Admissions Process
1. Get to Know Us

Attend a webinar and/or connect with a recruiter to know if we are a right fit. There are many opportunities for you to get to know Alder Graduate School of Education. We hold various events so you can check out our local school sites and learn more about our academic program/residency model from current residents, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Find out all about the residency year by reading ‘A Day in the Life of a Resident’, ‘A Year in the Life of a Resident’ and FAQs on our Program Page.

Learn more about what we look for in candidates by reviewing the Alder Key Competencies.

Email us at admissions@aldergse.edu to request more information or connect with a recruiter.

2. Confirm Your Eligibility

All interested applicants for the class of 2024-25 should meet the following requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution completed by the end of June 2024.
  • Eligible to work in the U.S.
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units is preferred. We believe GPA is one of multiple indicators of program readiness. If your GPA is under 2.65, you’ll have the opportunity to appeal and provide more context. Candidates with below a 2.0 GPA are not eligible for the program. See the Alder GPA Guide for more information.
3. Select Your Partner TK-12 Campus

Our residency programs are uniquely different and are located throughout California for the class of 2023-24. Take a moment to learn about each one of our partner residency programs by visiting our school partners page.

4. Identify Your Subject Area Preferences

Alder GSE supports teacher residents in obtaining their Teaching Credential in subject areas that vary by TK-12 partner. Some options include: Elementary/Multiple Subject (grades TK-8); English (grades 6–12); Math (grades 6–12); Science (grades 6–12); Social Studies (grades 6–12); Special Education – Mild/Moderate (grades TK-12); World Languages (eg: Spanish).

5. Complete Your Residency Application

Begin your application at aldergse.edu/apply. You will need to submit a resume and a short 250-500 word personal statement when completing your application in addition to your residency and teaching preferences.

If you are interested in learning more about all our programs, please email admissions@aldergse.edu.

6. Attend an Interview & Submit References

All top candidates will be invited to a follow up screening by phone and an interview. Interviews will take place in the weeks following the seasonal deadlines. Most interviews are held virtually on the Zoom platform.

Applicants are also asked to submit 3 professional and/or academic references at this time. These references will be asked to complete a 5-10 minute reference request.

7. Receive Residency Placement

Conditional offers will be extended to candidates pending mentor match and acceptance to Alder GSE. Once a candidate accepts the offer, they will be matched with a mentor teacher and encouraged to connect with current residents. At this stage candidates applying will confirm their acceptance and complete the Alder GSE portion of the application. 

8. Apply to Alder GSE

Complete your application to Alder GSE. This includes submitting your official transcripts from all institutions you have attended.

9. Pass State Exams

Continue to register and/or submit score reports to Alder GSE. Please see below for important testing resources:

10. Complete Enrollment Documents

Once accepted, candidates should:

  1. Sign and submit the Alder GSE Commitment
  2. Within four weeks of acceptance, please complete the Alder Enrollment Requirements outlined in this checklist, including background check through CTC and negative TB test. You can see the full timeline on our Enrollment Page.
  3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – see our Financial Aid page for more information
  4. Apply for Alder GSE and partner financial support (optional)