Career choosing is the story of my life!!!
I started off in film production, but I realized during my junior year that I wasn't passionate about it. Fact is, whatever you choose to do, you should have a PASSION for it!
When I decided that cinema wasn't what I wanted, I then had the unlucky task of figuring out what I did like. At that time, I was a dorm director in one of the residence halls (our school let undergrads do that), and supervised a staff of 5 RAs. I was also a tour guide and intern in the Admissions office, a student advisor for new students during orientation, a peer advisor, and a Rape-Survivor Advocate. All my extra-curricular activities involved helping students; and not only did I absolutely LOVE IT, but I was good at it! So, Student Affairs was clearly the perfect career for me.
When I graduated, I decided to work professionally for a few years just to figure out where in student affairs I want to be. As you know, there are many areas of expertise necessary to make a college/university work like a well-oiled machine and keep students happy. Ultimately, I want to be a Director of Minority/Multicultural Affairs at a predominately white institution. I'm now employed as a Student Orientation Coordinator at Ohio State, and in a couple of years I plan to pursue a Master's in Higher Education from either OSU, Columbia, or Univ. of Maryland. The truth is, you MUST have a Master's degree for any credibility in student affairs. I was blessed to land this job without one, but my salary reflects its absence. However, the good thing about working first is that, by the time I get my M.A. or Ed.M., I'll be making much more than graduates who went straight to grad school from undergrad, because I'll have much more professional experience under my belt. You should consider that when deciding what direction to take.
I think Admissions or New-Student Orientation are the BEST places to start because in those positions, you HAVE to know just about everything about the college you work for, so they serve as good foundational pieces (and they are most often entry-level). Since the required knowledge is so broad for those careers, you can best decide which area you enjoy most, then go from there. Also, when you go to grad school, it is crucial that you have an assistantship-- preferably the same one for the entire time you're studying. This looks good to potential employers. You may also consider doing some research and getting something published in a journal. Colleges love having staff members who write and are published. One of my responsibilities is to write the publications for our department. I hated it at first, but now I'm seeing how helpful it is. Administrators, Faculty, students, and parents all see my work, so I'm making a name for myself. It would also be to your advantage to find a mentor, i.e. someone in the field who is where you want to be. Administrators in Higher Ed are excellent resources for networking. I would not have landed this job without a Master's degree were it not for "Da Bomb" recommendations I received from some renouned, KEY administrators from my alma mater!
You should read a journal entitled "Blacks in Higher Education." It has great articles in it, and it has job postings for which blacks are targeted. Also, "The Chronicle of Higher Education" is an EXCELLENT resource, especially if you're looking for a job. It only costs about $40 to subscribe for a year, and it's well worth it. You should vistit its website at:
http://www.chronicle.com/
If you're considering grad school right now, visit this site for the latest education program rankings:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bced.htm
If you have specific questions, feel free to write me. I'd be glad to help in any way I can, especially if you have grad school questions, resume concerns, or need tips for interviewing. Student Affairs is an excellent career choice, especially for those of us who've committed ourselves to helping others. I hope things go well for you!
the411
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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE