studentaffairsgrad

Hi Xfigo - if you do decide to continue in your program, or drop-out and come back at some point, I would strongly suggest registering with your university's Office of Disability Services (or whatever the office is called on your campus). Unfortunately the name can stigmatize students from using their services but on my campus, if you have a diagnosed mental illness, you can register with their office. You get your own disability adviser, and they can provide you with additional assistance and make sure that your rights are being protected under the ADA and Section 504. The office is not legally allowed to disclose that you are registered with them to anyone. They aren't even allowed to tell the military if they were to inquire about ROTC students. The only time anyone would know you were registered is if you wanted to self-disclose, or asked the office to intervene with a professor or something to that effect on your behalf.
 
I would really suggest to anyone reading this who may have ADD, ADHD, depression, learning disabilities, bi-polar, etc. that effects their daily functioning sometimes to register. So often folks only think that Disability Services deal with physical disabilities, but they do a lot more than that

Hi Xfigo - if you do decide to continue in your program, or drop-out and come back at some point, I would strongly suggest registering with your university's Office of Disability Services (or whatever the office is called on your campus). Unfortunately the name can stigmatize students from using their services but on my campus, if you have a diagnosed mental illness, you can register with their office. You get your own disability adviser, and they can provide you with additional assistance and make sure that your rights are being protected under the ADA and Section 504. The office is not legally allowed to disclose that you are registered with them to anyone. They aren't even allowed to tell the military if they were to inquire about ROTC students. The only time anyone would know you were registered is if you wanted to self-disclose, or asked the office to intervene with a professor or something to that effect on your behalf.
 
I would really suggest to anyone reading this who may have ADD, ADHD, depression, learning disabilities, bi-polar, etc. that effects their daily functioning sometimes to register. So often folks only think that Disability Services deal with physical disabilities, but they do a lot more than that

Hi Xfigo - if you do decide to continue in your program, or drop-out and come back at some point, I would strongly suggest registering with your university's Office of Disability Services (or whatever the office is called on your campus). Unfortunately the name can stigmatize students from using their services but on my campus, if you have a diagnosed mental illness, you can register with their office. You get your own disability adviser, and they can provide you with additional assistance and make sure that your rights are being protected under the ADA and Section 504. The office is not legally allowed to disclose that you are registered with them to anyone. They aren't even allowed to tell the military if they were to inquire about ROTC students. The only time anyone would know you were registered is if you wanted to self-disclose, or asked the office to intervene with a professor or something to that effect on your behalf.
 
I would really suggest to anyone reading this who may have ADD, ADHD, depression, learning disabilities, bi-polar, etc. that effects their daily functioning sometimes to register. So often folks only think that Disability Services deal with physical disabilities, but they do a lot more than that

Best of luck to all Fall 2014 applicants! We Fall 2013ers are getting ducks lined up in a row for grad school as we type and send good vibes your way.
 
By the way, to future GradCafers who will read this thread and past threads: the HGSE newsletter that comes a day (or a few days) before your decisions are anticipated has nothing to do with your admission decision. I didn't get that newsletter and was utterly convinced that I'd been rejected, but I got in! Just to save you a little bit of worrying, haha. It's the little things that get you when you're waiting to find out where you get in!

Hey Friends!
 
Does anyone have suggestions for good summer reads? Any type - fiction, non-fiction, auto-biography, etc. I just graduated from my program, and my new job doesn't start until July 1, so I've got some time to kill.
 
I'll throw out one book suggestion - World War Z. I wasn't too excited about the whole zombie craze, but it was an amazing book!

I'm currently reading "Death at SeaWorld," partly for fun and partly for academic reasons. I'm also planning to re-read "Good Omens" this summer. As far as recommendations, I can make many. Any Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, "Water for Elephants", "A Visit from the Goon Squad," and "Molokai" are the first things that come to mind. Oh, Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man".

Pedagogy of the Oppressed is fantastic.

I'm reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being right now. Next is History of the Guyanese Working People then another fiction book. Probably Equality by Edward Bellamy.

