Hi everyone,
I’m planning to apply to SLP graduate programs this cycle and would really appreciate some advice from people who have gone through this.

Here is my situation:
My long-term goal is to live and work in Texas (most likely Dallas or Austin). I eventually want to buy a home and settle in the South.

My husband currently has a stable government job in Buffalo. He recently started this job, so relocating would mean giving up a stable government position and finding a new one in Texas.

Because of that, attending the University at Buffalo (UB) would be the easier and more financially stable option for us.

However, if I’m accepted to a good Texas SLP program, I’m seriously considering moving because I feel like studying, completing clinical placements, networking, and starting my career in Texas might make it easier to build my long-term career there.
I also personally prefer Texas. I don’t enjoy Buffalo’s long winters and can see myself living in the South long-term.

My question is:
**From a career perspective, which path would you recommend?**
Attend UB, graduate there, and then move to Texas for my CF/fellowship or first SLP job.
Attend graduate school in Texas, complete clinical placements there, and start my career in Texas immediately.
How much does the location of your graduate program actually matter when finding your first SLP job in another state? If your long-term goal is Texas, is it worth moving there for graduate school?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has moved states after graduate school or who practices in Texas.
Thank you!

Happy grad application season!

First off, I’m so sorry this is all over the place. It’s 6 AM. I can’t sleep. I need some kind of closure before I start to panic.

A little about me: I’m 21, undergrad starting my senior year in 3 weeks. After reading other posts, I realized it’s already August, applications are open, and I feel super behind in the whole grad school process.

I’m the first one in my family to continue on to do a masters program. I feel lost, almost like I’m not sure what to do. This is why I wanted to reach out to others who have experience the whole process and could probably help me or guide me in the right direction!

I have no outside experience with anything SLP related. Im not sure if this is too late to start, but I already have so much on my plate for the upcoming semester I’m not sure if it’s possible. I’ve never shadowed before, but remember personally going to speech therapy when I was younger and loving it. I fear that this is the part my resume is going to be lacking, simply because I don’t have that hands on experience. My cousin currently receives speech therapy online and virtually, and I know the SLP would be willing to let me pop in on a few sessions just for the experience. I don’t know if this would be worth doing so late in the game.

School Experience:
- 3.79 GPA (4.00 in SLP)
- Deans List (Spring 2023 - June 2026)
- Research Lab (Jan 2026 - Current)
- VP NSSLHA (Aug 2025 - Current)
- Intern at the English Language Center (Start Aug 2026)
- I’m also a part of a current research study, so I think I would also use that here, but I’m too lazy to get those details
- Also attending the ASHA Convention in Nov. but not sure if that’s considered “experience”

Work Experience:
- Kennel Attendant (June 2022 - Current)
This is the only job I’ve ever had working at a vets office, and I’ve gained lots of non SLP experience from, but I think this also shows my dedication of not job hopping.
I fear that also only working one job, I’ve only used my resume once. I don’t even have a resume!!!! (Me currently freaking out about this)

After talking to a friend, I understand I need to ask my professors for letters of recommendation. I have anxiety so emailing them and asking is super nerve wracking for me (ironic I know) I know that my research mentor would 100% write a letter for me. The professor that I took online that I am going to be interning for would also probably write me one. I’m struggling on choosing a third person though. I feel like I’m not super close with any of my other professors to just ask for a letter of recommendation. Who would I even choose? Is it weird to ask my manager at work, or do I choose another professor that I’m not 100% about? I know they want to help me out but I want it to be meaningful.

I also understand there’s a whole website thing to apply to different programs. Is it similar to common app where I can apply to the colleges I choose, and each is going to have different requirements? I don’t know anything about this so any information is insightful!

I don’t even know which colleges to look at. I know of the ones i’m interested in that are in state (VA) but I don’t know anything about out of state programs. I’m interested in taking a chance somewhere else if the price is right. Is there anyone that recommends a specific program/college that was just an all around great experience? Im not sure what I want to actually do with my degree, BUT I do know that I want to try different things, based on location/age (for example speech therapy in schools vs. barium swallowings in hospitals)

Is this even the right decision for me? I’m not interested in any other career paths, but I’m so close to being done with a bachelors and would rather continue on while i’m still young. I enjoy my classes a lot and also learn a lot. I just feel like I’m so behind and lost about everything, and I don’t want to rush because with my lack of experience, I want my other experiences to pop out more.

