Admission Essay for Capella University Essay for Admission to the MS Counseling Programs.

Your essay must be 3-6 pages in length and address each of the
areas outlined below. Please utilize the required template that begins on
page 2 and address each of these five essay components under the provided
headings.

Required Essay Components:

1. Rationale for seeking specialization in a clinical
counseling-related program

This
section must address:

•
Your clear understanding of the clinical program area, with attention to
licensure and the role of a licensed counselor.

•
The clear link between the program you selected and your career goals.

Your
discussion should include substantive, carefully considered reasons for
seeking a clinical graduate degree in counseling. (Beyond merely being a good
listener or wanting to help others).

4. Self-awareness

This
section must address:

•
Life experiences that may have heightened your level of self-awareness,
impacted your decision to apply to the program, and influenced your career
goals.

• The characteristic ways in which you process
life events and challenges, and how those ways have helped you develop
strengths relevant to your chosen program area.

Your
discussion of self-awareness should demonstrate emotional stability and
readiness to undertake a graduate degree program in counseling.

2. Impact of previous employment, volunteer work, and other human
service or counseling experiences

This
section must address:

•
Key experiences in your employment or volunteer work that influenced your
decision to apply for the program.

• If you have no experience in human services,
please identify specific ways you could gain related experience, such as
volunteer work.

3. Culturally relevant interpersonal skills

This
section must address:

• Your ability, based on life experience, to
relate interpersonally to individuals from different cultural contexts (e.g.,
age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation,
socioeconomic status, etc.) in both individual and small group settings.

•Your understanding of the importance of
culturally relevant interpersonal skills in the role of a counselor, and at
least 2 steps you plan to take to further the development of these skills.

5. Future professional goals in counseling

This
section must address:

•
Your specific career goals and the licensure requirements you will need to
achieve them.

•
Since licensure requirements vary from state to state, be specific about the
requirements in the state where you intend to practice.

Your essay should reflect professional standards
of clarity, tone, and grammar. Please include your name and the date you
wrote the essay in the space provided on page two of the essay template.  Please also include your email address and
the clinical program to which you are applying.