Choosing Between Graduate Acceptances
By Christina Antoine
Congratulations on your multiple acceptances! That is a feat to celebrate – I’m serious, get your friends and/or family and raise your glasses to that.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing between graduate programs:
- Do you want to work with kids, adults or do research? Then make sure you choose a school that focuses on the population that
you want to work with when you graduate. Don't know what their focus is? Call them up and ask!
- Will you be starting clinic the first semester or during the first semester?
- With clinic taken into consideration with your coursework, will you graduate my x date, or is there a chance that you'll graduate
later because of a waiting list for clinic?
- Are classes graded through exams or are there research/written assignments included? Note that if the school you choose
focuses on research, pretty much all your classes will include research/written assignments along with exams.
- Try to find out the percentage points allocated to both if you can.
- Is the clinic on or off campus? If it is off campus, you might need to figure out transportation arrangements, especially if you
have classes before or after.
- Are there any classes held in a clinical setting? For example, my dysphagia class is held at a nursing home (off campus and not
the school's clinic). Again, figure out transportation arrangements.
You are in control now, so don't be afraid to call each school and ask questions.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing between graduate programs:
- Do you want to work with kids, adults or do research? Then make sure you choose a school that focuses on the population that
you want to work with when you graduate. Don't know what their focus is? Call them up and ask!
- Will you be starting clinic the first semester or during the first semester?
- With clinic taken into consideration with your coursework, will you graduate my x date, or is there a chance that you'll graduate
later because of a waiting list for clinic?
- Are classes graded through exams or are there research/written assignments included? Note that if the school you choose
focuses on research, pretty much all your classes will include research/written assignments along with exams.
- Try to find out the percentage points allocated to both if you can.
- Is the clinic on or off campus? If it is off campus, you might need to figure out transportation arrangements, especially if you
have classes before or after.
- Are there any classes held in a clinical setting? For example, my dysphagia class is held at a nursing home (off campus and not
the school's clinic). Again, figure out transportation arrangements.
You are in control now, so don't be afraid to call each school and ask questions.
What to do with an undergraduate SLP degree?By Christina Antoine
It takes a graduate degree in speech-language pathology to go into practice. But with the low rate of admission, many students will unfortunately find themselves without an acceptance offer. Is there work for those with an undergraduate degree? There is. And yes, there is a catch. In New York State for example, with an undergraduate degree you can become a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (commonly referred to as TSSLD), provided you have taken some specific courses and a certification exam. Check with your state’s board of education to find out if this option exists in your area and what the specific requirements are. With this certification, you would be working in a school setting. The catch in NYS is that you have 5 years to complete a graduate school education in speech-language pathology in order to continue working. In other words, the certification gives you a 5-year window. You should view these 5 years as five additional opportunities to apply for grad school, so make sure you apply every year until you get accepted. Once accepted, depending on the number of years you have left to work and on whether the school allows part-time matriculation, it would be |
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your choice to attend graduate school as a full-time or part-time student. Also, working as a TSSLD may make you more appealing to graduate schools since you’re gaining invaluable experience that most undergraduates don’t have when applying to graduate programs.
To get this certification, your state might require that you take some additional tests. In NY, the ATS-W (220) (written assessment of Teaching Skills) and the LAST (220) (Liberal Arts and Sciences Test) are required and are fairly easy to pass. These review books are typically available at your local library.
Many schools do not offer the TSSLD option to undergraduates and don’t inform their students that this option exists. However, there are others who do. Here are some guidelines to inquire about this certificate:
If you’re an undergraduate SLP student:
- Find out which schools in your area offer this option.
- Find out what the required classes for the certification are.
- Find out what the clinical requirements are.
- Find out if you can take the individual classes or if you need to be enrolled in a TSSLD program.
- If you can take the individual classes, take one per semester while still matriculated and attending other classes at your official
school, or take the TSSLD classes during the summer if they are offered then.
