Is it risky only applying for 2 universities?

I'm thinking of doing speech and language therapy and I won't be able to travel very far so there are only 2 uni's near me that offer the course. Would it be risky only applying for those 2 courses? Would it be a good idea to use the extra three slots to apply for, say occupational therapy or a similar healthcare field, even if my personal statement was tailored towards speech and language therapy? Thanks

If there are literally only two universities you would consider, then applying for Speech and Language Therapy elsewhere makes no sense - as you would turn down any such offer.
If you would consider other courses (e.g. Occupational Therapy) at those two universities, then including them as your last three options - even if your personal statement doesn't really fit - makes more sense than leaving them blank.

So, it's better to just apply for 2 universities with a strong personal statement?

Well, in the ideal world, you'd be able to travel a little further and therefore be able to add more Speech and Language Therapy options to your application. But if that isn't an option for you, then it'd be better to fill the last three slots with something rather than nothing. If you can't travel beyond your nearest two universities, then those three slots must necessarily be the same two universities for which you're applying for Speech and Language Therapy.

I'm sorry, but could you clarify what you mean by those three slots must necessarily be the same two universities for which you're applying for Speech and Language Therapy.

Last year I applied to 3 different courses with a personal statement very specific to vet med, and I got 5 offers even though my ps had very little to do with the other subjects!! So I would defo say apply to the other course as well

So, would you say there's a chance of being offered a place in a degree lile diagnostic radiography or occupational therapy even if my ps is heavily focused on speech and language therapy

More of a chance than not applying at all! There’s no point Leaving it blank if you’d consider doing those courses too 🙂 I got 4 offers for Zoology and Biology and didn’t write abt them in my ps, some unis don’t even read the statements

Oh, I never knew that! Do you have any tips for like things to include in your ps that would probably make them accept you into a different course too or did you just stick to writing about vet med in your ps (or did you mention transferable skills that could be applicable to both degrees?)

I'm thinking of doing speech and language therapy and I won't be able to travel very far so there are only 2 uni's near me that offer the course. Would it be risky only applying for those 2 courses? Would it be a good idea to use the extra three slots to apply for, say occupational therapy or a similar healthcare field, even if my personal statement was tailored towards speech and language therapy? Thanks

Hi @sxniathefirst
I hope you're doing well!
It is great to hear that you are interested in speech and language therapy! I completely understand why you would want to check if this would be risky before sending off your application, so it was a great idea for you to ask on here.
As most of the other responses have said, I don't think it would be 'risky' if you know for sure those are the only two unis you would be able to feasibly travel to, as if you received an offer from another uni you put down, you would only reject it anyway. I would also agree with the advice that it is better to put something than nothing. So looking for similar healthcare courses that the unis you are applying for offer is a really great idea.
In terms of your application, one of the most important aspects of a personal statement for a speech and language therapy course is that it shows how passionate you are for this subject and career. Therefore, by changing it to make it more relevant to the 'backup' courses you are applying for in spots 3, 4 and 5, you will be weakening your speech and language therapy application.
If you are certain that speech and language therapy is what you would like to do, I would suggest keeping your personal statement as it is and keeping it as geared to speech and language therapy as possible. As other responses have said, it is likely that other aspects of your application (e.g. grades) might be enough to get an offer from other courses, as well as your clear passion for healthcare.
I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Hattie😊
4MSci Speech and Language Therapy

So, would you say there's a chance of being offered a place in a degree lile diagnostic radiography or occupational therapy even if my ps is heavily focused on speech and language therapy

I'm thinking of doing speech and language therapy and I won't be able to travel very far so there are only 2 uni's near me that offer the course. Would it be risky only applying for those 2 courses? Would it be a good idea to use the extra three slots to apply for, say occupational therapy or a similar healthcare field, even if my personal statement was tailored towards speech and language therapy? Thanks

Thank you so much for your detailed response! I think I'm going to focus my ps on Speech and Language therapy and still use up the remaining 3 spots for other healthcare degrees because, as the replies have said, not applying just decreases your chances more. Also, could I ask if you find Speech and Language therapy difficult, what types of placements do you go on, and do you want to specialise in children or adults?