Early Assurance

• Applications Open: September 15 of the students high school senior year
• Application Deadline: January 15 of the students high school senior year
• Letters of Recommendation/Official Transcript/ACT or SAT Score Report Deadline: January 15 of the students high school senior year
• Interviews for the MUCD Early Assurance Program (required): March through May

This program is designed for highly motivated high school students (in-state or out-of-state) who want to become speech-language pathologists and have achieved the following criteria:

Minimum composite ACT score of 25 or SAT composite score of 1200. Super scores permitted. (The ACT Super score takes the average of the four best subject scores from each ACT test attempt and counts it as your official score).

• Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Personal Essay
• Two letters of reference/recommendation from high school teachers
• Invitation for on-campus interview in February or March with the Marshall University Communication Disorders Early Assurance Committee

• Students must declare an undergraduate major in Communication Disorders
• Students may consider two curricular options, (3+2 or 4+2). Students who begin their freshman year with 20-24 hours of college credit may be considered for a 3+2 curriculum. A 4+2 track allows for a traditional four-year undergraduate experience before entering the graduate program
• Students must maintain a 3.5 GPA each semester (CD and overall)
• Must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale in all prerequisite courses. Follow this link for more details https://www.marshall.edu/communication-disorders/undergraduate/
• Students should complete at least 25 hours of clinical observation by then end of their senior year

• Students must apply and be accepted into the undergraduate program and declare a major at Marshall University prior to applying to the MUCD Early Assurance Program
• Students must complete the Early Assurance Program application located here https://forms.gle/wJ4i7qbFzFmLwpW68 no later than January 15^th. Within the application students will be asked to submit:

1. Application form
2. Essay detailing why the student wishes to pursue a degree in communication disorders
3. Official high school transcripts
4. ACT or SAT scores
5. Two letters of recommendation from high school teachers who have had the applicant in class and are familiar with the applicant’s academic performance

• Students should also send formal high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores to Marshall University
• Students should be aware that an incomplete application package could negatively impact the selection process
• Applicants will be reviewed by the MUCD Early Assurance Committee
• All applicants will be notified in writing if they have been selected for an interview by the end of March
• Finalists will be required to participate in an on-campus interview
• The MUCD Admissions Committee will select the applicants who will be accepted into the program

• Personal advising by faculty in the Department of Communication Disorders in addition to College of Health Professions advising.
• Mentoring from a current graduate student in Communication Disorders
• Access to programming and activities that provide a firsthand look into the field of speech-language pathology
• Early clinical shadowing experience across multiple professions for an interprofessional experience