Frequently Asked Questions - faqs 

The University has its "Fact Book" that anyone can access and filter data to learn more about admissions, enrollment, employees, etc.  Visit this page - https://www.clemson.edu/institutional-effectiveness/oir/factbook/index.html/    We would also encourage you to look at our Learning About and Touring Clemson to learn more about the University.  We provide several links, tour options, and more.  

Yes - visit this page - https://www.clemson.edu/graduate/students/pas.html

We would encourage you to visit the academic program page as well as the program handbook to answer questions about the degree program (for example - courses and sequence).  

CU-GARS is specifically for students in the Master of Education in Student Affairs program through the College of Education. If a department is unsuccessful in identifying a candidate through CU-GARS, they may offer their assistantship to students in other Clemson graduate programs.  You may email cugars@g.clemson.edu after April 15 to learn if there are departments still in need of a Graduate Assistant.  Otherwise, please contact the program coordinator for the graduate program you are applying for to inquire about potential assistantships.  

• No, being able to immediately apply what you are learning in your courses in a practical setting is important.  You must submit applications to the graduate program (by January 1 at 11:59pm) and graduate assistantship process (by January 2 at 11:59pm) to be considered for one of our approved assistantships.  

• The only exception would be individuals who are admitted to the program but are employed full time in higher education.  Note - this program is an in-person program.  Enrolling to attend courses virtually is not an option.

Visit the Graduate School webpage to create an account and apply to the academic program.  There is no cost to apply for the academic program, and the program does not require the GRE.  

No.  The faculty will consider all applications to the academic program at the same time.  

Additionally, faculty will not consider late or incomplete applications.  We recommend planning ahead especially when asking individuals to submit letters of recommendation for you.  If you are in a different time zone than Clemson, take this piece into account to also ensure your materials are in the system by the deadline.  

The Graduate Assistantship application will have you: 

• upload a resume' (pdf) that can be reviewed by our assistantship supervisors conducting the interviews

  • it can be but does not have to be the same resume you used with your academic application

  • this resume will go to all areas, so it does not need to be tailored to each assistantship that interests you

• provide information for two references that may be contacted by various assistantship supervisors

• rank your top assistantship roles

• answer questions about attending the CU-GARS interview weekend if admitted to the academic program that will help the Coordinating Committee and subcommittees planning (for example, if you plan to drive or fly, dietary restrictions or preferences, etc.)

They can be, but they do not need to be.  We recommend picking two people who can speak to who would be as an employee.  You will provide their contact information in the assistantship application.

These individuals do not write letters of recommendation for assistantships since every assistantship is different.  They may be contacted by a potential supervisor after interview weekend, but they may not be.  We provide this information to supervisors just in case they want to connect and ask them questions about you.  

They do not.  The M.Ed. in Student Affairs program faculty determine which applicants are conditionally accepted into the program.  Those individuals will receive an invitation to attend CU-GARS and have the opportunity to interview. Assistantship supervisors will subsequently interview only those candidates that are invited for the weekend.  Obtaining an approved assistantship through CU-GARS is required to enroll in the academic program.

Upon the recommendation of the faculty, M.Ed. in Student Affairs applicants are invited to participate in CU-GARS, which is our interview weekend for Graduate Assistantships. Through the CU-GARS application that is due January 2, you will be able to identify departments you would be interested in interviewing with during CU-GARS Interview Weekend. 

After accepting your invitation to CU-GARS, we will begin creating your interview schedule.  You will receive that schedule approximately one week before your interviews.  After interviewing, you will rank your preferences and the assistantship supervisors will also rank their candidate preferences.  The Coordinating Committee will contact you if you receive an offer.  You would have until April 15 (per a national deadline) to accept or decline your offer.

The majority of M.Ed. in Student Affairs Graduate Assistantships include tuition assistance, which covers the cost of your courses. You are responsible for paying select student fees (e.g. library fee, health fee, activity fee, etc.).  Each assistantship position description indicate if there is tuition assistance. 

Learn more about Graduate School student tuition and fees from Student Financial Services and use the Graduate Tuition Fee Calculator.  Select the MED - Counselor Ed, full time, on-campus, in-state, and yes to receiving an assistantship to receive an estimate.  NOTE - if you receive an assistantship and live outside of South Carolina, you will receive the in-state rate.  If someone will be or is on a J-1 or F-1 visa, there is a $100 fee to support the department processing all of the required paperwork. We encourage you to contact Student Financial Services with any questions you have.

