East Coast Schools with SLP [speech language pathology] or Similar Undergraduate Major [3.5 GPA, 1350 SAT]

Applying to College
1

Need schools not too reachy. 3.5UW/4.0W/1350 SAT
I know technically you can take any major for SLP grad school and that may not even be the winning pathway (she’s interested in exploring various health professions), but I think to get into grad school for SLP you do need required courses which are only in the SLP/communications disorders major.

For schools with the major, my kid has so far:
JMU
UMD
Towson

Are there others you could recommend? Preferably no extra essays - she’s pretty fried on essays/applications. I just want her to have some options if she decides to go this route.

I noticed VT (otherwise a top option) doesn’t have the major, but nearby Radford does. I wonder if you could take the required classes there, if needed.

1 Like
2

I know you asked about East Coast schools, but my daughter is graduating this school year from Purdue University with an undergraduate SLP degree. She had a fantastic experience there. Her stats were decent, but not other worldly–3.46 UW, 29 ACT.

3

Thank you! I didn’t add that she needs to stay within 5-6 hour drive or 1-2 hours direct flight optimally. East coast tends to at least have direct southwest flights.

4

No clue about essays but UConn, TCNJ, Ithaca, and Ohio U might be worth a look.

@thumper1 i may be wrong but I believe this is their professional area.

1 Like
5

Paging @Thumper.

6

You might want to take a look at the SUNY schools. Buffalo and New Paltz come to mind, but you can look at the others too.

2 Likes
7

This is a great link - thank you!

8

The ASHA website has a list of all undergraduate and graduate programs.

CUNY is also excellent if she is ok with the city. Hunter has undergrad dorms.

Also take a look at Rutgers.

9

I did this AMA for this site about a year and a half ago but really…nothing has changed. A couple of other speech language pathologists chimed in as well…and the parents of some kids who are have recently entered this field or are studying. You might want to start by reading this carefully.

There are several links to various sections of the American Speech Language Hearing Association website in this AMA link I just provided.

There are a few questions about the advantages of getting an undergrad degree in the field…or in another field.

The required courses for graduate speech language pathologist applicants are also listed…more than once…in the AMA.

So…read through that and then come back with your questions! I’m happy to answer them.

I will give one piece of free advice. Keep your undergrad costs low because you will need a masters to be able to be licensed and certified to be a speech language pathologist and this is true everywhere! Yes, there is some funding for some students, but don’t expect the two year masters program to be fully funded. It won’t be most likely.

And lastly, I would urge you to get all of your information from the American Speech Language Hearing Association website, and not a third party. For example, in the link above there is mention of online undergrad courses. Don’t do this. You won’t be a competitive applicant for grad school in this field with an online program. And acceptance to grad programs IS competitive @twogirls @aunt_bea can verify this!

2 Likes
10

From where?

11

Baltimore area

12

Graduate programs are very competitive- agree!

1 Like
13

If you are a MD resident, here are the colleges with undergrad programs in speech pathology:

14

@MDparent22

Is your student currently a HS senior…or is she a junior?

For UMD CP it is essential that students apply early action as the college accepts 90% or more of their incoming class in that early round. The deadline is November 1. If she is a senior, she missed that date. She can apply regular decision…but it’s a tougher admit.

15

Statistically UMD is likely a reach unless the major is easier.

I noted your school (or grad school) - Ohio U - it’s right at 6 hours. Thoughts ? Likely a low cost.

Certainly a likely or safety admission wise.

16

Senior. She did apply already by deadline.

1 Like
17

I think UMD is likely a reach and Towson probably a better fit for her in terms of campus feel/size anyway. But she really wants to get away. For health reasons, I don’t want her to go too far.

I feel like it’s going to come down to Towson or JMU unless she decides to go with another school without the major.
U Conn is an option. I may encourage that appl. Ohio Univ is likely too big (similar to UMD).

I noticed Radford has a 3 year masters for non-SLP majors. Not ideal but at this point she’s undecided in some health field anyway; SLP is just one option.

18

She may want to spend some time doing informational interviews with different specialists: OT, PT, speech etc.

Working in a summer camp and volunteering with various organizations would also be helpful.

3 Likes
19

Thanks! She’s actually working with an SLP now for her senior project - going to be shadowing directly with a patient so that will be good for her. I have a neighbor in PT who offered to let her shadow so that’s on agenda too!

3 Likes
20

Ohio University is my undergrad alma mater. I can tell you…it’s probably within your driving range…barely…but there are definitely no easy plane trips to the school.

It’s an excellent program. I have no idea what the undergrad program is like now…but when I was there it was outstanding. Ohio has a number of undergrad SLP programs. Some are nearer to cities with airports!

Really…the “where” for undergrad isn’t nearly as important as the “where” for graduate school. For grad school…an ASHA accredited program really is a must.