Before You Begin: What Every New Student Affairs Graduate Student Should Know
A Student Affairs NOW Field Guide
What started as a Student Affairs NOW podcast conversation became something much bigger: a field guide featuring the collective wisdom of more than 60 faculty from student affairs and higher education graduate programs across the country.
Blending faculty voices with personal stories, practical advice, and reflection activities, Before You Begin is designed to help new graduate students navigate graduate school with greater intention—from finding belonging and making the most of the graduate school experience to developing a professional identity and launching a career in student affairs.
Whether you’re beginning your own graduate school journey, teaching in a graduate preparation program, supervising graduate assistants, or mentoring someone entering the profession, we hope this field guide becomes a resource you’ll read, share, discuss, and return to.
Because before you begin, there’s something we hope you know: You already belong here.