Once your application is received by the staff at SFASU's Project VISION, an application folder will be completed with your name on it. During the two weeks following the deadline, your application will be disseminated to our Admissions Committee. The materials in your folder will be reviewed by several faculty members, not all of whom will always be from the VI Department.

We will ONLY consider those applications which are COMPLETE. This means they MUST have:

(1) a copy of your Graduate School application;

(2) a completed Project VISION application;

(3) a recommendation from the person who is currently your immediate supervisor;

(4) a copy of your application essay

(5) official transcripts showing degree

We will ask members of the Admissions Committee to evaluate the following factors on a scale of from 1 to 5 (low to high) on the following factors:

• Amount and quality of experience working with children. The maximum number of points will be given for extensive work experience with children in public school settings. Minimal numbers of points may be added for work with children in volunteer (eg. church, Girl Scouts, etc.) settings.
• Amount and quality of experience in working with children who have special needs. Again, the maximum number of points will be given for extensive work experience with students who have special needs in public school settings.
• Stability of work history. Committee members will be asked to give a high score to applicants who have a relatively stable work history (i.e. they have stayed in positions for more than one year and can show a consistent work history without significant gaps).

In addition, Committee members will be asked to evaluate the recommendation provided by your immediate supervisor. Recommendations will be rated on a scale of 1 to 10. The more enthusiastic, positive, and complimentary the recommendation is, the more points you can expect to receive. Other factors which may be involved in assessing this criteria are (1) how long you have worked for this person, and (2) the position that the person holds (eg. a Special Education Director as opposed to a Diagnostician.

Application essays are worth a maximum of 15 points, and will be rated on the following factors:

• Degree to which the applicant demonstrates an understanding of realistic expectations for students with visual impairments.
• Motivation/reason for pursuing the program.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Spelling and grammar.

It is possible to obtain a total of 40 points in the evaluation of your application materials. If you can provide us with a letter which states that you have a guarenteed job as a VI Teacher for the Fall, you will be given an additional 10 points.

Because of our funding constraints, there are a limited number of slots available for students in our program. SLOTS ARE ALLOCATED ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS, and not everyone who applies will be accepted into the program. A letter from the Graduate School at SFASU stating that the applicant has been accepted into the Graduate School does NOT constitute acceptance into Project VISION. Applicants who are accepted will be notified in a letter from Frankie Swift.