JMU's College Student Personnel Administration program annually admits approximately twelve new graduate students with a variety of experiences and from a range of geographic locations. Our small cohorts allow students to build strong relationships within and outside the program.

Full-time admission is in the fall so students can enroll as a cohort and maintain the recommended course sequence. Students interested in the College Student Personnel Administration program must qualify for admission to The Graduate School as well as the graduate program in Counseling Psychology. All students accepted on a full-time basis are provided a graduate assistantship in the Division of Student Affairs.

Admission to the program is competitive. The following is taken under consideration when determining which applicants are invited to interview for program admission:

• Student’s undergraduate record
• grade point average
• campus community involvement
• three letters of recommendation (at least one of the recommendation letters should come from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's academic abilities)
• resume
• responses to the four questions that make up the Personal Statement (please review the evaluation rubric below)

The program committee will invite selected candidates for an interview during the month of February. The interview may be in-person or virtual and is a required part of the application process.

The JMU CSPA program is seeking candidates who demonstrate a passion for learning, commitment to counseling core courses, desire to develop skills to become an effective professional, an interest in bolstering interpersonal skills and self-awareness, and a commitment to working across differences and critical thinking.

Personal Statement rubric

Essays that contain the following characteristics will be evaluated more highly:

Writing

• Clear: writing is understandable, concise, and crafted with intention;
• Syntax: essay well organized (logic and flow is easy to follow);
• Error free: in grammar, usage, or punctuation; and
• Specific: details are relevant, enrich the work.

Content

• Authentic: demonstrates vulnerability, reflects unique personal experience, and conveys emotion;
• Compelling: Stories and experience support contentions;
• Alignment: Content demonstrates commitment to counseling core, professional skill development, strengthening interpersonal skills, and/or commitment to working across differences; and
• Depth: Experience is sufficiently thorough to be meaningful.