Alyssa Antcliff

Owner, Speech-Language Pathologist
Grad School Admissions Coach

Hi there! I'm Alyssa, but my family and friends call me Lyss. On this page, you'll learn a little bit about me, my career path, and why I created SpeechLyss.

​

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences and my Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology, both from Purdue University. I have since gained a wide variety of experiences ranging from completing my Clinical Fellowship at Riley Hospital for Children to working with the adult population in home health, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. I also own a private practice where I serve both children and adults who have needs in the area(s) of cognitive-communication, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), articulation, and/or language.

In addition to working as a speech-language pathologist, I provide coaching, resources, and mentorship for undergrads and young professionals navigating the grad school application process. I offer clarity on what to expect throughout the application process with guidance on how and when to complete each step. It is my goal to give my clients confidence in knowing that they are doing everything they can to create the strongest application while also offering peace of mind when everything seems to be so stressful.


Here at SpeechLyss, I have compiled grad school application resources and tips along with personalized services to help you through this process and beyond.

WHEN I WAS APPLYING FOR GRAD SCHOOL, I HAD ALMOST NO ONE TO LOOK TO FOR ADVICE.

Flashback to the first semester of my senior year in college, when everything is ramping up for the grad school application process. I was Vice President of Membership for my sorority, which meant that I was trying to get through grad school applications while also being in charge of recruitment for a sorority of ~150 people. I loved all the planning, preparation, leadership, and involvement throughout recruitment. But it definitely added a TON more stress to the whole “I have to get into a graduate program because, if I don’t, I can’t get certified to do what I love” issue.


That semester was by far the most stressful semester I experienced as a student. I just wished I had somewhere to look for all the answers instead of spending hours researching each aspect of the application process.

​

There was only one person I knew who had previously applied for MS-SLP programs. While she was extremely helpful, I didn’t want to constantly bother her with questions. I always thought about how much easier it would be if I could find this information online. A single website with all the information I needed to know to prepare for grad school... all in one place. I spent hours trying to find answers to my endless questions. The whole process was intimidating! That is why, when I had younger girls coming to me for advice when it was their turn to apply for graduate programs, I wanted to help in any possible way that I could.

WHY I STARTED THIS BUSINESS AND BLOG

I started this SLP grad school blog to give advice to future graduate students going through the treacherous application process. Whether you are going into Speech-Language Pathology or another profession, the information on this site can help you succeed.

​

After helping more students than ever in the 2021 grad school application season, I decided it was time for a full website re-vamp. I moved my blog over to the current platform in May 2022 and did everything possible to make the helpful information easy to find and products easy to access.


I have laid out an abundance of grad school application resources & information via helpful guides, templates, and links to important websites. These tips & tricks will help you spend less time figuring the logistics out and more time forming incredible application content.

​

I have discussed everything from how to choose which schools to send your application to, to the best GRE prep materials, to how to ask for a letter of recommendation. My goal is to help as many future graduate students as I can possibly reach! I was in your shoes not too long ago, and I aim to have a site that provides even more information than you need to succeed.

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME…

​I live in Indiana with my husband and my dog, Bear. My husband and I got married last year and settled into our first home together. Being a homeowner takes a lot of work, and we have loved making this house our home over the past year.

​

I’m a coffee fanatic. Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day, and coffee shop mornings are my favorite mornings.

​

My husband and I are obsessed with Charcuterie boards. When I was in grad school, we'd search the grocery store for the cheapest ingredients (#GradSchoolBudget) and make our own board at home - something we still enjoy doing to this day. There is something about crackers, cheese, and prosciutto with a side of red wine that just make Netflix & movie marathons even better!


Great burgers, pesto chicken pasta, and sushi also top my list of favorite foods... As you can probably tell, I’ve never attempted the vegetarian lifestyle.

​

As much as I love food, I also love to stay active and healthy. I participate in workout challenges with my friends, and we love to help keep each other motivated. I'm also always looking for the best workout gear deals, so keep an eye out on the blog and my resource page for when I find new ones!


As I continue to add to this website, you will find more and more posts and resources related to food, fitness, home, and professional life. I hope you enjoy!


If you have any questions or just want to say hi, feel free to fill out a Contact Form or send me an email at hello@speechlyss.com. I look forward to meeting you!

BOOK A COACHING SESSION

© 2023-24 by SpeechLyss