ADMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT:

Candidate’s qualifications are assessed by review of their academic record, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and relevant experience.  Individuals who appear to be qualified based on the above information are invited for individual and group interviews.

All applicants for graduate study at Slippery Rock University must have minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 to be considered for unconditional admission. Applicants must also have official general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Office. 

In addition the Department of Counseling and Development requires applicants to submit a written statement indicating their career goals and personal philosophy regarding the helping professions and three letters of recommendation that address the students capacity for graduate level work, suitability for the intended program area and ability to form interpersonal relationships.  Applicants are also required to participate in on campus interviews. 

Applications are reviewed two times a year, deadlines are January 15th, and April 16th.  For preferred consideration, applicants must have all appropriate materials submitted to the graduate studies office by January 15. 

EARLY REVIEW

January 15         Application materials are reviewed by the Counseling and Development Admissions Committee.  Applicants may be invited for an on campus interview in February, put on a waitlist for the next review date in June or denied admission at this time.

February 22   On campus Interview day (8 - 5 pm)  This includes both individual interviews with program faculty and group interviews with other applicants.  Applicants will also have an opportunity to interview for selected assistantships on campus, tour campus and meet current graduate students in the department.

Early March     Shortly after completion of the interview process the Admissions Committee will meet to review all relevant information regarding applicants and make admissions decisions.  Offers will be extended to candidates no later than March 15.  Potential outcomes of this process are offers of unconditional or conditional admission or placement on a waiting list.  Individuals who are not considered qualified for the program will be notified at this time.

April 15         Acceptance of offer.  Candidates offered admission by April 1 are given two weeks to make a decision and notify the University of their intention to accept the offer.  Failure to notify us by this time will be considered a rejection of the offer and that spot may be filled by another candidate.  It is considered unethical to accept an offer and later withdraw to accept an offer from another program.  

LATE REVIEW (see above for details)

April 16            Application materials are reviewed 

May 16            On campus Interview day

June 1             Offers will be extended to candidates no later than June 15. 

For full consideration of a candidate the following materials must be submitted to:

Slippery Rock University, Office of Graduate Admissions, One Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Competed Graduate Application for Admission, Transcripts of all prior coursework, Official GRE or MAT scores, 3 letters of recommendation addressing the students capacity for graduate level work, suitability for the intended program area and ability to form interpersonal relationships, Written statement indicating their career goals and personal philosophy regarding the helping professions.