clinical MS program (aka how am I going to do this??)

[Forevryoung]

I'm a first year masters student for speech language pathology (second semester).

We start our clinical placements next Tuesday. I got my client list today- I have SEVEN clients (4 child articulation, 1 child language, 1 aac adult, and 1 ESL adult) . The children will be seen in a school about 30 min away. The AAC client I will see for 2 hours once a week and the ESL client once a week. This equals SIX hours a week of therapy plus 4 classes (11 credits). Seems like a ton of prep time for therapy too (weekly plans, goals, paperwork...) Add this to 10 hours of research per week. Forget about a life I thought I didn't have last semester (15 credits), I'm never going to sleep

This is going to be hell- worse than last semester, when I already thought I didn't have time to breathe.

Anyone been through this?? I have faith that I'll get through it (hay, 16 months till graduation!), just feeing super overwhelmed and anxious.

 

[Megster]

I just wanted to say good luck. I'm currently SLP major in my undergrad. We do get to observe and work in the clinic on my campus and I have to say the grad clinicians do seem stressed sometimes. Just wanted to say good luck! and I hope that you can really improve the lives of your clients!

 

[Hannathy]

You'll get through it! When I went back for my BSN I went to school full time day's ( lot's of clinical hours, labs) and school was an hour from the apt AND worked on an ambulance full time 4-12, 45 minutes from home. Those 2 yrs I couldn't even tell you what the hit TV show was or what movies were out If I went out to eat on a weekend it meant it was a Holiday! Good Luck.

 

[belle&beast]

I'm an SLP and believe me, grad school still gives me nightmares! But you will get through it and it will all be ok. If I remember correctly, my first semester I had 1 client and then the caseload jumped like yours did. Really it is great preparation for the future because the caseloads (at least in my area) in all settings are through the roof. Good luck and know that you can get through it!