Letter of Intent for grad school

[robin4kids]

I am feeling quite lost and depressed right now. I have to write a letter of intent so I can get into a Speech pathology Grad Program and I can't think of any way to sell myself.

I have been out of school for 16 years!!! I have B.A in Early Childhood Ed., but i only really taught for 2 years, then I started having children. I have been running a daycare for over 10 years in my home ever since. How does a stay at home mom write a letter of intent when they have nothing really to show for the past 16 years? I have never been good at selling myself.

[lilgreen]

Well. You have plenty to sell! I don't know anything about speech pathology, but I do know how to make something seemingly mundane sound good.

Your Experience:
Your work with children in an educational setting is substantial (home daycare). You were instrumental in ensuring that these children were meeting the appropriate developmental milestones. You worked with them to develop their speech. Not only did you demonstrate significant leadership qualities by running your own business and providing a creative and stimulating educational experience for children, you were in many respects also their teacher.

Why This Degree:
Your experience with these children has led you to want to understand (whatever it is you want to study). Explain the link between working with children and what you want to study (even if it doesn't seem obvious at first, you can always find a link!).

Why You Are the Best Person for This Degree:
You bring a mature enthusiasm to the program. Your years of experience cannot be matched in the academic setting. You believe that by bringing the two together you will have much to offer in the advancement of understanding more about (whatever you want to study).

I need to get back to my reading, but I hope that helps to get you going!

Trust me, the mature students with life experience have so much more to offer no matter what the life experience was.

Good luck!

[Carita]

yup - why are you going back? why SLP? start there, but use all of the things the PP pointed out!

[calpurnia]

trying to sell myself always makes me depressed too. But you have lots you can talk about! Good luck - post here if you want people to help out

[robin4kids]

Thank you, Thank you. That helps so much! Back when i first got my degree, I was too, shy and insecure to ask for help in preparing my resume and preparing for an interview. The new older and wiser mom of five, knows much better now. I am asking for help from anyone that is willing to give me five minutes.

I am so scared to go back to school, while running a family of 7. I think back to when I was an undergrad and how stressed I felt. How EASY it all really was.

Someone told me there really is no perfect time to go back to school and I know they are right. I just have to do it.

Thanks again.
Robin

[~pi]

You may also want to mention the organizational and time management skills that you bring to the table. That is often a significant advantage for mature students, along with motivation, self-discipline, etc. (Trust me, when you have limited time in which to get your school work done, you work *efficiently*. It doesn't mean you have to be perfect.)

Best of luck!

[oceane]

this is actually helpful for me, too. thanks!