Graduate and Student Feedback
Every two years, UNC Charlotte’s Department of Counseling conducts a survey of program alumni. Direct feedback from graduates who participated in the 2015 alumni survey is listed below.
General feedback about the School Counseling Program from alumni:
“I felt fully prepared to be a School Counselor when I graduated from UNCC back in 1996. I have mentored several interns from UNCC in my schools in Cabarrus County and they have all been well prepared. I am proud to be a UNCC alumni.”
“I love that play therapy is a requirement for all doing clinical work in elementary settings – this was so beneficial. I overall felt prepared as I could be when I began work as a school counselor.”
“Multiculturalism as a focus area is one of the strongest parts of the UNCC program. It was well rounded and my professors were knowledgeable and experienced in their field.”
Feedback on the strengths of the program from alumni:
“Great training in individual counseling skills, great consultation with staff and fellow students, and strong play therapy classes offered.”
“Course curriculum and faculty were essential to my success.”
“Professors and their willingness to help. Many are wonderful supervisors and extremely accessible to us as students.”
Feedback about the School Counseling Program from current school counseling students:
“I’ve had a great experience in the program. From the very first day of class I felt welcomed and felt like I was a part of something special. The professors here are not only experts in their field but are also very inspiring and challenge all of their students to reach their full potential.”
“The two things I’ve enjoyed the most about this program are the friends I’ve made and the relationships I’ve built with my professors. Going into graduate school is intimidating and sometimes overwhelming and what helped put me at ease were the friends I’ve made. A great thing about this program is you have a lot of classes with students in your cohort and so you get to know each other and build friendships that will last long past graduation. These are the kinds of people who you can lean on in times of need and who you can celebrate your successes with. The other aspect of the program I enjoy is the professors. I can honestly say that I haven’t had a professor in this program that I didn’t like. All of them care so deeply about their students and want to see them succeed. They understand the challenges of graduate school and are there to help students whenever they need it. Being in this program is like being a part of a big counseling family and I feel privileged to be a member of it.”
“There are so many strengths of this program. I think the biggest strength is that students in this program will be very prepared, whether they’re going into practicum, internship, or a job. Professors make sure that students have the information and the skills they need to be effective and professional counselors. Classes like techniques and group counseling may be rigorous but they provide the kind of practice and experience that will be useful when students go into a real life setting. Going into my practicum site I wasn’t nervous about using my skills because of all the practice I’d had in previous classes. Another strength is the professors because without good professors there wouldn’t be good counselors. The professors are experts and have years upon years of knowledge and expertise that they share with all of their students so that they can become great counselors. Lastly, another strength is the students in the program. This program doesn’t let in just anybody. The students in the program are professional, eager to learn, and are passionate about counseling. This program has a great reputation in the community and the students uphold that in the work we do inside and outside the classroom.”