[Penn GSE 2016]

That's you!  I'm in the box on the left right now driving Athena crazy with IED questions  

[Penn GSE 2016]

Web chat with current students in 3 minutes!  Let me know if anyone has any questions!  They will have students from most departments.

[Penn GSE 2016]

6 minutes ago, phillyhed said:

Higher Ed has PhD (only offered full-time), EdD (for the past several years, only part-time although they didn't matriculate anyone this year), and Executive EdD. 

I applied for the PhD. No invite here. 

Interesting differences there.  Well, there's definitely still hope for everyone!  It sure seems like they're contacting just a few people a day.

[HGSE 2016]

2 minutes ago, Huskyboy2015 said:

 @ Heather: Great to know you are also applying for IEP program, we should stay in touch and hopefully we both will get in  I did my FAFSA also and it was processed. I put in the code for hgse. How do you check if hgse financial aid website says received or not?? Is there a hgse financial aid website we have to go on and fill something out??

When you get the email from HGSE it will have the link and code for their financial aid website, and from there you can view whether your FAFSA was received.  It probably wasn't because they have a disclaimer up saying that the federal government will not be sending them info until late February, despite what our FAFSA confirmation emails have indicated

If you don't get the HGSE financial aid email soon I would email/call them and ask what's up, as it seems most of us masters applicants received it.

[Penn GSE 2016]

I see on the results page an EdD Higher Ed invite for Penn via email.  Someone here???

Also, wait, there's an EdD vs. PhD in Higher ed?  I didn't realize GSE had that many options.

[HGSE 2016]

9 minutes ago, Huskyboy2015 said:

I also received the application complete email. No financial aid email as yet. Any IEP applicants here??

Yep, I'm IEP.  I got the financial aid email.  I'm sure it's not an indication of anything whether you got it or not, but if you don't get it soon you may want to check.

It's a very short application with just a few questions about your financial history.

I submitted my FAFSA several weeks ago and the US government said it all went through, but HGSE's financial aid website still says "NOT RECEIVED"... They do have a big notice saying that they won't be receiving FAFSA info until late February, so I guess that's normal... and they said that financial aid info will go out at the end of March/beginning of April for admitted students.

[Penn GSE 2016]

I bet they send the PhD stuff separately as the masters programs also notify separately!! Don't give up hope yet!!!

[Michigan Ann Arbor 2016]

I have no investment in this topic, but did you guys notice on the results page:

 

The University Of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Combined Program In Education And Psychology, PhD (F16)

Accepted via Phone on 20 Jan 2016

20 Jan 2016

POI left a voicemail telling me I've been accepted into the program. Email with the funding offer and visitation day information to come.

 

Dunno if this is relevant to y'all.

[How much more money would sway your choice?]

4 minutes ago, GradSchoolTruther said:

It's ridiculous to get into that much debt for grad school. There are programs that offer better funding.

Everyone has a different perspective on this.  Personally, I don't have any undergraduate loans like many of my friends, so I'm putting my investment into something else that will significantly change the course of my career.

[Penn GSE 2016]

12 minutes ago, ClassicalEducator said:

Thanks, it seems that I had already registered for it and forgot that I had until now. Congratulations on your acceptance by the way, that's very impressive!

Haha, funny that you forgot!  Thanks!

[HGSE 2016]

19 minutes ago, travelgirl125 said:

I also got an email about my application being complete, which scared me at first because I submitted my application on October 21st! But it seems that a lot of other people have gotten it, so hopefully it is a sign that they are starting to review applications.  I am applying for a Master's in Higher Ed, and it said that my decision would be available in March.

Yep, mine also said March.  I also applied a while ago.  I think they are just actually starting to look at masters applications now.

[Penn GSE 2016]

10 minutes ago, ClassicalEducator said:

Hi Heather, do you have any information about how/where to access either of those web chats? I checked Penn's website and didn't see anything mentioned. I'm wondering if it only went out to admitted students yet.

Thanks for the response!

No, it was just something I saw on the website, so it's definitely not only for admitted students!

