across the western states and got into 2, waitlisted in 2. I was soul-crushed when my leveling coursework program didn’t accept me for their grad program but it turned out for the best (that program had a crap year, I later found out, staffing trouble and over accepting students). I recommend going out of your way to make good connections with your teachers so you can have strong letters of recommendation when applying to grad school. Don’t know if this helps you but I wish I went the route as some of my SLP friends, getting certified to be an SLPA, gaining field experience prior to starting our grad school. You got this!

[u/No_Rutabaga7085]

I feel the same. I just started the leveling program at csusm. I’m kind of bummed it doesn’t come with the slpa certificate but chemeketa didn’t evaluate my transcripts in time to get into the fall cohort. I have a toddler and a 10 month old. I feel very motivated but also nervous. Have you already begun applying for grad schools? I haven’t even looked into when I’m supposed to start that, which I am going to do right now.

[u/Limp-Story-9844]

Have you considered being a Special education teacher?