Importance of Student Leadership in Grad Apps

[SL PB&J]

Hi all,

Our NSSLHA elections are coming up, and I'm thinking of running, but I'm wondering how much a role in NSSLHA sways graduate application committees. Is it seen as a huge plus on an application, or does it not really matter to them? 

Thanks!

[Lysdexia]

Different field, but I assume it doesn't hurt.  I was in our student government for a year and a half, and I got into a top university known for their contributions towards supporting social justice groups; my area of study is politics and religion of antiquity and modern engagement, so that might have something to do with it.  It can also be good in spot of having a job - I had three jobs in undergrad and this was one of them.  I got tons of experience and one of my LoR's came from a faculty member who ran student affairs, and we've become great friends.  It's good to show leadership qualities because it shows you're on top of your game and know how to handle different situations.  My GPA was crap from my teenage years, so I think this certainly helped.

[slp2beeplz]

8 hours ago, SL PB&J said:

 Hi all,

Our NSSLHA elections are coming up, and I'm thinking of running, but I'm wondering how much a role in NSSLHA sways graduate application committees. Is it seen as a huge plus on an application, or does it not really matter to them? 

Thanks!

I think it definitely matters and opens up a lot of networking opportunities with faculty, students, and professionals in the community. It shows your investment into the field and you can speak to specific experiences in your letter. Also, I think if you plan to apply to your current school, it'll be one other involvement that will make you stand out from other applicants applying to the program. 

I was fortunate enough to serve on my school's NSSLHA board and loved it. If you're doing it for the right reasons, then it will only benefit your app

[CaliK8]

Definitely agree with slp2beeplz. I served as my school's NSSLHA VP, and it definitely opened up a lot of opportunities. My NSSLHA chapter was very adamant about reaching out into the community and providing networking/workshop/volunteer opportunities with local SLPs, clinics, etc. So it was a nice way to meet people and get your name out into the community. Also, the undergrad SLP program at my school is fairly small, so it was a great way for me to stand out during the application process, since all of the professors know the NSSLHA board and interact with us quite often. When I was applying, my top choice (which is the school I committed to) values leadership, and it is one of their goals to instill leadership qualities in their grad students. So it made me a great fit for them! 

I loved it! I did it because I wanted to pay it forward and help all the new students in the program kind of find their way and navigate through undergrad. As an undergrad, I was fortunate to have made friends with the grad students at my school who did that for me, so I wanted to be in a position where people felt they could turn to me and ask me for help.

It is a great addition to your application, and shows your dedication to the field, your ability to take initiative in leadership positions, and your ability to manage your time with academics + the organization + whatever else you might have going on. It won't hurt to have on your resume/app, but make sure you're in it for the right reasons other than as a resume builder! I do agree again with slp2beeplz that if you're doing it for the right reasons then it'll not only benefit your app, but benefit you as a person. Something I wish I had known was that being on the board is a whole other job in itself, it was very time consuming and stressful at times, but at the end of the day I don't regret doing it because I made some great connections in a way that I never would have if I hadn't taken the position. 

Good luck! 

[SLP1719]

I am a career changer, and am not a member of NSSLHA. I don't think lack of membership had bearing on my application. I was accepted to two schools in NY.

[WannabSLP124]

There are so many great applicants with impressive resumes that it definitely can't hurt! If you can handle the responsibilities without your school work and other activities suffering, I say go for it! If it will be too much for you though, look for other ways to stand out that may not be as time consuming. Good luck!

[pbandj]

Definitely doesn't hurt, but as others have said, it is a big time commitment. Make sure it's really how you want to spend your time, then go for it and give it your all! If it's not how you want to spend your time, or if it will be too difficult to balance the position on top of other responsibilities, you can either find something else to do or increase your involvement in other activities. Don't spread yourself too thin! I think committing to something you're passionate about is what will sway the committee the most, but that doesn't necessarily HAVE to be NSSLHA.  

I wasn't on my school's NSSLHA board, nor was I a member, and I was accepted into my top choices. Leadership in NSSLHA looks great and they do awesome things, but I personally wanted to focus on my involvement in other activities and didn't have time to commit to the NSSLHA board. There are only so many hours in a day! If leadership in NSSLHA is how you want to dedicate those hours, you will benefit so much from the connections and experience, and it will look great on your applications - but don't sweat it if you would rather do something else instead. Good luck!

PS love the username ?

[jmk]

I purposely ran for a "lower" position in my NSSLHA chapter that was still in the executive cabinet. (There were 5 positions in the Executive Cabinet (president, treasurer, etc) and then ten other supporting positions. I had a great year as Treasurer- still in an important position, but A LOT less stress than if I had done President, VP, or Secretary! 

I think it was a big sway in getting into my alma mater as I was known around the department due to NSSLHA. Don't think it had much of a sway otherwise at other schools, because I had a lot of clinical experience that I highlighted instead of NSSLHA involvement. 

[AlwaysaFalcon]

I wanted to join during undergraduate but unfortunately the chapter at my school met during my other organizations meetings. However being on a leadership position on an organization is super fun! I was on multiple leadership positions on two clubs at my school and it was a blast and a great way to meet new people and interact with faculty! If you can balance it with school work definitely don't be afraid to try. What's the worst that can happen?  

[SL PB&J]

Thank you, everyone, for the replies! These were all such good points but I actually ended up not running. I'm already doing a ton of extra-curricular speech things that I really care about, so I don't have a lot of time, and I didn't feel like I was running for the right reasons. But I will keep this in mind in case I decide to run next year! And I hope this information can help someone else in the meantime!