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Advice From a Current Graduate Assistant
7 Things to Know Before Accepting a Graduate Assistantship
By Casey Dunphy, AORE Board Student Representative
There are 2 parts to the puzzle
While it can be tempting to choose an assistantship based solely on their outdoor program, make sure the academic department is a right fit for you. Some assistantships will allow you to study under whatever academic program you get accepted into, while others offer select options. Don’t settle for anything that isn’t a right fit for you; this decision is one that will have a major impact on your future.
Be ready, you will have other opportunities
Many people have varied thoughts on this- “Go to grad school straight out of undergrad, the longer you wait, the harder it is to go back,” and “Be sure to get a few years of relevant experience after undergrad before going into grad school.” While both tips offer valid points, ultimately this is different for each person. You need to choose what is best for you. Graduate assistantships (GA) post all the time, and every two years the same opportunity is available again. You will have opportunities if you decide to wait, and your assistantship will provide you the real world experience you’ll need to engage in the classroom if you want to go straight to grad school.
This is a time for you to discover different parts of campus recreation
Your assistantship will more than likely fall under the outdoor program at the university, but do not let that limit you from learning more about other departments and programs. This is a HUGE learning and growing experience for you, soak up all the experience you can get! One of the coolest parts about my GA with Clemson was being able to serve as an interim aquatics and climbing wall coordinator, in addition to my responsibilities with the outdoor program.
Your role will be different than any job you’ve held in the past
The GA role is a unique one because it is the limbo land between student staff and full time professional staff. This can be a tricky role to figure out, but ultimately it is vital for the success of the program and student development. Be professional, but be approachable. Students will look up to you as a mentor and role model.
Work hard play hard
It is a ton of work being a graduate assistant, but that shouldn’t keep you from having fun and getting into the field. Most of your time, depending on your assistantship, will be spent in the office. It may take extra effort to get out and do what you love and you might not get paid for the trips you lead, but don’t keep that from allowing you to do what you love. At the end of the day, remember how you got there.
Amazing networking opportunity
You will meet a variety of people during your assistantship, across not only the university, but the country as well. Being in a leadership role at a university allows you to connect with people in different roles. Most assistantship positions offer some sort of professional development money for you to attend conferences, go to trainings, and attend certification courses. Those funds will help you develop into a stronger professional in the field, and your new knowledge will benefit your university too.
You will discover more about your leadership style, on and off the trail
This position will challenge you in many ways. It will provide you with ample opportunities to work on student development, budgeting, training, hiring, assessment and evaluation, conflict resolution, and logistical planning. Situations will arise, on and off the trail, which will test your leadership skills, ultimately allowing you to learn more about your own leadership style.
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