- If you cannot take the individual classes, when applying to graduate school, also apply to TSSLD programs.
* The application process is similar to the graduate application process.
- Take the state required tests for this certification while in undergrad (why not during a summer?). They’re fairly easy and that
will be one less thing you’ll have to do in grad school.
If you’re an undergraduate senior
- Apply to both graduate and TSSLD programs.
- Take the state required tests for this certification after graduation, before starting graduate school or the TSSLD program.
If you hold an undergraduate SLP degree
- Apply to those programs per their individual requirements.
* Competition should be less stiff since most undergraduates are applying directly to graduate school and any get accepted to a program.
* Note that these programs also have deadlines
- If there are no schools around you that offer a formal TSSLD program, ask if you could create your own by taking the required
classes (which you should have a list of) and completing the clinical requirements.
- Take the state required tests for this certification after graduation, before starting graduate school or the TSSLD program.
Take control and do your homework:
- Don’t wait until after you’ve received graduate admission decisions.
- Do start working towards the TSSLD while you’re an undergrad student, it will make you more appealing to graduate schools.
- Do send emails and make calls to inquire about this option.
- Start by contacting your state’s board of education to know if you can work in a school setting with this certificate (Google “your
state” + “education department”).
* Under the “licensure” or “certification” option, find a contact and send that email/make that call saying: “Some states
allow undergraduate SLP
students to work as speech teachers if they have a specific state certification. Does ‘enter your state’ offer this option?”
* Remember that one “no” is never enough. You must get at least 3 ‘nos’ from 3 different sources.
- Then find a school that offers this program or lets you take these individual classes.
- Have a professor that you trust? Ask him or her about it!
To get this certification, your state might require that you take some additional tests. In NY, the ATS-W (220) (written assessment of Teaching Skills) and the LAST (220) (Liberal Arts and Sciences Test) are required and are fairly easy to pass. These review books are typically available at your local library.
Many schools do not offer the TSSLD option to undergraduates and don’t inform their students that this option exists. However, there are others who do. Here are some guidelines to inquire about this certificate:
If you’re an undergraduate SLP student:
- Find out which schools in your area offer this option.
- Find out what the required classes for the certification are.
- Find out what the clinical requirements are.
- Find out if you can take the individual classes or if you need to be enrolled in a TSSLD program.
- If you can take the individual classes, take one per semester while still matriculated and attending other classes at your official
school, or take the TSSLD classes during the summer if they are offered then.
- If you cannot take the individual classes, when applying to graduate school, also apply to TSSLD programs.
* The application process is similar to the graduate application process.
- Take the state required tests for this certification while in undergrad (why not during a summer?). They’re fairly easy and that
will be one less thing you’ll have to do in grad school.
If you’re an undergraduate senior
- Apply to both graduate and TSSLD programs.
- Take the state required tests for this certification after graduation, before starting graduate school or the TSSLD program.
If you hold an undergraduate SLP degree
- Apply to those programs per their individual requirements.
* Competition should be less stiff since most undergraduates are applying directly to graduate school and any get accepted to a program.
* Note that these programs also have deadlines
- If there are no schools around you that offer a formal TSSLD program, ask if you could create your own by taking the required
classes (which you should have a list of) and completing the clinical requirements.
- Take the state required tests for this certification after graduation, before starting graduate school or the TSSLD program.
Take control and do your homework:
- Don’t wait until after you’ve received graduate admission decisions.
- Do start working towards the TSSLD while you’re an undergrad student, it will make you more appealing to graduate schools.
- Do send emails and make calls to inquire about this option.
- Start by contacting your state’s board of education to know if you can work in a school setting with this certificate (Google “your
state” + “education department”).
* Under the “licensure” or “certification” option, find a contact and send that email/make that call saying: “Some states
allow undergraduate SLP
students to work as speech teachers if they have a specific state certification. Does ‘enter your state’ offer this option?”
