RedPill

Maybe it's the vernacular used in certain papers, or maybe I'm just dumb. I'm having trouble reading research papers all the way through. I feel as though I don't retain as much as I should. How do you read papers published in journals? Do you take notes? On the computer, on a kindle/notebook or on paper? Tips?

http://www.weebly.com/ This site is an amazing tool for creating a website. Especially if you're a graduate/undergraduate student. In addition to LinkedIn, websites are a great way to promote yourself. Does anyone have any Weebly site examples for undergraduate students or masters students? I.e. Someone early on in their academic career(preferably people who plan to work in an academic setting, pursue a PhD, faculty or administrative position or utilize a CV) I'm looking for examples for my own site.

Great thread! Personally, I have LinkedIn, Academia.edu and Facebook. I may create a personal website before applying to programs.

Pinkster, please don't take this the wrong way, but I've been reading through your posts for sometime now. You're applying to social work programs, but you seem pretty unstable. You're dependent, you're very obsessed with "belonging" through relationships or otherwise. Neither of which is wise. Maybe you shouldn't go into a field where people would need to rely on YOU rather than the other way around... it sounds very, very dangerous for you future clients.. lives could literally be lost should you make a poor call. You noted how you're jealous of your friends going into the workforce, and their lifestyle..maybe you might want to do the same? See how you like it? Just my .02. As for the thread topic, you adapt just like anyone going to medical school, pharmacy school, nursing school, PA school, dental school, moving to a new high school, transferring to a new university, a new job offer or simply moving for the sake of moving. Imagine if someone moved from a different country like the poster above.. With proper confidence and discipline, I think you'll do absolutely great. However, I think you need to reconsider graduate school for maybe just a semester or a year. Perhaps you could work to save up money? Maybe travel and do some soul searching? You don't know how to pick out soap detergent at 23? You want to become a social worker. Lives will be in your hands. idk.. I have now become VERY wary of social workers from reading your posts. I will now be extensively researching any social workers and their programs that may come into my family's life.. I worry. I worry for your programs. I worry for you. I worry for the innocent people involved.

HALE is on my map!

Your point was well understood. Nobody was insinuating that a blank resume Harvard masters degree holder will obtain a job over a full resume Michigan masters degree holder. (Full disclaimer: I have no study to prove either case. This is my humble and qualitative opinion.)

I understand what you're saying. Although, Michigan girl, I think it's a little naive to say Harvard is a regional name. This isn't a flagship state school we're talking about where alumni are centered in the state. I'm sure many international students select Harvard, not just NE residents.. Maybe the name of Harvard won't aid you as much in your job hunt as much as it would law, business, dentistry(top match rates for those of you who aren't familiar with dental school) or medicine, but Harvard isn't a "regional" name. Anybody that you would be interacting in the field of education should know of Harvard, internationally and not. And there is no need to indirectly insult HGSEstudent with a questionable statement like "HGSEstudent, the "Harvard" name is only national / international in three fields: business, law, and medicine." (HGSE = Harvard Graduate School of Education) You wouldn't like it if someone said "Michigangirl, the "Michigan" name is only national/international in three fields: business, law and medicine," would you? The same applies for HGSEstudent's program. See also: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/subject-ranking/subject/social-sciences

Would you say work experience is relevant for one pursuing academic positions rather than student affairs/administration?

Yup Bums, that was like my life question for the longest time. Fact of the matter is, it's rare to find a faculty position at a top program without a masters degree. Maybe it's practicality, maybe it's tradition. It's hard to say. Plus I'm on the younger side of applicants, with no work experience or a masters degree, it's hard to make my case to any of my targeted programs as well as my peers and potential employers. Plus, unlike the sciences/humanities, our time to degree is only 5 or 6 years. That's less than medical school or dental school+specialization. Our masters are usually a year or 1.5 years(Michigan). I don't really see the big benefit of "saving that year. It'll be fun and beneficial to have a change of pace, to network at a different university and grow as a person before entering the PhD program. Remember, only 50% of doctoral candidates finish. Personally, wanting to go into research/policy/administration, I want to develop really strong quantitative skills. I'm hoping to take as many methods courses I can during my time at my masters. A former student at a top 10 program recommended I ask the different PhD programs if there was a way for me to apply to the doctoral program, and if I'm no good, would they be able to defer me to the MA program. Might be a good idea for those of us wanting to get the PhD, but I'm sure how viable of an option this is.. sounds like too much work for them.

I would say they're probably trying to match. They likely want to see if your research interests are legitimate matches or if you're applying to Harvard for the sake of Harvard. Harvard isn't student affairsy so if they see you're applying to a bunch of student affairsy practitioner-based programs, they may question your fit to their program. If they see you're applying to Harvard's peer programs, they may see you as fitting in with the program. Or maybe they're seeing if you value prestige. (Stanford, Vanderbilt, Harvard, Columbia vs Bowling Green State, Miss St., Idaho Christian University). Who knows, it's Harvard. -shrugs-

This may be different for us policy/theoretical higher ed people, but I've been told that GRE is fairly important for competitive programs. That may differ from student affairs, though Just my .02

Not sure how reliable this is, but here are breakdowns for things like GRE and acceptance rate for each top ranked program. These numbers are probably for doctoral programs. http://www.university-list.net/us/rank/univ-20131034.htm Better than nothing I suppose! Good luck y'all!

I'm not, but if I go to Vanderbilt, I would DEF want to work with Stephen Heyneman.

Crafting a personal statement is key. Also GRE scores are very important, so depending on how you did on the GRE, you'll have good chances. As for GPA, most masters programs use holistic review. Despite this generic statement all grad programs like to claim, a 3.0 cut-off is quite important. Your letters of recommendation will also be a big factor! You would have to do more research to see if this is appropriate, but try visiting UCLA and meeting with some faculty one day. Students do that all the time at our higher ed program, and our faculty are very receptive(school in Southeast) Though we're not so much "student affairs" as general higher ed and policy. Good luck!

Michigan(doctoral program) is number one while Harvard is 10th. In regards to name... I would like to find the name of any employer employing a higher ed masters graduate who isn't familiar with Harvard.

Harvard told me they have all kinds of internships, but finding a job really isn't an issue. Tuition is the primary concern. I would say loans shouldn't be an option if your goal is to get a PhD(which is mine). The ROI for an academic masters and doctoral degree simply isn't worthwhile. You likely won't be making very much in this field, so I would rather not take out loans. I mean, I'll have to take out loans for COL anyways. Thanks for your insight Mac

Adding onto everyone else's comments, I'll be willing to bet many of those publications are in undergraduate research journals. I've heard that publications are rare as well(across several fields, universities and programs - both top tier and bottom rank)

Umm what? Those electives should be easy As.

Sadly for me, those schools aren't going to get me where I need to go! Just heard from Stanford's MA webinar that there is very limited funding. -Sigh-

New job market survey featured in InsideHigherEd. May be of interest to some of you. There's good news and bad news! http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/12/02/study-explores-career-paths-history-phds

I meant those entering graduate school from undergrad/early during their career. i.e. the poll wouldn't mean much to the married 39 year old career changer. Sorry for the confusion, we can move it if you deem it necessary.

I usually say may the odds be ever in your favor. Nobody has complained thus far, but sometimes I don't hear back. I wonder if there's any causality link here.

This poll is for current graduate students/to be(accepted) graduate students. What made you think otherwise?

Well we all know that Pink!

Shh