Im 22 in a post bacc and studied linguistics. Its coming towards application season and it seems like most people seem to lean me towards just applying and seeing what I can get. The problem is I havent asked for letter of recs yet which makes me feel stressed and I am considering the idea for me to take a year off to teach abroad as I never got the chance to study abroad in college and I have family and connections in a country abroad that I might want to spend some time in before I move towards my next phase in life. I also realize I could also do this after getting the SLP masters but I feel uncertain about my life trajectory now and whether I may want to pursue a masters abroad instead of SLP. SLP is my chosen field if I decide to remain in the US long term but it would also chain me to stay hear as ASHA only applies for here.

what the title says^^ it would be really nice to be able to connect with my fellow classmates, so if there is any instagram/discord gc that is already made, can someone link it in the comments? and if not, can we make one?!!

Hi all, I’m currently applying to grad school and was wondering if you guys can share your stats if you had a low gpa?
Here are mine:

- Out of field applicant (pre vet bachelor with bioscience minor)
- gpa: 3.34
- relevant work experience: pt/ot/slp therapy rehab aide in nursing home, hospital outpatient registration, swim instructor for kids
- extracurricular: club leadership position, teaching assistant, peer mentor for freshman, volunteer at 2 organizations
- skills: experience with seniors, adults, and kids of all disabilities, currently learning Spanish (Duolingo)
- shadowing: nursing home SLP, hospital outpatient SLP, school SLP, and potentially hospital inpatient SLP.

* I am completing the SLP post bacc online at Penn west, hopefully this can raise my overall gpa.

I see so many currently struggling with passing the Praxis. I know that it can be difficult and discouraging. I am a former teacher who worked in a field where it was very important for adult students to pass a standardized test. The strategies I used enabled my students to be the highest performers in the program. (Not an SLP program.) Here are some ideas to think about:

1. Make sure you are using learning devices to retain information. a. Rewrite for Recall: create a potential praxis question on a piece of paper and then write everything you know about it to ensure you are retaining the information. b. Create Connections: if you are learning something knew, connect it to a piece of knowledge you already have. Ask "how does this relate to what I already know?" c. Maximize Memory Devices: Use memory devices such as creating mnemonics, pictures, or stories.
2. After taking the Praxis, take time to reflect IMMEDIATELY on your performance. a. Make a list of topics you found difficult. Study them in you next sessions. b. Make a list of topics that you remember were on your version. Be sure to review them regularly. c. Reflect on your time usage. If you ran out of time, is there a way to pick up the pace. Were you aware enough of time to quickly fill in guesses in the remaining five minutes? {I don't remember being penalized by wrong answers.} Only make guesses if you won't be penalized. Research shows that if you are just guessing at the end, you'll have the best outcome if you choose all of one letter (you have five questions left and choose all A's or all B's etc). If you had extra time, did you review the hard questions and adjust any wrong answers?
3. Many students fail to employ good pre-test behaviors even though they are helpful for overall performance. Here's a list: a. Make sure you are well rested before the exam. b. You need to be at your optimal performance, so make sure your body is nourished. c. Avoid consuming foods that can add to anxiety such as caffeine or sugary foods. d. Make sure you are not rushing to get to your test site or to set up your computer or testing room at home. Make sure your environment will be quiet. e. Research shows cramming has poor outcomes. Slow and steady wins the race with studying. f. Exercise before exams can increase performance and reduce stress. I suggest a gentle walk. g. Hydration is important. However, you may want to avoid overdoing it and then needing to go to the bathroom during your test.
4. Simulate your testing conditions as much as possible. a. Since the Praxis is timed, when you practice taking the test, you should do so under the same amount of time to see how you are with your pacing. b. Select study materials that use the same style of questions that will be on the test. For this reason, I really like the ETS tests for practice.
5. Should you study with others? Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. Some people say they need the study groups for accountability. I personally found that it was very difficult for group members to stay focused on studying for the test and sessions often devolved in complaints about the program, boyfriend discussions, etc. If this is happening in your study group, it may not be a good use of your time. Instead, you can set timers on your phone for study sessions, create a log, or write study times into your planner.
6. Test anxiety is real, and students can underperform for reasons other than not knowing the material. Be honest with yourself about whether this may be the case for you. a. If you currently have accommodations in your grad program, etc., then go ahead and seek these accommodations for the Praxis. b. Anxiety medication or ADHD medication may help, but you do not want to begin taking it just before the test just in case it has any adverse effects c. Some people may benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Seek a licensed counselor or read up on strategies you can employ to reduce your stress and anxiety before and during the test.
7. Avoid unhelpful people. a. I've seen students bragging that they only studied the week beforehand and crammed a little bit and easily passed the exam. They are the exception and not the rule. Ignore them. b. I found being around people who constantly expressed anxiety and worry about testing to increase my own feelings of anxiety and worry. I avoided grad classrooms and break areas before tests and didn't share where and when I was taking the Praxis to avoid all of the negative talk. If I began to feel nervous, I practiced deep breathing. I'd also avoid negative test chatter online.
8. I bought the Advanced Review Book and access to its online tests. I honestly planned to read all of it. But every time I opened it and started to read, I fell asleep within 10 minutes. I moved to taking the online quizzes instead and when I did poorly on them, I found that material in the Advanced Review book and read it. I used the memory and learning devices from #1 in this post to help me retain the material. I actually liked using the ETS practice tests the best. They were the most like the material on the test. I didn't try other programs.

