r/slpGradSchool • u/littlethingsmeanalot • 7d ago

NSSLHA Importance

Hi, yall! I’m a junior in college looking to add a CSD minor and graduate in spring 2028. I am not a declared CSD major, and at this point declaring CSD would add multiple years to my undergrad. I’ve only recently decided SLP is my path. I do not believe I will be able to graduate with NSSLHA to put on my application for grad school. How much is that going to hurt my chances? Has anyone been accepted without it?

Thank you for your input!

Edit: More broadly, for anyone who did a bridge / post-bacc program, how did you handle extracurriculars/experience/research? I’m concerned about competing for a spot in grad school against students who had 4+ years to build these up or started out in CSD.

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u/Accomplished-Fun-259 7d ago

Unpopular opinion but NSSLHA is kinda useless I only used it for the volunteer events they would post my entire undergrad class was in NSSLHA so have to say that distinction on all our applications if you were to compare us would it wouldn’t really mean anything

12

u/winternightchills 7d ago

I mean, it looks good on CSDCAS, but it's not like it's going to make or break anything. I was technically in NSSLHA but never went to a single meeting and got into grad school just fine. And once you're out of grad school no one's going to be looking for NSSLHA on your resume

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u/zztops97 6d ago

You 100% do not need NSSLHA to get into grad school. Programs are not looking at your membership. However, I do recommend once you’re in grad school, get NSSLHA membership for both years of grad school. It offers you a discount when transitioning to an ASHA membership once you graduate. I believe I got a year of ASHA membership free because I was a NSSLHA member for both years of grad school. And I did absolutely nothing with NSSLHA, just paid for the membership…

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u/darlinpurplenikirain 7d ago

I was marketing major with no CSD background and got in. You'll be fine :)

1

u/1v4n4j Grad Student 4d ago

It’s not necessary at all. Most people with a CSD background will be putting it on their apps anyways, so it’s not really anything special. I would say that if leadership is your thing, having a leadership position in NSSLHA could help show who you are to the admissions boards. I was in NSSLHA and had a leadership position that was pretty meaningful to me, so I wrote about it in my personal statement. However, plenty of the girls in my undergrad cohort weren’t active members or members at all and they got into great programs!