Applying to Graduate School Programs
With the GRE now under your belt (here’s the link for tips on how to prepare for the GRE from a previous post: https://slptobe.com/ways-to-help-prepare-for-the-dreaded-gre/), you now have to decide which programs to apply to.
Here are some questions I would have asked myself when starting the application process:
1. How much does tuition cost and is there financial assistance to help with tuition cost? In undergrad, there are many different types of scholarships and grants available to students. Unfortunately, there are significantly less financial assistance options for graduate students. I didn’t have much direction with this application process, and regretfully didn’t consider tuition cost when applying to graduate programs. As a result, I was forced to choose between two very expensive schools.
2. Are there opportunities to get involved in research if you’re interested? Some graduate programs may advise against getting involved in research labs since it can be hard to balance demands between the two. If research is something that you’re interested in, I would look into research opportunities when applying to see if it’s possible to get involved. An honors thesis is an option if you have time and are interested in doing your own research study while you’re in the program. Even though our graduate program deterred those in the master’s program from volunteering in research labs (since they didn’t think it was feasible to uphold our clinical and academic responsibilities while also committing to hours in the research lab), we were still given the opportunity to volunteer if we really wanted to.
3. Which schools accept the common application and if they do, why not apply to them? The more applications you put out, the more options you have when having to decide which school to attend. While it can be costly to apply to schools ($85 here and there adds up quickly), I do think it’s important to look at it as a future investment. To become a speech-language pathologist, you must attend and graduate with a master’s degree. Since graduate school is mandatory, it doesn’t hurt to have several options to choose from when you’re deciding which program is best-suited for you. If you’re strapped for money, I would suggest maybe even saving up the summer before senior year in preparation for graduate school applications. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to apply to as many graduate programs as possible, since the alternative could be reapplying next year and competing with the class below you.
4. Realistically, which schools would I be accepted to? It’s important to look at the programs’ average GRE scores and GPA for previous accepted candidates. Extracurricular activities such as volunteering experiences and research participation are also taken into consideration. Make sure you also spend time writing your personal statement and essay responses! They can build up your application where numbers may be lacking.
5. Should I be applying for graduate school and expected to attend right after undergrad or is it a good idea to take a gap year? This question is answered in the following post “Important Factors to Consider When Committing to a Program.” Here’s the link for reference: https://slptobe.com/important-factors-to-consider-when-committing-to-a-program/
Hope these pointers were helpful for your application process! This can be a stressful time and hopefully with more knowledge under your belt, you’ll be more prepared to tackle your applications.