Hi studentaffairsgrad! Welcome to Bloomington! For a small city, there really is a ton of stuff going on here and in the surrounding area. What sort of things are you into?
 
Here are a few of my favorite things:
 
1.) WonderLab -- This is an awesome science and technology museum that packs a lot of neat hands-on exhibits into a relatively small space. I put off going for a long time because I don't have kids, but when I finally went, I realized it was super fun for all ages.
 
2.) Bloomington Parks & Recreation -- Parks & Rec sponsors all kinds of fun events and programs, from the Farmer's Market (every Saturday morning from spring to fall -- basically the social event of the week) to painting classes and sports leagues and nature hikes. The quarterly program guide lists all of the things they have going on and also provides descriptions of the numerous parks, playgrounds, and pools spread throughout the city.
 
3.) Monroe County Public Library -- I know, I know, every city has a public library. But this one is one of the best in the country. The size of the collection isn't overwhelming, yet somehow they almost always have the exact book/DVD/music I want to read/watch/listen to. (I honestly don't know how they do it.) Plus they have all kinds of events and activities, including a summer reading program for adults.
 
4.) Tons of places to hike -- If you like hiking, there are almost too many options. A few of my favorites are Lake Griffy, Charles Deam Wilderness, Yellowwood, Lake Lemon, and Morgan-Monroe State Forest. The landscape around Bloomington is full of gentle hills, hardwood forests, and small wild critters. Some of these areas are also great for birding, kayaking, and whatever other outdoorsy things you might want to do.
 
5.) So many delicious restaurants -- Bloomington is a great place to eat. I try new places all the time and still haven't eaten at all the good restaurants. There's a row of international restaurants on Fourth Street (Thai, Indian, Turkish, Tibetan, Burmese, Italian, etc.) within walking distance of campus that usually have good lunch buffets/specials. Hands down, my favorite is the lunch buffet at Taste of India for its superior quality and excellent value. Then there's Nick's, which is a Bloomington tradition known for its delicious pub grub and iconic drinking game Sink the Biz. We have not one but two soup restaurants (Soup's On -- my favorite -- and Darn Good Soup). There's also the annual Taste of Bloomington event in June that showcases different area restaurants to help you find new places you might like.
 
6.) Cute shops -- Bloomington is known for its locally owned businesses, and there are a lot of neat specialty stores on the square and in the downtown area. A few favorites that come to mind are The Game Preserve (board games, card games, puzzles, and more), JL Waters (camping, fishing, and hiking gear), Indiana Running Company (running shoes and accessories plus expert staff), and Boxcar Books (new and used books).
 
7.) Music -- The Bluebird brings in great live music. There are also tons of world-class performances through the Jacobs School of Music. In the spring, the Union Board puts on a concert for Little Five (the famous IU bike race), and this year it was Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, which was pretty cool. There are also musical acts that the IU Auditorium brings in as part of their regular season, as well as musicals, comedians, and other notable figures (this year: David Sedaris!).
 
 
These are the fun things to see and do in Bloomington that spring to my mind. Are there other things you're interested in knowing more about?

Well, I applied to 8 schools and was accepted into 6/8. These included Purdue (ranked #12) and Northwestern (ranked #8). I was waitlisted at the other two. I was offered funding at 3/6 places.This is for an Au.D program.  I ended up choosing an institution ranked #29 with no funding but in-state tuition. 
 
I happen to know a fellow person (went to same undergrad) that also accepted the spot at the same university and I know that person received funding (TA w/stipend) and I did not. 
 
 
I guess I am bothered because they give out 2 assistanships with acceptance (according to a grad student) and I had a higher GPA and more research and clinic experience than the one person I know of who received it. I am not sure on test scores, but I am sure of the other two factors. I also know that person is out of state and I am not (why I really think they got it over me). There are only 6 spots and based off the results search on this website, I had higher scores and GPAs than 2 people that listed their stats on here as well. 
 
