Edugy

You can go to the highest-ranked program, but if your PI isn't well-regarded, you may not be able to break into the academic market. For a PhD, it's more about who you work with then where you go.

Hello all!  Thanks for getting this started, Aina7.  I, like Gvh, completed an HGSE masters program (Education Policy and Management, 2014), and am going to be applying this year for the EdLd program.  Happy to answer any questions about the masters program! I was definitely one of the constant posters on here during that application season, though under a different name. 
For reference, here are my stats (same as going into the masters program for the most part): 
Applying for: EdLd
Program: Doctorate of Education Leadership
GRE Score: V 160, Q 153, AWA: 6.0 
Undergrad GPA:  3.9 major, 3.7 overall
Work Experience: 6 years - high school English teacher (urban and suburban schools), 6 years - office manager for IT firm (part-time overlapping with teaching years), 1 year project manager in policy and strategic communications for top education research organization (job since HGSE round 1 ) 
Volunteer Experience: Emerging Leaders Board Committee Chair for tutoring committee for foster care organization; event curator for TEDx event
Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..): Miami University of Ohio (Public)
Research Experience: Undergrad: Research project on public school funding inequity; Graduate: Research project exploring teacher satisfaction levels between urban and suburban schools - seeking ways to improve urban teacher retention (My research experience is limited, and I am more interested in moving into leadership roles in policy, or nonprofits, etc, hence the EdLd rather than the PhD. 
What Other Schools Are You Applying To: None. This is really the only program like it. All my eggs are in one basket... 
 
To get to individual questions: Aina7, I would say you definitely stand a shot but really try to improve your verbal and AWA GRE scores when you re-take in November.  Those are what they care about most.  The average GRE scores for HGSE masters programs are Q: 153   V: 159   V: 4.6.  But your experience is what matters most.  
 
dkh2121: HGSE doesn't have a specific number of students they accept.  The cohort can be larger or smaller based on the applicants any given year so it's really just a matter or whether or not they think you are a good fit.  I think the masters program actually has a higher percentage than dvh's estimate of 10-20% because those numbers are averaged in with the Phd and EdLd programs, which have between 4-5% accepting rates.  (eeeekk).  
 

It's not that I'm obsessed with prestige, I work in tech and specifically mentioning TC often confuses people. I'm not arguing that TC is an affiliate school of Columbia, it absolutely is without a doubt. I'm trying to address the original question: "Is a degree from TC ==== a degree from Columbia University?". The answer to which is Yes.

I'm really interested in e-learning, mobile learning, and gamification. 
 
GRE Score (old, I might retake): V 640 (90th percentile), Q 790 (88th percentile) AWA:5.0 
Work Experience: 1 year as an instructional designer at a leading EdTech company
Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..): B.S. Cognitive Psych from a Public Ivy
Undergrad GPA: 3.3
Grad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..): M.A. in Instructional Technology from an Ivy
Grad GPA: 4.0
Research Experience: 3 years in undergrad doing language, memory, perception, and learning research, 2 years between undergrad and masters working at Stanford doing language, computer cognition, and developmental psych research 
Applying for PhD or Masters: PhD
Program: Oxford(Learning and Technology)
What Other Schools Are You Applying To: MIT Media Lab, HGSE/Stanford/TC if I retake the GRE

If I end up applying to HGSE/Stanford/TC, I'll definitely have to retake the GRE. MIT Media Lab and Oxford don't require the GRE. I'm interested in the LTSD program at Stanford.

If I end up applying to HGSE/Stanford/TC, I'll definitely have to retake the GRE. MIT Media Lab and Oxford don't require the GRE. I'm interested in the LTSD program at Stanford.

It's not that I'm obsessed with prestige, I work in tech and specifically mentioning TC often confuses people. I'm not arguing that TC is an affiliate school of Columbia, it absolutely is without a doubt. I'm trying to address the original question: "Is a degree from TC ==== a degree from Columbia University?". The answer to which is Yes.

You should go with a fairly simple CV for graduate applications. 
 
Look at CV's of people in your field and those who you want to work with. Imitate their style as that will make it easier for them to get what they need from it during applications. 
 
There are many good places to get advice on how to put one together... like here: https://career.berkeley.edu/PhDs/PhDCV
 
Often colleges will have something akin to career services that will help you with this for free. Also, try approaching your adviser/mentor to review your CV to make sure it looks professional.

CVs typically don't have fancy formatting but they should be aesthetically pleasing. You should list your unpublished theses (both college and master's) on your CV somewhere. Take a look at the CVs of other grad students to get a sense of the kind of things you should include.

Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone here had some good information on this topic. I've read a lot of things online, and seem to always get mixed opinions. What exactly is TC's relationship with Columbia? Some say it's just an affiliate, and is actually really not all that closely linked with the school. Other's say that it is essentially the Graduate School of Education for Columbia University.

The former would say that a degree from TC =/= a degree from Columbia, and the latter would say that a degree from TC is a degree from Columbia University.

I have also read officially that a "diploma itself is from Columbia University as well." However, it seems like TC students don't have all of the resources a Columbia graduate student would have.


