Vulpix

They do interviews for masters candidates?

This is very encouraging for me. I have a personal interest in IEP but have mostly classroom experience, and I framed my SOP about the connections I see between my current work as an urban teacher and that of international issues. Other than that, I have the grades and scores and hopefully recommendations to back me up. So it's nice to know that HGSE valued and understood your genuine interest in policy despite your different background. The only part that scares me is that so many applicants to IEP come from all over the world, with peace corps and international NGO experience.

Yes! The few people I've told I'm applying to Harvard, I keep saying it as a "and because why not, just to see!" but in reality I wouldn't be trying if I didn't think there was a chance, and I think about it CONSTANTLY. That is such a lovely idea your dad had about framing the rejection, because it's so true. You have to be ambitious just to apply. All of us applicants have big dreams if we're even willing to put ourselves out there for Harvard. Just doing that proves we are motivated people, and is worth celebrating. (We'll see if I really say that to myself come rejection in March ). I will definitely scrapbook my rejection or acceptance. Do you happen to know how many people were in the IEP program when you were there? Is it the second biggest after Ed Policy? Also, did you have a lot of Ed Policy experience prior to your masters degree?

I'm in a similar boat in that I've only told a few people at work... mostly because if I *don't* get it I will probably stay with my job... not sure. Also, I've told a lot of my friends and family that I'm applying to grad school, but I haven't told most of them I'm applying to Harvard because, well.... you know. You were already into the EdM program I see... did you have the same GRE scores then, similar experience? Or has it been a few years?

A student as in one of your students? I think that's different. I started with a quote from a civil rights activist. Not a well known one, but still.... generic. Yours sounds lovely though

Thoughts about starting your SOP with a quote? This feels very cliche and high school to me, but I've applied to 3 schools with such a start and am now second guessing it after some feedback. I didn't use an overly generic Gandhi quote or anything, but still, does this show a lack of originality? Am I putting too much thought into it and it doesn't really matter? I've changed it up for my final school (Harvard) so that the quote is embedded in the intro and not the opening sentence. I hate intros and conclusions.

I'm applying for EdM, but I'm mentioning faculty members whose interests match mine. I guess this isn't necessary for my degree level? But still, it's a big part of my desire to study at HGSE, so why not... I guess I'm a little self-conscious it sounds like "sucking up," but it's not... it's legit.

Hallelujah! My 3rd recommender FINALLY submitted after I sent her several panicked emails . Now my application that I submitted before Thanksgiving is finally complete, on December 13. I was hoping that if it was in by Dec. 1 I'd have a chance of hearing back before February. I'm still hopeful. I know from reading some past threads that some people who submitted early November found out before Christmas. I definitely do not expect that, but maybe end of January is a reasonable prayer? I guess it might vary by program.

I'm about to go for a second masters in education, but that's because I'm switching fields entirely (teaching to policy) and my masters in literacy will hardly get me jobs in the field of international policy . But I think in your case, it may be somewhat redundant, given the fact that your experience can take the place of that specific degree. If you can get a job in the field, then I don't think it's necessary, but you can see for yourself what job prospects are like. My guess is that you don't need it right now, unless you are certain it's something you want and will advance your career significantly. I do think, in general, your experience will be more valued.

Hello! Finally someone else! When I visited TC's IED open house, they spoke specifically about that GPA evaluation for international students. Sounded like a pain, but glad you already did it! I'm sure your work experience will make up for your lack of research/education related experience. I'm in the opposite boat---I have the numbers and the research/education background, somewhat, but my work experience has been as a NYC teacher, which is hardly exotic to schools in the US. I just hope they read the heart in my SOP and take me! I've submitted 3/4, but one of my recommenders is taking her sweet time and driving me NUTS with "I'll get to it tomorrow!" Emails every day. So even though I applied in late November, the only application that is complete is the NYU one because they only wanted 2 recs. *Sigh*

What made you choose TC? If I'm lucky, I will have to make a choice like that.

Where did you end up attending?

Keep in mind that if the average is 4.5, then many students who were accepted got 4.0. I think with a strong SOP/experience/GPA, it's definitely adequate.

Thanks both of you! I did see that people who had applied in Nov/Dec generally did find out by February, so although that's not a very quick turnaround, it's still over a month sooner than all the other schools I'm applying to

Who else is looking to study IED/IE/IEP somewhere? Who are you? What are your interests? Where are you applying? What are your thoughts on all the different programs? I'm applying to the four schools listed in my signature. My area of interest is education in emergencies, refugee education, and humanitarian issues. I have a really great feeling about Penn's program, but location of TC in NYC is hard to beat in terms of opportunities for internships. Also, HGSE as a school gives me a great vibe, and I like the cohort aspect that it and Penn have to offer, since I will be a full-time student, hopefully. TC has its drawbacks due to large size/slightly impersonal, but the faculty in this department seem excellent. NYU's international internship opportunities are still very appealing, and one of the professors there matches my interests very strongly. Where are you, friends?