Some assistantships may cover some of your living costs.  Each assistantship position description will indicate if they cover these costs and provide any other financial support such as professional development funds, if they are available.  

Each assistantship will also pay a stipend that is distributed with each paycheck.  Stipends vary from assistantship to assistantship and will be noted in the position description.  The stipend is the maximum amount of money a department can pay its graduate assistantship based on the number of hours per week listed in the position description.   

Please note that if the position description says the number of hours per week is flexible and you are hoping to or needing to work fewer than the hours listed, (for example - the stated number is 25 hours per week), and the supervisor during the interviews says you could work less than 25 hours per week, you need to factor in that your stipend would be less than the stated amount in the position description since it is based on the 25 hours per week.  Note - no student (domestic or international student) can work more than 28 hours per week as that is a federal law.

No, please direct all questions related to assistantships/position descriptions to cugars@g.clemson.edu. During the CU-GARS weekend, you will have opportunities to connect with supervisors and representatives of the departments and ask additional questions. 

The exact start date of an assistantship varies, with start dates beginning in June through mid-August.  See each position description for exact dates.  Unless a position description says otherwise, the dates given are firm.  

Yes!  But - we have you covered.  Check out the Academic Program Handbook.  On pages 11-13, you'll find all of the courses you'll take.  Then, there are charts to outline what you'll take in your first and second year based on being in a 9, 10, or 12 month assistantship role.  

After being conditionally accepted into the program and securing a department approved assistantship through the CU-GARS process, you'll be assigned a faculty advisor who will email you in late April/mid May to help you outline the classes you'll take.  And don't worry - you will absolutely get the classes you need when you need to take them.  

Clemson University shares its academic calendar online.  You can review it by following this link. 

The academic program is approximately two years in length, and Graduate Assistantships are intended as two-year appointments (length of time you are in the program). The second year is renewed so long as assistantship requirements have been satisfactorily met.

The hours for assistantship will vary by department; however, graduate assistants can expect to work between 20-28 hours each week. Also, your daily work schedule will vary based upon your department.

Your classes will typically start at 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. with the exception of a seminar course during your first semester which occurs midday. Your supervisors will not schedule you to work during your class time.

Everyone has a different assistantship in one way or another. Graduate students bring their experiences from the assistantships to class, and from class, they bring new approaches to their assistantships. Consider the student development theory, assessment, and legal courses - these are critical topics in students affairs, academic affairs, and higher education. The insights and topics related to theories and issues discussed directly relate to the work you will do as student affairs graduate assistants.  You also get to identify where you want to pursue your field experiences.  In our program, you have the ability to do three - which is more than most programs in the country!  These are a unique opportunities to explore different functional areas, institutional types, learn and build on competencies and skills, and explore career paths who may want to consider when it's time to search for a job. 

Absolutely!  One of the strengths of Clemson's program and something that makes our students marketable after graduation is the number of field experiences graduate students are required to complete as part of their program.  Students must complete both a practicum and an internship experience. Students may opt for a second internship or may instead choose an elective course. The elective course must be at the graduate level and chosen in consultation with a student’s advisor. 

In addition to a virtual practicum/internship fair each fall, students have opportunities to reach out to a variety of departments at Clemson and at surrounding colleges and universities to obtain field experiences in areas that will help students achieve their goals.  To learn more, visit the program's webpage and open the "Field Experience Manual."  

We anticipate notifying applicants less than two weeks of the January 1 academic application deadline if they have been invited the interview weekend.  Therefore, it is very important that all part of your application are submitted on time (including letters of reference) to allow the faculty to review your materials.  Faculty will not consider incomplete applications.  

Great question, no.  Being conditionally admitted to the academic program and invited to attend CU-GARS is the first step.  Attending CU-GARS allows you to interview for available assistantship positions.  You then need to receive and accept an offer for an assistantship to enroll.  You could receive an offer and decline, which means you cannot enroll at Clemson.

Yes.  If you are conditionally admitted to the academic program, you must contact the Program Coordinator, Dr. Rachel Wagner to ask for an exemption and share your reason for seeking an exemption.  If approved, you would still receive a PAW Pal and only participate in interviews on Thursday, February 13 via Zoom between 8am and noon eastern.  Interviews cannot be scheduled before or after that day and time frame.  Other portions of the interview weekend will not be available to attend virtually.  

