- 28 students enter the program each year
- Admission decisions are made following admission interviews
- Applicants will be notified following the interview
Admission interviews will be held at the Northwestern University Evanston Campus in February, 2020. You will participate in a group interview, learn more about the program and tour The Family Institute. If you apply for a financial scholarship, you will be notified of your award decision around the time of your acceptance of the offer of admission.
Early Admission Deadline: November 18, 2019
Regular Admission Deadline: January 17, 2020
All interviews take place at:
The Family Institute at Northwestern University Headquarters
618 Library Place, Evanston, IL 60201
Apply online through Northwestern University's Graduate School Application System (code #1565) where you will submit the following:
- $95.00 application fee
- Minimum of two letters of recommendation
- Scanned versions of official transcripts from each institution(s) attended since secondary school
- For international students: Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores
After you have completed and properly submitted your online application, a confirmation message will be sent via email. If you do not receive a confirmation, check with The Graduate School for further information.
1. Complete Master of Arts in Counseling Program Specific Application
This is where you indicate which curriculum you are applying to — the Standard Two Year Program or Two Plus Program.
2. Gather the following information:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Recent 3 x 5 photo
- Supplemental essays
Write four supplemental essays that consist of the following content (each essay should be a minimum of one page and can be written separately or combined into one essay with subheadings):- Brief autobiographical statement
- Clear and thoughtful statement of professional interests and goals
- Summary of prior clinical training, work experience and direct experience with professional psychology or counseling
- Thoughtful statement answering the question, "Why do I think I am suited to the field of professional counseling?"
To apply for a Harris Scholarship, please complete and submit this application when applying to the program.
Download Harris Scholarship Application
Submit your specific application, resume, recent photo, supplemental essays and application(s) for scholarships (if applicable) via email or U.S. Post Office to:
Deidre Hicks, Education Coordinator
Master of Arts in Counseling Program
Center for Applied Psychological & Family Studies
618 Library Place
Evanston, IL 60201
Telephone: 847-733-4300, ext. 205
Fax: 847-733-0390
E-mail: dhicks@family-institute.org
Once all application materials are received, a confirmation email will be sent to you from Deidre Hicks.
The Family Institute at Northwestern University requires all applicants who have received conditional admission to Master of Arts in Counseling program to complete an online background check to determine criminal history. Having an adverse criminal history finding does not necessarily preclude admission. Determinations are considered on a case-by-case basis. In the event that information from the background report is utilized in whole or in part in making an adverse decision with regard to an applicant's admission, before making the adverse decision, The Family Institute will provide the student with a copy of the consumer report and a written description of his or her rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.