I also called the director and he said they had already given out some 25% assistantships (stipend with GA) but still had some 15% (stipend only) to give out. Now, judging that if 2 people received the 25% and 2 are for sure below me.. wouldn't I have received the stipend for sure?? I feel like they didn't actually give those out. When I asked if he had made any other offers since our phone call (while I was deciding on schools) he said Some funding offers have been made and they are now exploring other options...? What gives. I think I am a great applicant and based on what I know, I just don't understand why I received nothing and don't want to pester and ask again. 

Stress till you can't stress no more, 
& if you cry, stress & stress some more...
 
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
ooh yeah
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
one more time
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
sing it
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
hey
 
(sorry couldn't help myself)   

See: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air
 
Comparing prices across different manufacturers is always very disingenuous, as it happens. I could make a little pile of some of the top automobile components and request that you pay $100,000 for it, because that's what the components cost. BMW could put together an equivalent pile (and even use less "advanced" or high-end components) and request $100,000. They'd be perfectly justified in doing so, because when one buys a BMW, one does not purchase a list of components. It runs the gamut from the raw components, to the guarantee that the very idea of BMW offers, to the overall experience...and so on so forth. This, however, is very different from "buying Prada 'cos Prada." Hopefully that explains why the raw price/component comparison is always misleading. 
 
Also, yes of course Apple products are priced at a premium--they are premium products. Pointing out that that is a "barrier to entry" is simply stating the obvious. Apple's never targeted the masses as its demographic; that's Samsung/Microsoft territory. 
 
 
 
 
Different people, different strokes. Some may wish to invest in a premium product that can last a decade or more (most Apple computers do this in any case, unlike Windows iterations which typically require significantly upgraded hardware for each new edition). I don't really see the point of criticising my choice because it isn't your choice. I offered what I feel is a strong contender for OP's requirements.
 
 
 
 
The iPhone follows a fairly regular product refresh interval. Upgrades are absolutely the user's choice. You're not prevented from using the latest version of iOS until, what, 2-3 product refreshes? Conversely, you don't have to use the latest iOS at all! I know people perfectly happy using their original iPhones. The choice to upgrade is purely on you--you're not at all compelled to follow Apple's rhythm. 
 
 
 
 
I agree that this is not very ethical. Surprisingly (it may appear) I'm a huge critic of Apple's corporate workings--including their Foxconn operations--even as I continue to support their devices and products. It's simple. Apple's products are brilliant, and the best options (for me). It's unfortunate that the company itself is not at all an example of good leadership. I used to be a massive critic of Jobs as well--certainly Gates has done far more for society than Jobs ever did. Still...pointing this out is a bit like hating the music of Michael Jackson because he may or may not have had questionable sexual ethics.
 
I don't really wish to continue this further because it's often an issue that ends in the same repetitive cycle. What I wished to point out was that the numerous responses I received all tend to be straw-man arguments. 1) Component/price comparison = misleading. 2) Blaming Apple for product refresh cycles = misleading. 3) Pointing out that Apple makes premium products = stating the obvious. 4) Criticising Apple's corporate practices = has nothing to do with their products. 
 
Long story short, we all use what we find works best for us. My original post was a simple recommendation to the OP based on what I've found to work for me, and, therefore, do strongly recommend to others. It's interesting to observe how much vitriol that seems to have drawn. 

Wasn't talking to you.

In the threads where someone says "I'm moving to grad school and need a car, what should I get", people also don't usually suggest a BMW 3-series as a legitimate option because you can't afford an M.

