Applicants with a 2.50 junior/senior (3.00 in School Counseling) average (on a scale of 4.00) and with appropriate course backgrounds will be considered for admission in the master's degree program. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Exceptions to the minimum 2.50 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Personal Statement and Resume Please provide a statement on "My Interest in the Counseling Profession." Address factors in your life that influenced your desire for a career in this area, what you have to offer those you will serve, what you hope to gain from graduate study, and your current professional goals. The essay should be no more than two pages in length, single-spaced. Three letters of recommendation The recommendation letters should be concerning the applicant's academic and professional abilities and potential are required. These letters should address the applicant's ability to meet graduate-level academic challenges and to work in the counseling profession. Faculty (instructors and professors), academic advisors, volunteer work or internship site supervisors, and/or employers are acceptable persons to provide recommendations. Friends, family members, peers, and co-workers are not suitable references. These letters must be uploaded directly to the Graduate School application by the reference writer who will receive an email from the Graduate School after the applicant enters references contact information into the application Transcripts As part of the online application process, applicants are required to electronically upload copies of transcripts (or equivalent documents for institutions outside the U.S., e.g., degree/study certificates, diplomas, etc.) from all post-secondary institutions attended, in the language of instruction (and copies of an official English translation if English is not the language of instruction). Applicants recommended for admission who accept an offer through the online graduate admission system will be notified by the Graduate School that official/original transcripts/documents must be sent from the originating institutions in the official language of the institution(s) attended (and if the language of instruction is not English, an official English translation must also be sent). The Graduate School will review all official documents to finalize the offer of admission. An offer of admission will be revoked if official/original documents are not received by the Graduate School within specified deadlines, or if official/original documents differ from the copies uploaded by the applicant prior to the offer of admission. For applicants whose degree conferral is in progress at the time of uploading copies, the deadline specified for receipt of official/original documents will allow for the passage of the reported date of degree conferral, and that conferral must be confirmed on the official/original documents received by the Graduate School, in order for the offer of admission to be finalized. You do not need to provide Penn State transcripts If you have received a degree from Penn State University. TOEFL Test Scores TOEFL Test Scores (if applicable) (PSU Institution Code: 2660, Department Code: 99). International applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received a baccalaureate or master's degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must submit a TOEFL score of 550 (paper test), a score of 213 (computer-based test), or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section (internet-based test). The applicant should request TOEFL scores to be electronically submitted directly to Graduate Enrollment Services at Penn State. Applicants may substitute the IELTS with a minimum composite score requirement of 6.5.