From now until school starts

[CaliAud]

I don't know if this is the case for some of you guys but what will you be doing from now until school starts? (i.e. take extra classes? get a part time job?-if so, what type of job? go on a vacation?)

I'm currently taking one neuro class just to keep my brain juice flowing(done with all prereqs), reading Leaders(ASHA), and audiology related articles but I still got too much time on hands!! I feel like I should do something more productive but have no idea. Any great plans or ideas?

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[SoCalAud]

How about volunteering at a special ed program for the hard of hearing or at clinics? See if you can get your hands on the audiometer and start practicing because I'm pretty positive you will start doing that during your first or second quarter/semester of grad school.

Honestly, I think you should relax, too, because it sounds like grad school will be pretty hectic.

By the way, read your future clinical supervisors and professors' research articles and current lab work.

 

[loveAuD]

I don't know if this is the case for some of you guys but what will you be doing from now until school starts? (i.e. take extra classes? get a part time job?-if so, what type of job? go on a vacation?)

I'm currently taking one neuro class just to keep my brain juice flowing(done with all prereqs), reading Leaders(ASHA), and audiology related articles but I still got too much time on hands!! I feel like I should do something more productive but have no idea. Any great plans or ideas?

I'm in my last full term right now, but after that I plan on working a little bit (I've had a catering job on campus) or I may not and just go on a nice little trip! If I were you and I were bored right now, I think I'd definitely be working to save up some money for relocation costs(if this applies to you). I think you should definitely find time to treat yourself to a trip. You should feel proud of your accomplishments and reward yourself now before you are crazy busy with a grad student schedule!

 

[spring88]

I don't know if this is the case for some of you guys but what will you be doing from now until school starts? (i.e. take extra classes? get a part time job?-if so, what type of job? go on a vacation?)

I'm currently taking one neuro class just to keep my brain juice flowing(done with all prereqs), reading Leaders(ASHA), and audiology related articles but I still got too much time on hands!! I feel like I should do something more productive but have no idea. Any great plans or ideas?

I finished up in the fall so I've been working since then and volunteering in the lab I will be working for in the fall. I've also borrowed some textbooks so I will review those a bit closer to when school starts and I'm doing a couple of observations in the SPHSC clinic because I will literally have clinic the first week of grad school! Just want to be prepared

But I shall be going to Hawaii at some point so that will be a much needed break (since I couldn't go on the cruise with my family over christmas time...grad school crunch and all).

I definitely recommend you trying to get in touch with your future classmates (you are going to SDSU right?) and maybe volunteer in a clinic or observe like SoCalAuD mentioned! It probably won't hurt to brush up on the basic audiology stuff as well.

 

[dg2b]

I asked my program director and an audiologist that I know what I should be doing over the summer, and both of them said to relax and enjoy, since this will probably be our last free summer ever! (my program goes through the summers at least) Other than that, I wouldn't do much more than maybe review your intro to audiology textbook, or get your textbooks a little early and start looking at them. Observations or volunteering would obviously be good to, but you'll get plenty of that in grad school so it's definitely not a necessity!

I'm planning on working as much as I can and saving lots of money!

 

[rEliseMe]

I need to finish up some classes, but I'm hoping to volunteer with some research in Iowa over the summer so I can move early.

 

[CaliAud]

I finished up in the fall so I've been working since then and volunteering in the lab I will be working for in the fall. I've also borrowed some textbooks so I will review those a bit closer to when school starts and I'm doing a couple of observations in the SPHSC clinic because I will literally have clinic the first week of grad school! Just want to be prepared

But I shall be going to Hawaii at some point so that will be a much needed break (since I couldn't go on the cruise with my family over christmas time...grad school crunch and all).

I definitely recommend you trying to get in touch with your future classmates (you are going to SDSU right?) and maybe volunteer in a clinic or observe like SoCalAuD mentioned! It probably won't hurt to brush up on the basic audiology stuff as well.

Thanks for all your suggestions! It seems like most of you guy will be traveling or go on a vacation before school starts.. I don't have the luxury of spending the money, plus I've done enough of traveling, so I guess I should continue to do more clinic observations and read up on future professors' articles. (thanks for the idea SoCalAud!)

By the way, where do you guys volunteer? Do they like it that you're there? One of my professors told me that they're the ones doing you a favor and I may cause them inconvenience by being there. I mean, how do I go about doing this?

 

[spring88]

Thanks for all your suggestions! It seems like most of you guy will be traveling or go on a vacation before school starts.. I don't have the luxury of spending the money, plus I've done enough of traveling, so I guess I should continue to do more clinic observations and read up on future professors' articles. (thanks for the idea SoCalAud!)

By the way, where do you guys volunteer? Do they like it that you're there? One of my professors told me that they're the ones doing you a favor and I may cause them inconvenience by being there. I mean, how do I go about doing this?

