I need help, advice please

Okay, this may be a little long, I'm sorry. I am a full time student going for speech pathology. This is my last semester as an undergrad and my program requires students to take clinical practicum. I was really excited about doing this...starting to work with clients and all. The problem is this. I was unaware how much time this is going to take. Last semester a friend of mine took it and was able to take on a client here, a client there, but this semester most of us will be placed out of the university so it's up to the SLP when we we do this. They will work with our school schedule...not a work schedule. I already had to take 2 days off of work a week because I am in class from 9:30am to 7pm on some days. When I spoke to my professor, she advised that most of these places are going to want me to come in for 2 more days...so now I will only be working 2 days a week. I have bills, a car payment being one. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about it unless I drop out of the program...which I really don't want to do. I have an A average both cum and in my major, I am treasurer of our professional org on campus, and I have a good GRE score...basicly I may have a shot of getting into grad school...and this is what I love. On top of this we have these payments for the wedding. I have to give up my health insurance as is...I have no money to save right now...and God only knows if my job will even keep my on for only 2 days a week. I s/w FH about this and he says if we need to we could push the wedding to 2007. Thing is, not only do I not WANT to do this (although if we have to, that's life), but we already booked tha hall. My question is...if it comes down to it, how hard is it to switch dates? We are not sure it will come to this, but we want to be sure. Most of the $$$ burden will be on him , although he says he's fine with it...I am not. we are starting from 0, that's going to make things so hard. He is also willing to make it offical on paper this year if I need to drop my health insurance. FH has been wonderful, however I feel like my world is about to collapse. Obviously the wedding should be the least of my concerns right now, which is why I asked him about moving the date in the first place. I just don't know what to do and I need to get as much info as possible. I am in school all day, and of course I will contact east wind about it when I can, but who knows when that will be. Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

Is there any way you can get help form family or loans?

We're in sort of a similar situation, $$ wise. I had to delay finsihing my last semester tr two of undergrad b/c of a disability and quit my part time jobs, so I haven;t even graduated and I don't know when I will be, when all plans were that I would be working full time right now also. FH is working hard to pay for lots of expensises and the wedding by himself. I offered to put off the wedding, but he thinks that between his salary and his credit we cna swing it. I would definitely quit the job if that means you fcan stay in the program. i think you'll regret it in the future if you give up this opportunity. It sounds like you have great potential for grad school, and if you don't do it now, who knows when you'll do it!

I'm so sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. Have you tried a night and weekend job like waitressing or bartending. I've been waiting tables for the past year to help out with bills and wedding stuff. You can make some serious money if you pick the right place. It's a thought and way more flexible than a day job.

I think each catering hall has different policies on switching days, you'd have to call and ask. Good luck sweetie

If you won;t have health insurance, check with your school. Most schools offer health insurance for relatively cheap. You may also want to check with your school for part-time jobs or 'quickie jobs' (Boston Univ. called it this) where you can earn cash for the day. It is such a tough call and I am sorry that this is happening to you now.

I am a speech Path... I FM'ed you.. Maybe I can help..


this field likes to make you jump through hoops and makes your life miserable until you finish grad school... I have no idea why...It is worth it when you finally get out in the real world. I feel your pain. They make it impossible to survive finacially while your in school! I have sooo much debt due to grad school.

I don't get it...all I want to do is help people. My mom had a stroke (2 actually) and has aphasia and apraxia. I see her frustration and I just want to make that go away for her and people like her. I love my field, my major, and my school. I just don't understand how people manage it without someone helping them out.

Just pray that they target my mondays...if they do, that will still give time to get into work for a few hours. I guess first thing is first...I will have to see what they do and where they put me.

As far as the health insurance, I already checked w/ the school and it's actually more expensive then what I pay now and it does not cover as much. I am on healthy NY (like the only thing that the govenor did right), which is relatively cheap...I guess...if you compare to other rates. I have looked into everything to try to get cheaper health ins and it's just not happening. FH even inquired at his job and they told us that if we were a same sex couple that would be one thing, but if we are not married then no way.

I am trying to keep my spirits up, but I felt like I had so much to look forward to and now I don't because everything seems to be falling apart.

hi! i am doing my CFY for speech path now... so i totally understand where you're at... i was there less than a year ago. it sucks how much ASHA makes you do for schooling.... but like someone else said... its totally worth it once you're all done and out there working and GETTNG PAID!! ... i work at a school for all special needs kids, and i LOVE my job- couldn't imagine doing anything else!! so i guess i don't have too much advice... but just wanted to let you know that i feel your pain, and i promise it does get better!! feel free to vent anytime!

First of all you need to know that even though all of us on here have probably never met we are all here to lend and ear when you need it!!
I have just been going through the same thing as far as school and FH picking up the slack we also have 4 kids though on top of our expenses and the inlaws have just told us to get out As corny as it may sound I think now more than ever we need to say, 'ITS GOING TO BE OKAY NO MATTER WHAT WE DECEIDE'! It's not that hard depending on your hall to push back your date if you explain your situation. Dont give up on school because your secure future is toooooo near. Things have a funny way of working itself out within time and the ladies here have shown me that. So good luck and please FM if you need to vent.

It is so wonderful to know that I am entering a field full of such wonderful people!

I am trying not to get discouraged. I know in my heart it will work out. FH asked that I contact our hall just to know their policy if need be. Neither one of us really wants to move it, but he just wants to know what is in our control and what isn't. I just feel so horrible making him pick up the slack...I am going to have to do something special for him when I start working. I'm 27 and FH is 31, we just want to move on from this stage we have been stuck in. I feel like my life has not moved in a decade. I just want to graduate, go to grad school, get married, start working, and start our family. So close...I can almost touch it!

Moving your date, if it comes down to it, will not be a problem at all. There is plenty of time for them to rebook the date.

I'm not in Speech Pathology, but I am a graduate student going for my PhD and my best friend is in getting her Masters in Speech Pathology .

First, I want to say that I really admire what you're doing and your determination. You have a great shot of getting into graduate school and from what my friend tells me it seems as if you really need a Masters in your field in order to get a job. You're so close to finishing and I really think you should stay and try to finish it off. Is there anyone at school that you can talk to? Maybe you can try to let them know your situation so that you get scheduled for Mondays. SOMEONE is going to in charge of scheduling, you just need to network and find out who that person is and plead to them your case. If health insurance is really an issue, maybe you and FH can get married (justice of peace) and then do it again in 2007 bigtime?? I don't think it should be a problem to move your date as long as the date you want is available? Oh, last thing would be can you make $$ on the side by tutoring? I had a lot of friends that tutored through school..

HTH