No.  Reasons such as a job, student teaching, nursing clinicals, participating in an athletic event, needing to find transportation, wanting to attend another interview weekend, etc. will not be approved for an exemption if you live in the continental United States and do not have a medical condition preventing you from traveling.  

Candidates cover their travel costs in terms of driving (mileage, tolls, etc.) or flying (ticket, insurance, baggage fees, etc.).  

If you drive, we will cover the cost of your campus parking pass for the weekend.  

If flying, we cover the cost and coordinate airport shuttles from Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) (approx. 50 minutes from campus) at certain times. Please note - there are not standard/regular shuttle service that regularly operate from any area airports to our campus.  

If you are thinking about the future, the University does coordinate airport shuttles for students around semester and holiday breaks.  

If you are driving, we would recommend arriving to campus no later than 4:15pm on Thursday. February 15 to get a parking pass as our program begins at 4:30pm.  Arrive by 2pm if you would like to take a campus tour led by our own current students!  Tour times will be at 2:15pm and 3:30pm.

If you are flying, please do not make any flight arrangements until we invite you to CU-GARS. To support initial planning, we will offer two pick ups from Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) (approx. 50 minutes from campus).

Here are the times for the GSP Shuttles that we used for 2023.  We may alter these slightly for 2024, but it gives you an idea of how we approach shuttles.

February 15 from GSP to Clemson

• 12:45pm departure (Candidates should land by approx. 12:20pm) - will allow you to take a campus tour

• 3:20pm departure (Candidates should land by approx. 2:55pm) - will not allow you to take a campus tour

February 17 from Clemson to GSP

• 12:00pm departure (Candidates should arrive by approx. 1:00pm) (we would recommend a 2pm flight or later)

Click here for a list of airlines at Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)

Email us at cugars@g.clemson.edu with any questions.  

A signature component of CU-GARS is our PAW Pal program. PAW stands for "Peer Assisted Welcome."  After candidates accept an invitation to CU-GARS, we pair them with a current student to serve as a point of contact and ultimately support candidates before, during, and after the interview weekend.

For accommodations during the interview weekend, we ask in the CU-GARS application if candidates would like to request housing with a current student, if they plan to stay in a hotel, or if they live in the area. For candidates interested in staying with a current student, we make every effort to accommodate these requests.  If candidates prefer a hotel, we can offer recommendations on where to stay at a variety of price ranges and in doing so, candidates would incur the cost.  Regardless of where a candidate stays, everyone will receive a PAW Pal to help them navigate CU-GARS and Clemson University.  

For those living and studying outside of the United States, virtual interviews will take place between 8am and 12:05pm on the Thursday of interview weekend.  Candidates will likely not have every time slot booked with an interview, but interviews will only occur during this timeframe.  

For those coming to campus, candidates must arrive on Thursday by 4:30pm for the beginning of the program.  Optional campus tours are available at 2:15pm and 3:30pm.  Interviews will only take place on Friday.  The closing program (which is mandatory to attend) will conclude on Saturday by noon.  Candidates can depart campus if driving at noon.  The airport shuttle will depart campus at noon.  

Interviews will occur on Thursday for virtual candidates and Friday for in-person candidates.  Interviews cannot occur prior to the weekend or at different times during the weekend.  If you do not receive an initial offer, you may receive the opportunity to interview later in the spring.  We will share more about this part of the process during the Closing Program. 

You may request an exemption to attend the interview weekend in person if you are living or studying outside of the continental United States or have medical documentation to authenticate your inability to travel.  (Note - enrolling in the program will require attending class in person).  If granted an exemption, your interviews will take place between 8am and 12:05pm eaastern Thursday. 

Our Coordinating Committee of professional staff members will review assistantship supervisor and candidate preferences to develop each candidate's interview schedule. We collect candidate interview preferences through the CU-GARS application.  

We anticipate having interview schedules to candidates one week before interviews.  No changes can be made until the Interview Weekend.  We will share specific instructions on how this process will work as we get closer to the Interview Weekend. 

While not specific to how to prepare for student affairs roles or interviews, Clemson's nationally ranked Center for Career and Professional Development has open-access resources you may find helpful.  

• Interview Skills workshops (and other topics)

• Handouts on a variety of topics

• Competency-based resources including categorized interview questions 

We would also recommend contacting your undergraduate institution's career center for resources.  They may also be able to do mock interviews with you to help you prepare.  

