STEPS IN THE PROCESS

Step 1: Determine if Student Affairs is the Right Field for You

The term "student affairs" can be confusing or seem unclear, especially since it is used primarily in the United States.  Learning about the term and kinds of jobs in the field will help you determine if a student affairs degree aligns with your personal, professional, and educational goals.  For example, if you are looking at elementary, middle or secondary (high school) education, this field degree would not be a good fit for your career goals.  We have a lot of resources to assist you!  Before applying to Clemson, we encourage you to review this content.  

Step 2: Determine if Clemson's Program and Affiliated Assistantships are a Fit for You

After determining if the field of student affairs is right for you, it's time to learn about the different types of graduate programs there are and if Clemson's academic program and affiliated assistantships are a fit for you.  If you compare different institutions, you will notice some programs are fully in-person or full online and course offerings are different.  We encourage you to learn about Clemson's course offerings and other program requirements.  Additionally, Clemson's program requires students to have an assistantship to enroll.  The overwhelming majority of our assistantships require a start date before August 1 and most require students to work 25-28 hours per week during the entire length of the academic program.  To learn more to see if these requirements are a fit for you, explore our assistantship page.

Step 3: Connect with Faculty and Current Students - Several Opportunities!

We have a variety of ways you can learn more about our program and determine if it is a good fit for your personal, professional, and educational goals.  Our faculty and current students will hold virtual info sessions to help you determine if our program supports your educational and professional goals.  Pick the option that works best with your schedule. If you are not able to join contact the program coordinator by emailing Dr. Michelle Boettcher - mboettc@clemson.edu to learn more about the program and ask any questions you have.

Step 4: Check out Available Assistantships after Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Obtaining an approved assistantship is required to enroll in the M.Ed. Student Affairs program.  Click the "GA Positions" tab of this website to learn about assistantships and read position descriptions (after they posted).  We will have approximately 25 assistantships for fall 2026, and you must have an assistantship to enroll.  Two-thirds of assistantships require a start date before August 1 to ensure graduate assistants are trained and/or part of the assistantships is to serve and support students during summer orientation and summer classes - it means if you need an assistantship start date to be closer to the beginning of fall classes, there are a very limited number of assistantships available.   The Assistantship Application will open by 12pm on Monday, December 2.  

Step 5: Assistantship Application Opens Monday, November 3, 2025

The Assistantship Application is different than the academic program application.  The assistantship application is available now.  Go to the GA Positions page for link and instructions. 

• If the faculty do not have a completed academic application for you by January 1 at 11:59pm, your CU-GARS application will be reviewed. 

• Submitting the CU-GARS application early does not mean you will be considered before other applicants.  Everyone who is conditionally admitted into the academic program (which those applications are not review until after January 1) will be emailed an invitation to participate in CU-GARS and interview for assistantships.  

Step 6: Submit Academic Program Application by Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 11:59pm

There is no fee to apply to graduate programs at Clemson University, and the GRE is not required.  Faculty recommend giving plenty of time to individuals providing letters of recommendation as they are required for applications to be considered.  All materials must be submitted by the deadline - faculty will not consider any incomplete applications.  

Even though you can apply earlier than the deadline, all applications will be considered at the same time in January regardless of when you submit your materials.  We get emails from several applicants each year wanting an update on the status of their application before this date.  Thank you in advance for understanding how our process works.  

Step 7: Submit the CU-GARS Application by Friday, January 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (eastern)

The application to apply for assistantships is different than the academic program application and will be available Monday, November 3.  You MUST submit both the academic program and assistantship/CU-GARS applications.  It does not matter which order to complete them (but the academic application is available online before the CU-GARS application is available.)  

The CU-GARS application is due no later than 11:59pm eastern on Thursday, January 2, 2026.  Completing this application is required and provides us with important, initial information for planning purposes.  While the academic application is about the program, the CU-GARS application focuses on the available assistantships.  You may not only the application one time.  For more details and directions, read the GA Positions page.

