Prepared by the 2019 Multicultural Issues Board
Returning to an Academic Frame of Mind
- Outline steps you have taken to return to college
- Define professional and personal time constraints
- Search for colleges/universities that offer the degree using available resources (e.g., ASHA's EdFind)
- Choose whether to attend full-time or part-time
- Determine if you will attend face to face or online
- Factor in how completion of a college degree corresponds within your current and future career path
Essential Elements
- GRE (if required): Verbal, Quantitative, Writing
- Overall GPA and Major GPA
- Plan to complete pre-requisite classes (if applicable)
- Approved U.S. Institution equivalence for coursework taken at foreign institutions by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
Personal Statement (Essay)
- Answer the prompts (if any) directly.
- Highlight your previous career or academic experience(s)
- Emphasize skills (i.e., military training, international studies) that are unique and specifically attributable to college
- Emphasize your skills and any aspects of diversity that prepare you to work with individuals from different social, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
- Highlight language background, e.g., spoken or manual languages and proficiency level.
Extracurricular Activities (Enter online or resume)
- Shadowing or clinical observation
- Research experiences: thesis, working in labs, data coding, etc.
- Employment history: SLPA, other related work experience including military service.
- Military transition history: Warrior-Scholar Project, Service to School
- Leadership: NSSLHA, school organizations, community service, military experience …etc.
Letters of Recommendation
- Identify referees who will provide positive letters
- Academic references are recommended
- Give referees two months to complete letters
Helpful Tips
Before Applying
- Follow the instructions of each application.
- Complete specific portions (if applicable) of the application for professional students.
- Start early and allow enough time to complete each application.
- Submit the entire application and all required materials by the deadline.
- Request your official transcripts early.
- Visit the program website to get information about admissions criteria, GRE/GPA statistics,
- Visit the program website to get information about how to transfer credits or obtain college credits for learning experiences outside the class room.
- Visit the university website to get information about how to participate (if applicable) in the Yellow Ribbon Program or Veterans Benefits.
- Visit the university’s financial aid website to get information about free tuition or Military Discounts.
- Visit the university’s website to get information about student support services (i.e., childcare services, work study, career mentoring/advising...etc.)
- Visit the program website to get information about completion rates and after graduation employment rates.
Once Admitted
- Submit your FAFSA application
- Check for applicable scholarships
- Reach out to advisors and/or program coordinators.
- Consider a campus/department tour
- Reach out to student associations: NSSLHA, SGA (if applicable)
- Reach out to professional associations: ASHA, State
- Reach out to Veterans Affairs Chapter (if applicable)