<p>Hello! I haven't seen any posts from graduate hopefuls who want to pursue Higher Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs. For my career, I want to become a director of Greek Life, first year programs, or be involved with admissions or residence life. I don't have a specific interest, but rather, would like to keep those options open.</p>
<p>Now, I have a few questions.</p>
<p>1) When applying to programs, will they want me to have a clear focus on which area I'd like to pursue? Or can I mention that I'm open and passionate about all aspects of Student Affairs?</p>
<p>2) What if I don't have much experience in Student Affairs? The programs I'm looking at say they admit applicants from varied BA programs. Well, when I was in undergrad, I was involved in the college newspaper, first-year experience for freshman, the English fraternity, university activities council, Residence Life Association, and a few volunteer programs involving students. I also held a job with Residence Life. Will this be enough to show them I'm serious about this career?</p>
<p>3) I've been out of school for a year, and during that time I haven't done anything Student Affairs or university related. I've done some tutoring and editing, but I've been working in a retail jobs. Will I get looked down upon if I haven't done anything SA-related this past year?</p>
<p>4) I have an "average" GPA, a 3.3. </p>
<p>I'm looking forward to replies and am hoping to connect with some other Higher Ed/Student Affairs applicants. Also, I am posting this in the 'Education' forum to hopefully receive some more answers. Thanks!</p>
<p>1) You’ll want to narrow your focus down to a narrower broad area, if that makes sense. You don’t have to know exactly what job you want to do, but knowing that you want to work in student affairs directly with student advising will probably work. In other words, your focus is plenty fine.</p>
<p>2) That depends on the program. I have a lot of higher ed friends (because I’m working a student affairs paraprofessional job right now) and most of them had higher ed experience (I go to Columbia). Not years and years of it, but maybe like 2-3 years of experience before coming here. Some programs may be more amenable to you just coming from undergrad, especially given your involvement in lots of res life things. I have a former supervisor who went straight into a higher ed master’s at NYU from undergrad; he was an RA for 3 years and realized that was what he wanted to do.</p>
<p>3) Maybe. Although my supervisor’s supervisor ran a restaurant before she came to student affairs, and her boss has an MSW. I’ve noticed that a lot of people in student affairs come from all different kinds of backgrounds. Can you try to find a student affairs job nearby you? Still apply, though!</p>
<p>4) That’s great. Don’t worry about that.</p>
<p>I’m not an SA applicant, but I’m a residential hall director as I study in a different kind of graduate program.</p>
<p>Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Hoping others chime in :-)</p>
<p>I’m not looking to get into an Ivy… I’m applying to high-to-mid-level schools, including where I went for undergrad which was an excellent school even though it’s considered “smaller.” I know a few people who are in the program who had maybe one year experience with student affairs, and nothing else. I just hope that my jumping around with activities is seen as a positive instead of negative!</p>
<p>Also, I got those “bad” grades during freshman year, but I was on Dean’s List for the last 5 semesters. I was lazy freshman year :(</p>