Does Apple now make anything OTHER than the Pro?  I don't think so.  So yes, it is legitimate to "whine. . ." about the price point of Apples full featured laptop.  The Air is certainly priced better (at least the model with the tiny screen), but it still tips the scales at 1000 bucks.  All in my T430s was about 200 bucks less (and still managing to feel lighter than an older ultrabook I had) and certainly much cheaper than the comparable (in terms of specs) Macbook Pro.     So yea.  Apple products are a barrier to entry.  This is not a new thing, and I can imagine complaints about it get tiresome - but pretending it's not a legitimate complaint is a bit silly.

on the macbook air, speaking as a pushy apple fangirl who skips over the (horrifying) price restraints thanks to a parent's job discounts: 

 
my macbook pro was worth the extra cost (which was only affordable in the first place because of the generous discount i received secondhand). if it weren't for said discount, i would've kicked my mac habit long ago. switching from my pain-in-the-rump iphone soon, too. i'm really starting to get fed up with the ridiculous, unnecessary, money-grubbing changes from apple that seem to happen on an annual or semi-annual basis, but aren't met with an actual increase in quality. 

The only thing worse than a pushy Apple Fanboy is a rich Apple Fanboy who can’t comprehend price restraints.

The Botany of Desire and The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michale Pollan are the top two on my list (I'm joining a community garden this summer and hoping to grow some vegetables and herbs).
 
Other books on my list include, in no particular order:
 
Drinking Water: A History by James Salzman
In a Queer Voice by Michael Sadowski
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
The One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn
Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch
Critical Discourse Analysis by Norman Fairclough
An Introduction to Discourse Analysis by James Paul Gee

top of my list is a tie between the book for the class i'm TAing ( ) and a river runs through it, since i'm moving to missoula, and i'm a total sucker for all things modern american lit.

maybe you can schedule a period, a week or two, over the summer to visit. He will surely cover your expenses. Just be firm in your availability. Did you bother to speak with his current or former graduate students before accepting?

In one year, it is going to be really tough to try to prepare simultaneously for a policy job and a student affairs job.  For a policy job, you are going to want to have a solid quantitative background and policy analysis experience which might be a little tricky to gain if the programs does not allow you to take many electives. 
 
Have you visited each program yet?  Visiting and talking to current students/faculty really helped me when I was deciding between a couple programs for my master's.  You can also ask them in what areas graduates typically end up.  What are your internship offers from each school?  If you have limited experience in the field, it is going to be more helpful to have an internship offer in an area you hope to go into after you graduate.  That is not to say that you can't switch areas if you discover you are better suited elsewhere, but generally hiring managers like to see that you have experience in X if you are applying for X.  Have you looked at the core classes?  I looked up the core classes for UCLA and Penn and they are fairly different.  Which set are you drawn to more?  
 
I also think that the cost of the degree should play a role too.  How much you value it is up to you but the salary for entry level student affairs jobs is about 35 - 45 K.  Depending on whether you have student loan debt from your undergrad, I would not suggest taking on more than 45 K combined in student loans.
 
Oh and wouldn't let the brand of the Ivy League sway you.  Instead, you want to focus on whether they have the courses you want to take, whether the practical experience you gain in the program is going to be helpful for future employment, and whether the costs of the program is reasonable given your financial situation.
 
Good luck!

Congratulations!  I think you face two threshold questions:
 
1) Location - In your heart of hearts, do you want to be in New England or Southern California?  It would be hard to imagine two more different regions (or two more different cities than Boston and LA).  Go with your gut on this.  It looks like you're already living in Boston; do you want to stay, or are you wanting a change?
 
2) Program - Ed Counseling is very different from HE (even HE with a strong SA emphasis like UCLA or BC).  If your passion is to work at the post-secondary level, and you want to have the option to work in a variety of different functions, EC may not be the right credential.  On the other hand, if your true passion is counseling, and you want to be able to do it in a variety of different contexts, an HE degree probably isn't the right choice.  (Out of curiousity, why did you choose Rossier's EC instead of its PA/SA option?)
 
If you're able to answer these two questions honestly I think it will make your choice very straightforward.
 
Finally, you didn't mention aid so I'm assuming the cost of all three would be relatively similar.  If that's wrong (ie, if one of the options is significantly cheaper) then I would bump the cheaper option to the top of the list.
 
Good luck!

Keep in mind when reading this, I am in a higher education program, which means that my SOP focused on different things than say someone in the hard sciences...maybe some others in the social science area or education will find this helpful.

