Apply to the Leadership Licensure Program/Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (LLP/GCSL)

It's time to start your application!

You've done your research and you are ready to apply. This is an exciting next step and we want to make it as smooth as possible for you. We're here to answer all of your questions. Please email Admissions at info@williamjames.edu with your questions. You can submit most documents, including your essay, letter of recommendation, and your CV, through our online application portal. Transcripts should be sent to the Admissions Office and need to arrive on or before the deadline.

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Application Deadline for Summer I, 2025 (May Start)

General Deadline: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Interviews: By appointment

Admission Policies

Application Guidelines Admission Policies
Transfer of Credit Policy

Letters of Recommendation

Letter(s) of recommendation are required from people who are able to attest to your professional, academic, intellectual, motivational, interpersonal, and emotional qualities. References should not be provided by family members, friends, or others who don't know you in either a professional or academic context.

Both the recommendation form and letter must be submitted electronically through your online application account.

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How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

William James College uses letters of recommendation to get an outside perspective on your academic and/or professional experience. Letters of recommendation are an extension of your resume or application, providing insight into you as a student, employee, and person. It's a way for us to get to know you and understand how you may excel in one of our programs! Therefore, it is important to think about who would best be able to speak to your professional and academic readiness for this graduate-level program.

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Curriculum Vitae or Résumé

Please attach a current Résumé which includes all of the following information: 

  • Educational history / background;
  • Current role; length and description of work experience;
  • Relevant training experiences; workshops and seminars attended.
  • Any other relevant professional activities (e.g., presentations, specialty projects, task force participation, etc.)
  • You may also include any extracurricular activities or volunteer experience that you deem relevant.
  • Please also include the name, email and phone number of two (2) professional references.

Application Essay

When composing your 500-word essay, please use a traditional font, one-inch margins and double line spacing on a letter size document. 

Please share the core reasons you want to be a school leader/administrator by answering the prompts below: 

  • Explain the circumstances in your personal or professional life which makes school leadership and the education of children your life’s work or passion? In addition, how do you generally navigate challenges and overcome obstacles? 
  • Research demonstrates that student learning is accelerated when administrative leaders ensure all students have access to high quality, culturally responsive, and standards aligned curricula and all educators are provided with professional learning and support to implement those curricula.  As you think ahead to your role as an administrator, what steps do you envision taking to ensure this is being implemented in your school? 

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5 Tips for Writing Your Graduate School Admission Essay

While your graduate school application provides the admissions team with information about your grades and experience, many programs at William James College also require an essay. The requirements may differ by program, but the goal is the same: to get to know you and your aspirations beyond the information on your resume and/or transcript.

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Official Transcript(s)

Please request an official academic transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you have attended. Paper transcripts or e-transcripts should be sent directly to William James College from the issuing registrar's office. We recommend that you request these documents as soon as you decide to apply for admission and to allow at least ten business days for the issuing registrar to process your request. If you have completed a semester abroad and these corresponding courses do not appear on your home institution's transcript with a letter grade, then you must provide a separate transcript for this period of study.

Paper transcripts must be addressed to:

William James College
Office of Admissions
1 Wells Avenue
Newton, MA 02459

E-transcripts must be sent to admissions@williamjames.edu, and must arrive at William James College on or before the set deadline. Postmark on the deadline date is not acceptable. Be aware that you will not be able to enroll and register for classes if we have not received your official final transcripts with degree conferral.

Current and former William James College students please see WJC transcript instructions on the Academic History section of the online application.

All applicants who have attended a non-US institution of higher learning must provide an official translation and equivalency to US Higher Education of their academic record. William James College recommends that applicants contact World Education Services to request this service. For more information, please visit www.wes.org.


Test Scores

General GRE is not required.

For applicants whose primary language is not English, a TOEFL combined score (no more than two years old) of at least 637 (paper-based test), 270 (computer-based test) or 110 (internet-based test) is preferred.

  • William James College's TOEFL school code/reporting number is 3501.
  • For information regarding the TOEFL, call 609-771-7100, or visit www.toefl.org

International Applicants

All applicants to any graduate program at William James College must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited US institution, or its equivalent, by the start date of enrollment. All applicants must submit official translations of all non-US transcripts (please refer to the online application and the transcripts section for additional instructions). Completion of an online application, submission of all required supporting documents, and an interview are required. For applicants whose primary language is not English, a TOEFL combined score (no more than two years old) of at least 637 (paper-based test), 270 (computer-based test) or 110 (internet-based test) is preferred.

Please be aware that online and blended programs like this do NOT support Student visas.