higherEdGuy

They called because I was a finalist in the Student Press Initiative Program, but he said that they still might not get me if someone else wants me or anyone for that matter. I am not sure if they interviewed everyone.

I got a call from Zankel 1200 people applied. I am confused if the man on the phone said I got the award or not but he said that there is a selection process where they chose 160 applications from the 1200 and sent them off to the prespective slot holder (math buddies, reading buddies, Student press...) and from that they have a number of spots to fill. Mine was from Student Press and he said they chose 10 people...But he said everyone will find out in two weeks..GOOD LUCK!

I had a phone interview with someone from Zankel yesterday apparently there were 1200 applications and from that they chose about 100 or so and then they are filling spots from that. He said they are submitting their choices friday and we would know in like two weeks.

Got award letter today...they said everyone should get them soon.

So I drafted up my letter of resignation the other day just to get a feel for what I was going to say. I've been nervous because I know my boss is going to freak out because most of the work we do occurs during the summer and I am leaving at the beginning of May. I have a messy desk and somehow the draft of my letter of resignation ends up in a folder of things for my boss to sign. I left the folder on my desk and my boss sees it and know its for her and looks through it!!! She did this two days ago and said nothing. Meanwhile stupid me is walking around the office craking jokes and what not and everyone knows I am leaving! It wasn't until my friend comes to work today and found out and told me what happened. Now I just feel stupid lol. Atleast I am giving an entire month's notice! But she doesnt know that I know that she knows...so the jokes on her...actually its still on me...Awkward!

It is a scholarship. I do not know what they base it on, but I got it too... pretty substantial.

I guess it depends on what you look for. I like New York and I am young. I have a fellowship from an outside source and am working on others. I have a free place to live in new york. I guess its all situational. Also my program offers really good internships that pay for things like housing or tuition points. So in the end it all works out. I'd rather be happy where I want to be than funded and unhappy. And am I mistake but I thought lots of Masters programs were less than ideal when it comes to funding?

https://my.tc.columbia.edu/render.UserLayoutRootNode.uP?uP_tparam=utf&utf=%2fcp%2fip%2flogin%3fsys%3dsctssb%26url%3dhttps://info.tc.columbia.edu/pls/wwwprod/bwrkrhst.P_DispAwdAidYear https://my.tc.columbia.edu/render.UserLayoutRootNode.uP?uP_tparam=utf&utf=%2fcp%2fip%2flogin%3fsys%3dsctssb%26url%3dhttps://info.tc.columbia.edu/pls/wwwprod/bwrkrhst.P_DispAwdAidYear Here is a link that gives you all the tuition and fees for 2009-10 I'm not sure what they have changed to this year. Not all of them will apply, but it is a good guideline. Most people that do not have full time jobs take about 12 or more courses a semester which at the rate they have advertised is about $13,524 plus some $368 fee which I believe pays for access to all of the Columbia stuff. Many of the programs only require 32 points which are the same as credit hours. So it is quite feasible to finish a degree in one year if that is the case. Usualy the Ed.M take two years. What I would reccomend is that you email the department or Admissions and ask to correspond with a current student who can give you the low down on what goes down. The most important are all the little things like rent in NY if you do not want to live like an artist is $1500 or more unless you have roomates. I have been doing some research and it seems like it might be better to live in one of the bourghous like Brooklyn (Williamsburg) which is like a spill over area from the city or Edgewater new Jersey which is convienient. I personally would live in Harlem/Morningside area. Transportation for a metro card is like $89 a month unlimited and walking is free. I do not know about your program, but alot of them offer a number of internships and assistantships that would likely aid in the financing. Eat ramen. Tuition is pretty much coverd under federal loands because they guarantee 20,000 a year and the best thing about federal loans are the income based repayments which equate your income to you payment amount so you wont have to make unimaginable payments. Also if you are going to be working in public service job i believe they cancel your federal loans after 10 years or 20 so pay back as slow as possible!!!Im sure the only thing you should really worry about is the tuition all other things you would be paying for any because you have to live somewhere and hey why not NY!!! Hope this helps. Im moving in May better yet on my birthday...it will be epic.

I got my acceptance this morning. I almost had a heart attack couldnt even tell my mom on the phone!!! Masters In Higher and Post-secondary Administration!!!!

Could be just to rake in revenue.

I applied without knowing...I really felt like I didn't have enough time to develop my statement, but oh well. I have bigger things to worry about...like if I actually got accepted.

I think its because the school is still closed today. So they may not have opened it back up.

I am applying to a M.A. program, so I don't think many of us get interviewed.

I am from Tampa so we are like neighbors.

Haha I don't know yet. You should fill out my roommate application and I will probably take two or three months to decide...that is if you get your application in by early decision....I do things in true TC fashion. J/k I love TC I just wish I could know already because the wait gets worse each day.

You are so funny. They just updated their application system thats all. I kind of did the same thing I could have had a heart attack.

I called admissions today and I found out that M.A. students are evaluated by the admissions personnel and Ed.M and Ph.d candidates are evaluated by the department. To my understanding there are tons more M.A. students so that might be the reason it takes so long to get a decision if you are M.A.