Definitely!  We suggest: 

720 McMillan Road

Clemson, SC 29634

Here is a link with details and photos - https://www.clemson.edu/studentaffairs/cre/venues/hendrix/directions.html 

Budget based on your specific travel plans on Thursday and Saturday because you are our guest while you're in Tiger Town!  

We are happy to provide Thursday dinner, Friday continental breakfast, Friday lunch, Friday afternoon snack, Friday dinner, Saturday full breakfast, and Saturday to-go boxed lunches (optional).  As we get closer, we will ask if you have any dietary accommodations.  We want to make sure everyone feels supported during the weekend.  You may of course pack your preferred or favorite snacks.  

Yes!  We can't wait to share our campus with you.  Candidates will have the opportunity to tour campus on the afternoon of Thursday, February 15.  Our current students will lead two tours that will start at 2:15pm and 3:30pm.  If you are flying, taking the first airport shuttle will get you to Clemson in enough time to take a tour.  We also have an asynchronous tour option and links to other tours that you can experience at any time.  Visit our Learning About and Touring Clemson page for more details!

Our students have created a suggested packing list and will go over it during the Pre-Interview Weekend Info Session and Affinity Panels event. Follow the link to the Info Session webpage, and you'll see where you can view and download the packing list.  Your PAW Pal can also answer any questions you have.  

Yes!  Sending notes to supervisors after your interviews is not required.  If you would like to follow-up, we created a centralized process that all in-person and virtual candidates can use.   The deadline to submit a thank you will be Sunday, February 18 at noon (12pm) eastern.  The form will not receive responses after the deadline.  We will send supervisors the messages on your behalf before they submit their preferences to the Coordinating Committee.  They will share with anyone on their interview team.  To help us streamline this process and ensure supervisors do not miss your messages, we ask that you do not send emails directly to staff - even once the deadline passes.  Email cugars@g.clemson.edu with any questions regarding thank you notes.  

Yes!  Faculty will be available throughout the interview weekend, and we plan to hold a faculty panel on Saturday morning at the Closing Program.  Social events are planned by students, for students!  Current students and candidates will have chances to get to know each other Thursday evening and Friday evening.  Prior to the Interview Weekend, we invite you to connect with students during our SPA Instagram Takeovers and our Pre-Interview Weekend Info Session and Affinity Panels.

We cover this process during the Closing Program and with an accompanying handout that we will also email to all candidates.  Here are some of those details.

Notifications for assistantship offers begin the Tuesday afternoon following the close of interview weekend.  Candidates living in the United States will receive a phone call.  Candidates living outside of the United States will receive an email.  If someone did not receive an initial offer, we will inform them by email (regardless of where they live) usually the Wednesday afternoon following the close of the interview weekend. For our 2024 cycle, two-thirds of candidates who interviewed for assistantships did not receive an offer.  

Individuals receiving an offer from Clemson (and any other programs they have applied to in the United States) have until April 15, per a national deadline, to inform institutions if they accept or decline their assistantship offer.  Interview processes in the United States occur from the end of January to the middle/end of March, so the deadline allows applicants to consider all of their offers before making a decision.  

While candidates with offers are making their decisions, those who didn't receive an offer have the option to remain in our candidate pool and be eligible for consideration for assistantships they qualify for (start date, hours per week, etc.) if an opening becomes available.  Candidates can inform us at any time if they no longer want to remain in the candidate pool.  

We will keep candidates in our pool aware of how things are progressing via email every two weeks until mid-April (we usually send messages around March 3, March 17, April 1, and April 18.  We appreciate your patience and understand it may be frustrating waiting for an update or offer.  We cannot force anyone to make a decision sooner than the national deadline.  Finally, we will inform anyone in the candidate pool when all of our positions have been filled.  

We hope being transparent about our process and competitiveness of our assistantship process and allows you to identify how best to approach your graduate program search.  

Candidates who do not receive an offer for a Graduate Assistant position will not be eligible to enroll in the Student Affairs master's program. Your admission to the M.Ed. in Student Affairs program cannot be confirmed with the Graduate School without a graduate assistantship that has been approved by the faculty.

No, the assistantships we provide have been approved by the faculty.  Our faculty want to ensure students are getting the practical experience required that allows them to apply theory and content learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.  Additionally, faculty want to ensure they provide quality teaching and advising and therefore limit the number of students in the program each year.