* Remember that one “no” is never enough. You must get at least 3 ‘nos’ from 3 different sources.
- Then find a school that offers this program or lets you take these individual classes.
- Have a professor that you trust? Ask him or her about it!
10 Questions To Impress at a Graduate Interview
By Christina Antoine
You’ve sent in a fabulous application showcasing all the extracurricular work you’ve done in speech. However, with so many applicants to choose from, universities are also relying on in-person impressions to determine whether their institution and you would be a good match. Therefore you have to make a great impact. One way to do so is by asking questions during the interview. Being silent is an absolute no-no. And having well thought-off and detailed questions will show the interviewer that you are deeply interested in the specifics of the program. Here are some sample questions to consider:
1. Is the program focused on a particular population, as in child or adult, or is it more research based?
2. Are new graduate students assigned an advisor? How many new grad students does each advisor take on every year?
3. Does the school have a prerequisite/hierarchical system for registering for classes or can students register for any SLP
graduate class during any given semester?
4. Is there a school speech clinic or is practicum done at other health facilities?
a) If they have a clinic – Is it on campus?
If it’s not on campus – Does the school offer a shuttle between the clinic and campus?
b) If they don’t have a clinic – In which facilities does the school hold speech practicum?
5. Does the school offer a bilingual extension? If not, do you provide assistance/ advice on how to get one?
6. Are there any faculty involved in research? What topic is she/he doing her/his research on?
7. Does the school offer any recognition/ awards for high achieving students?
If yes - Which ones?
8. If accepted, would I start practicum my first semester?
If not - When?
9. Say a student is curious about a parrticular topic like 'voice'. Can the school assist in either finding a paid or volunteer position
in that discipline?
10. With practicum included, how long is the program?
You don't have to ask all 10 questions of course! Remember that new questions may come to you depending on your interviewer's answers. Also, always use good judgment to determine which ones would make sense for you.
1. Is the program focused on a particular population, as in child or adult, or is it more research based?
2. Are new graduate students assigned an advisor? How many new grad students does each advisor take on every year?
3. Does the school have a prerequisite/hierarchical system for registering for classes or can students register for any SLP
graduate class during any given semester?
4. Is there a school speech clinic or is practicum done at other health facilities?
a) If they have a clinic – Is it on campus?
If it’s not on campus – Does the school offer a shuttle between the clinic and campus?
b) If they don’t have a clinic – In which facilities does the school hold speech practicum?
5. Does the school offer a bilingual extension? If not, do you provide assistance/ advice on how to get one?
6. Are there any faculty involved in research? What topic is she/he doing her/his research on?
7. Does the school offer any recognition/ awards for high achieving students?
If yes - Which ones?
8. If accepted, would I start practicum my first semester?
If not - When?
9. Say a student is curious about a parrticular topic like 'voice'. Can the school assist in either finding a paid or volunteer position
in that discipline?
10. With practicum included, how long is the program?
You don't have to ask all 10 questions of course! Remember that new questions may come to you depending on your interviewer's answers. Also, always use good judgment to determine which ones would make sense for you.
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Getting Into Grad School: Supplemental Materials
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Graduate School Fair at ASHA Convention
By Christina Antoine
There will be a graduate school fair at the ASHA conventione this November, where you'll be able to meet with representatives from various colleges and universities to discuss masters and doctorate opportunities.
DATE Thursday, November 18
Friday, November 19
TIME Noon - 4pm
Also, you can visit the ASHA website for a list of schools that will attend this event.
DATE Thursday, November 18
Friday, November 19
TIME Noon - 4pm
Also, you can visit the ASHA website for a list of schools that will attend this event.
Graduate Programs
This section offers information on which universities and colleges offer a graduate program in Speech Language Pathology depending on the state. Program requirements and deadlines are also noted.
Come back periodically for additional state listing.
Come back periodically for additional state listing.
Northeast
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