Jump to content

phil413

Members
  • Posts

    87
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by phil413

  1. Hey WordlTraveler, I actually emailed admissions with this specific question. They said: "Everything at this point is electronic so we won’t be sending out any hard copies. The admitted student guide (found online) is where you can go for updates. You should have also registered for Axess, the student portal where you will find a to do list specific for you If you have any)." Hopefully, if you have a scholarship related reason that you need a hard copy for, you could specifically request a hard copy? Else, maybe you can print out hard copies from online.
  2. I have a email buddy for HGSE, but one thing I have noticed is that it has been much harder for me to get in touch with somebody from Stanford to speak with. Since we found out about HGSE, I have gotten a chance to speak with 2 current students and 1 alum. I have reached out to 2 Stanford alum but have heard nothing back. In that sense, it seems from this extremely limited anecdotal experience that HGSE students seem slightly more helpful and more enthusiastic to talk about Harvard. May I ask how you got to in touch with the Stanford student? Thanks MAC for sharing your thoughts as well! Indeed, it would be additionally helpful to understand whether you have had any experience with either of the schools or if you're going through a similiar decision process. SoCalGuy, would love to hear what you think as well.
  3. Thanks for sharing, that's very helpful. So it sounds like you have picked HGSE, then? Just to clarify on the name recognition in Asia point, did you mean that 7 out of 10 people have heard of Stanford yet it is obvious to them that they would pick Harvard, when only considering the name? If you can find faculty and resources specific to your area of interest, then it makes a lot of sense that you choose that school!
  4. Hi friends, I am having some difficulty making the decision between Stanford's ICE (International Comparative Education) program and Harvard's HDP (Human Development and Psychology) program. If anybody is faced with a similar decision or can speak to any of the below points as a current /past student, I would greatly appreciate your input! Below are the various factors that I'm thinking through. Please clarify or correct any misconceptions! · Nature of Program - Obviously, HDP and ICE are very different programs. I am interested in studying moral/emotional development within international populations and how that affects educational equity, so both courses are relevant to me. It seems to me that the HDP program is slightly more flexible and open-ended, which can be a good or bad thing, while ICE is certainly more focused (I don’t yet know whether it is actually feasible to cross-register for many classes across outside the ed school for Stanford) At HGSE, I am able to find faculty whose research aligns perfectly with my interests, but less so in Stanford GSE. However, I have yet to look outside the ed school -- ie. there may be opportunities conducting research with professors in departments outside of Stanford GSE. · Research vs Practical Experience – It seems to me that Stanford’s ICE program focuses on a culminating MA thesis paper, and very few students have internships. On the other hand, HGSE is much more practice-focused and many students take on practical experience or internships. In this regard, I prefer HGSE. But a MA paper is also good in that it is strong preparation for a PhD program one day, and I would not want choosing HGSE to potentially preclude me from a strong PhD application in the future. Can anyone speak to whether it is still feasible to have a strong research experience that produces substantial results at HGSE? · Length of Program – The MA program is already very short at both schools, but Stanford’s takes up the whole calendar year (including summer) while HGSE’s is 9 months. It seems that 9 months would be incredibly rushed, and I wonder if it is enough time to produce research AND glean practical experience AND complete coursework AND form lasting relationships w peers in a substantial manner… · Cohort Size – HGSE’s cohort is ~500 people, while Stanford’s is ~200. In terms of cohort bonding, class size and professor relationship, I prefer Stanford’s smaller size. However, the pro of a bigger school is the ability to build a bigger network (if this actually happens practically at HGSE), and better resources. Hence, in this respect I am undecided. · Intellectual Calibre of Peer Group – I have spoken to current students at HGSE, who tell me (and this is their perspective! Not mine!) that because the school is larger, they found the intellectual caliber/work ethics of some students in the program disappointing for such a top-notch institution. Granted, these types of students might be found in any program, but it was certainly disconcerting hearing them say that of Harvard. In addition, because Stanford GSE is smaller, technically the acceptance rate is lower – could that indeed have a bearing on the types of students found in the program? Can anyone speak to the cohort at Stanford? I don’t mean to sound judgmental on this point – I fully understand that “intelligence”, or insightful experiences, come in many different forms from people of various backgrounds. I know I can learn something from anybody. But, I was just wondering about the intellectual climate and level of rigorousness found in the peer groups of each program. The bottom line is that regardless of which graduate program, we learn from our peers as much as we learn from the professors, so I just want to be in an environment where I am constantly challenged and sharped by my peers. Can any current students at either of the programs speak to this? · Lifestyle – Weather and climate, Stanford obviously wins hands-down. But from what I understand, Palo Alto seems to have much higher living expenses compared to Cambridge. Hence, in this respect I am undecided. Additional Questions to Answer: - Career Prospects Post-graduation – How “easy” or possible is it for students to get a job or move on to their desired next step post-graduation? Where do most students from either program go? Is Stanford’s program indeed more PhD-geared than HGSE? How much does a program from either school strengthen a student’s candidacy for a job / PhD / research etc. ? Do