By Nicole North

Sarah Lee of SFU Linguistics has accepted an offer of admission to the MSc in Speech-Language Pathology program at UBC. Sarah achieved admission to the program upon her first attempt at applying. When Sarah began her undergraduate degree at SFU, she already had plans for a career in SLP as her goal.

"I paid attention to the Linguistics Student Union newsletters, which included research and volunteer opportunities, as well as tips for course planning and guides for SLP Master’s programs applications."

Sarah wanted to help people in her community who experience communication difficulties. Right from the start of her undergraduate degree, Sarah was focused on the courses and extracurriculars that would help her achieve this specific career ambition.

Please share your general advice for gaining admission to an SLP program.

The process of applying to SLP graduate programs is very stressful. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I was not shy about reaching out to professors, advisors, and classmates to ask for advice on strengthening my grades, managing stress, and becoming involved in research. By creating connections and putting myself out there, I used multiple perspectives to guide me through my journey to applying to master’s programs.

I also contacted the Linguistics Undergraduate Advisor, Rita Parmar, to seek advice on gaining admittance. Rita helped me by recommending graduate program course requirements to make course planning easier, as not all required courses are offered each semester. She also placed high value on creating a well-rounded application. This involves maintaining a high GPA while volunteering in the field and research settings. I would meet with Rita once a semester to discuss my progress and areas I could strengthen. I kept my application in mind throughout my four years at SFU and tailored my studies and extracurricular work to my passion and dream of becoming an SLP.

It is also important to create academic connections. I recommend attending Faculty office hours to get extra help and to familiarize yourself with professors. By attending office hours, I made connections and gained insight into course materials, which was instrumental in my success in classes. I attended office hours to review tests, papers, and projects, ask questions, and discuss research opportunities. Getting to know my professors helped me when I needed to ask for academic and research-based references for my application. Since I took the time to show an interest in academics and a dedication to improving my performance in class, professors got to know me as a student and as a person.

Lastly, I tried to utilize the resources and information services provided by SFU. Many of these services are overlooked; however, gaining multiple perspectives on schoolwork and pieces of my application allowed me to think more critically. When writing papers and my letter of intent, I contacted the Linguistics Department Writing Centre to receive feedback on my writing. I also booked appointments with SFU’s Career and Volunteer Services to streamline my CV and make it stand out. I also paid attention to the Linguistics Student Union newsletters, which included research and volunteer opportunities, as well as tips for course planning and guides for SLP Master’s programs applications. Overall, I utilized the resources SFU provided, which solidified and organized my application.

What feedback did you receive regarding what made your application stand out?

I shared my application with the Linguistics Student Advisor, Academic referees, the SLP practitioner I was volunteering under, and friends and family. My strong GPA, diverse extracurriculars, and personal letter of intent made my application stand out. I volunteered in many different settings for years, which showed my genuine commitment to the field instead of just checking off boxes. My letter of intent was focused on why I chose to pursue SLP, why I would be a good fit for the program, and my areas of interest within SLP. I highlighted personal qualities and experiences that drove me to want to become an SLP. Since the selection committee wouldn’t get to actually meet me, I tried to show who I am in my letter of intent, aside from academics.

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

First Language Acquisition (LING 350)
Phonology (LING 321)
Psychology of Language (LING 315)

Was there a Linguistics instructor who was instrumental to your success?

John Alderete was the most impactful professor. I took Phonology (LING 321) and Morphology (LING 323) with John. Having never learnt phonology and morphology, I loved solving the linguistic problems in class. Taking these courses with John made me reconsider how I viewed languages. Although these courses were challenging, discussing issues during office hours and with classmates pushed me to consider different perspectives on language structure. John is a highly passionate and knowledgeable professor; taking his classes and discussing material with him motivated me to involve myself in my area of interest as much as he does.

Did you earn any awards or recognitions during your undergraduate education?

During my undergrad, I maintained my Entrance Scholarship with Distinction throughout all four years. I received Dean’s Honour roll from 2021–2024. I was also nominated for the Yvonne Becker Essay Prize in 2023.

Tell us more about your volunteer work and its role in your SLP admission.

Once COVID restrictions were lifted, I volunteered for three years straight during my undergrad to create a well-rounded application. I volunteered at a Coquitlam clinic called Empowering Steps Therapy, under an SLP working with neurodiverse children. I also lead a stroke recovery group for seniors with aphasia through March of Dimes Canada. At SFU, I volunteered in research projects specializing in Autism. I was a member of the Autism in Education Lab for the Sound Sensitivity Project. Additionally, through the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab, I volunteered at many educational camps for teens and children with Autism. By diversifying the populations and settings in which I volunteered, I had the opportunity to experience how speech disorders affect lives and what types of therapies and developments are used to provide support.