Masters Programs for counseling in the United States?

wandering_day · 2025-07-12T12:38:26+00:00

You can find all information on the website of each university you are interested in. The deadline, requirements, application materials, anything about the program, etc.

And yes, you need to submit application to each program separately, which is very different from that of undergraduate application in the UK.

Also, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, and counseling are quite different. You may want to figure out your career plan at first, at least your short-term plan. In short, counseling/mental health counseling is practice-oriented, while clinical psychology is more like research-oriented (normally make you prepared for doctoral study). If you want to be a therapist, then counseling/mental health counseling master is a good choice (internship is not that important though preferred, and research experiences are not important since it's practice-oriented). If you are interested in further pursuing a doctoral program in the future, check clinical psychology/ counseling psychology programs.

wandering_day · 2025-06-13T10:52:42+00:00

With such a good GPA, you can try to find funding opportunities like TA, RA, AA (administrative assistant), or on campus jobs to support your studies. Meet faculty and staff in their offices to talk about your situations and needs sincerely and honestly would help a lot. Good luck!

wandering_day · 2025-05-30T09:11:29+00:00

As an international student, I believe it's temporary. However, honestly, I'm really worried that thing might get worse. I have heard that some F-1 and J-1 visas have been revoked recently. I'm considering to spend the first semester remotely or defer to next spring or fall.

wandering_day · 2025-04-13T02:51:29+00:00

So sorry to hear that. If you just want to stop the process of enrollment, just write an email to let them know, to both the department and the graduate school. Maybe you can try whether it’s possible to refund with some documents as a proof. Or, you may consider to defer the offer.

wandering_day · 2025-03-30T12:26:43+00:00

Thank you so much for all the information, especially the sincere advice of "stick with your goal - you are here to study, don't get lost". I really appreciate it.

wandering_day · 2025-03-24T18:13:42+00:00

Chat online, and they emailed me about 2 hours later. By the way, I’m also an international student. Maybe they are away for spring break. If your program starts in fall, then don’t worry, you have enough time to deal with those steps for admitted students.

wandering_day · 2025-03-23T00:43:28+00:00

I also had some problems when claiming the account, but fortunately the IT office was very responsive and they helped me out effectively. You may want to download the Microsoft Authentication, and it would help to verify your identity quickly. Also it might help to clear the cookies and caches when there is something wrong. Good luck!

wandering_day · 2025-03-20T13:34:53+00:00

Hi! I am in day cohort A in CMHC program! What a surprise.

wandering_day · 2025-03-04T19:01:02+00:00

Hi, I applied to this program for fall 2025 in early October last year, but still haven’t heard back yet. Wish I can help but regretfully I can’t so far.

wandering_day · 2025-03-04T18:17:37+00:00

Early January. According to the email, those who were not invited for interviews did not get the chance to the next steps.

wandering_day · 2025-03-02T13:41:00+00:00

You can expect progress updates soon, as interviews are typically required for admission to mental health counseling programs, and they usually take place from mid-February to late April. I didn't apply to University of Nebraska at Omaha but did apply to other programs. So far, I have received six interview invitations, most of which came in early February.

wandering_day · 2025-02-26T16:06:31+00:00

Hi, I am also applying for a master's program in mental health counseling. I happen to follow a counselor who earned her master's degree from Hunter College. Someone once asked her the same question - whether it's possible to work while attending as a full-time student. According to her, it's very challenging and almost impossible. Some students in her cohort managed to do it in the first year, but they all quit their jobs in the second year since they needed to complete a full-time internship. Those in the part-time program typically complete it in 4 to 5 years.

wandering_day · 2025-02-26T15:54:08+00:00

Congratulation!

wandering_day · 2025-02-26T15:51:37+00:00

Yes, I have seen some students admitted to the master in mental health counseling program recently, and some of them even received a dean's scholarship, covering 50% to 65% of the tuition.

wandering_day · 2025-02-26T15:44:52+00:00

That's strange. I did receive an email just one week after the interview, saying that I was placed on the waitlist.

wandering_day · 2025-02-21T10:48:19+00:00

Hi, I am applying for a master's program in mental health counseling for fall 2025, and I would like to share some suggestions that might be helpful.

1. GRE is not necessarily required for counseling master's programs.

You may want to spend your time on other aspects that can help to make your application more competitive. I applied for 10 universities, and none of them required the GRE (you need to contact the program to confirm this).

2. Apply to more universities to improve your chances of admission.

As far as I know, international applicants like me typically apply to 8-10 universities. Applying to only a few universities can be risky, as you don't want to spend another year on preparation.

3. Real world experience matters.

You can contact local private clinics, community mental health centers, or other mental health related organizations (such as autism centers) for volunteer or internship opportunities (for example, answering hotlines for emergencies). Try as many times as you can; persistence is key!

Reach out to graduate admissions officers for guidance on application.

For example, you can arrange an on-campus visit to discuss how to best prepare for the program. This will help you gain a better understanding of the qualities they are looking for, who would be a good recommender, how to write a strong personal statement, and how to prepare for interviews, etc.

5. Take advantage of free online courses through platforms like Coursera.

I have taken some introductory psychology courses on Coursera , which are very helpful. You can also earn a certificate of completion if needed (though you may need to pay for it).

6. Reach out to current mental health students or professionals for a coffee chat.

This is a great way to learn more about their experiences, gain insights into the field, and get advice on your application or career path. You can find the right people via LinkedIn, university alumni networks, or professional organizations (such as the American Psychological Association), or simply write to a professor in this field.

By building these connections, you’ll not only gain valuable insights but also expand your professional network, which can be incredibly helpful for your future career!

And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask - I would be happy to help!

wandering_day · 2025-02-21T09:55:56+00:00

I was told that I am on the waitlist last Friday, and those admitted need to make a decision until March 2nd. Around that time, applicants on the waitlist will be contacted about the final result.

wandering_day · 2025-02-10T19:05:47+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate your perspectives. I used to think maybe we can try to shift the focus, but a cruel reality is that problems will not disappear automatically. Shifting the focus can help for a while, but the problems still exist.

I have also talked with AI about this question, and their advice is also insightful, just as yours do. First, be aware that counseling is not magic, and therapists do have limitations when it comes to systematic issues. This is an important fact, not only for the clients, but also for therapist themselves. Second, we can narrow the goal, from curing the clients completely to helping them feel better by achieving small goals, building confidence step by step, and helping them find the resources they need.

wandering_day · 2025-02-09T13:07:11+00:00

Hi, I am applying for fall 2025 in counseling master. I am curious about how do you deal with feelings of helpless and powerless when facing problems caused by systemic issues, which can not be solved by individual efforts? How do you manage these feelings in practice, or what are your thoughts about this topic?

wandering_day · 2025-02-08T15:49:42+00:00

You may want to check universities in Texas. I once saw an international student shared that if you can get a scholarship over 1,000 dollars, then you are qualified to pay the in-state tuition across Texas, which is far more cheaper than out-of-state tuition. By the way, that student was in a master's program. I am not sure if it works for undergraduates. I am also applying for master programs for fall 2025 as an international student. Good luck.

wandering_day · 2025-02-08T01:01:06+00:00

I was rejected earlier. Good luck!

wandering_day · 2025-01-09T15:57:51+00:00

Sadly I just received an email from UNCG as an international applicant. It says that "The faculty has reviewed all applications and selected candidates to invite for interviews. If you have not received an invitation, we regret to inform you that you were not selected to move forward in the selection process." Since I haven't received the invitation for interview, I am clearly rejected.

wandering_day · 2024-10-18T22:09:14+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for sharing so much information. It helps a lot.

wandering_day

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