Few questions about going for masters in Higher Education Student Affairs

[Guest]

Hi I'm new here! I am currently a junior interested in pursuing a career in higher education student affairs. I have been lurking on this board for a while now because I started researching graduate schools for Fall 2016. I know I still have a little less than a year and a half to prepare, but it never hurts to start looking early!

 

Schools I am looking at:

NYU

UConn

UMass at Amherst

Canisus

University of Rochester

Columbia

Syracuse

 

Many of them require at least a 3.0 GPA, others don't list their minimum GPA (although I'm sure they probably have a minimum somewhere). I'm just worried about my low GPA when I apply to grad school next fall. My current GPA is a 3.1

 

I have a lot more experience outside of academics towards student affairs, such as orientation, residence life, and other campus organizations. I do not believe that my GPA is reflective of my abilities mainly because of my involvement on campus. I am also a first generation minority student, so learning to navigate campus and its resources while trying to pay my undergraduate bill certaintly took time away from classes. So my question is how heavily weighted is the GPA in the application? I still have a semester/or two left to bring it up but I'm just wondering.

 

My second question is that the schools I am currently looking at do not require the GRE. I am interested in other schools that do require the GRE, but I am not sure if I should take the test. Some factors that are hindering me from taking it are finances (although I would probably get the fee waiver reduction because of my economic status) and the time to study for them (I have a lot of positions and jobs on campus, so I don't know when I would find time to study for it/take it). Do you think it is worth it to take the GRE? How did you study for it?

 

Thank you!

[Xielopez]

I am currently applying to Higher Ed programs and this is my advice:

 

Although you should strive to keep your GPA above 3.0, there are other factors weighed in your application. Such as Rec letter, I would recommend to choose your recommenders wisely. You should choose professors that know who you are and supervisors who can speak wisely about you. Your personal statements should elaborate on your experiences as a first generation student. That is your time to tell them about yourself and how far you have come, despite the challenges.

 

Also, in your CV or Resume LIST ALL organizations and volunteer work you were involved in. This will show that you are a well rounded student.

 

If you are applying to schools that require the GRE then you must take it. My advice would be to start studying as soon as possible. Possibly between summer and winter breaks!

Otherwise, if you are not applying to schools that require a GRE score, I would save all the trouble and studying.

 

Its great that you are thinking of graduate school before graduation, congrats to you! Don't let your GPA discourage you, you will be a great applicant.

 

Although I am still working on my apps, this is what admission reps have advised! Good luck.

[rising_star]

I would focus on doing well in your courses and trying to raise your GPA some. While experience is good, you shouldn't let the experience detract from your grades. In terms of programs, my understanding is that quite a few of the funded HESA programs require the GRE. If you find yourself interested in those, use the summer to study for the GRE. There are also lots of techniques for fitting your studying into small time blocks (such as a few 5 minute blocks each day), which adds up if you are consistent and do it for a month or two. You should also take a practice exam or two so you know where to concentrate your studying. Good luck!

[travelgirl125]

I honestly wouldn't spend too much time on the GRE.  Unless your number 1 program has a strict GRE score cut-off, I would say that your extracurriculars, SOP, and LORs are more important.  Definitely take some practice tests though, just to familiarize yourself with the format!  That's just my two cents though

[Guest]

Thank you all for replying!

 

Also, in your CV or Resume LIST ALL organizations and volunteer work you were involved in. This will show that you are a well rounded student.

 

I think I have great recommendors already with my student affairs experience and mentors. I will take note about writing my experience as a first generation student for my personal statement! I haven't even thought about what I was going to write yet.

My school has something called a Co-Curricular Transcript, where students can create their own and list all of their affiliated organizations and volunteer work. It's exactly like a resume. Do you think it is wise to include that with my resume rather than write everything out, or should I list everything on my resume? My resume is currently one page and based on what I've read on this forum, the limit should be 1-2 pages. Good luck to you!

 

there are some schools that give you a free ride and don't require the GRE. Such schools include UCONN and University of the Pacific. Like XIE says, gpa is just one requirement. Experience is the most important consideration, even in schools which require a GRE- and it seems like you got a good amount. I didn't take the GRE bc the schools I wanted to go to don't require it. To your second question, GPA is usually the second most important thing because GPA shows follow through. For master programs, GREs are not really imporant. There have been some admission counselors I have talked to that said the GRE is just a requirement for the university itself, but the college pays little to no attention to it.The SoP would be more important than GRE scores because it tells the admission committee how well YOU will fit  with the COLLEGE itself.

 

This eases me a bit! Most of the schools I am looking at don't require the GRE, but becuase of this, it limits me to a small number of schools. I'm still deciding, I'll see!

 

I would focus on doing well in your courses and trying to raise your GPA some. While experience is good, you shouldn't let the experience detract from your grades. In terms of programs, my understanding is that quite a few of the funded HESA programs require the GRE. If you find yourself interested in those, use the summer to study for the GRE. There are also lots of techniques for fitting your studying into small time blocks (such as a few 5 minute blocks each day), which adds up if you are consistent and do it for a month or two. You should also take a practice exam or two so you know where to concentrate your studying. Good luck!

 

Yes I will try! I have next semester and first semester as a senior to boost up my GPA. Although some applications are due in October/November/December, I think some universities ask for a official transcript later on? Unless I'm wrong.

 

I honestly wouldn't spend too much time on the GRE.  Unless your number 1 program has a strict GRE score cut-off, I would say that your extracurriculars, SOP, and LORs are more important.  Definitely take some practice tests though, just to familiarize yourself with the format!  That's just my two cents though

 

My #1 program doesn't require the GRE, but like I said earlier, I don't want to limit my choices solely because of the GRE. I also think that many people go the same route--apply for master's programs that don't require the GRE. I guess no matter what I do I'm always going to be competing with others haha.

[rising_star]

Yes I will try! I have next semester and first semester as a senior to boost up my GPA. Although some applications are due in October/November/December, I think some universities ask for a official transcript later on? Unless I'm wrong.

 

I don't think a lot of schools ask for them later on, unless you're planning to enroll there. So that really just gives you one semester to raise your grades if the applications are due next fall. And really, shoot for funded programs.