Help me pick a program - Student Affairs/College Counseing/Academic Advising?

Hi there. So glad I found these forums. I am quite confused about which degree is the best for my career goals, hoping someone here can help.

I have a MEd in Counselor Education, but only worked for 2 years after graduating (2001) - I decided to stay at home with my children, and really disliked the mental health counseling field. I decided about 2 years ago that I would really like to get into the field of college advising and/or counseling. I applied for pretty much every entry-level college counseling job in my area, but was passed over a couple times due to lack of experience (according to the interviewers when I asked). I am now working part time in an administrative assistant job at a local college and really like it, but my goal remains full-time work as a college advisor or counselor. I've decided to complete either a master's certificate or new master's program to make this a better possibility (especially now that I've finally got a "foot in" and am working in academia).

My problem is confusion over which degree is best - I'm leaning toward Kansas State's Academic Advising program since I already have the counseling masters. Does this sound like the best path to others? Would you recommend another program/different degree?

Finally, does anyone happen to know if there is any reason I can't apply for the master's program at K-State and then stop after getting the certificate? I ask because financial aid is available in the master's program, but not for the certificate. Thanks so much for any help - I'm ready to tear my hair out!!

 

Hi LaughinWillow. A warm welcome to Degree Info, we are glad that you are able to join us. Here's some info about the timing of your posts appearing: http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/35100-new-users-ask-where-did-my-posts-go.html
I can't tell you much about attending K-State and then dropping out when you have the credits to earn the certificate, not sure about that one. However, your idea about getting the master's in Academic Advising seems to be a good choice for what you intend to do. It's great that you have the job at the local college, hang on to that because they are hard to come by. Keep your eyes open for chances to apply for a counseling job at your current school, especially after you earn the degree. It's funny how having the proper degree will open doors that were previously tightly closed.

 

Since you already have a masters in counseling, I think the certificate would be plenty. The classes for both the certificate and masters are the same so I think there wouldn't be any issue enrolling in the MA and dropping out. I bet they have people that intend to get the full degree but run out of time or money and opt for the certificate.

 

Honestly, I am not sure the graduate certificate will help you. The problem is experience. You obviously have counseling credentials. The certificate is just another credential.

 

Thank you for the replies!

Stefan, my hope is that a certificate (or degree), combined with my experience at the college where I work now, would show I am really serious about being in an academic environment. I love the job I have now, actually, but they intentionally split it between two people so that they don't have to give benefits (common in administrative assistant positions, I hear). Do you think that just having my master's along with the experience I'm getting now will be enough? Seems that if college positions are really competitive, every extra bit of education would be valuable... Thanks again for any opinions or advice!

 

I agree with Stephen that experience would be the most effective thing you could offer. However, in lieu of actual experience, a degree or cert in advising should benefit your job prospects. I'm not saying it would get you a job, but at least it would show that you have training. I landed my current teaching job because I have a master's degree in the discipline they were looking for at my school.

It becomes a difficult choice. At $430 a unit, a 30 hour master's will cost you over $12K. That's a lot to invest but it might be the only way to break in, especially if you could somehow gain experience while you were working on the degree. It would probably be better than just getting a cert, but even a cert would show that you have some sort of qualifications and that couldn't hurt.

 

I would think that the experience they seek is not just experience in a academic environment. They probably want advising experience. Another degree won't get you that experience. You are likely competing with individuals with MS degrees in student affairs who also had experience through graduate assistantships. Also, the pay for student advising isn't that hot, so I would strongly advise against paying for another degree when your degree is already related to the field.

Also, not to be a wet blanket, but your foot probably isn't in the door unless you are an admin asst. in the advising or affairs office. You might get preference as an internal candidate, but this can also work against you. "Why are you hiring away my assistant??"

If you really want to break in the field, apply to a competitive, on campus program. You might be able to get an assistantship to give you experience and to help with cost. An online program unfortunately fails on both accounts.

 

The problem is that she is likely competing with individuals with degrees AND experience. More degrees do not solve this problem.

 

The master's will not solve the problem but I think it might help, I know my master's is what landed my current education job. A degree might at least facilitate an interview which would offer a chance at a job. It would be expensive but it may be the only way in. Moreover, the OP may be able to gain experience while earning the degree.

However, if there were a way to gain experience without going to the expense and trouble of another degree, I, along with you, would also recommend that avenue.

By the way, is everything all set at WNMU?

 

I would agree if she didn't already have a relevant master's. Counseling is generally considered a relevant degree for these kind of positions.


At WNMU, I am just waiting to start. Everything has been in place for a few weeks now.

 

Thanks again to all for the advice! Though I must admit I'm still pretty confused about the best course of action. Do you think it helps that the position I have now involves training and supervising students?

 

I think that training and supervising could be considered relevant experience. What I would recommend is to try again for any open positions and clearly emphasize this experience. If you can afford it, the certificate might help a little, but I would honestly give it a shot without the certificate, given that your current job seems to provide some relevant experience.

 

I am of the opinion that training students is different than academic counseling of students; the degrees and experience, while related, would not translate from one discipline to the other. Stephen thinks another degree will not help, I think it will. Sorry that there is no definitive answer.

To mitigate your confusion, the best idea is likely to be talking to someone in your school HR department that hires for that job; that would be getting the information you need directly from the source. I strongly suggest this course of action and, if you follow it, please let me know what the HR person says.

Yes, I think your current experience will be of some help in getting your new job. However, the HR people who have turned you down in the past seemed to indicate that your current experience did not make you competitive with other applicants. So it will help a little, but doesn't appear to be enough. Once again, just my opinion.

 

It's not just the training; it's the supervising. It depends on how you "spin" it anyway. As one who does advising and scheduling for non-traditional students, I don't really think it's that big of a difference. Experience working with college-age students is, IMO, relevant. Whether the hiring director/manager will agree is another matter.

Similar degrees, however, are accepted in the field.

A former colleague of mine used to work as an athletic department academic advisor at an SEC school, and he had an MEd in Workforce Development. He was also offered a similar job at a C-USA school, but he found a more lucrative opportunity elsewhere. I realize you can't generalize from these two positions, but he's only one of many.

You will regularly find on job postings that degrees in education, student affairs, college student personnel (an oddly named major if there ever was one), counseling, or a related field are accepted.

It may not be HR personnel. Departmental heads typically do a lot of the interviewing.

 

You are certainly entitled to your opinion.

 

As are you. I just wanted to share my perspective because I am currently working in the field. The pay is often not very good, and I would hate to see someone take on another degree unless it really makes a significant difference.

 

Just to clarify, when I was told that I didn't get jobs, it was before I had my current job working at a college. When I applied for other jobs, I only had non-college counseling and other mental health experience. One woman told me they had 2 positions, and I was #3 on the list of people they chose - that one made me want to pull my hair out!

Talking to someone in HR sounds like a good idea. I'm thinking maybe I'd call my former college as an alumna though, since I've only had my current job for 6 months, and I'm at a pretty small college. I don't want it getting around that I really want a different job (even if it wouldn't be for some time). Thanks for the idea - I'll let you know what they say!

 

Very good thinking, you don't want your boss to find out that you are interested in other employment. If your rejections occurred before your current experience, maybe you will do better the next time you have an opportunity to apply for a academic counselor position.