Step 8: Accept or Decline the Invitation to Attend the CU-GARS In-person Interview Weekend by Wednesday, January 29, 2025 by noon (eastern)

If conditionally accepted to the academic program, you will receive an email from cugars@g.clemson.edu to officially invite you to attend the in-person interview weekend called - CU-GARS.  You may accept or decline the invitation using a link to a form. Please note:

• attending interview weekend events in person is required to be considered for an assistantship unless you are studying or living outside of the continental United States or have a documented medical reason (note: if conditionally accepted to the program, those unable to attend in person must receive an approved exemption from the program faculty by emailing Dr. Michelle Boettcher - mboettc@clemson.edu.) 

• obtaining an approved assistantship is a requirement to enroll in the M.Ed. Student Affairs program unless you have a full-time job in higher education (note: Clemson's M.Ed. program is an in-person program, so if you are working full-time in higher education, you must attend classes in Clemson, South Carolina.)

If you decide to decline the invitation, please also decline your offer of admissions via the instructions provided on your conditional acceptance from the Graduate School.  We wish you the best as you pursue other opportunities!

Step 9: Engage with Current Students and Learn What To Expect from the Interview Weekend

To help get you excited and feel prepared for the Interview Weekend and have an opportunity to connect with current students, we coordinate Instagram Takeovers in the weeks leading up to CU-GARS weekend as well as hold a pre-interview weekend session. These opportunities are completely optional but allow you to connect with current students, other candidates, and help you feel prepared for interview weekend.  Registration link will only be sent to those participating in the interview weekend.

Step 10: Attend CU-GARS Interview Weekend - Thursday, February 12 - Saturday February 14, 2026

Soon after the deadline to accept or decline the invitation to attend the in-person CU-GARS interview weekend, we will be in touch with details regarding your PAW Pal, interview schedule, etc.  Our interview weekend experience begins the afternoon of Thursday, February 12, 2026.  We offer two, optional campus tours led by current graduate students Thursday afternoon.  Our first required event begins at 4:30pm.  Interviews take place on Friday, February 13, 2026 and may not be scheduled outside of the interview weekend or at a different time during the interview weekend. Candidates will receive their interview schedule approximately one week prior to their interviews.  Our interview weekend concludes at 12:00pm (noon) on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Candidates are required to attend all events during CU-GARS, except optional evening socials. 

If you cannot attend in-person due to studying or living out of the country or having a documented, medical reason, you will only participate in interviews on Thursday, February 12 between 8am and 12:05pm eastern.  (note: those unable to attend in person must receive an approved exemption from the program faculty by emailing Dr. Michelle Boettcher - mboettc@clemson.edu after being conditionally admitted to the program. Reasons such as a job, student teaching, nursing clinicals, participating in an athletic event, needing to find transportation, wanting to participate in another interview weekend, etc. will not be approved for an exemption.)  Interviews may not be scheduled before or after this time period.  Other events during the CU-GARS weekend are not offered virtually, but candidates interviewing virtually will still be connected with a PAW Pal.  

Step 11: Accept or Decline Assistantship Offer

Notifications for assistantship offers could begin as early as the afternoon of Tuesday, February 17, 2026.  We may also contact you into March or April with an offer.  If you receive an offer before April 15, you have until April 15 (per the national deadline) to inform us if you accept or decline.  Once you accept an assistantship offer, you will accept your offer from the Graduate School to attend Clemson University.  

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 an approved graduate assistantship.

Step 12: Accept or Decline Your Academic Admittance to Enroll

After accepting an assistantship offer, you may officially accept your admittance from the Graduate School and enroll.  Congrats!  Please check out the Newly Accepted Students page for details and next steps.  There is an optional, in-person graduate student orientation experience in August.  

If you are an international student, you need to connect with Clemson's International Student Services office and follow some additional steps. Most importantly, you will need to request I-20s as soon as possible to give you the best chance of getting visas in time for the fall academic term.  Note that Clemson University and the program faculty do not control the speed in which visas are processed.  

If you choose to decline your offer, please follow the instructions provided on your conditional acceptance from the Graduate School.  We wish you the best as you pursue other opportunities!