Navigating the Maze: Choosing the ‘Right’ Grad Program
So, you've decided to dive into the everchanging world of speech therapy, but now you're faced with the daunting task of choosing the right graduate program. This is a long post, but in it I’ve written about my personal journey to getting into grad school and at the bottom included some things to consider when you apply for grad school.
When I first applied for grad school it was right in the peak of COVID. At this time a lot of individuals were isolating at home and for many it was a time of self-discovery. A lot of people picked up new hobbies and passions, switched or stopped careers, or like myself started a new journey of education.
At the time I was working in Alaska as a speech therapy assistant. One of my good friends also worked there and we had been having lots of conversations surrounding a change in pace, a change in life. We were both highly interested in a complete change of scenery both in living and career.
She wanted to start her own business creating butterfly domes and oddities. A skill and passion she had been working on perfecting for quite some time. I was interested in culture, past and present. Learning about ancient Greek and Egyptian culture and lifestyle had always been of high interest to me. So with a little convincing on my friend’s part, I applied to go back to school to pursue cultural anthropology and archeology. Well… my parents had always been practical people. They have worked hard their entire lives and pursued a life of practicality over interest. So obviously, this didn’t sit too well with them. I know what your thinking, “Jennifer, you are a grown women who graduated undergrad 3 years ago, you can make your own decision.” And your right, sometimes a part of me wishes I had stuck to my guns to pursue something of such high interest to me and created a career out of it. Some months I think about it a lot and have regrets about deciding on speech therapy.
But! My mom had presented an ultimatum to me of applying to both archeology and a grad program for speech to see what happens. The agreement was that if I got into the speech program I would attend it, no questions asked. Truthfully, I had done so much research on applying and saw that more often than not, a large number of people didn’t get in on their first round of applications. I was reading comments and posts and blogs about individuals with 4.0s and tons of observation and volunteer hours who had gotten waitlisted or denied from many, many programs with no rhyme or reason as to why. People who I thought we much better grad school candidates than myself.
I thought, “Man, me with a 3.0-3.5 GPA and barely any experience and no volunteer hours. There’s no way I’m getting in.” And truthfully, I was excited about that.
So I applied to my one archeology school and one speech grad program and waited. I almost immediately got accepted into a program for archeology and was through the roof excited. I waited a little longer and received a notification to have an interview for the speech program. Well after it was all said and done I, obviously based on this blog, got accepted into the program for speech and that is ultimately what I chose.
Now was it a right vs. wrong decision? I think it would be unfair to myself to put it into right and wrong categories. Do I wish at times I would have pursued archeology? Heck yeah! Am I grateful for the opportunities I’ve had following my speech therapy journey? Absolutely, and in more than just school and speech therapy. I’ve learned so much about myself as a person through sacrifices and triumphs. I’ve made new friends and lost old ones. I’ve been able to move freely and not worry about finding a new job. I have lots of things to appreciate in the here and now. That being said, I still have moments where I feel like speech therapy was the worst possible decision. More often than not, those moments also coincide with times where life was also a little difficult on top of frustrating moments during school or when I started working. It’s important to recognize that you’ll more than likely feel or experience feelings similar during your journey. I caution you to not look at it from a “I made a mistake.” perspective and instead ask “what is life trying to tell me?”
(this is a side tangent but I have to get it off my chest) When life starts to feel difficult, at least for myself, I noticed that an imbalance has occurred. Once you can recognize the feelings of this and how to react to them, you’re going to become better at deciding how this impacts your life and your decisions. For me, it’s always a learning experience. Each time it happens I get a little better at it. This is relevant because every person in my graduate cohort I talked to, experienced this type of frustration. The frustration of figuring out how to balance life and school. Grad school for speech is HARD. It tests you and requires you to sacrifice a lot of time and effort. I wish someone had told me straight up that grad school is harder than most jobs (all of the jobs I’ve had so far) you’ll get once you graduate. Look to your support system and everyone’s will look different. That’s okay. Look to friends, family, hobbies, self-care… these are just a few but all types of support systems that can help us redirect and readjust to challenging times. We can do hard things.
I’ve written all of that to really just make this point. I truly don’t believe that any one graduate speech program is the right fit. For some, having a medical based program vs an education based program is important. This can be helpful. Others might be considering affordability or location, this is also important. Some want to attend the ‘best’ while others search for practicality and accessibility. And if you want the ‘best’ awesome! But ask yourself what does that really mean? To be the ‘best’ or go to the ‘best’ school. Are you looking for bragging rights? I don’t find issue with schools stating they’re the best based on XYZ. I don’t have issues with people wanting to be the best. I have issues with people trying to prove a point to others. Prove it to yourself. Is that insensitive to say? Are some people going to be upset by this and the things I say? Probably and that’s fine. It wasn’t for you. My favorite thing to tell people is “take what’s meaningful to you, leave what isn’t”. Being the best version of ourselves FOR ourselves is the best thing we can do in this lifetime.
Every program is going to have a professor you don’t like and one that will change your education forever. Every program will have a class that is the hardest and one that is considered the easiest. Every program is going to have students in the cohort you don’t like and those you do. My point is, really reflect inwardly on what is important to you. Getting information from others is great and can be helpful but adding that information to who you are as a person I believe will lead you to the ‘right’ program for you.
