Programs by ranking and reputation: how important in the long run?

[EmilyA]

In some professions where you go to school, the people you meet ,and networks you form are key to your future. Does anyone have information about the importance of an SLP MA program's ranking and reputation for your career? That is, once you've received your degree, and are out on the job market.

 

How much do future employers care? 

 

Anecdotal or other references and leads welcome, as well as any ideas on what you've heard about what employers DO care about.

 

[neucool]

Anecdotally, I've heard that it matters very little where you got your degree. The nearly 100% employed within 6 months of graduation rate at most programs seems to support this... I think as you go on, employers are going to care a lot more about your experience in the field.

[mimblewimble]

I second what neucool says. Many schools post their stats about employment rates on their websites, and they are usually at 100% no matter the school.

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

^True. Like neucool said, they are more interested in your experiences that qualify you for working in your chosen setting (from what I've heard). 

[EmilyA]

Thanks, good points. Looks like all of us plan to begin programs this fall. A related question could be, do you think it helps to be focussed on a specialty area in school or not, and how specific? e.g., adult onset neurogenic disorders (an interest of mine), infant language development vs just language dev. 

 

Although I know I'm interested in the medical side of CD, I also LOVED my linguistics classes, and have a little dream of doing sociolinguistics research! 2 years might not be enough time? Then again, it might be.  lol

 

Thanks, everyone!

[Madgab14]

I think it helps obviously if you're applying to jobs that would want that subset of skills/specialty area knowledge.  The more knowledge and experience the better!  I would say that even though the job placement rate is nearly 100% everywhere, salary and benefits would likely be affected based on where you went to school.  Maybe not so much in this profession, but if you think about Harvard graduates, they usually have high salaries just because they went to Harvard.  Again, I really have no idea haha but it makes sense in my mind that higher-ranking program graduates would be offered higher salaries, but the placement rate wouldn't necessarily be affected.  Does that make sense?  Either way, we're going to land jobs eventually!

[selbstverteidigung]

Not at all.