Student affairs graduate programs

[namaste23]

I am applying to graduate programs for student affairs very soon and I want to use this time (6-8 months) to increase the likelihood of being accepted into these programs. I am applying to 

1) UMD - Student Affiairs Concentration

2) Rutgers University

3) Michigan State 

 

and I am open to suggestions for others!

 

I am 2 year program (no longer, no shorter), emphasis on diversity and multiculturalism, FREE (tuition covered through an assistantship), great practical experience, faculty with similar research interest (retention of students of color, mentoring, etc) 

 

My top choice is UMD. I have extensively researched this program and I see they typically admit a small cohort. My question is 1) What are some additional programs that I can look into (given my criteria)? 2) What should I do to make myself more marketable to these competitive programs i.e UMD