Application Deadline
Application deadline for financial support
Most financial support for graduate students is offered through individual academic programs. In addition, a limited number of awards are available through The Graduate School and are based on program nominations. To allow sufficient time for nomination, applications — including all uploads and required test scores — must be complete by December 16, 2025.
Application Requirements
We look for applicants with a solid undergraduate record (minimum of 3.0) and prior experiences that have allowed one to gain self-awareness and knowledge in working in schools and/or with children and youth.
Applicants to the School Counseling program come from various fields and stages of life. Successful school counselors tend to be intellectually capable and socially responsible, and they enjoy working in school and with children and youth. Applicants must have a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
We look for a statement of purpose that shows a commitment to working with children and youth in a school setting, as well as clarity regarding why the school counseling program at UNC-Chapel Hill is a good fit for the applicant. In essence, we consider the information provided in the application and supplemental materials in seeking to answer the following questions:
- Can this applicant succeed in a rigorous graduate program?
- Has this applicant made a careful, well-educated choice regarding this career and program?
- Is this applicant likely to become an outstanding leader in school counseling, contributing to the profession in significant ways?
Additional consideration will be given to applicants with counseling-related experience and/or experience working with children and youth, and to applicants who would enhance the diversity of the counseling profession. The faculty encourages prospective students from diverse cultural, ethnic, lifestyle, and racial backgrounds to apply.
We Welcome Diverse Candidates
We strive to recruit a student body that represents our diverse society and can contribute to student development as school counselors. Accordingly, we welcome applicants from all genders, sexual orientations, racial and ethnic groups, ages, abilities, faiths, and nationalities.
Application Process
Applicants must submit the following application materials:
- Three letters of recommendation. The most effective letters are those from two sources: faculty from previous educational experiences and professional supervisors who know you very well and also know what it takes to succeed in graduate school, and individuals who are very familiar with your experiences and successes in working in schools or with children and youth.
- Unofficial transcripts from all universities attended. Must be in good academic standing and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. If below a 3.0, please provide justification for consideration of admission in your statement of purpose.
- Statement of Purpose (500-750 words)
- Resume
- Application fee: $95 (non-refundable)
Required Interview
All applicants will be required to have an interview with program faculty as part of the application process.
If invited, in-person interviews on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus are highly encouraged in order to provide as the best opportunity for the faculty as well as the applicant to determine whether the School Counseling program is a good fit. In the event that an applicant cannot travel to Chapel Hill for an in-person interview, a telephone interview will be scheduled.
Although the actual interview only lasts about one hour, we advise that you reserve at least two hours for the interview process (e.g., parking, finding the building, etc.). In preparation for the interview, it is helpful to reflect upon why you would like to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling and the experiences that have led to your decision.
Campus interviews take place on Fridays in late January and early February. Campus tours are also possible through the UNC Visitors’ Center.
What Happens After Submitting Your Application
Immediately after the application deadline, all complete applications are given careful consideration to determine which applicants will be invited for an interview. The top applicants are invited to interviews during late January and February. During the interview process, recommendations for admittance are made by the faculty and sent to the Graduate School for final approval. In some cases, a student may be put on a wait list, with a decision on admittance deferred until we receive replies from other admitted students. Final word on admission status comes from the Graduate School, usually by mid-March.
Because of the competitive application process and the early start date of the School Counseling program, students offered admission have approximately three weeks upon notification to decide whether to accept.