By Nicole North

SFU Linguistics graduate Morgan Glover has accepted an offer of admission to UBC’s MSc in Speech-Language Pathology program. Though she was initially rejected by the admissions panel the previous year, Morgan persevered. She did everything she could to strengthen her application while waiting for the next application cycle. As other applicants have noted, SLP application guidelines can be somewhat vague in outlining how to achieve success. Morgan decided to seek out experiences that would elevate her resume and distinguish her from other applicants.

“Receiving those rejections my first time around was not easy, but looking back on this past year, I am so grateful for all the opportunities that came my way, as they helped me achieve SLP admission.”

Morgan enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma program at SFU, taking additional courses related to linguistics and improving her GPA. She secured a position volunteering as a Research Assistant for the Language and Brain Lab at SFU Linguistics, under the supervision of Dr. Yue Wang. Morgan also volunteered with several organizations closely related to the SLP field (see below for details).

The statement of intent plays a big role in an SLP application, so Morgan knew that she had to go back to the drawing board and write a letter that was more personalized and better showcased her success in the SLP field thus far. Adding additional coursework, research experience, and volunteer work to her application helped Morgan draft a more well-rounded letter of intent.

Morgan used the letter of intent to emphasize exactly why she would be successful during the graduate program and what kind of SLP she hoped to become. “Receiving those rejections my first time around was not easy, but looking back on this past year, I am so grateful for all the opportunities that came my way, as they helped me achieve SLP admission.”

Please share your general advice for gaining admittance.

My best advice would be to get involved in the field and immerse yourself as much as possible. Pursue every volunteer and work opportunity. Make those meaningful connections in the field. Getting involved in such opportunities will help you bridge the gap between learning about language and communication and real-world clinical application skills. It can be a very intimidating process as you try to gain SLP experience, but approaching each opportunity with interest and a willingness to learn and grow will be so helpful.

Also, try to get involved in research-related experience at one of SFU’s research labs. Since many of the graduate programs are rooted in clinical and research training, showcasing your ability to engage and collaborate in research will strengthen your application. I recognize how competitive research applications can be, but don’t give up. It took me five years to be accepted into the SFU Linguistics Language and Brain Lab.

Do not be discouraged if you’re rejected on your first attempt at admission. I was unsuccessful in my first year applying, and although it was incredibly disheartening at the time, I gained so much valuable experience and knowledge preparing for the next application cycle. In hindsight, I now feel much more prepared for the challenges I will face in the graduate program. I’m also more confident in my abilities to be a well-rounded practitioner.

Which Linguistics courses had the most impact on your successful application?

First Language Acquisition (LING 350)
Topics in Phonetics (LING 401)
Neurolinguistics (LING 415)

Describe the ways that volunteer work was key to your success.

Volunteer experience plays a significant role in your SLP application. The knowledge you accumulate through university is incredibly important, but nothing is comparable to getting that hands-on, real-world experience in the field. I am grateful to have been a part of many volunteer positions with so many inspiring clients and knowledgeable clinicians.

I volunteered as a Program Assistant with March of Dimes Canada and Columbia Speech and Language Services, a private speech-language pathology clinic, where I supported communication of stroke survivors living with aphasia. March of Dimes is a charitable organization that empowers people with disabilities to participate fully in life. Their Aphasia Services program provides clients with the opportunity to have meaningful adult conversations, facilitating communicative access for clients.  

I also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Communication Stars childcare program at BC Family Hearing Resource Society, where I supported young Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The program helps to strengthen language, social, and emotional development within a group setting. Additionally, I volunteered with Special Olympics British Columbia’s Active Start program. I also provided support for Provincial Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (PDHHS) early transition meet-and-greet events.

All of these positions were incredibly rewarding. The experiences helped me gain insight and perspective into a deeper level of understanding of the needs of SLP clients. Working with such diverse speech populations taught me many valuable skills that I am excited to use and fine-tune during the SLP program at UBC.