If you’re part of an organization and you intend on applying to graduate school, you most likely have a leg up in your applications, as most graduate schools look for applicants with diverse backgrounds. Yes, having nearly perfect GPA/GRE scores will help, but they look for people who have unique and well-rounded experiences. If you were like me and your stats are average-ish and you’re in an organization, keep reading. Why? Being involved is what helped me get into over 10+ graduate schools, more than half being the top 50 ranked in the nation, and it can help you too.
I was part of a various organizations for my entire collegiate career. I founded my university’s pre-speech language pathology association, volunteered for my university’s dance marathon, and served as a mentor to various community service organizations. I loved what I was doing and I truly enjoyed taking on various roles!
- Taking on leadership roles will allow you to show initiative, responsibility, and proactiveness amongst your organization. Not to mention, you gain lifelong skills, such as collaboration, detail-orientation, and problem-solving, which are essential as an SLP.
- In addition to gaining these skills, you are able to expand your network and open an endless window of opportunities. Being part of various organizations allowed me to make connections with nationwide companies and within my local community. As a result, I worked on a collaborative research project with the renowned Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrenโs Hospital of Chicago, which also enhanced my graduate school applications by serving as a research volunteer/intern. To add, I was able to gained my observation hours through an SLP I met while volunteering.
- Being part of something bigger than myself allows you to get out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in opportunities that will pave paths to success. I felt encouraged and empowered through all of my goals, while inspired me to become a better version of myself – it shaped who I was, and who I wanted to be.
If you’re a member of an organization and you only go to mandatory meetings – get involved. By doing so, it allows you to tailor your graduate school applications to stand out. There is an abundance of opportunities waiting for you!
As always, reach out with any questions/comments by sending me a message!
XOXO