How to Get Scholarships for Counseling Degrees

Not everyone who wants to get a counseling degree is able to achieve this goal. Some don’t get into the program of their choice, and others are unable to make the commitment required to complete a counseling program. Still others simply don’t have the money for tuition. Fortunately, in the case of the last scenario, there is some help to be found. There are several reputable organizations in existence that offer counseling scholarships for those who want to get a counseling degree, but can’t afford it. For those who need financial assistance in order to get their degrees, these scholarships are a godsend.

Some counseling scholarships are specific to a field of counseling. For example, the U.S. Department of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) offers grants to colleges that give scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in rehabilitation counseling. In exchange, the students are expected to work for two years in the public rehabilitation program, with full pay, for each year that they received financial support from RSA. RSA has found a way to encourage counselors to give back to their communities after having equipped and trained them to help people. This is not only helpful to the community, but also raises awareness of quality public rehabilitation programs.

Many counseling scholarships are offered through foundations or organizations championing a specific cause. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) offers several scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students. They offer these scholarships to students who are conducting noteworthy research, pursuing marriage and family therapy specifically, or are minorities pursuing this specific field.  The last is important because certain minorities are less aware that such counseling is available, and certainly less likely to take advantage of it. AAMFT is committed to championing marriage and family therapy, and they believe that supporting students who are pursuing this career is a strategic move.

But finding a reputable organization offering counseling scholarships is only part of the battle. Even after you find the right scholarship for you, you have to convince the scholarship board that you deserve it. Most scholarship programs require the applicant to submit a personal statement of some sort. This is a very important document, as it is often the applicant’s only opportunity to show the scholarship board that he or she is extraordinary and will do extraordinary work if the scholarship is awarded to him or her. The personal statement should be honest, but not boastful; respectful, but not sycophantic.

There are many counseling scholarships available to those who wish to pursue a career in counseling. There are even a few scholarships that are not specific to counseling, but that a student majoring in counseling is still eligible for. It’s important for an underprivileged student to remember that he or she may still be able to afford a quality counseling education.