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Samantha Gryz has accepted an offer of admission to the University of Alberta鈥檚 MSc in Speech-Language Pathology program. Samantha was successful after having applied multiple times to SLP programs. Last year, she joined the executive team of the (SHLUB). Samantha has found that SHLUB鈥檚 resources are invaluable to both new and seasoned applicants, as the club has built a community of prospective SLPs that is both supportive and knowledgeable. 

What inspired you to pursue speech-language pathology? 

I was initially drawn to speech-language pathology from my own personal experiences receiving services  as a child and supporting family members. Later on, I found myself wanting to better support total communication (i.e., speech, writing, signing, gestures, facial expressions, Augmentative and Alternative Communication) in the communities that I鈥檝e worked with in the many positions I have held.  

Please tell us about your work and volunteering experience. Which positions were most significant in achieving SLP admission? 

I wish I knew the answer to this! I think for me, the most significant factor was aligning my personal interests in research, volunteering opportunities and work as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. I am especially interested in supporting total communication, so I sought out opportunities that allowed  me to engage with this approach. 

Working at a private pediatric clinic allowed me to shadow and learn from the most incredibly supportive team of neurodivergent-affirming SLPs! Volunteering for organizations like and allowed me to practice total communication with different populations. 

Supporting the research of the allowed me to think about environmental and social barriers for children and adults on the autism spectrum. These experiences allowed me to apply my ideas to the University of Alberta鈥檚 focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.  

Describe the 51社区黑料courses that had the most impact on your success.

Courses in language acquisition, phonology and syntax from the Linguistics Department were especially helpful, as were Education courses that cover learning disabilities and teaching children and youth with special needs.  

Which 51社区黑料instructors helped shape your journey to SLP admission?  

Oh, so many! I applied for multiple years, so I was able to reach out to a few different professors in Linguistics and Education for their support. I am especially grateful to Dr. Yue Wang, Dr. Chung-Hye Han and Dr. Elina Birmingham for their support. 

Rita Parmar, the Linguistics Student Advisor, is also an incredibly positive and knowledgeable resource.  

For the Letter of Intent, in what ways did you adjust your approach compared to past attempts at applying? 

This year, I really focused on my personal experiences and how they complimented the school鈥檚 philosophy in terms of course offerings, research, and overall values. 

I think it really helped to share my letter with the SLPs that I work with (and I asked almost the entire clinic this year haha), not only because they know me well, but because they have been through the  application process and can offer specific feedback and suggestions. It can be difficult to fit everything you want to say into just a few paragraphs.  

I wholeheartedly appreciate the support and encouragement of the Department of Linguistics and the Faculty of Education over the last few years! 

The application process can feel all-consuming. Please remember to take time for yourself and try to infuse as much of your individuality and uniqueness as possible into your letter of intent.