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[geoteo]

I don't necessarily equate a career in higher education administration with a career as a blueberry--that's a nature-versus-nurture thing.  You can learn to be a college/university president, but you have to be born a blueberry.

Merinoblue's advice is pertinent and wise, and it is also true that following your career sideways does not preclude becoming a college president later in life.  Most such individuals I have known have grey hair--also not characteristic of blueberries.

[anakin]

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

- alleyoxenfree, the informational and job shadowing idea is brilliant. That will absolutely be a win win for myself and even for the already award winning communications departments at Rowan. I can see myself starting an entire segment from the sports coaches to the president. I also read NASPA and ACPA news feeds weekly basically. I always thought they were geared more towards people within these careers already, not undergrads.

- Cj405, thanks for mentioning the Chronicle's job board. Academic advising is absolutely what I want to do but moving up the ladder to as high as i can go is always a must. The idea of making president is just an idea after I was granted presidency in my fraternity. I just wanted to see if it were plausible.

I wish there were some sort of tree diagram that demonstrates on how to advance in this career. Starting out as an academic advisor and working towards dean of students and maybe by some miracle get some experience as a president in a CC or something.

Yet another undergrad looking for the (nonexistent) Right Way to Do It. At least bioteacher's pet rocks know they're supposed to be writing papers. You don't have a fuçking clue what being a U pres is about, except that it's the "natural next step" after your fraternity presidency - riiight. You're so, so doomed.

But hey, stick to your fantasy. And while you're at it, can we get you to pop over to Washington DC and talk to a few MoC's and the President about this debt ceiling thing? Two weeks is enough, right?

[tuxedo_cat]

p.s. I voted for "Feedback"

Well dammit.  I wanted to vote for "Feedback.." but the Poll has been shut down.  I thought we had mods around to prevent this sort of mischief.

[octoprof]

Hello All! My name is Chris Morris and I need some help to direct my hopes and ambitions! I'm an undergrad student at Rowan University, majoring in Radio/Television/Film. I'm on track to graduate in two years and I was wondering if my ideas are okay for where I ultimately want to end up. The plan is to graduate Rowan with a degree in communications - RTF and jump right into a higher education masters program in the NJ,NY and PA areas. If that were to happen, I would look into assistantships to whatever schools accepted me. Then ultimately look into getting an Academic Advisor Position in a community college or a public four year university and work my way up the administrative track to the dean/vice/ maybe even presidential levels.


Questions...
Is Graduating with a bogus RTF degree/average GRE scores enough weight to get into a grad program?
What types of Assistantships are offered for a Higher Education Administration Grad Student?
Are my ideas/plans okay, or basically a dream?
What entails working your way up through the administrative track from advising? Such as Career steps and positions to look out for to work my way up? How long does this take?


ANY FEEDBACK OR ADIVCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS!

if you really think President of a university is your goal, then research the backgrounds of current Presidents of universities and see how that matches your plan.

You might want to refrain from using your real name here and check your spelling before posting.

Good luck! At least you think big. I like that.

[pigou]

Is Graduating with a bogus RTF degree/average GRE scores enough weight to get into a grad program?

You've taken the GRE already? Take it again the summer before applying. As you may know, the format has changed - and you will compete in admissions with people who took the new test. On the upside, this also gives you plenty of time to study. If you're just expecting an average score, it's time to practice. Well worth doing so: in some cases, you might be eligible for more funding with good scores.

[ellaminnow]

Let me get this straight. You're a sophomore (rising junior) and you think you want to be president of a university? Do you even know what the president of a university does? (Fortunately for you, it does not involve creating polls.)

When I was four, do you know what I wanted to be when I grew up? A blueberry. That's right. A blueberry. Your idea makes as much sense, except that I WAS FOUR.

VP

I love this. It makes me happy.  I'm not really sure why, but it does.  

[alleyoxenfree]

Let me get this straight. You're a sophomore (rising junior) and you think you want to be president of a university? Do you even know what the president of a university does? (Fortunately for you, it does not involve creating polls.)

When I was four, do you know what I wanted to be when I grew up? A blueberry. That's right. A blueberry. Your idea makes as much sense, except that I WAS FOUR.

VP

I love this. It makes me happy.  I'm not really sure why, but it does.  

There's still time for anyone who wanted to be a blueberry to star in a Fruit of the Loom ad.

[dale1]

Yes! VP's childhood dream can become a reality!

[geoteo]

Not so!  (See my previous post on this subject.)  I think it's not her nature to be blue.

[csaosomeday]

I'd suggest going across campus at Rowan and talking to some of the folks in the University's higher ed master's program as well as the doctoral program in educational leadership.  They should be able to give you some guidance.  Given that you've got these folks "local" they would be a great starting point. Also, look into professional organizations -- some have undergraduate memberships. 

In addition, community colleges are fertile grounds for those who want to reach higher levels of administration through non traditional paths.  Plus, the type of graduate work you do is often much more important than the undergraduate when looking at a career in higher education. 

And by the way, try not to be discouraged by some of the posts here.  Even those who've been in higher ed for some time often wonder how this or that person got into their position.  You are right to ask questions and to ask them early.  For all those professors who complain that our students don't plan ahead or do things at the last minute, thank you for giving early thought to what the right questions may be.  You aren't supposed to know the answers yet.