Research Experience and School Counseling

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi Everyone!</p>

<p>I'm looking into applying into a Master's School Counseling program in California's public universities. I graduated with a BA, cum laude, in Psychology and in Political Science with a 3.7 GPA. I'm studying for the GREs right now so no scores yet. I have a lot of volunteer experience with elementary, junior and senior high students. Right now, I'm an AmeriCorps member thinking of doing a second year working with juvenile delinquents before teaching english for a year or two abroad and then applying for grad school. I looked over the applications for most of the programs I'm looking into and I feel kind of nervous that I don't have any publications, conferences, research experience or societies/associations on my vita. I worked for a psychiatry professor in my university on a sleep deprivation study conducting routine surveys but I'm not getting any publication or research credit for it. Apparently, AmeriCorps is suppose to look pretty impressive on one's resume, but I don't know.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Is undergrad research experience important for a program like school counseling? Or am I better off with my volunteer and AmeriCorps experiences? Any advice on school counseling programs in general?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If it's not a research-based degree, I doubt that a lack of applicable research will really be a huge ding.</p>

<p>What schools are you applying to, if you don't mind telling?</p>

3

<p>The MA in school counseling is really an applied master's program so previous research experience is not really necessary. Your stats should gain you admission to almost any school counseling program in the country and the Americorps experience will only add to the stature of your application. Now if you switch to a PH.D. program in counseling psychology research experience takes on more importance.</p>