1. Graduate school application process
Speech-Language Pathology
Audiology

2. CSD Graduate School Application Timeline
Junior Year (ideally) – research programs, discuss plans with advisors and appropriate faculty members, begin preparation for GRE, continue to build resume, identify potential letter writers
Junior Year or Summer – gain experience in a clinical or educational setting
Summer or Fall of Senior Year – identify target programs and note application requirements, keep up contact with your letter writers and advisors, register for and take GRE, write draft of statement of purpose, get feedback on it from multiple perspectives, arrange visits as is feasible, assemble application materials
Submit materials – most application deadlines seem to be January - February
Adapted from

3. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
3 sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing (see for details about scoring)
$160 fee (see for the possibility of reduction)
Can be taken “once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period.” (from
TOEFL – only for students with an undergraduate degree from a non-English speaking country

4. Narrowing down your applications
Note: The GRE fee allows you to send scores to 4 schools. Fees charged for additional score reports. Determine before you take the test the schools to which you will send your scores. Note the appropriate institutional codes.

5. Some factors to consider…
Admissions per year (vs. total applications)
Tuition and other costs; Funding available?
Type of degree; accreditation (
On-campus clinic
Educational or Medical focus
Specialty tracks offered
Praxis (or other licensure exam) passing rates
Average GRE and GPA for admitted students
Professors’/Letter Writers’ contacts
Geography and other non-academic factors

6. Transcripts / Required Classes
Note differing prerequisites for different programs
Determine what type of transcript is required during the application process and after. Unofficial & Official UF transcripts are available through Student Self Service (
If you have credits from schools besides UF, be sure to have evidence of those courses as well. Verify that they appear on your UF transcript and/or obtain your transcript from that school.
I recommend ordering transcript(s) for yourself as you are applying so you can have it/them ready at a moment’s notice.

7. Some program examples Multiple tracks Speech Language Pathology
Iowa -
USF -
Speech Language Pathology
Jacksonville U -
FIU -
Audiology
Washington U -
Nova Southeastern -

8. Letters of Recommendation
Note the number requested and the type from each program
Two or Three? Required vs. Maximum
Professors only? In field/out of field? Internship, employer, or volunteer supervisors?
Character profilers (coaches, clergy, employers in unrelated positions, etc.) are not good candidates
Identify and notify potential recommenders early
Find an excuse to keep up contact if you haven’t had it recently
The first week or two of classes in the semester is a good time!
Ask what they want in support of the process (personal statement, transcripts, brief meeting?)
Organize application materials
Provide clear instructions (including regarding means of submission) and due dates.
Provide plenty of time—two weeks is standard; more is better; less may be ok if it is just a matter of tweaking an existing letter
Be aware of the timing of winter break in relation to your application deadlines
Track the progress of your application
Ask if your letter writer would like a reminder
Keep an eye on your application status

9. Personal Statement
Note each program’s instructions for the personal statement
Specific question vs. generic
Formatting
Means of submission
Draft & Feedback
Begin early, seek feedback from those in the know, rewrite, repeat
More on this one in the coming classes

10. If you don’t get in… Why? What next? GRE scores?
Grades or missing prerequisites?
Personal statement?
Gaps in resume (leadership, experience, etc.)?
What next?
Boost your resume by finding a related job in a clinical, educational, or therapeutic setting
Apply what you learned from the process the first time around