The SLP Graduate School Process

The SLP Graduate School Process:

These steps can still apply to students applying to graduate school in other areas, but some portions are specific to SLP majors!

For any undergraduate SLP student, or post-baccalaureate student (one who didn’t study SLP in undergrad and will be completing pre-requisites for a year before entering graduate school) the SLP graduate school process is likely extremely daunting, regardless of your grades and experiences. As someone with a 3.5 GPA in my major courses, I was TERRIFIED that I wouldn’t get into graduate school. Like at all. This fear comes from comparing myself to other students with higher grades, and competitiveness I experienced in my undergraduate program. From what I’ve heard, this competitiveness isn’t unique to the school I attended, so I’m hoping this article brings some peace of mind to those stressed about the process or being accepted to a school. Here is my personal experience applying to SLP graduate schools!

The SLP Graduate School Process: HOW DO I START??

STEP 1: MAKING A LIST OF SCHOOLS

Choosing schools is an ongoing process, but I suggest doing this around your summer after junior year/the summer before you apply, at the latest. It’s good to have an idea of what region you want to be in for graduate school, and where you’re thinking of living when you finish. I applied to 12 schools, because I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be, and wanted to have a decent chance at getting in somewhere. In the end, I was accepted to six schools, and waitlisted at two. Looking back on it, I wouldn’t have applied to as many schools because of the amount of work and time that it required. After I finished my applications, I thought more clearly I knew I wanted to be close to home, so would have probably just applied to schools on the East Coast. It’s different for everyone, but I would apply to between 5-9 schools. It’s hard to tell you about safety and reach schools because schools I never thought I would get into based on their statistics, I was accepted to! I will say if you apply to a top 3 school like Vanderbilt or UW Madison, those rely more solely on grades and eliminate students without certain grades because they get so many applications. So I’m not going to tell you where to apply- but look at schools that have your interests within the field, a wide range of clinic opportunities, and good opportunities for externships. In the end, those are the most important things that will best prepare you for the field. I did get into one pretty highly ranked school, but if you are struggling to decide between ranking and cost, the ranking is not as important once you finish grad school- you will be getting a job regardless, and most employers will not pay as much attention to where you went to school.

STEP 3: RECOMMENDATIONS

Most schools require three recommendations. These can be from professors mainly, but if you had a supervisor you worked with or shadowed that was an SLP, I think that you could ask them as well, but make sure they can speak to your academic skills. During your undergraduate career. build relationships with professors, so that the people you ask know you and can share your strengths as a student and a clinician. If you don’t do that, you will probably have weaker letters of recommendations. Also, ask early! I asked my recommendations in May (the semester before I applied), because they get busy. Provide them your resume and/or CV, and your strengths and weaknesses couldn’t hurt to share either. Anything you feel can help them paint a picture for you. Give them an organized list of all your deadlines, and follow up with them! It is not too pushy/annoying to do so. Once they write your letters, make sure you get them thank you gifts as a courtesy.

STEP 5: CHOOSING A SCHOOL

So now you’re accepted! Even though writing the essays and studying for the GRE was A LOT of work, I actually think this was the hardest part of the whole process. I got accepted into way more schools than I expected, which I know is a good problem to have, but I was so stressed about not getting in that I didn’t really think about where I wanted to go. I got really overwhelmed. I came down to April 14th and I thought I had made my decision, but I ended up changing my mind back to the school I ended up committing to. My parents were a big asset in the process, and my dad ended up coming to the rescue with a ranking system for the schools. We listed all the different important factors for me, and ranked the three schools I was deciding between 1-3, with one being the best. The school with the least points would win. Throughout the process, I knew which school I wanted to win, and so I ended up choosing that one. But it was hard! I didn’t have a gut feeling like when I was choosing an undergraduate school. I think making an spreadsheet comparing your most important factors (cost, location, externship options, clinic specialties, research, etc.) is a good place to start, and making pro-con lists (shoutout to my girl Rory Gilmore). Visit the schools, talk to the professors and students and make sure to ask questions. See how the students live and what made them choose the school. And ask the professors what separates their school from other programs. In the end, you can’t go wrong with most programs, as long as they are accredited, they will prepare you to be an SLP and provide you with plentiful opportunities working with your own clients. And most of all, BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! You’ve accomplished something amazing!

STEP 2: THE GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is the graduate school equivalent of the SAT. It is taken on the computer. Most, if not all schools require it. The test is made up of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. You get a score in QL and VR from 130-170 and 0-6 in the writing. After that, you get a percentile rank.
Here are the descriptions of the sections right from ETS and the structure of the test:

Verbal Reasoning — Measures the ability to analyze and draw conclusions from discourse and reason from incomplete data, understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and author’s intent, and summarize text and distinguish major from minor points, understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts, and understand relationships among words and among concepts. There is an emphasis on complex verbal reasoning skills.
Quantitative Reasoning — Measures the ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information, solve problems using mathematical models, and apply the basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis. There is an emphasis on quantitative reasoning skills.
Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, including the ability to articulate and support complex ideas with relevant reasons and examples, and examine claims and accompanying evidence. There is an emphasis on analytical writing skills.

The GRE is important, but a lower math score is not the end-all-be-all. Since there isn’t a math emphasis in SLP, scoring below the fifty percentile is okay if math isn’t your strong suit like me. It will not be an automatic rejection for some schools, but scoring lower on the VR or AW sections might not look so good. The study process looks different for everyone, so I advise getting a prep book or taking a prep course if that is financially feasible for you and begin studying in the spring semester of your junior year and/or over the summer. Taking it over the summer before you apply is a good idea so that you have time to study again and retake it if you need to. For more information about the GRE visit https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about.

STEP 4: THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

Ooh, the personal statement- so daunting, and probably the part everyone is wondering about. I’m going to be straight here, this can honestly be the difference between getting in or not getting into your dream school. So put the effort in. If you are worried about grades and scores, pour yourself into this essay and why you’re in this field. Show your passion and that will get you into a program. Do your research on professors and include in your essay ones you might want to work with and why. Name one of their big research projects or courses. That shows you put the time in to look at the school and what they are specializing in, and thinking how you might fit there. And tell your story. Why should they pick you! And why do you think you belong. Grad schools are competitive, but they are also looking for people who are really passionate and ready to learn more about this field, show empathy, and are capable of making mistakes and learning from them.