How to Navigate the Graduate Application and Selection Process

By Rebecca Frank Jacobs MA CCC-SLP

The days are getting shorter and the nights cooler signifying the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.  Under normal circumstances this time of year can generate a mix of emotions anticipating the year ahead, but now in the face of a global pandemic college seniors are tasked with paving a new way of daily life while dealing with the pressures of joining the workforce or entering into a graduate program. 

Fortunately, the road to graduate school has already been paved and I’m here to give you the roadmap that will help you navigate the process and select a program that meets your professional aspirations!

The infamous GRE… every student trying to gain access to a graduate program has to take this entrance exam but how will you set yourself apart? Take this test seriously. 

1. Buy a test preparation book- one of my favorite resources is the Kaplan GRE prep book as it offers strategies, content reviews, as well as full length practice tests.

2. Get a tutor- The GRE contains an ENTIRE math section and the board of admissions does take this score into consideration. I know what you’re thinking; you pursued this career because of the lack of math and now you have to solve equations that you haven’t seen since high school! That’s why I suggest hiring a tutor (if affordable) so that you can refresh your skills as well as learn the tricks of solving these seemingly unsolvable problems. Otherwise, practice, practice, practice. 

Research- There are over THREE HUNDRED, yes you read it correctly, THREE HUNDRED certified degree programs in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology. How do you narrow down that list to find the program best suited for you?? Do your homework.

1. Maybe the most obvious but nonetheless important factors are geographical location and cost. There are a lot of students who choose to attend a graduate program within driving distance of their childhood home in order to save money on rent as well as tuition. Most professionals would agree that this is a responsible approach to narrowing down the overwhelming number of programs as you don’t want to earn a degree that is crippled with debt.  

   1. I do however have one caveat to this tip. If you have a chance to learn from a renowned professor in the area you expect to specialize in, take that opportunity. 

2. You DON’T have to apply to the top program JUST because it’s listed as number one. What does number one really mean? What good is a program if it doesn’t have the courses you are most interested in? This brings me to my next tip. 

3. PLEASE read the sample curriculum and make sure the program offers all the courses YOU (not your mom) are interested in taking. If you’ve always wanted to be a medical SLP, why apply to a school that is heavily geared toward pediatrics? 

4. Does the program have an on-site clinic? This may not seem like a big deal now but as a supervisor to many graduate clinicians I can tell you that my students who excelled in their externships had the opportunity to implement their coursework on a variety of patients who exhibited the multitude of symptoms and disorders lectured about instead of practicing on your sister who, let’s face it, would rather be doing ANYTHING else. 

5. Externships- You’re off-campus externships should come AFTER you have completed your coursework and not before. You want to feel prepared walking into the first day of your externship ready to “wow” your supervisor. You can’t be expected to do that if you haven’t taken all the necessary coursework to complete the externship at the highest level. With that being said, your externship should ALSO come after you have completed your on-campus clinical work.  Refer to the sample curriculum to find this information or speak to a program supervisor. 

Now that I have given you the roadmap, it is time for you to start paving your own path to becoming a certified speech-language pathologist! As a practicing clinician in both the sub-acute and acute settings as well as a supervisor to many graduate students, I can tell you that these tips will make you feel more confident in your decision-making process and will allow you the opportunity to be a better clinician. 

So go ahead, get on your computer and start those applications and know that we are all excited about working with the next generation of speech pathologists!

Rebecca Frank Jacobs MA CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist specializing in the medically complex adult population with a primary focus on providing high quality instrumentation for the evaluation, treatment, and management of dysphagia. She is a member of the ASHA Special Interest Group 13 (Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders) and has served as a mentor for undergraduate students as well as a clinical supervisor for many graduate students. Rebecca has completed advanced dysphagia training including FEES, MBSImP, and MDTP all in pursuit of completing her Board Certification in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCSS).