Program admissions
Applications for Fall 2024 are now closed.
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, 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 program, applicants must submit the online Graduate Application and supplemental materials required by the MC program. Inquiries may be sent to ccp@asu.edu.
The graduate admission application is submitted online at Graduate College. The online application portal is available starting Sept. 1. Do not submit applications before Sept. 1 or after the application deadline of the first business day after Jan. 1. It is the applicant’s responsibility to review the application information and note requirements that could delay processing the application, including ensuring the applicant is 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 Jan. 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.
- Recommendations: Require a minimum of two and maximum of three recommendation letters
- Official transcripts
- proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
- GRE score report (not required)
- Academic Potential: Recruitment activities and admissions recommendations are program based. All students must be graduates of accredited higher education institutions.
- Finalists may be invited to submit supplemental materials in support of their application (e.g. video recordings of their responses to a set of questions) and will be provided with more information about this during the review process.
Supplemental materials required by the MC program
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
The program requires a minimum of two and maximum of three recommendation letters. These should be from persons able to evaluate the applicant’s academic potential (e.g., faculty member) and/or professional or volunteer experience (e.g., a supervisor).
As part of the online graduate admission application, applicants are asked to provide the names and email addresses for each of your recommenders so that ASU can contact them directly to solicit letters. 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.
Applicants are discouraged from asking for recommendations from individuals or acquaintances who have not overseen their academic, professional, or volunteer work. Applicants will be asked if they do or do not waive the right to review the recommendation sent on their behalf. Each recommender will be informed of the decision and asked to send their recommendation electronically to ASU. Do not email, mail or fax materials. Program faculty are unable to provide guidance or advice to individual applicants during the submission process. Faculty are also unable to provide feedback following admission decisions to individual applicants.
Official 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.
Proof of English proficiency
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency. You must meet one of the following English language proficiency requirements. See English Proficiency for International Graduate Students.
GRE score report
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 Services. Use 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
Recruitment activities and admissions recommendations are program based. All students must be graduates of accredited higher education institutions.
Finalists
Finalists may be invited to submit supplemental materials in support of their application (e.g. video recordings of their responses to a set of questions) and will be provided with more information about this during the review process.