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William & Mary Admissions Requirements

As you prepare your application for William & Mary’s Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling, know that admissions outreach advisors are always on standby, ready to assist you to answer your questions, clarify admissions requirements and confirm the materials needed. We also encourage you to check out our step-by-step How to Apply guide, which walks you through the process of applying through our online portal.

William & Mary is proud to accept applicants of various academic backgrounds, and all applications are reviewed holistically. With this in mind, our baseline requirement is that all applicants have a completed bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).

Full Application Requirements

When you are ready to begin the application process, we ask that you be prepared to submit the following:

  • Completed online application
  • Application fee of $50
  • Application fee waivers are offered to U.S. service members/veterans, AmeriCorps or Peace Corps participants and Fulbright or McNair scholars. Specific documentation to upload is embedded in the application.
  • Official academic transcripts from all institutions attended
  • 3 letters of recommendation from professional and academic references
  • Personal essay
  • Resume detailing full employment history

You may submit your application before William & Mary receives your official transcripts or letters of recommendation. To do so, however, you must provide contact details for three recommenders, as well as your resume, personal statement and unofficial transcripts in order to fulfill application requirements and submit the application. All supporting documents must be on file and the application checklist completed by the priority or hard deadlines for application review to begin.

Download the Application Checklist

Get In Touch with an Admissions Outreach Advisor

Email: counselingonline@wm.edu
Toll Free: (866) 870-6966

Schedule an Admission Call

Additional Requirements for International Students

During the application process, students applying as non-U.S. citizens must present proof that they have successfully passed either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a minimum score of 100 on the internet version (or comparable, if test is not taken online), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, with a minimum score of 7.0.

A transcript evaluation from an agency like the World Education Services (WES) or International Education Evaluation is preferred, and is required for any programs leading to licensure.

Obtaining a Social Security Number is required for fieldwork placements. If you cannot obtain a Social Security Number, you are ineligible to enroll in this program.

Prepare to Serve Others as a Licensed Counselor

William & Mary's CACREP-accredited online counseling programs emphasize social justice and cultural responsiveness while preparing you for licensure. Study with attentive faculty mentorship through our flexible online format. Choose the specialized educational path that fits with your professional goals and learn to create positive transformation—one client at a time.

Download our guide to learn more about:
✓ The Online M.Ed. in Counseling program
✓ Paths to licensure
✓ The career outlook for counselors
✓ Faculty in the Online M.Ed. in Counseling program
✓ Admission requirements
✓ The online student experience

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Preparing Your Personal Essay

Your personal essay is an important means of sharing with us the reasons why you are drawn to counseling and what career aspirations you intend to pursue following successful completion of the Online M.Ed. in Counseling program. These pieces are usually two to three pages in length and can be submitted electronically with the online application.

As you begin to outline and compose your essay using the following guiding questions, please think about your career aspirations, past academic, professional and volunteer experience, leadership potential, collaborative skills and propensity to engage in reflective practice:

Guiding questions:

  1. What has led you to become interested in becoming a counselor?
  2. Why are you interested in pursuing your counselor education at William & Mary?
  3. How will your graduate degree in Counseling at William & Mary help you achieve your career goals?
  4. What strengths would you bring to your graduate studies at William & Mary?
  5. What do you think would be the greatest challenge(s) for you in your graduate studies at William & Mary? How would you address the challenge(s)?

If you have any questions regarding the composition of your personal essay, we encourage you to contact an admissions outreach advisor for clarification of expectations and requirements.

Non-Discrimination Notice

Unless otherwise constrained by law, William & Mary is committed to providing an environment for its students that is free from discrimination based on any personal factor unrelated to qualifications or performance such as race or color, citizenship, national origin or ethnicity, ancestry, religion or creed, political affiliation or belief, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, parental status, height, weight, military service, veteran status, caretaker status, or family medical or genetic information. Read W&M's full non-discrimination notice

Notice of Contingent Status of Admission Offers

Offers of admission are contingent upon continuing to meet high standards of academic performance, personal conduct and completion of all work in progress. Furthermore, prior to enrollment at William & Mary students are required to submit answers to questions about criminal and disciplinary history and to comply with the university's Disclosure of Arrest Policy. The university reserves the right to refund an enrollment deposit and rescind admission for failure to comply with these expectations or in cases where criminal or disciplinary history reveals an unacceptably high risk to the personal safety, academic integrity or core values of the William & Mary community.

Notice of Availability of Annual Security Report

Information about campus safety and security may help you in your decision to apply. The most recent Campus Security and Fire Safety Report for William & Mary, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, is available on W&M's website for review. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics. Three years' worth of statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in or on off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the university or on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. The full report is available online, or you may request a paper copy in person or to be mailed to you at no expense from the Office of Compliance & Equity, James Blair Hall, Suite 101, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23185, 757-221-3146.

Connect with a William & Mary Counseling Student Ambassador

Curious about what it’s really like to pursue your Master of Education in Counseling at William & Mary? Our student ambassadors are here to offer genuine insights, thoughtful guidance, and personal perspectives from inside the program.

Whether you're wondering about balancing coursework with a busy schedule, making the most of the online classroom, or simply seeking reassurance from someone who’s been there — we invite you to connect. Join one of our monthly sessions to meet our ambassadors and hear firsthand what makes William & Mary a place to thrive — or connect directly with an admissions outreach advisor to learn more.

Register Today
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Liisa Shimabukuro
“The most helpful part of the application process was the ease of communication with the recruitment team and admissions department. My admissions outreach advisor was an excellent resource! He answered all my questions and responded to calls and emails very quickly.”
– Liisa S., M.Ed. Counseling candidate, ‘28 School Counseling concentration
“Once I was offered admission, I enrolled into William & Mary because of how reliable the team was. I knew in the early process of my application that I could count on anyone from the school to assist me if I needed any help.”
Jalia A., M.Ed. Counseling candidate, ‘28 School Counseling concentration
Jalia A.
Two women smiling at their graduation ceremony

Don’t Let Tuition Halt Your Progress

We believe in the power of education and are therefore proud to assist prospective and current students in financing their degrees. For more information regarding tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities, visit our tuition and financial aid page, or contact an admissions outreach advisor.
Explore Financial Aid
Counseling students and faculty having a discussion

Preparing You for Licensure

All concentration and specialization paths within our Online M.Ed. in Counseling program—Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs, Military and Veterans Counseling, and School Counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and prepare you for required and optional licensure opportunities.
View Licensure Requirements
Counseling student at the Career Center

Counseling Careers are in High Demand

By pursuing a future in counseling, you’ve opted for a career field that demonstrates much-faster-than-average job growth.1 Not only that, our faculty and facility resources will help to broaden your professional network throughout the course of your program and support your efforts to facilitate targeted career opportunities post-graduation.
View Our Programs
Sources
  1. Retrieved on November 22, 2024, from bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm

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