You can sign up here:  https://upenn-grad.edu.185r.net/survey/index.php?time=2016-01-21%2019%3A00%3A00&id=119&timeID=22

The direct link to the webchat is here (they will send this to you via email after you register):  http://upenn.adobeconnect.com/wc012116/

 

The full list of future events is here:  https://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions_financial/events#online

[Penn GSE 2016]

57 minutes ago, phillyhed said:

Another day of no news...sigh.

My evening will consist of a bubble bath, a book, and wine! My anxiety level is off the charts.

My wife asked me last night what I'm going to do if I get the interview-- assuming that the stress will stay the same or ratchet up. I explained to her that I don't expect that to happen since I'll actually have some control over the interview. Right now, I can't do anything and it's making me crazy!

Sorry no news yet  Maybe they like to release information on Fridays.  I've seen that in past threads, and I found out about my acceptance on a Friday afternoon.  But I totally agree that when things are in your control, like preparing for an interview, you can feel calmer knowing the ball in temporarily in your court.  Of course, after the interview, it's back to panic mode...

That wasn't helpful .  My fingers are crossed for you to hear good news soon!!!

[HGSE 2016]

I apologize to everyone else for briefly turning this into a conversation about Penn  

[HGSE 2016]

3 minutes ago, marature said:

Hmm.. that's interesting about Quechua. Maybe it's something to do with Prof Nancy Hornberger's work? I think she did (does??) a lot of research in that area. No worries about not knowing it - it's a minority language, though a lot of language development work has been done on it. I wouldn't think it's very well-known outside of linguistic/anthropological circles.

Yes, I bet it has mostly to do with her work.  They told me other students are studying Tibetan, Swahili, and Burmese, so there is definitely an active language scene going on!

[Penn GSE 2016]

1 hour ago, marature said:

Hadn't heard about it! Thanks for the heads up - unfortunately it's not a good time for my time zone, but do let us know what you find out

I'll take notes, and if you have any questions you want me to ask, let me know!

There is another web chat with current students that may be more convenient for your time zone:  March 2 9 AM EST, you can register online.

[HGSE 2016]

29 minutes ago, marature said:

I'm hoping to do Arabic too! (Actually Jordan is the main place I've heard of for learning, for the immersion experience; they have language schools for expats and it's a relatively stable country). I speak the colloquial dialect where I work, but would like to learn MSA to read and write... btw, if you want to speak, it's best to find a teacher/conversation partner who is from the country you are planning to work in, because what they speak on the street can be quite different in different countries... 

anyway that's beside the point. for language, I was also thinking mainly of auditing, so that it would be cheaper and low pressure. I guess it would depend on the scheduling, tho'. I had thought of other classes in the area as well - e.g. at a YMCA type place, so thanks for the tip on the community college.

I did get the 'application complete' email, and haven't got the fin aid one yet.

I have a friend who did a summer immersion in Amman!  You're so right about all that. 

I am completely ignorant about the different dialects of Arabic, although I am aware there are many, so for starters I'll go with MSA.  I asked Penn about auditing language and Lauren the program person said that there are suddenly a lot of IEDP students taking Quechua.  I was like, uh, what's Quechua (google tells me it's a language spoken in the Andes).  I'm starting to feel like a right dummy going into these programs 

[Would YOU turn down Harvard?]

1 minute ago, Gvh said:

Yeah I lived at Cronkhite. I mean, I think the rent was about 900/month, which is not particularly expensive for Cambridge. Plus you get a meal plan 5 days a week. I don't remember the exact details of the costs and plans but basically it didn't really turn out to be all that much more than living in your own place, unless you want to live way out there, which I don't recommend. It was worth it for me, especially being so close to classes and all my friends. Ultimately it's personal choice, but definitely explore all options  

Is it hard to get student housing or is there enough space for everyone?

[Penn GSE 2016]

Also, anyone else attending the virtual open house tomorrow night at 7 PM? It's a Q&A with current students.  I'll be there asking every question on my mind!