Anyone have any thoughts/facts? I'm a little more worried because I won't be going directly into teaching or anything like that - and so my field might not be as familiar with an education program like TC. If it's relevant at all, I'm going to TC for Applied Stats, and want to get into data analytics/science/quantitative research in different fields of Education (either non-profits, universities, etc.). I'm wondering if the TC degree will be equivalent to a Columbia degree; and while it comes off snobby (I certainly did NOT choose my school just based on names), I think it's an important question especially when you're paying $60k in loans and are passing on other big name schools. 
 
 

TLDR - Is a degree from TC ==== a degree from Columbia University?

Every M.A., M.S., and PhD degree are conferred by Columbia. I literally have no idea where MAC2809 is getting their information from.

Having a degree from Teacher's College IS (emphasis added) the same as a degree from Columbia University, even though it has a separate board of trustees, endowment, dean(president) than Columbia. TC is viewed as the graduate school of education at Columbia. Acceptance rates aren't a determiner of whether a school is part of a university. HGSE has higher acceptance rate compared to other schools at Harvard, that doesn't make it any less a part of Harvard University.

The quant score is a killer. You'll have to do a bit of stats work, so highlighting a proclivity towards learning quant skills through the GRE is pretty important.

The quant score is a killer. You'll have to do a bit of stats work, so highlighting a proclivity towards learning quant skills through the GRE is pretty important.

I'm really interested in e-learning, mobile learning, and gamification. 
 
GRE Score (old, I might retake): V 640 (90th percentile), Q 790 (88th percentile) AWA:5.0 
Work Experience: 1 year as an instructional designer at a leading EdTech company
Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..): B.S. Cognitive Psych from a Public Ivy
Undergrad GPA: 3.3
Grad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..): M.A. in Instructional Technology from an Ivy
Grad GPA: 4.0
Research Experience: 3 years in undergrad doing language, memory, perception, and learning research, 2 years between undergrad and masters working at Stanford doing language, computer cognition, and developmental psych research 
Applying for PhD or Masters: PhD
Program: Oxford(Learning and Technology)
What Other Schools Are You Applying To: MIT Media Lab, HGSE/Stanford/TC if I retake the GRE

Having a degree from Teacher's College IS (emphasis added) the same as a degree from Columbia University, even though it has a separate board of trustees, endowment, dean(president) than Columbia. TC is viewed as the graduate school of education at Columbia. Acceptance rates aren't a determiner of whether a school is part of a university. HGSE has higher acceptance rate compared to other schools at Harvard, that doesn't make it any less a part of Harvard University.

Anyone have any other inputs/sources? As expected, there's some conflict. 



 

For what it's worth, I worked with someone who graduated with a PhD from Teachers College. She always used to say, "A degree from Columbia takes you places.." I've never heard anyone say, "Oh, it's just Teachers College." Whether it is formally or completely linked with Columbia University or not, Teachers College has had a 100+ year presence in the education world, and certainly has a reputation that far exceeds most other graduate schools of education--I think that's the thing to keep in mind more than the 'Columbia connection' or relationship.

@galliardsghost thanks for the reference! any idea why it specifically says "Ph.D degrees are specifically conferred..." 

What about Masters degrees? And would anyone here know why they have an independent board/endowment/etc. Is this just a common thing?

Straight from Wikipedia, and relevant to several things you wrote:
 
Relationship with Columbia University[edit] Teachers College holds its own corporate status separate from Columbia University, including an independent board of trustees, budget, endowment, and multiple admissions standards; however, as noted in Columbia University's Faculty Handbook, the College is an official faculty of the University, serving as the University's Department of Education.[9] Teachers College faculty hold Columbia University appointments; its President is a dean of the University; and all students receive their degrees from Columbia University. As with the other Faculties of the University, Teachers College Ph.D. degrees are specifically conferred by Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.[10][11]

A degree from TC is a degree from Columbia.  Full stop.

Every M.A., M.S., and PhD degree are conferred by Columbia. I literally have no idea where MAC2809 is getting their information from.

The affiliation between TC and Columbia is complicated and is at least in part an artifact of political and legal and historical quirks that no one cares about at this point.  It is an arrangement that highly unique in post-secondary education.
 
They are the ed school affiliated with Columbia.  They will always be the ed school affiliated with Columbia.  "Teachers College, Columbia University" is the accepted convention as to how to represent the name of the institution.
 
As to hiring committees: opinions about the quality of TC vary widely, but I would argue that has little to do with TC's relationship to Columbia.  There are other schools in the Columbia universe that have equally up-and-down reps (SIPA, Arts)...regardless of the legal structures of their relationships.

you may find complete information regarding honorary doctorate degree here: http://www.gcconlineuniversity.com/uae/honorary-doctorate-degrees. you will get answer is it important to have or not, you can also find complete criteria to earn this degree.

It is true that HGSE has a smaller endowment than other Harvard schools, but let's not kid ourselves. Even schools like Harvard Law and HBS are known for giving small aid packages. Harvard knows students will pay.

Furthermore, Master's programs at most institutions around the world are rarely funded at all.

I say this all not to scare you away from HGSE; rather, to demonstrate that some of this is not a problem specific to HGSE...Master's programs simply aren't often funded.