Criteria for Admission to the Doctoral Programs in Counseling are as Follows:

1. Applicants should hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited institution or equivalent by the time they enter the program.

2. Applicants are strongly recommended to have had at least two years of experience as a professional counselor beyond entry-level practica and internships.

3. Applicants should have the ability to do doctoral level work at the University of Rochester, as demonstrated by their past academic performance, writing skills, and technological literacy and expertise.

4. Applicants’ career goals, objectives, and attitudes should be consistent with the Warner School counseling program to which they are applying and the stated mission of the program.

5. Applicants should demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills and sufficient maturity, self-awareness and emotional stability to serve clients well in counseling settings and to serve counselors-in-training well in instructional and supervisory settings.

6. Applicants should demonstrate openness to self-examination and personal and professional self-development.

7. Applicants should demonstrate potential for professional leadership and advocacy.

Admissions Procedures

1. Applicants to all Warner School programs are asked to submit a portfolio containing the following information:

• Warner School application form
• Original transcripts from all the higher education institutions attended
• Writing sample (academic paper)
• Personal statement about their background, career goals, interests, and objectives in entering the program
• At least three letters of recommendation
• Résumé or curriculum vitae

In addition, each applicant to a doctoral program in counseling is required to have a separate interview with two different faculty members in the Department of Counseling and Human Development. The faculty members complete an interview report that is then added to the student’s application file.

2. After the deadline for receipt of applications has passed, the faculty of the Department of Counseling and Human Development meet to discuss each applicant for admissions and to make a recommendation of whether to accept, reject, or otherwise respond to the application.

3. The program’s recommendation goes to the Warner School’s Admissions and Financial Aid Committee. A representative of the Counseling and Human Development faculty sits on this committee and represents the program’s viewpoint to the committee. The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee makes a final determination on each candidate’s application.

4. The applicant is typically notified of the decision within seven weeks of the application deadline.

Diversity
The Department of Counseling and Human Development welcomes applications from qualified applicants representing a wide diversity of backgrounds. Warner places great emphasis on making the admission process fair for all students and students with special needs may want to “self-identify” during the interview process. Upon appropriate evaluation, students’ needs can be taken into consideration and accommodated.

Go to Counseling & Human Development.

Contact us:
admissions@warner.rochester.edu
(585) 275-3950