[Penn GSE 2016]

2 minutes ago, marature said:

Thanks for checking out the tuition thing. I see from my notes from last year's research that I did get a figure for how much each course cost, but they seem to have ditched that and only have the 'calculator' thing on the Web site. I do believe the 5 for the price of 4 thing must have been cancelled, since it's not mentioned anywhere either. So unfortunately it looks like the price stays the same, as you say, no matter whether you do it quicker or not!

Are you leaning toward 1 or 1.5 years if you go to Penn?  I'm torn  but I think I'd prefer to do it in 1.5 because I'm new to the field and want to have enough time to experience everything and take it in, plus taking language courses on top of the curriculum, having a part-time job...

[HGSE 2016]

1 hour ago, graciasadios said:

If you want to learn a language, I recommend going to Caracas instead of Cambridge. It would be a cheaper and you would learn the language more. Or, if you're set on auditing a language course, you could take a class at a Bunker Hill Community College for a fraction of the cost.

Well, I don't know if Caracas would be the place to go to learn Arabic, but I get your point There's no reason to pay HGSE to teach me a language when you can learn it literlaly everywhere.  Just that grad school seems like the best time and place to do it.  

58 minutes ago, nicolemae said:

Good point! I wonder whether the focus of the program is perhaps different at each school. I can't speak for TC or Penn. At HGSE, many of my IEP friends concentrated on sharpening their other tools -- for some that was econ or stats, and for others that was policy or intl development. In any case, IEP at HGSE seemed much more centered around understanding the higher level world around international education, which is also quite apparent when you look into the bios of the faculty directing/teaching IEP students.

Also, given that a lot of them came from abroad (either as international students or as expats living overseas), many of them already had language skills under their belt, which was very impressive. 

Yes, who knows if I'll even get in with so many international applicants dominating my particular field.  My focus is on development, which is why language is so important. I do already speak Spanish, but I want to refocus my interests in the Middle East.

[Would YOU turn down Harvard?]

1 hour ago, Gvh said:

The incoming masters class each year at HGSE is around 700 among the 13 (14?, I can't remember) different masters cohorts/divisions. So it is a big group all together, HOWEVER I found that everyone found their niche, either within their own cohort or within some other community/network/group. It can be overwhelming at the beginning, but it was pretty life-changing and inspiring to meet so many like-minded and awesome people doing incredible things. If you end up attending, I recommend living on campus, because you got even more of that community feel!  I feel like I made some lifelong friends in the program!

Thanks!  Although financially, I feel like living on campus is usually way more expensive (at Cronkhite?)

[HGSE 2016]

Just now, nicolemae said:

AFAIK, there are no foreign language courses offered at HGSE, but of course lots of good courses on bilingualism and languages. Trust me, 4 courses will be more than enough on your plate per semester.

Yes, but auditing a language would be low-pressure.... and really important to my job search in International Ed.... hmm....

It's funny because for the equivalent program at TC, studying a language is mandatory, and at Penn, basically everyone does it.  Both schools have FLAS fellowships and encourage you to learn a language.  It's just strange given the program that they wouldn't at HGSE.

[Would YOU turn down Harvard?]

Just now, Gvh said:

I can vouch for this too, @Heather1011. They really are great. I went to them a few times and found the experience very helpful!

This is very encouraging---I need all the help I can get!  Coming from a teaching background, my job searches have been very independent but straightforward---you just apply to schools to teach the subject you teach, it's not all that complex.  But going into a field of nonprofits, international/national government agencies, UN agencies, etc, will be very overwhelming and I don't know where to start!  I will need this kind of support.  I really like the small cohort/community feel that Penn has, but I'm sure Harvard's cohorts also have strong sense of community.

 

[Would YOU turn down Harvard?]

Just now, nicolemae said:

Speaking of which, the career services people at HGSE are fantastic at their jobs. I can't explain how well-connected they are -- they help you prepare for your job search starting the summer before you enroll at Harvard; it's kind of wild! 

That's amazing!