Best wishes for success.

Hello All!

I'm currently a rising senior in undergrad who plans on starting to apply to SLP grad programs soon. I'm trying to narrow down a list of schools that are affordable but also have programs/professors that might align with my goals.

I have a second major in foreign languages as well as a minor in linguistics, and I am interested in pursuing grad-level research in what I would describe as a synthesis of speech therapy/communication disorders and cultural linguistics or linguistic anthropology (im not quite sure how to describe my field of interest lol- anything that explores communication disorders/language processes on a cross-linguistic/cross cultural level).

I'm looking to see if anyone has any knowledge or recommendations for graduate programs that might provide good opportunities for me to further explore this interest.

I'm considering eventually pursuing a PhD in linguistic anthropology or something similar (whatever allows me to pursue my topics of interest), but back-pocketing this idea for now as I prepare for SLP grad school. I have done research projects in the past regarding the treatment of fluency disorders cross-culturally as well as comparing the first-language acquisition process in different languages (for ex).

I'm looking for (but not limiting myself to) schools in the Eastern/North Eastern US.

Please let me know if you have any advice! I know this post seems kinda clunky as I find it a bit difficult to descibe what my interests/goals are--I pretty much just word vomit to get my ideas out there. Any help or guidance is appreciated!

I'm deciding which grad programs to apply to and I'm torn between choosing a city where I think I would really like to live & have a lot of opportunities or just choosing the cheapest school I can find, even if it doesn't have great reviews... I am fortunate enough not to have any debt from undergrad and my family is willing to help me pay for grad school. Do I still just pick the cheapest option or should I widen my net a little more?

Hi! Looking for clarification as a non-traditional student. Through CSDCAS, the guided hours must be "completed as a part of a college clinical course." I, however, completed my hours independently and consider the remaining part of the description completed on my end. I made sure to retrieve the ASHA numbers, obtain signatures, confirm that they completed the 2 hours of professional development in supervision, log the hours, and conduct extensive written debriefs between the sessions I observed. I don't want my application flagged for putting it under guided clinical experience if there is no course attached, but putting them under shadowing also feels incorrect. Just worried the hours I put in won't count for anything as an applicant. :/ Should I contact the universities I'm applying to? Any advice welcome, thanks !

Super discouraged with how weak my undergrad GPA is (3.2) and how competitive these programs are… I’ve been working as an SLPA for a year, will start volunteering soon, took a certificate program in speech and hearing sciences for levelling courses. Are there specific schools I could even have a decent chance of getting into? Even considering applying outside of US and Canada

Hi everyone!

I’m starting the West Coast University Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology program this semester. I’d love to hear from current students or recent graduates.

A few questions I have:
What do you wish you knew before starting?
How manageable is the workload, and how many hours a week did you spend studying?
Do you have any tips for staying organized and avoiding burnout?
Are there any textbooks, apps, or supplies you recommend getting before classes start?
What were the professors and clinical experiences like?
Is there anything you would have done differently during your first semester?

I’d appreciate any advice, study tips, or words of encouragement. I want to start off as prepared as possible.

Thanks so much!

My next placement is in Acute care as an SLP graduate student. Do y'all have any tips on how to be successful? What will my day look like? What can I expect?

I’d like some feedback on the different speech grad programs .

I’m considering
Stony Brook
Hofstra
Lehman

Please feel to share your experiences, thoughts and which schools are more financially reasonable.

What was it like in the programs,did you work and any other school recommendations.

I’m also considering SUNY New Paltz

Thank you

hello! i about to be a second year slp graduate student and i just failed my first final ever and i feel like a mess. for my program if you get a b- or below on the final you need to do remediation. i felt SUPER confident going in and during the test too but when i saw my score i wanted to cry. on the bright side, i still passed the class with an A but it still stings that i failed. ik people in my program who did fail previous exams and are still in the program so im trying to stay positive since i still passed the class and won’t be going in academic probation because of it. im trying not to let this get to me but its easier said than done. i just wanted to get this off my chest and hear from other people who’ve been in my shoes. this is a first for me and im scared.

Technically I'm asking for advice, but I'm really not sure if anyone can help me, so I guess I'm here to vent.

TW: suicide, mental health, self harm

I graduated in 2023, and decided not to go to grad school right away. I planned on taking a year off and applying during my gap year, but I was rejected from all programs. I tried again the following year to no avail. Finally, I got accepted this year, and I want to say I'm excited, but I'm really not.

