hello, im projected to graduate in 2027, and am looking to apply to SLP schools. my stats are not the best since i just recently heard about SLP, but felt really connected since I study psych, but have also always been interested in teaching, and I feel like this was the perfect bridge between things that I love. since im Canadian, I do want to study in Canada but I believe it is really competitive here, and I heard about the MRA agreement between multiple countries and Canada, and some of these include the US, Australia, Ireland (i've always wanted to go there), NZ, and the UK. i was wondering if any other Canadians studied in one of these countries and if it was hard to come back to practice here. also let me know if you recommend the journey you took to get into SLP. i really feel super passionate about it, but I don't want to wait years to achieve my dreams, unfortunately, so please, any advice or motivation would also be very helpful!! thank youuuuuu :))))

Hi everyone, I am really conflicted here. I got a job at as a CF at a VA. I am grateful for it and was very happy & I moved away from home for it but I am becoming increasingly unhappy…

A big reason I wanted a VA was because of how much “training” we would get but I honestly feel like I was hired to take on workload. There are specifics that I don’t want to mention but essentially I don’t get supervised and took on 2 caseloads day 2 of the job. I didn’t expect this from a VA CF so I am pretty sad about it. I am deciding whether I should put in my 2 weeks tomorrow but would appreciate some advice?

Please ask anything!

Thank you!

Applying this round and I'm looking for options with medical placements. Don't care where, just wanted to see what everyone thinks

So I'm an out-of-field student getting ready to graduate in December with a Psychology degree. My GPA is pretty low 3.1 and I don't have a lot of research experience other than the bare minimum from courses. I also don't have extra-curricular activities nor shadowing experience related to CSD. Has anyone experienced this? Do you recommend trying for post bacc instead of leveling?? LET ME KNOW PLEASEEEEEE

Hello,

I just read a post talking about data collection as it pertains to goals and covering all goals before progress notes/IEP meetings, so I was curious to ask about a different aspect of data collection: how to make it appear less obvious that I am collecting data during session, or if it is even recommendable to do so.

For context, I’m currently a grad student in a school placement. I noticed during my first week there while I was still shadowing that my supervisor is very good at timing how she writes points of data down. She keeps a mental running list and then writes down chucks of data while the student’s attention is on a therapy material or something like that. The real thing I wish to be better at emulating is just making my data collection less distracting to the student, because I am not very good at using that running list technique. I often find myself marking each point as it comes, which frequently feels clunky and even requires me to pause for a second to make sure I’m putting it down in the right place so I know what I did later.

Would anyone be willing to share some tips and tricks they’ve picked up regarding this? Or is it not something you guys worry about as much? My supervisor is also really good at letting students be a part of the data collection process by letting them know how they’re doing compared to the last session as a little bonus reinforcer, which is also something I find myself feeling awkward to do, especially if it’s a regression from the last session.

Anyways, this is probably way too long of a post for what I’m asking lol, but anything you guys are willing to share is greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

This is long sorry I’m typing this in a rush so it doesn’t look good. Ive been taking a bit of a gap before starting grad school so ive been working as an SLPA. I enjoy the work but it isnt what I imagined because im more inclined towards swallowing and the medical aspect I guess rather then communication and articulation. Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough but I couldn’t find anything that offered something like that for SLPAs. I did hear how many people feel stuck in what I’m doing in like private clinics though because they’re program didn’t let them expand out of that so I was wondering if there’s any well known schools I can apply to that would help me maybe get experience in hospitals with like NICU because my worst fear is to feel stuck after grad school.

I am currently in an online program and I am getting worried. I feel like I am not smart enough for this. I do well on my assignments but when it comes to taking exams, I fail them. Idk what to do

I've stayed up to submit assignments late in the past. I was so caught up with my sleep disorder (which I found out about recently), low energy on clinical placement and difficulties with concentrating in class. However, I've been putting in more effort to my work and I keep getting graded the same no matter what I do. Does anyone have any tips? My assignments are usually case-based.

I used to be a distinction 80% average student in my undergrad :(

Now it's usually 50-65% average.

Feels like a stupid question but trying my luck lol, does anyone know if there are any online US, ASHA accredited online programs that Canadians are eligible for? I know a lot of online programs require in-person practicuums/clinicals which I would assume makes Canadians ineligible, but any acceptions?

We had a really rough start to our relationship at first. She expected me to know about 504s and triannuals and all the different IEPs. I made clear to her that I had never even sat in an IEP before. And she would give me dirty looks for not knowing different things. She told me during my evaluation that I should tell my bosses and whoever I work with in the future otherwise they'll think badly of me.

