Grad School FAQs

***I applied to graduate school in 2010-2011, so the information on this blog related to admissions is from that year. 

I don’t have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology. Can I still apply to graduate programs in this field?

Yes, you can apply to many programs. Make sure to check with each program you are applying to. This information is usually available on the program’s website. Most programs require a number of prerequisite courses that may extend your time in graduate school. Students must take a social/behavioral science course, a biological science course, a physical science course (chemistry or physics), and a statistics course (most students take these as undergrads) as well as the UNIVERSITY’S specific speech-language pathology prereqs. You also need 25 hours of observation (observing a speech pathologist). The most up-to-date requirements can be found on ASHA’s website: http://www.asha.org/Certification/2014-Speech-Language-Pathology-Certification-Standards/. However, please check with your university before taking any courses.

What prerequisites will I need to take?

This depends on the program. There are usually five to ten prereqs that must be taken before you can begin graduate coursework. The following prereqs are frequently required: Introduction to Speech-Language Pathology, Basic Audiology, Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism, Language Acquisition, and Phonetics. However, each program is different so find out what your school requires!

How competitive is the admissions process for SLP programs?

It is competitive. The level of competition depends on the programs you apply to. Some SLP schools accept 15-20% of the students applying. Others accept 50%. You generally need at least a 3.0 GPA and 500s in the math/verbal sections of the GRE (under the old scoring system) to have a chance of getting accepted. The rest of your application makes a big difference as well, so do not get discouraged if your stats are below those numbers. Just be aware that getting in with a GPA below 3.0 is difficult (but certainly not impossible). 

What is the most important component of the application?

I would say that GPA (grades) is the single most important factor. However, it really depends. If you have a 4.0, but so-so recommendations and a boring personal statement, your chance of acceptance isn't great. Definitely try to keep your GPA as high as possible (especially in SLP courses), study for the GRE, and get great recommendation letters. Also, have your resume and personal statement read by at least two people. I highly recommend that prospective students do research, obtain an internship, or work in an SLP related setting. You need to get an idea of what this job entails. Experience in the field is invaluable.

When are decisions sent out?

The earliest decisions usually come in late February. Most schools send out letters in March and early April, but some have been known to wait until late April. 

What application materials are usually required?

 Besides each program’s application form, you will usually be required to submit the following: 

                 
                     -Transcripts 

                     -Letters of Recommendation

                     -Resume

                     -Personal Statement 

                     -GRE scores  

Some programs also require additional materials. Not all programs require the GREs.

  

How long will it take to get my degree?

This depends on the program and may depend on whether you have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology. Generally two to three years. 

Where can I get more information about individual programs?

The best resource for information about specific programs is ASHA’s EdFind. You can find out a variety of facts, including average GPA and GRE scores for various programs, admissions data, the number of credits required to graduate, how many students attend, and much more. It is a great place to start looking for programs to apply to.

How many observation hours do I need and how do I get them?

You need 25 observation hours. Call schools, hospitals, and private practices in your area and ask if you can observe the SLPs there. Say that you are a student pursuing speech pathology and need observation hours. Make sure that all of the SLPs you observe have their Certificate of Clinical Competence! Otherwise, the hours will not count. Record all of the hours you observe by making an observation hours sheet. Include the date of observation, location, patient (initials), time observed (30 min., an hour, etc.), clinician (SLP you're observing), and their ASHA number, on the sheet.

What kinds of extracurricular activities are valued? Are these more important for some schools than others?

I have written a blog post about extracurricular activities. I believe that some schools give much more weight to grades and GRE scores than extracurricular activities, while others believe that extracurriculars are important components of the application (although I've never been on an admissions committee, so I can't say for certain whether this is true). There is no way of knowing which programs value extracurricular activities more than others. If you are applying soon and have not had the opportunity to take part in many extracurriculars, don't worry. If your GPA, GRE scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation are good, you definitely have a chance of being accepted somewhere. Extracurriculars certainly help make you a better applicant, but the other components of the application (taken together) are more important. However, it's possible that if only one out of two very similar applicants can be accepted into a program, the person with good extracurriculars may have an advantage over the one who doesn't.