Here are some questions that might help you in making your decision. Some of these sound robotic and I’ll apologize but I wanted to make it as clear cut as I can.
What are my career goals? Define what your current career aspirations are and determine which graduate programs align with your professional objectives. Consider the specializations offered by each program and whether they match your interests. Remember that interests can change and the speech field is so vast that if you are sure what your interested in, there’s plenty of time to pursue that both during AND after your graduate program. During grad school I only had experience in schools and pediatrics. Now? I help run the speech therapy department at a small critical access hospital. Things shift, our interests can shift and we have a special opportunity in this field to shift between settings to find what’s right and what’s right can change.
Is the program accredited? Ensure that the graduate programs you are considering are accredited by the relevant accreditation bodies, such as the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). Most programs follow this and it will be listed on their website, but a lot of new programs are being created so be sure to search for their accreditation. This makes it less stressful come time to apply for licensing and certification after graduation.
What is the curriculum like? Evaluate the curriculum of each program. Look for a well-rounded mix of coursework, clinical experiences, and research opportunities that will provide a comprehensive foundation for your career. Keep in mind that some schools offer part and full time tracks. Look at what works best for you, your schedule, and your financial situation.
What clinical opportunities are available? Explore the clinical opportunities offered by each program. Consider the diversity of clinical settings, the types of populations served, and the hands-on experiences available to students. I would also ask questions about how they determine these clinical opportunities. This can be done during initial interviews with the program or some schools have ‘town halls’ where interested students can join a zoom and ask questions of faculty and current students. I would also ask if it is your responsibility to find clinical placements or the programs, etc. These are important things to know because it will dictate if you have extra responsibility in finding your own placements on top of completing current practicums and whatever your current semester load is.
Who are the faculty members? Research the faculty members of each program. Consider their expertise, research interests, and whether their backgrounds align with your career goals. Faculty mentorship can play a crucial role in your academic and professional development. This was a less-than-important question for me personally but some people are interested in research from specific professors and faculty and if that’s you, do your research on if they teach.
What is the program's reputation? Investigate the reputation of each program within the field. Look for testimonials from current students and alumni, and consider factors such as graduation rates, job placement rates, and post-graduation success stories. This is always helpful to do but like I said above, each person will experience the same thing differently so use it to help with consideration but don’t let it be the final determination factor for you. I know plenty of people who selected schools based their reputation and prestige. Which is all fine and dandy. But you know what? They went to these top schools only to turn around and work for a couple of years in the field at elementary schools and then stopped and left the field completely. What the heck are you paying all that top school money for with little return? It seems silly and wasteful to me personally. Maybe the experience itself was worth it. I went to an expensive private program and it was well worth it and shaped my mindset and framework for how I continue to approach my practice. Sometimes expensive=quality and other times expensive=a well known name. Why else did I choose it? I hope to eventually take up adjunct teaching for a program and they are frequently looking for alumni to teach. Did I know this before accepting the spot in the program? Absolutely I did. School reputation can be important but to what extent is it important to you? Figure out the why.
What financial aid options are available? Consider the cost of tuition and fees for each program, and explore the financial aid options available, including scholarships, grants, and assistantships. Be mindful of the financial investment and weigh it against potential returns in your career. The SLP field is notoriously known for poor pay and steep student loans. I would argue that this field is not worth pursuing a master’s degree for. Why? Insurance cuts and rates are are so poor for SLPs and are charged differently than other rehabilitation fields. It impacts how much facilities and schools pay us. I wish I would have approached schooling from the less I fork over for the education, the better off I will be. Take time to teach yourself how to be financially smart. Here are some book related to finance that helped to shift my perspective when it comes to planning for the future and understanding my finances. They are affiliate links so I may recieve compensation from individual’s purchasing through these links. I Will Teach You How to be Rich by Ramit Sethi and The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. There are also lots of other resources like podcasts and online posts that discuss money management, even some that are tailored to financial aid specifically. Understand financial aid before you accept financial aid.
Where is the program's location? Think about the location of each program. Consider whether you prefer an urban or rural setting and whether the location aligns with your personal preferences and lifestyle. Consider an online program as well. There are several accredited online programs that have had a lot of successes. If this fits your learning and lifestyle this might be a good fit for you.
What support services are offered? Investigate the support services provided by each program, such as academic advising, career counseling, mentorship opportunities, and accommodations. A strong support system can enhance your academic experience.
What is the program's approach to diversity and inclusion? Assess the program's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Look for initiatives, resources, and a welcoming environment that fosters a diverse community of students and faculty.
What are the admission requirements? Review the admission requirements for each program. Ensure that you meet the prerequisites and consider the competitiveness of the application process. Requirements between schools can be vastly different. Most programs have a dedicated spot on their websites where this information can be found.
What opportunities exist for research or special projects? If research or special projects are of interest to you, explore the opportunities offered by each program. Consider faculty research areas and whether there are avenues for you to engage in meaningful projects. I didn’t attend a school that did research or special projects. At the end of the day, I feel pretty okay with that decision and don’t feel like I missed out on anything. You might feel differently and that’s okay.
I hope some of these questions can help guide you towards what you are looking for in a program. Everyone will be different and that’s what can make this field so special. At the end of the day, you know yourself better than anyone and you know what is best for you!
Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions about applying for grad school.
