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HDC Admissions

How to Apply
Applications to the M.Ed. program in Human Development Counseling are considered in two rounds. The deadline for consideration is December 31.

You may submit your application by mail or apply online.

Transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly from the registrar of each college or university attended to Peabody Office of Records and Registration. Submit separate transcripts for each college even if the credits shown are also listed as transfer credits on a later transcript. Also, include brief descriptions of courses whose titles do not indicate the content or scope of the subjects covered. Transcript request forms are included on the Peabody admissions website for your convenience.

Standardized Tests
An official copy of your scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Millers Analogy Test (MAT) is required as part of the application process. You should allow a minimum of six weeks in advance of the application deadline for the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send the scores to Vanderbilt. (It is best to take the GRE no later than the December testing date.)

Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required for all foreign applicants whose native language is other than English and who have not received their education at an English-speaking university. Foreign applicants also must take the GRE.

For either exam, a photocopy of your student report of test scores is acceptable until the official copy arrives from ETS. No student will be admitted, however, unless Vanderbilt is in receipt of official scores.

Interests and Goals Statement
A letter or statement of academic interests and professional goals is required. This is crucial in providing information about your personal background, intellectual interests, career goals, ability to take advantage of unique opportunities offered by the program, academic and research experiences, and relevant work or practical experience. Be as specific as you can regarding your interests and goals. Although the application materials include a form for the "letter of intent," you may send up to three additional pages if necessary. Please do not send lengthy examples of your work, but abstracts or short descriptions are sometimes helpful. The department considers each student's ability to contribute to the ethnic and cultural diversity of the program. Members of minority groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Reference Letters
You should submit at least three letters of recommendation from professors, research supervisors, or others who can assess your potential for advanced graduate work. Please ask your recommenders to be as specific as possible about issues directly relevant to advanced graduate study. Although there are forms for the letters of recommendation, references are invited to provide additional pages if necessary. Letters should be sent directly to Peabody College. Each letter must have an original signature to be considered valid, unless it is sent by a college placement service.

For further information on application procedures, write, call, or email:
Graduate Secretary
Department of Human and Organizational Development
Vanderbilt University
Box 90, Peabody College
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 322-8484, FAX (615) 322-1141
sherrie.a.lane@vanderbilt.edu