By Marj O’Neill ’21, Assistant Editor

Halle Snyder wanted to challenge herself by applying to other graduate programs, despite already being enrolled in the speech-language pathology graduate program at LVC.

In the five-year speech-language pathology program at LVC, students begin as communication sciences and disorders majors, and earn a bachelor’s of science degree in communication sciences disorders at the end of their fourth year. At the end of their fifth year, they receive a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. This year’s group of seniors in the program will be the first to transition to their fifth year.

Because LVC has a newer graduate program, the College is not yet able to offer certain opportunities for its students. When Snyder was looking at other graduate programs, she learned about how different programs are structured in different ways and ended up choosing to transfer to Edinboro University in Erie, Pennsylvania, for her fifth year instead of continuing her education at LVC.

“One of the things that attracts me the most about Edinboro University’s SLP program is that they have offered me a graduate assistant position to research and assist faculty,” Snyder said. “By agreeing to become a GA, I will have half of my tuition covered for the first year and will also have a paid stipend for the amount of hours I work. Additionally, Edinboro has an incredible reputation and is affiliated with Pitt, Duquesne and Hampton University.”

Snyder described applying to graduate schools as extremely tedious and hard to balance while trying to juggle her current coursework and working a part-time job. She chose which programs to apply to based on which programs she could see herself succeeding at, ones that were in Pennsylvania and ones with good reputations and experienced faculty. In total, Snyder will complete 5 more semesters at Edinboro as opposed to three more semesters at LVC.

“I really wanted to make sure that if I was going to extend my time in school a few extra semesters, that I would be in a program that would make me feel confident all around,” Snyder said.

Snyder will be taking new and challenging coursework, as well as research projects.

“I will be taking classes full-time as well as completing graduate rounds throughout the week,” Snyder said. “In the spring and the following summer, I will be a graduate student clinician at the Governor George Leader Speech and Hearing Center, which is Edinboro’s state-of-the-art on-campus clinic. In my second year, I will complete externships both in the school system and in a medical setting.”

Moving closer to the Pittsburgh area has been a dream of Snyder’s for the past three years and she feels blessed to have the opportunity to continue her education at Edinboro. Her goal is to become a medical SLP in some capacity, however, her areas of interest are continuing to expand as she continues her education.

“I have always been the most interested in working with children and young adults who were born with a cleft or craniofacial abnormality, since my brother was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate,” Snyder said. “He has definitely had an influence on my interest in medical SLP. I am also incredibly fascinated by feeding and swallowing disorders, as well as stroke and TBI rehabilitation.”

While Snyder is unsure where she will end up, she anticipates staying in the Erie\Edinboro\Pittsburgh area to complete her clinical fellowship year and hopes to be hired full-time after completing the supervisory period. In the long run, she would like to work for a hospital or a VA in another state to expand her horizons but has faith she will end up exactly where she is supposed to be.