Directions: Answer each question concisely with specific details. You are strongly encouraged to proofread, grammar check, and spell check your responses before submission; your application will be evaluated not only on content but also on the presentation of written skills.
Be sure to answer each question completely. Responses that do not address the content of the question may delay review of your application and could result in non-acceptance to your desired degree program. Name: You must provide your full name (first and last) on your goal statement for to be accepted by admissions.
Degree: You must clearly indicate to which degree program you are applying.
Content: There are five sections described below. include the following information when preparing your goal statement. While not required, we strongly suggest that you format your goal statement by heading each section with the headings shown below. Write your information in paragraph form and do not use bullet format under the section headings.
Counselor Definition; In a few sentences, describe what led you to graduate education in the counseling profession and your career goals.
Many life experiences and skills developed in your past will serve you as a professional counselor. Consider skills (do not include technology skills) you have obtained from current or past employment, community volunteer services, or extracurricular activity experiences. Summarize two or three skills that will make you a competent professional counselor.
Training to become a professional counselor requires deliberate growth and development including receiving and applying constructive feedback.
Ongoing and substantial constructive feedback regarding your scholarly performance (i.e., knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors). Share how you have processed, responded to, and applied past constructive feedback that was difficult to hear.
Multiculturalism/Diversity
Multicultural/Diversity competence is explored extensively in the School of Counseling graduate programs. Considering that having a cultural or implicit bias is a normal experience for all individuals, identify a closely held value or belief that will be the most difficult for you to respect while interacting with others and explain why.
Self-Care
Identify three to five activities that you do to manage personal mental health, emotional problems, stress, and/or interpersonal relationships effectively.
Admission Committee
Prior Academic Experience (applicable for applicants applying with a GPA below 2.5 or were academically dismissed from Walden) If your most recently completed degree GPA is 2.49 or below, add a paragraph explaining the reasons for the low GPA and how you believe you will be able to be successful as a graduate student. If you were academically dismissed from Walden and are seeking readmission, add a paragraph explaining the reasons for your low academic performance and how you will be successful now (i.e., what is different now so you can be successful).