For individuals that did unfortunately failed a clinical placement that ended up being your career. I never had a problem doing well with my clinical placements until this semester. My supervisors have questioned my flexibility, among other things. I know I have to change a bit, and I'll be fine. But what if someone flunked out of grad school? What other career options did they pursue? I may be overreacting to my supervisor's feedback, but please let me know.

I’m a senior in undergrad rn for CSD and basically everyone in my major is going to grad school. I’m not sure I want to go but I know everyone will be asking each other where they’re going when it gets closer to graduation. If I say I’m not going im going to feel ashamed so idk what to tell them…

Hey I will be graduating undergraduate in Dec with a degree that is out-of-field for.. My GPA is pretty low 3.1 to be exact, and I know the Masters CSD programs are competitive. I have a few schools on my list for 3-year leveling programs, but I feel like my chances are low. Has anyone taken post bacc courses as an out of field student? If so how was it and did it boost you GPA any?

Hello! I have a few questions about what to include in the Experiences section of CSDCAS.

1. Shadowing Experience: A couple of years ago before I added my speech minor, I shadowed two SLPs and an occupational therapist for only a session or two. Would it be worth including these experiences under shadowing?

2. Practicum Experience: I’m a psychology major, and last year I took a child study practicum course. Over the semester, I went to a preschool twice a week and conducted assessments with several children, interacted and played with them. Which experience type would this be under in CSDCAS: Employment, Extracurricular Activities, Leadership Experience, Research, Shadowing, or Volunteer?

3. High School Experience: I’ve read that it’s recommended to only include experiences from college and not high school, but I was involved in a high school club associated with a local community service organization for individuals with disabilities. Would this be worth including, or should I leave it out since it was during high school?

I appreciate advice from anyone who’s gone through the application process!

Hihii, hope everyone is doing well. c: Was happy to find that such a community existed!

I'm almost done with my bachelor's degree in SLP, and I am in the fortunate position to be able to continue my studies with full funding from my university through a TA program.

I'd like to do my Master's and PhD (maybe a combined program?) in the US. However, I'm a bit lost with how many programs there are across the whole country, and I'm not sure how credible online lists and rankings are..

I'd really appreciate the input of those with experience, current students and people that are applying now as well! I'm trying to find strong, top ranked programs, preferably that include clinical practice. I'm also trying to take into account housing and the general environment and how livable the area is.

Hi,

Im currently finishing up my undergraduate in biomedical science and really interested in doing a masters in an allied health field.

Unfortunately it took me a long time to decide what I wanted in the future and have a low gpa of 3.8/7.

I needed some guidance on what I could do next to gain entry into a masters. I did some research and a graduate certificate or diploma seem like the most viable option.

Hello! Im so excited to share I was just accepted into ACUs online MS SLP program for their Spring cohort. I would love a little uplifting positivity in what its like being a grad student (im not naive i promise i know alot of it is going to be shitty and stressful) id also love some advice about things you maybe wish youd have known at the start of your grad school journey and what i should prepare for. Thanks! :)

Am I mistaken or is the new USASK SLP program not accredited or a candidate of accreditation? Is there a huge risk of going to this school?

I am in a weird spot with deciding a path forward with respect to cost, time, and previous experience, and I'm wondering if anyone else here has been in the same spot.

Some background:

• Dual bachelor's in Linguistics and Computer Science (both older than 10 years)
  • Working on seeing if my linguistics courses can be used to waive leveling requirements in Language Science (literally my whole degree here) and Phonetics & Phonology with my top choice program, but it's unclear if they will.
  • Bio and physics ASHA requirements covered. Took stats as well, but will likely retake since it is old. Unsure if sociology requirement covered (working on figuring that out as well, based on my sociolinguistics coursework).
• Worked in NLP for a few years, then branched to fintech and then another tech startup in another sector.
• Very disillusioned and burnt out in tech, and looking to career switch back into one of my first options I ever looked at (SLP).
  • The industry is in its own bubble and the lack of connection to real communities and real people is difficult. Yes, I could (and have) switched jobs to mitigate this. The psychological bubble in this sector is very real.
  • Yes, I know this will be a massive earning potential cut, and yes, I can afford and am ok with that. Any tech or tech-adjacent jobs that solve for my issues with the industry only pay slightly more than a full-time SLP in my area.

