Allison B.
Allison B.
Ready to take the next step?
M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, Class of 2021
Pursuing my master's degree in speech-language pathology at Brooklyn College has been an experience for which I am immensely grateful. New York has many well-known and ranked programs, but Brooklyn College was at the top of my list. The program is affordable, impressive, and highly competitive, and the school itself is welcoming and aesthetically beautiful. I was honored when I was offered the opportunity to continue my studies in the program.
What I loved most about the classes was the ease with which I was able to develop relationships with peers and faculty. As a former Division 1 athlete, a tight-knit, team-like mentality is important to me. At Brooklyn, we are placed into two cohorts with roughly 15 people in each group. Although we are a hand-selected group in a rigorous program, there is not a competitive attitude but rather an inclusive mentality. This is refreshing and relieving, knowing that your peers are there to help you succeed, a unique characteristic not found in every program. Faculty provide valuable knowledge, guidance, and assistance. I have always felt prepared throughout my course work and am confident that I could contact any peer or faculty member with questions or concerns in the future and still receive the support I have today.
The program is also unique because of our in-house clinic, the Diana Rogovin Davidow Speech Language Hearing Center. As first-year students, we are not expected to be independent clinicians, so we are paired with second-year students in order to learn how to conduct sessions with clients and establish rapport. I have been most fortunate to participate as a student clinician here for three semesters in both diagnostic and treatment settings. The clinic has prepared me with valuable clinical experience working with individuals of all ages (infant to geriatric populations) and myriad diagnoses (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, aphasia, dementia, receptive and expressive language disorders, etc.).
I also had the privilege of working as a graduate fellow, one of the highlights of my graduate career. As a fellow, one of my responsibilities was to teach an undergraduate course. I discovered that I love working with others in an environment where I can share my knowledge about a topic I am passionate about. The fellowship also entailed keeping records of graduate students’ paperwork and files, conducting speech screenings with undergraduate students, assisting in the graduate admissions process for prospective students, and scheduling students’ course work. It is time consuming, yet I could not imagine myself not having this role! I was able to see firsthand the work that goes into running a program. I worked closely with the three other fellows and with Sharon Beaumont-Bowman, the program’s graduate deputy. Her passion, enthusiasm, and dedication are the backbone of this program. Her door and e-mail are always open and are a major reason why the program’s culture is friendly and inviting. My role as both student and faculty has been unique, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.
Brooklyn College’s location in New York gave me the opportunity to collaborate with individuals of all races, cultures, and religions. For speech-language pathologists (SLPs), it is imperative that we are culturally competent clinicians and demonstrate respect within all aspects of our work. Thankfully, Brooklyn College excels in ensuring all students have exposure to and fully understand this crucial aspect of what it means to be an SLP. Important skills such as inter-professional collaboration and respect are a foundational part of being an SLP as well as an integral part of being a member in any community. I believe that my degree will prepare me for success because it allows me to see the world and others through a unique lens.
Speech-language pathology is a promising and diverse field, with numerous career paths. Currently, I am in an internship outside of Brooklyn College that was arranged through the program. The program’s connections with supervised placements in the area allow students with an interest in all areas (e.g., schools, hospitals, etc.) to receive desirable placements. This provided me with the opportunity to explore my own interests, working with the high school population, ages 13–21, and hopefully next within the preschool- and elementary-age populations. In the future, I would love to continue teaching at a college or university and have the chance to impact students the way I have been moved by my own mentors in the field. After graduation I anticipate finding a job locally as an SLP. Ideally, I would like to work in a school district, but I am open to working in a private practice or agency. I also foresee myself working with children ranging from toddlers to adolescents.
Being a speech-language pathology graduate student is challenging, but not impossible, especially when you are surrounded by wonderful and encouraging people. Ultimately, it brought my peers and I closer together and cultivated confident, capable SLPs who are well prepared for the future. My advice to incoming students would be to go the extra mile. What you put into the program is what you will get out of it, so in order to become the best SLP you can be, take the initiative to accept all that Brooklyn has to offer. By taking the time to put in the extra work, you will build a good work habit that will ultimately lead to your success. I would also suggest joining the Graduate Student Organization (GSO). The GSO is composed of students in the program who hold positions such as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, and who plan events such as graduation and organizing social gatherings with the program. The GSO is credited for its role in helping to maintain the relationships between first- and second-year students during their time in the program.
I would also remind any incoming student to be genuine, be helpful, and be you! It will allow for easy rapport between you, your peers, clients, and faculty. After graduation we are all peers, so build and keep any and all relationships that you make during your time here. Lastly, I would say to be proud of your accomplishments thus far. Brooklyn’s program is a huge achievement, not one to be taken lightly, so be humble and proud you have made it thus far. Enjoy every moment of it!
