Program Admission

Applications for Fall 2024 are now open.

Admission to the MC program is based on the applicant’s potential for graduate study, previous preparation and experience, and the possession of personal qualities that contribute to success as a counselor. To balance student demand with available resources, the program is limited in the number of students admitted each year. Factors that are evaluated in the admission process include: academic potential as measured by the FRK index, professional and volunteer experiences in helping-related fields, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Each of these factors is described in detail below.

Application Process

To apply to the MC program, you must submit the online graduate admission application and the supplemental materials required by the MC program as described below. Inquiries may be sent to ccp@asu.edu.

The graduate admission application is to be submitted online. It is your responsibility to review the application information and note requirements that could delay processing the application, including ensuring you are applying for the appropriate semester for which applications are being accepted. All materials required by the MC program must be received prior to the annual deadline of the first business day after January 1 for consideration of entry in the subsequent fall. Applications are considered once a year for the fall semester only; there is no spring admission.

You may verify that ASU has received your official test scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation through My ASU. It is your responsibility to check the application status and verify that all required materials are received by the deadline. Incomplete applications and applications submitted after the due date will not be reviewed or considered.

In addition to the graduate admissions application, the MC program requires the following supplemental materials:

  • personal statement.
  • at least two and a maximum of three completed recommendations.
  • GRE score report (optional).
  • official transcripts.
  • proof of English proficiency (if applicable).
    • please note, this program requires a TOEFL score of at least 600 (pBT) or 100 (iBT).
  • finalists will be invited for a virtual interview.

Required Materials (below)

Personal Statement

Applicants are required to submit a two to three page personal statement (12pt.Times New Roman font with 1” margin, double-spaced) that indicates their qualifications (e.g., professional experiences and personal attributes) and interest in ASU’s MC program.

Specifically, applicants are asked to describe how their education and training, as well as volunteer and professional experiences, inform why they want to pursue the MC degree. They also should outline how our program will help them meet their future career goals. Applicants are expected to discuss their ability to work with and be sensitive to the needs of a multicultural and diverse society, including (but not limited to), members of diverse racial and ethnic groups and sexual minority individuals.

Recommendations

At least two and at most three recommendation letters are required. These should be from persons able to evaluate your academic potential (e.g., faculty member) and professional or volunteer experience (e.g., a supervisor). Applicants are discouraged from asking for recommendations from individuals or acquaintances who have not overseen their professional, volunteer, or academic work.

As part of the online graduate admission application, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses for each of your recommenders. Upon submission of your application, these references will receive an email from Graduate Admission Services. The email will include a link to upload a written letter of recommendation. Please confirm with your references that they have completed and posted the letters of recommendation by the deadline.

You will also be asked if you do or do not waive the right to review the recommendation sent on your behalf. Each recommender will be informed of the decision and asked to upload their recommendation electronically to ASU. Do not email, mail, or fax materials.

Transcripts

You must have one set of transcripts from every college and university from which you earned a bachelor’s degree or higher sent to ASU. Official transcripts must be sent directly to ASU Admission Services from the issuing institution's records office either by mail or through a secured electronic transcript service. For transcripts sent through a secured transcript service, please select Arizona State University from the vendor's dropdown list to ensure the transcript is routed to the correct place. If an email address is requested you can route to gradtranscripts@asu.edu. ASU accepts unofficial transcripts as part of the application. This is the only way we will accept unofficial transcripts. Emailed transcripts are not acceptable. If you are admitted to the university, you will be required to send official transcripts to the university. Official transcripts are original academic credentials issued by the registrar of the institution attended, bearing the original raised or colored seal of the institution and the signature of your institution's registrar, academic official or recognized international organization. If you attended ASU, you do not need to request ASU transcripts to be sent.

More about transcripts

GRE Score Report (optional)

The GRE General Test is not required.

However, if you choose to submit GRE scores, please have your GRE Score Report sent separately to ASU Graduate Admission ServicesUse University Code 4007 for reporting. Counseling does not have a department code. Use 0000 if prompted to enter a department code. Test scores must be received directly from the agency administering the test. Photocopies and faxes are not acceptable. GRE scores must be taken within five years of the start date of the semester to which the student applies.

Academic Potential (FRK Index, if applicable)

Applicants to graduate programs at ASU must first meet ASU Graduate Admission requirements (e.g. minimum 3.0 junior/senior GPA, and English language proficiency). If you submit the optional GRE Score Report, the program will calculate your FRK index. A FRK index of 5.5 or higher is preferred. If an applicant chooses to submit GRE scores, they must be taken within five years of the start date of the semester to which the student applies. Please note, the GRE is not required. To compute your FRK index, use the following formula:

FRK Index = UGPA (or JR/SR GPA) + ((GREV + GREQ) / 400)

The GRE score in this formula is the “old” GRE score ranging from 200-800. The “new” GRE ranges from 130-170. To use the new GRE score in the above equation, convert the new GRE into the old GRE and plug it into the above equation.

Conversion table: http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concordance_information.pdf

Recruitment activities and admissions recommendations are program based. All students must be graduates of accredited higher education institutions.