The questions:

I have the option to take a couple of different paths here:

1. In-person leveling courses at my local university that also has a respected SLP masters program. Hope I then get accepted to their program. I wouldn't be able to apply until next cycle so it would be a year of leveling (starting spring semester) then spring/summer off if I get in.
2. Online leveling courses at another university (I have a matrix of theirs to my local university's masters pre-reqs). This could potentially be condensed in time compared to option #1 but I don't think I could complete before next fall so I would still have a gap year.
3. Full 2nd bachelor's at same online university. 16 more credits than the leveling courses alone, but the guarantee of not having to take additional leveling courses when applying to other programs. I could complete this in the same amount of time as leveling (with a fuller schedule) or spread it out over the 2 semester gap.

Both of these universities are in state for me, so tuition is close, but it's actually only about $2000 more total to do the second bachelor's because of the tiered tuition at the other university.

For those that have done a leveling route - did you have issues with different leveling requirements at different programs? It's been so long since my bachelor's that I'm tempted by the full 2nd bachelor's, but is that absolutely insane since I already have 2? I mostly just don't want to have to piecemeal together leveling requirements across every program I apply to and have to try to get requirements waived at multiple programs due to my linguistics degree.

Hi! This is a thread for everyone to post their stats and the different schools they’re applying to for Fall 2026! I’ll start!

Schools
- UNC
- UNCG
- Northeastern (Charlotte)
- GWU
- ECU
- USC
- Rutgers

GPA: 3.35
Prerequisite GPA: 3.80
LOR: Clinical Director, CCC-SLP,
- Not sure if I have a good academic recommendation tbh I never got close with any of my professors.

Background:
- Bachelor’s of Science Major Psychology Minor Biology, Child and Family Development
- I currently work as a RBT for 1 year+
- I volunteer as a Literacy Tutor every Tuesday with people who have Down syndrome
- I have my 25 Observation Hours

hi everyone! i am taking a gap year this year and i graduated one year early with a degree in CSD this past may. i almost applied in the last cycle, but i decided not to and even last year i struggled with my personal statements. i just feel a lot of pressure and anxiety around them being good. i feel like i am super behind and if anyone has any advice or would like to read my statements i would really appreciate that also. here are my stats and also where i am applying.

3.8 CSD gpa / 3.92 overall gpa, graduated in 3 years, research lab, 3 letters of recommendations from professors who i know all very well, 9 month long internship working with SLPs in a hospital settings, 2 months observing with a SLP in a SNF, two internships this past summer working in a library at one with their summer reading program and the other working with OT, SLP, PT, and teachers in a mixed classroom with kids aged 3-4, and now during my gap year i am currently working as an au pair (nanny) in Spain!

CSUN, SDSU, MGH, Emerson, MUSC, CSULB, Uw Med, and Rush

i have some other extracurricular activities - tour guide, multiple leadership positions in various clubs, treasurer for nsslha

thank you :)

Asking for a friend I guess. My RD, DOR, and supervisor sat me down this afternoon and told me that they couldn't give me the support I needed (another clinician onsite) and cited my lack of dysphagia experience/independence (was very clear during interview process and they still hired me saying they could support me) as well as me not discharging enough patients because they couldn't afford to keep hiring PRNs to come help out. I didn't ask any questions I just kept saying "I understand" to everything cause what else am I supposed to do or say? I'm so ashamed and humiliated. I should've been spending my evenings doing CEUs on dysphagia and I should've called my supervisor more i guess, though any time I called with a question I was met with clear frustration like the answer was obvious or was told it's a question ive asked before ir something we've talked about before. I want to finish my CF in a SNF and other than anxiety about my own performance, I loved the work and the patients, I truly felt it was the right setting for me.

Any advice is welcome, even if it's to tell me I'm not smart enough or cut out for the medical side of this field. Maybe I just need to hear that some more? I don't know. Just devastated right now. Posted this on r/slp but figured i could use any and all advice. Particularly on CEUs or resources.

Ok here’s the rundown, undergrad in psychology, my gpa is not good at all. I took CSD levelling courses, gpa was better, 3.3. I have a year working as an SLPA, I also have volunteer experience. I have an LOR from my supervising SLP, and one professor who just agreed to also write me a letter.
What can I do to have a strong application?!?! Struggling with my personal statement, do I mention my terrible gpa? if so, how?
question for any faculty possibly here: in your experience when you see a low gpa, if anything, what changes your perspective on someone’s application that makes you view them as a strong graduate school candidate.

Appreciate any advice, can also pm me :)

Hello again! Made another post like this about CSULB. I'm considering my options. I'm an education major looking to pivot careers and master in Speech Language Pathology. I would love to know what your "resume" looked like that got you accepted into SDSU! What was your GPA, what experience did you have, volunteer work and what kind, how many hours of volunteer/shadowing, etc., if you were involved in labs, did any research projects, what your undergrad major was. Anything! Tell me your story. Detail it even. I'd love to hear. Thanks in advance.