Carmen san Diego

You've got to go with what feels right to you and your wallet. Yes, Harvard is great. But going to a great school won't change the economy or create jobs or demand that wasn't there before. Many of the posters on these forums (perhaps because we are so young) tend to be extremely idealistic regarding future employment opportunities and salaries after graduation. Sometimes it's disconcerting how little talk there is about the realties of student debt and the uncertain economic future we face.

Given that you already have an MAT and are going to go for a PhD, I don't see any benefit in grabbing an M Ed on the way. Obviously, what you've done with your degree will be much more important. I'm getting an M Ed, because I'm more interested in education policy and program leadership than I am in a classroom teaching career. I don't have particular plans for an EdD or PhD, and I felt that the MAT degree could be too classroom focused for my career aspirations.

I just found out that I got into Boston University's Master of Ed in Policy, Planning and Administration. It's my top choice, but they haven't offered my any scholarships (my application got in late because of one recommender who was having a family crises through February) Normally tuition is $1200/credit hour, but it goes down to $600/hr for classes held after 4pm and about $540/hr for summer classes. I think almost all of the classes for this program are in the evening, in which case the degree would cost over $20,000. I have about $5,000 in private scholarships. That leaves about $15,000 in loans. I have no undergrad loans, but this financial climate is making me think twice about taking out that amount for a degree. Is it worth it? Is there a way to ask for a merit scholarship? I've also been accepted to other, less well-known (but still solid) programs due to some special subsidies for my work. What to do?

In the education field, is it necessary or semi-required that applicants have a bachelor's degree in education? I don't know how common my situation is for other grad applicants. I have undergraduate majors in anthropology and art history, with some related education research work in anthropology. After college, I became an AmeriCorps VISTA at a large children's museum (well-respected in education) and became involved in their volunteer team and youth service award. Through my work there, I've become interested in the role of service and philanthropy in education, particularly service-learning and non-profits' capacity to sustain service-learning. I don't know if my interests and work/community experience and vaguely related social science background are enough to get into an M.of Ed. program. For clarification, I have no interest in teaching, and I'm looking at programs that deal in community (non-school) education.