Oh pshhh. That isn't true. If they accept your offer of volunteering, you shouldn't worry about being an "inconvenience" and if they don't want you there they won't have you there. I guess the only way it could be an "inconvenience" is if it has to do with HIPPA. I volunteer at a research lab and do observations at the UW SPHSC clinic but I had to do like an online tutorial for HIPPA certification and I was already known for undergrad etc so that really made a difference since I had already done the paperwork and whatnot. Does your school have a Speech and Hearing clinic or have any associations with one? That may be your best bet.

Also, CONGRATS on SDSU/UCSD!!! .

 

[SoCalAud]

Congrats on SDSU/UCSD!

I volunteer at three locations: Private clinic in LA (specializes in cochlear implants), one in Orange County, and at a private school for the hard of hearing children. The clinic on campus does not allow students to volunteer, but to observe to meet clinical hours for CD degree. I'd rather do outside of campus volunteer work. You get a taste of different areas of audiology. Sadly, it's time to wind down to focus more on grad apps, letter of intent, and GRE exam.

 

[spring88]

Congrats on SDSU/UCSD!

I volunteer at three locations: Private clinic in LA (specializes in cochlear implants), one in Orange County, and at a private school for the hard of hearing children. The clinic on campus does not allow students to volunteer, but to observe to meet clinical hours for CD degree. I'd rather do outside of campus volunteer work. You get a taste of different areas of audiology. Sadly, it's time to wind down to focus more on grad apps, letter of intent, and GRE exam.

Sheeeeeesh and you have time to do research as well (if I remember correctly)? I thought I did a lot before applying to grad school but nothing compared to you . I think you are in great shape for this application process SoCalAuD! Will you be taking the GRE before the revised GRE goes into effect?

 

[SoCalAud]

I only do a few hours once a week for each one. Research study is still going on, but I'm not in it anymore. It turned into a longitudinal study, so I can't work on this with my professor, unfortunately.

I'm trying to do what I can to see if this career is a definite for me, which it is. 110%!!! You have to be someone that is seriously interested in the field. I am most likely will go into research and to do research, you have to have this fire of passion in you to complete any study. Even if you and the team of researchers make a little difference, anything little still counts and will help the next set of researchers.

And I'm no dfferent than any of you here. You all have done a lot to get involved in the field. Regardless of how many hours you volunteered, what matters most, in my opinion, is that you can HANDLE all of this and still carry a good GPA (above 3.0). If you have no volunteer experience or real life experience (parent of HH child, etc or other specialists), I am not the one to say it's okay or not okay that you have no experience. Just be aware of that. For those applying next year and you're reading this, I highly suggest that you contact your school of interest and ask them how to be a competitive candidate.

Man, I wish I was already accepted to grad school. hhaha. Six more months until start submitting my packets!

 

[rEliseMe]

i'm trying to do what i can to see if this career is a definite for me, which it is. 110%!!! You have to be someone that is seriously interested in the field. I am most likely will go into research and to do research, you have to have this fire of passion in you to complete any study. Even if you and the team of researchers make a little difference, anything little still counts and will help the next set of researchers.

my new best friend!

 

[spring88]

I only do a few hours once a week for each one. Research study is still going on, but I'm not in it anymore. It turned into a longitudinal study, so I can't work on this with my professor, unfortunately.

I'm trying to do what I can to see if this career is a definite for me, which it is. 110%!!! You have to be someone that is seriously interested in the field. I am most likely will go into research and to do research, you have to have this fire of passion in you to complete any study. Even if you and the team of researchers make a little difference, anything little still counts and will help the next set of researchers.

And I'm no dfferent than any of you here. You all have done a lot to get involved in the field. Regardless of how many hours you volunteered, what matters most, in my opinion, is that you can HANDLE all of this and still carry a good GPA (above 3.0). If you have no volunteer experience or real life experience (parent of HH child, etc or other specialists), I am not the one to say it's okay or not okay that you have no experience. Just be aware of that. For those applying next year and you're reading this, I highly suggest that you contact your school of interest and ask them how to be a competitive candidate.

Man, I wish I was already accepted to grad school. hhaha. Six more months until start submitting my packets!

Totally agree with this! The best thing any potential applicant can do is contact programs, express their interest and ask the programs what they can do to be a more competitive applicant even if you "think" you are a strong applicant to begin with. I know people who for sure thought they were going to be accepted at a generally considered "top" program and...they didn't get in, not even wait-listed. I know for a fact that they didn't go to an advisor or contact programs regarding what they could do in order to be competitive.

I was told exactly what I had to do in order to be more competitive by a top program and I used this advice as a benchmark for what I had to do in order to be competitive at other programs. And you know what? It worked .

SoCalAuD..I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you during this whole process! Your motivation is admirable and I'm so excited for you .

 

[SoCalAud]

They told you focus on your GPA?

 

[spring88]

They told you focus on your GPA?

Of course but there was only so much I could do