By Nicole North

SFU Linguistics graduate Kevin Tyson has accepted an offer from the University of British Columbia to join their Master of Science program this fall. He will be pursuing Speech-Language Pathology. It is Kevin’s first attempt at applying to a graduate program, and he was also offered a spot in the equivalent program at the University of Alberta.

"I volunteered through Abbotsford School District’s Indigenous Education Program for two years. This position gave me invaluable skills to communicate with children of various developments within an educational environment while giving back to my Indigenous community."

During Kevin’s undergraduate experience at SFU Linguistics, each instructor offered a different set of experiences that were instrumental in improving his critical analysis skills and adding to his knowledge. Kevin has been awarded a graduate entrance scholarship from UBC due to his strong academic record, volunteer experience, and the overall strength of his application.

Tell us about your overall approach to SLP program applications and the preparation involved. What advice can you offer to our current students for their applications?

First of all, it is important to reach out to your program advisors as early as possible if you have any questions and to give you advice on what makes a strong application. This includes reaching out to advisors in both your current program and those in programs you plan to apply for graduate studies.

From my understanding, the graduate programs are looking to hire “general” speech practitioners, so having a well-rounded set of related experiences goes further than trying to specialize in one area of speech. Consistent and related volunteer or paid work is important—try to start this as early as possible. Grades are important, but having a balanced application of each element is essential.

Lastly, I would choose two to three schools from which you are willing to accept an offer as early as you can during undergraduate studies, to ensure that you take the appropriate pre-requisites and avoid taking unnecessary courses.

Which courses had the greatest impact on the success of your SLP applications?

Phonology (LING 321)
Phonetics (LING 330)
Cognitive Neuroscience (PSYC 382)

SLP-related volunteering and work experience is key to a successful application. Please describe your most memorable experiences.

I volunteered in several capacities that were key in strengthening my Master’s application.

Upon commencing my academic journey, I volunteered through Abbotsford School District’s Indigenous Education program for two years. I helped children improve their social communication, literacy skills, and cultural awareness with support from the in-school SLP. This position gave me invaluable skills to communicate with children of various developments within an educational environment while giving back to my Indigenous community.

My next volunteer position was as a group facilitator for Parkinson Society British Columbia for over two years. This position had me lead monthly meetups for older adults with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. I supported these members with resource navigation, organized expert-led presentations, and assisted those with speech difficulties in communicating with the group. These rewarding experiences have shaped me into an empathic and adaptive future SLP and shown me how the role can benefit people of all developments.

I was hired to work as a research consultant at SFU’s Autism and Developmental Disorders Lab (ADDL). This opportunity gave me professional research experience that I believe helped my Master’s applications. I assisted in developing a literature review on the prevalence of autism research within Canadian Indigenous communities, an area I would like to expand on in future research with a focus on speech disorders.