I just put: Name University - Program Title I'm incredibly anxious and the soonest I can really hope to hear back from ANYTHING is end of January! All of mine have mid-to-late March decision timelines, with Penn being the only exception with a rolling admission. But since I just submitted that app, and my last recommendation is not yet in, it will probably not be sent for review until mid-to-late December, and by then I'm screwed with the holidays, they won't look at it for many weeks. It's also terrifying having Penn be the first one to decide, because their cohort size for my program is about 30 students, and I've heard about people getting rejected by Penn and getting into HGSE. But receiving a rejection for 1/4 schools and then having to wait another two months to know if I got in anywhere will be painful. I just have to hope and pray that if HGSE doesn't happen, NYU and TC are more likely. I definitely can't let myself believe any of these are "safety" schools, but at this point I'd just like reassurance I'll get in somewhere. Knowing Penn might very well reject me will be a discouraging start to the process, even if it ends well for me somewhere. On the contrary, getting into Penn will make the rest of the process so much easier because at least I know I don't need to reconsider the next year of my life.

I haven't submitted my HGSE app yet, but I can see on my application that it says GRE scores "Verified" in green font, which appeared a few days after I had submitted them, and I am no longer able to edit my self-reported scores, because HGSE knows them to be legitimate. I'm sure that if ETS told you they are sent, HGSE has them. If you've already submitted, you might be unable to see the same verification that I can see on my in-progress application. In rare instances, if your name does not exactly match in their systems (like a middle initial was used in one system and not in another), they will have to match the scores manually which could delay verification. Not sure about the confirmation email but I would assume you should get one... I got one from NYU and Penn....

I don't know about your program, but MANY TC students come directly from college You have a good shot as long as you explain your interest and relevant work/classes you've taken in college.

I hit submit today! Just waiting on one recommender to submit by the end of the weekend. So I guess I'll hear back at the end of January. I'd like to think it'll be sooner, but probably not.

I wish I could hit submit and then completely forget I applied until March

I also think that gradcafe doesn't represent all of the applicants/admitted students (in fact, a small percentage), and people post GRE more often when they feel somewhat confident about it (as I did), so I wouldn't compare yourself too much to the admitted students you see on here. Your writing score is average for HGSE students and that is the section they value most, so you should feel confident about that. If your experience and goals translate well into your SOP, I see no reason you don't stand as good a chance as any. Also, I've also read people on this forum in past years getting rejected with spectacular scores, so clearly, scores really aren't everything.

I wonder how need-based is determined. Obviously the FAFSA, but I'm really just wondering more broadly how this works. Obviously most of us will not be working while we are in school. Is need then determined based on how much "savings" you have? Is there a cap on the number of students who can receive this 14K?

Pretty much any random question I asked, and some program specific opportunities I was unaware of. I mostly talked to the girl who is in my program, but I read the general admissions questions people were throwing out there---applications are looked at holistically, yada yada yada. If you have any specific questions that come to mind I can tell you if I learned about them while it's all still fresh in my mind! I learned that it varies program by program the availability of assistantships. For Higher Ed, for example, it's basically guaranteed, but for my program, IEDP, it's very competitive because there aren't as many. They also put me in contact via email with current students in my program, so that was very helpful. A big point of discussion were pros and cons of completing in 1 year vs. 1.5.

I just attended an online chat with current students and I feel like I asked every possible question there is to ask about this school! The students were so helpful and forthcoming, I definitely recommend "attending" one if another pops up and you're free to sit in front of a computer!

Thanks! Well, 4.5 is the target average score they are looking for, so I wouldn't worry at all about that! It is still above average and it won't turn them off of you in the slightest, which is basically the only thing the GRE probably does for you either way. Anyway, you seem to have a fully balanced repertoire under your belt in terms of academics/work/other scores, so it's going to be a non-factor! Those GRE prompts are all ridiculously broad and intentionally vague. I found most of the possible topics infuriating and NOT representative of an essay you would have to write in grad school, but I guess they can't get too specific because it's such a broad range of students taking the test. I guess it's "illegal" to discuss the question itself, or else I'd ask you out of curiosity what the prompt was . Also, 30 minutes is a stressful amount of time to write a fully coherent essay. I was speed-reading it at the end and time ran out, so I just prayed I didn't miss any glaring mistakes.