Speech-Language Pathology
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Current Student News
One of the things prospective students who explore any of the programs on Drexel University’s Elkins Park Campus witness is the preparedness and confidence of each current student and the invitation to engage in open dialogue with those students and the faculty.
Alana Kopelove recently experienced that, and much more, on her initial visit to the campus. Kopelove is interested in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) degree program. And she came away from her first visit even more excited to pursue her career as a future SLP.
“While the information session was more than useful for the practical aspects, it was truly a one-of-a-kind experience to connect with supervisors and observe first-year students at the on-campus clinic (the Speech-Language Institute (SLI),” said Kopelove.
Originally from Williamstown, New Jersey, Kopelove earned her undergraduate degree in theater from Arcadia University, which is in close proximity to the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus, graduating in 2021. But the combination of a voice injury and her job as a program assistant at a simulation center led to thoughts of a career change.
“I get to train standardized patients on things to look for in first, second, and third-year medical students, to grade them on interpersonal communication skills to help them become more empathetic doctors,” said Kopelove. “I found a passion for that training.”
When she endured a voice injury with strict instructions to only speak to her speech pathologist team until shewas able to find her voice again.
All that combined to encourage Kopelove to consider a career change and explore the SLP program at Drexel. Her interactions while visiting SLI further strengthened that conviction as mentioned.
“I felt really valued as a prospective student at SLI as students came in between the sessions to first offer not only what they were working on with the patient, but then also opening the floor to any questions that I may have about their process,” she said. “So it felt like getting that opportunity with the clinical educators and the students was an open door policy for communication about the program, why they chose Drexel and why I should choose it too.”
She added that one of Drexel’s main missions that was impressed upon her for the SLP program was excellence in service delivery.
“I got to see that theory put into practice, which was really cool,” said Kopelove.
She enjoyed her interactions with the clinical educators, who offered insights and answers to her questions. “I got a bird’s-eye view of what their interests were and why they chose SLP to see if any of their interests aligned with mine so I could work with them in the future,” she said.
Kopelove said the Elkins Park campus was particularly attractive to her because her future goal is to work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She believes the campus location near the heart of Philadelphia will offer her those opportunities.
Kopelove is currently working on her application essay and preparing to apply through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS), an online portal for applications to graduate programs in SLP and audiology. She hopes to be accepted into the SLP program and start in the fall of 2027.
“I look forward to future opportunities to learn more and hopefully participate in this program,” she said.
For information on applying to any of the Drexel programs, contact Admissions:
