School Counseling Application Instructions

• Submit all application materials by the deadline. Incomplete applications may be delayed to the next application review.

• Skip ahead to the “Recommendations” section and use the application platform to send requests for letters of recommendation first. We recommend you complete this step right away to provide each recommender with the maximum amount of time to complete their letter.

• Follow the transcript submission instructions carefully. Please upload your registrar-issued transcripts from each institution attended to the USC application portal. Upon acceptance and submission of intent to enroll, you will need to submit official transcripts to the USC Office of Graduate Admissions separately.
• Be sure to submit a qualifying form of official documentation for the basic skills requirement. Review the related dropdown for details

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Personal Information

• Enter your name as it appears on your government issued I.D. Indicate any alternate or previous names in the “other name” field (i.e. maiden name).
• Enter the email address USC Rossier should use to communicate with you throughout the application process.

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Academic Records

Applicants must upload official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions they have previously attended. Applications received without all required transcripts will be considered incomplete and ineligible for admission review.

Official transcripts and other academic records are issued directly by the registrar’s office of your previous school(s) and bear the official registrar’s stamp or signature. Unofficial transcripts, including print-outs from student portals, are not acceptable for admission review.

International students should refer to USC’s country specific requirements to determine which academic records they need to submit.

To Upload Your Transcript to The Application Portal 

Login to your USC Application Portal and navigate to the Academic History section. Enter detailed information about your academic history from each institution you have attended.

Once you have saved this information, you will find an option to Upload a Transcript for each institution. You can upload only one PDF per institution. If the transcript consists of multiple pages, you must scan each page and merge them into a single PDF file. If you do not have access to a scanner, you can take clear photos of each page and combine them into one PDF.

There are various online services available to merge multiple files into a single PDF or convert photos into PDFs. Once you have uploaded your transcripts and completed all other sections of the application, you can proceed to submit your application.

Upon admission and submission of the statement of intent to enroll, you must submit degree-conferred transcripts from all attended institutions to the USC Office of Academic Records and Registrar. 

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Supporting Information > Documents > CV/Resume

Your résumé should be detailed enough to help the admission committee understand the various experiences – extracurricular, leadership or volunteer – that have shaped your interest in the program. Outline your roles and responsibilities within each organization and highlight any special achievements or accomplishments. In the “Supporting Information” section of the application, select “Documents”. Select the “add document” button under “CV/Resume.”

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Program Materials > Documents

Essay responses will be used to evaluate your personal, professional and educational perspectives and experiences and the ability to effectively communicate ideas and organize written thoughts. Responses to essay questions should be double-spaced with a 12-point font and one-inch margin on all sides. Include your full name at the beginning of each document. Upload each essay as a separate document in the appropriate section.

Personal Statement

The Master of Education in School Counseling program prepares practitioners who view challenges as opportunities to excel as members of a school’s leadership team, responsible for the social, emotional, and academic well-being of students. 

We seek applicants with a clear, well-defined interest in school counseling that reveals why they care deeply about counseling as a discipline and a career, that they have the academic, professional, and personal experiences to support their interest, and that they are diligent students who will be committed to completing our graduate program of study. 

Write a personal statement that addresses the questions below. Title each section using only the headers and keep your response focused on the topic of each question. The entire statement (responses to all 4 questions) should be approximately 2,000 words.    

Mission Alignment: Explain how your personal and professional goals align with our program’s mission and values, particularly our commitment to advocacy, access, and support for diverse student populations. 

Motivation and Preparation: Describe your motivation for pursuing a career in school counseling, including any personal, academic, or professional experiences that have shaped your decision.  

Equity and Inclusion: Share what you believe the role of a school counselor is in today’s schools, especially in promoting equity, inclusion, and systemic change.  

Suitability for the Field: Reflect on the strengths, qualities, or skills you bring to the field, as well as the areas you hope to grow in through our graduate program.  

Upload your Statement of Purpose in the “Program Materials” section of the application under the tab “Documents.” Select the “add document” button under “Personal Statement.”

Supplemental Essay

You may use this space if you would like to share additional context about your application, including strengths, experiences, perspectives, or aspects of your background that are not reflected elsewhere. You may use this space to provide clarification or further insight into your academic record or professional history, if you believe it would be helpful to the review of your application. This essay is optional (250 words or less).

Upload your optional essay in the “Program Materials” section of the application under the tab “Documents.” Select the “add document” button under “Other.”

Where to find it: My Application > Program Materials > Kira Assessment

The timed video response is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your communication skills in professional settings. No advance preparation is required for the assessment. You are allowed to take the assessment one time only (no exceptions). For technical assistance with the video response, email support@kiratalent.com.

• Click the “Open Kira Assessment” button on the “Kira Assessment” tab in the application. Note: clicking this link will NOT require you to take the assessment immediately. You can register for the assessment and return at any time to complete it.
• When the page opens, click the “Check In” button.
• Click the registration module. Your first and last name and email should pre-populate in the registration form. Agree to the terms of agreement and privacy policy and click the “Register” button. After you register, a link to Kira will also be sent to your email address for easy access at the time you choose to complete your assessment.
• Complete the device set up and practice modules to prepare for your assessment.
• Click the assessment module (final step) at the time you are ready to begin your assessment.
• Once completed, your assessment will be reviewed in conjunction with other application materials by the admission committee.

Video Response

You will have two minutes to complete your response. There will be a countdown timer and a progress bar during preparation and response time so you can track how much time you have left. If you finish before time is up, you can submit your response using the “submit” button in the lower right corner. The system will automatically submit your response when the time is up.

Record your response using an internet-connected computer with a webcam.

Dress professionally and conduct yourself with the same level of professionalism expected in an in-person interview.

Make sure you have a pen and notepad available for taking notes on the prompt.

Once you begin the assessment, you will be provided with one prompt, followed by five minutes of prep time.

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Program Materials > Recommendations > Add Recommendation

USC Rossier requires one letter of recommendation from an academic or professional reference to complete your application. Letters from family members or friends will not be accepted.   

• To submit the name of your recommender, go to the “Program Materials” section of the application and click on the tab “Recommendations.”
• Using the ‘Add Recommendation’ button, enter the name and email address of the recommender you’ve asked to electronically submit a letter of recommendation. Your recommender will automatically receive an email that includes a password and directions for submitting the letter of recommendation. If the recommender does not receive the recommendation letter request, advise them to check their spam or junk mail folders.

• Recommendation letter must be typed on official letterhead from the organization with a signature. If the recommender is not able to obtain company letterhead, this must be noted somewhere in the letter.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your recommendation letter is submitted in the proper format prior to the appropriate deadline. Letters uploaded in the incorrect format without explanation are subject to further review.
• Recommendation letters should be submitted by recommenders by the application deadline, but they are not required to be submitted at the time you submit your application.

Please note: recommendation letters are program-specific and cannot be used to apply to additional programs. If you withdraw your application from a particular program, your letters of recommendation will be deleted along with the application.

Where to find it on the application: Submit Application Tab

Application fees must be paid by credit or debit card.

An application fee waiver is available to applicants who meet certain eligibility criteria. Applicants must submit their request at least one week in advance and allow 3-4 business days to receive the coupon code, so plan accordingly when submitting the application fee waiver form. Eligibility criteria and instructions for obtaining a fee waiver can be found at the USC Graduate Admission website. If you choose to apply for a fee waiver you must:

1. Start your online application but do not submit the application until the fee waiver is approved.
2. Provide supporting documents to demonstrate qualification.
3. Have your fee waiver request approved.
4. Complete and submit your online application.

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Program Materials > Documents

You are required to submit official documentation that you have satisfied the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) basic skills requirement by way of an acceptable method.

Basic Skills documentation is required at the time of application submission.

USC Rossier welcomes international applicants. If your prior study was completed outside of the United States, you must have earned the equivalent of a United States bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission. View the international application requirements based on your country of study.

International students whose native language is not English and who completed their undergraduate work outside of the United States are required to demonstrate proficiency in English as part of the application process. For more information on English proficiency requirements, English-language test waivers and other alternate accepted exams, please visit the USC Graduate Admission English-Language Proficiency page.

English Proficiency Scores

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Academic History > Standardized Tests > Add a Standardized Test

International students whose native language is not English and who completed their undergraduate work outside of the United States are required to submit an official English proficiency score as part of their application. You must have taken one of these exams within the past two years. 

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the minimum score requirements on one of the following exams:

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum composite score of 90, with at least 20 in each subscore.
• New TOEFL iBT: Minimum composite score of 4.5, with at least 4 in each subscore.
• IELTS: Minimum composite score of 6.5, with at least 6 in each subscore.

You may upload your test score report in the “Academic History” section of the application to be used in application review. However, only scores received electronically from the testing service are considered official. Official test scores should be sent from the testing agency directly to USC. 

• TOEFL: To send official scores, use USC ETS code 4852. Please note that USC does not accept super-scoring for the TOEFL.
• IELTS: Select “University of Southern California” at the time of registration. Alternatively, provide this information to your testing center after taking the test.
• No department code is required to send TOEFL or IELTS scores

For more information on English Proficiency requirements, English-language test waivers, and other alternate accepted exams, please visit the USC Graduate Admission page.

Your application materials will be reviewed by both the USC Rossier School of Education Office of Admission and Scholarships and the USC Office of Graduate Admissions.

• Refer to your USC Rossier personal portal for timely and accurate updates on your application status (including missing items).
• For Fall and Summer cohorts: Admissions decisions for the priority round will be released in January.
• You will receive a decision letter from both USC Rossier and the USC Office of Graduate admission

To be eligible to register for classes at USC Rossier, you must submit official documentation that you have satisfied the subject matter requirement by way of an approved option.