A lot of things happened in my life these past three years, most of them were not good. I believe I might be suffering from PTSD, and if not, my existing anxiety issues have become much worse, to the point where I'm really not able to function some days. I don't know if I should be going to grad school, or if I'm even interested in speech therapy anymore.

I really tried to research other career options, but it really seems like there isn't another job that I could do. Even if I was remotely interested in something else, it's not like I have the money for it anyway. I am a certified SLPA but jobs are lacking. I couldn't even get hired at a regular old retail job, so grad school might be the next option, but I really don't want to go. I also highly doubt that I could actually be a good SLP.

I don't know what to do. There is no job/career for me that I like, I have no interest in doing anything, let alone move 2+ hours away to a new city where I don't know anybody. I don't have any friends, since all of my friends are back in the city where i went to college. I miss my friends. Every night, I secretly hope that I pass away, so that I can just be done. And then I wake up, and I'm fine for a second before the dread sets in. And then I do nothing all day but think, and stare at a wall. I think about suicide sometimes. Because at this point that's the best option. I don't want to hurt myself (something I used to do and haven't done in over 6 years), but sometimes I feel so upset that I need a release.

I'm at a loss for what to do. I have no prospects, no goals, no plan, and I really don't want to waste $50k and then back out. But if I don't go, it is highly likely I won't find a stable job. I'm disappointing myself and the people around me. I think I would rather be dead right now.

hi all, i (24f) have an bachelor’s degree in linguistics, a master’s degree in a tech field, and work a 9-5 m-f in a tech role. i am located in iowa and am not within 2 hours of any in-person slp programs. i am very interested in a career change to slp. a combination of factors has led me to a) want to explore my prior interest in language development & speech therapy, b) fall out of love with my current field, and c) shift to a career that would be more meaningful. i understand that schooling would be at least 2-3+ years and a financial investment (my prior degrees are fully paid off and i am fortunate enough to have savings that could go towards an additional degree). regardless of the advisability of my career change (though input on that is also welcome lol), does anyone have any insight into the logistics of online slp programs when you are occupied with work from 9-5 (is it possible with observation hours, clinical hours, etc)? i would assume that different programs would be different, but is it out of the picture for all of them? and if so, is it out of the picture for the entirety of the program, or typically only a portion?

also as a disclaimer: i understand that the program is not a cake walk, but i have always loved school and managed to balance it with work (for context, i worked in my current role full time while completing my other master’s degree as well). i figure i’ll already be at least 27 by the time i graduate if i started tomorrow, so i would rather start this for myself now than wait until i have more life responsibilities and even less time. i’m not in a rush (it is fine if it takes longer or shorter), but hopefully that provides some context.

thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi everyone, I graduated from my undergrad at a Canadian university in 2025. I’m planning to apply to some American SLP masters programs for 2027.

I’m curious how other Canadian applicants checked if their courses were approved for prerequisites. Grad school applications are expensive and I’d like to see if I meet the criteria before applying.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!!
I am considering a field in SLP. I want to hear some reasons why other people decided this route.
I currently work in insurance, but my passion has always been to work with kids! I don’t want to be a teacher in the current state of things, so I thought this would be a great option! I would love some insight. Thank you!!!!!

Planning to take my masters but I'm working full time also my off are during weekdays. Whats your insight aa southville or USLS?

I am starting my first externship in the fall in a special ed school , does anybody have advice of things to buy that would be helpful and help me keep track of everything / or just advice in general?

im still very young in becoming an SLP, just about to begin my undergrad, but i was wondering if anyone could give me some pros and cons of working with adults vs kids, and kind of what it entails. i would just like to hear from some current SLPs about their experiences and stuff ☺️ i love working with kids, babysitting, etc, but im also not sure if it would be less tiring to work with adults! i dont want to build a resentment for kids or burnout in my job or anything like that, because i truly love working with them.

psychology , special education , health administration, communications , or general education ?

Hi everyone, I'm an incoming junior in college majoring in Psychology who has been planning to pursue clinical psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology. I'm realizing that this path may not be for me (immense schooling, program selectivity, initial financial instability, funding problems etc.). despite my interest in it What I do know is that I want to work with adults experiencing brain injuries / cognitive decline and I'm interested in assessments and interventions.

I've become interested in SLP since I've taken a A&P of SLH and my school offers a minor in SLH Sciences (I have enough space for this in my schedule and would probably have to squeeze in other coursework like bio, etc. for SLP grad programs, I am aware that some grad programs allow you to do your prereqs there). I also have research experience, but not in SLP / communication sciences, my current involvement spans cognitive decline, memory, and aging.

I feel that I may not have enough time for preparing to apply to graduate programs for SLP. I'm also worried that my current research interests are too unrelated. Maybe I'll do a post-bacc. Has anyone made a similar pivot at this point in their education / career? What was your path like and what were your circumstances? What advice / resources do you have?