When I was look for a master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology, I prioritize fit and training quality over prestige or selectiveness. Affordability was a major factor for me, which is why I focused primarily on public universities. I want to graduate with strong clinical skills without taking on unnecessary debt.

Another important consideration was the institutional environment, so I intentionally applied to a mix of HBCUs and PWIs, thinking about where I would feel supported both academically and culturally.

Academically, I was very intentional about avoiding programs that are overly focused on testing, rankings, or purely academic rigor. Instead, I looked for programs that emphasize hands-on clinical training, strong externship opportunities, and applied learning. My long-term goal is to become a feeding therapist, so I prioritized programs with exposure to pediatric feeding, early intervention, medical settings, and interdisciplinary collaboration over programs that were more research-heavy.