Luckily I had a very competent practitioner in the field who had gone through the same program look over my SOP, b/c after she did, I realized what a mess it was. Getting an assistantship in residential housing was very important to me, and I feel into the pitfall of trying to talk about everything I did working as a resident adviser, and how much I wanted to work in housing, blah blah blah. The person looking at it said. " That's nice you want to get an assistantship and have done all of these things in housing, but you need to get into the program before you can get the assistantship." She reminded me to think about who my audience was (professors) and write about what kind of student I would be in the program. THE LIGHT BULB WENT OFF!

I finally realized that it was important to include things in my SOP that can't be listed on a resume (like my RA accomplishments). Things that will help the reader get to know you as a person. Things like - what drives me, how have my perspectives of student affairs changed through my experience, what kind of supervisor do i strive to be (supervision is important in student affairs), what are my values, etc.

If you think about fields like higher education and other similar ones, these types of careers depend on your abilities to communicate effectively, make split decision judgement calls when the rules aren't always black and white, supervise others and help them to elevate themselves, etc. So for this reason, I think it is more important in these areas to communicate who your are as a person, and your personal philosophy. Certain skills can be taught, but a number of characteristics of a successful practitioner in this field are inherent, and can't be taught. You need to convey to the reader of your SOP that you have these important foundational characteristics on which the program will build.

Also, while it is important to provide some specifics as to what you want to pursue (in my case, housing) mention you are open to other opportunities, as you don't want to close yourself off from other interesting opportunities and experiences. Hope this helps!

1.) Where do you see yourself in x amount of years?
- Even if they give you a specific number of years, make sure you describe where you see yourself both in the short-term span (this will show you are realistic) and in the long term span (this will show you have high-reaching goals.) You don't want to roll in there looking unrealistic, or like a slacker.

2.) Why do you pick this program?
- Pretty straight forward, just be honest. Pick specific things about the program that sets it apart from other programs. For example, "This program really stuck out to me b/c while it has great academics, it also has a lot more opportunities for practical experience than other programs out there."

3.) Why do you think you would be a good fit for the program?
- This is a chance to brag on yourself a bit. Also, let them know what makes you unique compared to the other hundreds of students applying. Tailor your talents to the specifics of the program.

My last piece of advise...don't be arrogant about it, but try to think along the lines of you are interviewing the school as well. You want to let the interviewer know that you want to make sure the school is the right fit for you. Do this by asking discriminating questions...what sets this school apart from other programs? How has this program evolved over the last 20 years in its field? What is this program doing to stay competitive? Some people might disagree, but I went into my interviews with the attitude of, look, I know my qualifications, and any school would be lucky to have me. I want to make sure they are worthy of my talents. I know it sounds arrogant, but it made me feel less nervous to look at it as if I was the one interviewing them. Be confident, but not arrogant. It is a thin line. My interviewers even mentioned that they found my confidence appealing. If you have faith in yourself, they will put their faith in you.

The worst thing you can do is go into an interview being unsure of yourself. My program did an interview weekend, where you were with other candidates the whole time. Some people can get intimidated, and get down on themselves when they hear other applications bragging about their amazing qualifications. Know that 1.) They are all embellishing and 2.) If they really were that amazing, they wouldn't feel the necessity to brag about it. They are only bragging b/c they know they are lacking. Just nod and smile.

Just know that you deserve the best education, because you are a talented, intelligent person, and you will rock the interview

Drama is unavoidable. Embrace it and dive in!

Academia is all about the drama. And the politics. Learn to play early.

Without the drama, we would have to focus entirely on our research! Then we'd become social recluses.

I agree with Eigen. You won't be able to escape it! Try to make neutral comments but know that they will always be twisted into a way that the receiver wants. Stop watching reality tv (if you are at all) because that will inundate you with drama. Get a good friend base outside of the cohort so you can look at it from a distance. Above all, learn to laugh and treat it all lightly.

I haaaaaaaaaaaaaate drama, and I hate the person I become when I am surrounded by it. But sometimes it is unavoidable. Keep calm, carry on.