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Clinical Mental Health Counseling Application Checklist

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a graduate degree program designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree (or will have one by the start of the program). We encourage you to attend one of our Information Sessions listed in the Find Out More section here.

Have you been asked to provide a recommendation?

Please click on the link button below for information about the process and tools.

RECOMMENDER INFO AND TOOLS

step 1

Complete the Online Application

Start a new application for Parkside here: https://your.uwp.edu/apply/

step 2

Submit Official Transcripts 

Official transcripts must be submitted for all colleges and universities you ever attended. All transcripts must be official and come directly from the institution.

Applicants are required to have a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework in the social sciences or related areas, and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.75-2.99 may be admitted on a probationary status. No graduate exam scores will be required. 

If an applicant attended graduate school, all graduate transcripts must be submitted, whether or not one completed the program.

If an applicant left another graduate program prior to earning a degree, then they need to submit documentation (e.g., a letter) from the director of the graduate program indicating that the applicant was in good standing when they left a different graduate program. Documentation of good standing should be sent from the director of the previous graduate program.

If you are a graduate of UW-Parkside then there is no need to submit your UW-Parkside transcripts. For Parkside graduates who transferred to UW-Parkside, the Admissions Office may also have transcripts from other institutions you attended. If you have questions regarding which transcripts we already have or about submitting transcripts, then please contact the Admissions Office: 262-595-2355 or email admissions@uwp.edu. 

  • Transcripts can be submitted through an electronic service, such as Parchment or by mail, will also be accepted.

Where to Submit Materials via Mail

UW-Parkside Admissions
900 Wood Rd 
P.O. Box 2000
Kenosha, WI 53144

 

step 3

Personal Essays

Directions
Essays should be 1- 2 pages in length in APA format. Answer each essay thoroughly with specific examples where applicable. Program faculty review essays for content, quality of writing, and clarity. 

Essay 1 – Counselors engage in professional relationships with individuals, families, and communities. In this essay explain your career goals and how they align with the CMHC program. In addition, describe how your personal characteristics and interpersonal skills will support your ability to manage the emotional impact of counseling work? 

Essay 2 - The CMHC program at UW-Parkside and the counseling profession are committed to training counselors to develop competencies in multicultural counseling, advocacy, and social justice. Describe how your lived experiences have informed your understanding of cultural differences. In addition, how have those experiences prepared you to develop a respect for and understanding of cultural differences that may impact effective counseling relationships with potential clients.    

 

step 4

Three (3) Professional Recommendations

Three professional recommendations from people familiar with your education and/or work experience need to be submitted. The recommendations include a letter of recommendation and completion of the recommendation rating form from each individual.

All three recommendations must be academic or work references. At least one letter is required to be from an academic reference, and at least one is required to be from a work reference. This can be from full-time or part-time work; paid, volunteer or internship work; and from human services or other types of work experiences. Recommendations from work experiences must be from individuals with a supervisory relationship to you. Personal recommendations are not acceptable, such as those from family members, co-workers, friends, one’s personal mental health counselor, one’s personal clergy member, etc.

The letters of recommendation and completed recommendation rating form must be submitted directly to Admissions from the person providing the recommendation. 

You should share the link to this page (or the link below) with the people providing your recommendations.

RECOMMENDER INFORMATION AND TOOLS

step 5

Resume

A current, professional resume. 

step7

ACTIVATE PARKSIDE ACCOUNTS

If you haven’t done so already, activate your SOLAR and Rangermail accounts.

SOLAR (Student Online Access To Ranger) You will use SOLAR to enroll in classes, pay your bill, and more.

Rangermail is your Parkside email account. Check your Rangermail frequently for updates and communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Courses from the following academic disciplines are considered social science for the purposes of applying to the CMHC program at UW-Parkside: psychology, sociology, anthropology, criminal justice, communication, education, and political science. Other disciplines may be accepted.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum social sciences requirement should e-mail Dr. Robtrice Brawner, Coordinator of CMHC Program cmhcgradprogram@uwp.edu.

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.75-2.99 may be admitted on a probationary status.

E-mail Dr. Robtrice Brawner, Coordinator of the CMHC Program cmhcgradprogram@uwp.edu. if you have questions about this requirement.

 

Letters of recommendation can be tracked on the application. All other application documents can be tracked through solar.

After all required application materials are submitted by the application deadline, a committee will review the application and make a decision. Typically within thirty days, decision letters are sent by email if the application is submitted by the deadline.

You may also call us to check the status of your application: 262-595-2355. A decision can only be shared directly with the student who applied.

RECOMMENDER INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Each recommender is asked to fill out a Letter of Recommendation and a Recommendation Rating Form. Applicants will submit contact information for all recommenders. Recommenders will receive an e-mail that is specific to the applicant. Recommenders will need to submit both a letter of recommendation and a recommendation rating form.

Letter of Recommendation
For the letter, if possible, save and submit it as a pdf document. 

Recommendation Rating Form
The recommendation rating form works best if you click on the orange link box to the right, completely fill out the form, click the "print" icon at the top right corner of the form page, and save as a pdf.

SAVING FILES

The Letter of Recommendation files should be titled “Recommendation_Applicant Last Name_Recommender Last Name”
EXAMPLE 
Recommendation_Randall_Jones

The digital Recommendation Rating Form should be titled “Rating Form_Applicant Last Name_Recommender Last Name”.
EXAMPLE
Rating form_Randall_Jones


Thank you for taking the time to help the individuals applying to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program. If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Suda at suda@uwp.edu

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