different schools place students in specific roles (eg. more Stanford graduates end up pursuing a PhD vs students graduating from Harvard, for example?) - Cohort / Community Bonding – Harvard seems to be much better resourced as an ed school compared to Stanford, and so does give me the impression that it is much better at maintaining that cohort loyalty / a sense of belonging among alumni. Might this have an effect on how accessible and ready-to-help the future network of graduates become to each other? - Reputation – Would the slight difference in reputation have any effect in reality? Negligible point, but does sadly have some bearing especially overseas, whether I like it or not. Argh! Please let me know if I missed any important factor to consider in addition to the above, or if this is even a good approach at all! I would love to hear your two cents, especially if you are a current /past student, or if you are also currently choosing between these two schools. Please also let me know if you have any thoughts or experiences in general to contribute that I might not have thought of. Your insight would be tremendously helpful. What are some key factors you are considering as you make your decision between programs? Please share, and please also let me know if the above thinking sounds like I’m on the right track, or if It's completely out of whack! Thank you so much! [edit] Apologies in advance that my post is rife with grammatical errors. I am actually typing this half-asleep, as it is late where I am. Pardon me! [/edit]
  5. That makes sense. Thank you for clarifying, guys .
  6. Hoping, Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I'm currently deciding between Stanford (ICE) and HGSE (HDP) as well, and it is a tough decision. Your insights have surely helped. However, not to pick a fight here (I really have no intention), but what did you mean by "Worst case scenario, you can always teach in Asia "? I may have been wrong in my interpretation, but I couldn't help being bothered by this statement, as it seems slightly callous and generalizing to me. Why is this the "worst case scenario?" It is many people's, especially those with a heart for certain Asian populations, "best case scenario". And it did come across as if finding a teaching job in Asia would be your last and easily attainable resort. Again, I may be too sensitive here, but I'm surprised at what seems to be such a casual, throwaway comment from a HGSE grad and fellow educator, so I would just like to understand.
  7. Hey! Are you a troll? Just wondering...
  8. Why? Can you substantiate this please?
  9. Just to clarify, if we didn't receive any information on scholarship in our acceptance letter, that means there is none offered? And there is no travel stipend or housing for the Admit Open House, is that correct? Thank you!
  10. Dude thanks! I felt bad asking such a practical question amidst all this excitement!
  11. Is anyone else having trouble logging in to the prematriculation website ?
  12. erms so i still haven't been able to log in to the system....when is admit day!? argh
  13. also accepted , thankful, congrats all. Now, decisions time.........!
  14. Hmmm, so this is interesting (attempts to divert conversation from this compulsive refreshing, which can't be good for anybody ). What do we think is driving the disproportionate amount of viewers at this critical time of decisions release (OR SO WE THOUGHT...) on this HGSE thread, versus any other ed schools at admissions release time? I mean, "because it's Harvard" would be a gross simplification, since IMHO i don't think other schools fall far below, if at all, in terms of reputation or program quality. Any takers (just for conversation's sake...)?
  15. Haha I wonder how many of those actually applied / have vested interests, or if this is just amusing to watch...
  16. ughhhhhhhhh. guess it isn't coming out today....
  17. Oh, great! Well yes I do hope they get the emails out soon in order to facilitate people making travel arrangements!
  18. Not to be a naysayer, but I have a sad feeling it might not be today. I emailed Admissions yesterday asking them for a precise date for the admit students event, just in case / so I could potentially plan travels around it, and they couldn't seem to give me a set date. My thinking goes: if results were to be released today, shouldn't they have locked in on a date by now?
  19. Haha good luck, all! I have found, in freaking out over Stanford, that freaking out probably wasn't the best course of action for me and was unduly anxiety-inducing. Hence, I will not freak out over Harvard *commences to refresh page 2308420394 times* (jk). kijewels, if you are waiting on PhD, didn't those results come out awhile ago?
  20. I'm hoping that's the case also! Does anybody have any guesses as to when the admit student event might be, for planning-ahead purposes?
  21. Ahhh yes. I submitted the form but did not send in the tax-related forms. Yikes. Aren't you an international student as well? I haven't completed my tax return and w-2s yet though... O_O
  22. Are you talking about the financial aid forms, or what :/ ? I wasn't even aware we had to send in any tax return / W-2 forms...could you please enlighten?
  23. Hi dbrown, career switcher here as well from a consulting background into education. Certainly do-able in my perspective, but I have not yet started so we shall see! PennGSE also has executive , part-time ed programs I believe, geared towards working professionals. Definitely look into that. Else, Stanford GSE's POLS program has a large intersect, it seems, with organizational policy and is a popular double-degree with Stanford's business school, if I'm correct.
  24. Sorry Moyru...remember that whereever you end up, you will be doing amazing things and a step towards your journey either way ! Congrats to all who got in and no worries/you will kick ass wherever/best of luck to the rest! I also got accepted into ICE with scholarship -- so I guess that makes 3 of us so far in ICE on this thread alone...are you guys planning to attend admit weekend? If so, I hope to see/meet you all! (BTW just to clarify, is the $400 only expensed if we choose to enroll ultimately?)
  25. BETTER THAN WAITING ALL WEEKEND FOR IT, AMIRITE? (hysterical at this point -- k best log off before i lose my marbles . Happy Friday!)
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use