Interesting Story. I studied abroad in Spain for about 6months and while I was there i met this kid named Steve. His mom came to visit him and we ended up having a great time. When we came back to the U.S. Steve and I became best friends. His mom found out that I wanted to do Higher ed Admin. So she took me to New York with them on their family vacation. She tricked me because what she really wanted to do was show me Teachers College because it was her Alma mater. So obviously I fell in love with the school and thats why I ended up applying. As I was doing my application she sends me a letter and tells me how happy it makes her to know that I might be going to her Alma mater and good luck and all that jazz. At the bottom she writes "P.S. You know how much my husband and I adore you, but what you don't know is what this means for your future in New York. It just so happens that we own several apartments in the city and next August one of them will be yours. Hope this helps." I cried. The end.

This also makes me little angry because I am really busy for the next two weeks at work and now I have to sit and pour over this Fellowship application without even the slightest hint that it actually means something. Oh and I only have 5 DAYS! If this is generic why wouldn't they automatically give it to you after you submit your application so that you have time to work on it and give it actual thought. But alas I am still thankful that it isn't a rejection letter.

No nothing yet. I think we really will have to wait until March. I looked at the results from last year and I don't see any from my program until the beginning of march:(

I know the cost but several factors curve the cost. I have a free place to live and I have no intention of returning to the south after I graduate. I do not usually let cost curve me from something I want to do. If that were the case I might never have gone to college in the first place. I have no undergraduate debt and I would gladly welcome a debt that would cause me more joy (me being where I want and doing what I want) than the labor it will cost to pay it back. I am also hoping to maybe get a job at TC or one of the affiliate schools.

Hello all. I am new to this site and since I have joined there has been a tremendous sense of relief due to the community I feel here. I am only applying to Teachers College at Columbia University for Higher and Postsecondary education M.A. program. Now I would like to relieve some much need stress. I want to tell you how this experience has been for me. I haven't had the opportunity to speak candidly about this to anyone so here it goes. I recently graduated from college in Aug 09. I have worked for the university that I went to undergrad for about 4 years (Wrote for the school paper, tutored for the university writing center, worked as an assistant in the office of admission) and after graduation I obtained a professional position. This is what I feel beyond anything else makes me an ideal candidate for this degree. What worries me however is my undergrad GPA. I only achieved a 3.1, which to me is not horrible its just kind of "blah." It was not due to lack of effort, but more situational things wherein I had to take care of my younger sibling while in school, so I was a little pressed for time because in addition to the jobs I listed above I also worked at Publix part time. And to be honest I didn't even make many bad grades mainly just four. 3 C's and one D in my sophomore year. I did graduate college in 3 years. I wasn’t trying to rush but my mom got sick and my grandfather was ill and I was afraid they wouldn’t have the opportunity to see me finish so I kicked it up a notch and took extreme course loads (dumb I know) but I do not regret it because there was purpose behind it. Both people are fine now and hopefully will see me all the way to my PhD or EdD. What I had hoped to do was convey this in my personal statement without sounding like I am giving excuses, instead merely telling the truth. I am a first generation college student and I am also black. These two aspects have also played a large role in my life because I live in a very southern place and attend a VERY Southern institution. Lots of things in my life did not line up in the easiest path, but I would not change it for the world. It has helped me find security in my own ability to be better even in the worst of circumstances. It is also the reason I have come to choose the career that now, hopefully I can get further education in order to pursue. The program did not require the GRE or even suggest that you take it. So I was left to my personal statement, resume, LOR's, and A 15pg writing sample. My LOR's are sparkling, I got two from english professors who adore me and pushed me to go to grad school in the first place. And another form my current employer who also is crazy about education, she was over the moon when I told her I wanted to get a M.A. A letter was also sent by an alumnus that I am close to. I did not ask her to write it so I don’t think it is a part of my application, but she said it couldn’t hurt. My resume is only filled with Higher Ed jobs. My writing statement is research that I did on race, mental health and how the two attribute to physical illness, specifically Heart disease, and actually after I wrote this paper the Professor who taught the class asked me if I ever considered going to grad school because of the thorough nature of my research and I got an A so I assume the paper was good. Lastly my personal statement which I worked on for quite some time and felt that it was perfect (at least in the eyes of this beholder). I visited Teachers College and went to a program specific open house where I was able to me everyone from the major professors (including the Director of Admissions and most of the admission staff who were all graduates of the program) to current program students. They were quiet specific about what they wanted. I took notes and came home and went to work on giving them exactly the kind of specific things that they wanted and by the end I felt that I did the best that I could. They allow for quiet a large personal statement, which worked completely in my advantage because I was able to include everything I wanted to say and also forced me to evaluate myself in an honest light. At first I thought that this entire process was drawn-out and just unnecessary, but the things I have learned about myself and the field I want to be in have been worth all of the effort. I would like to share my personal statement (or any of my materials) with anyone who is still writing there’s and may need some direction. I do not know if it will help but it may and that’s all I need to know in order to share. Message me hosien88@aim.com. Thanks for reading, sigh that was a lot to get off my shoulders!!!!