Vulpix

Woooo I just got my writing score from my first and only GRE test on November 7... got a 5.5!!! (98th percentile) I know HGSE looks at apps holistically, but they did say they value the writing section the most, so this is very encouraging for me! Although some say this won't make a difference unless I got below a 4, but I like to believe it helps my chances a little?

My guess is this is a little high, and varies greatly by program. Also, 50% sounds high, but Harvard grad school applicants are a self-selecting pool, so I'm going to keep in mind that the 50% who were rejected were likely very or somewhat qualified in their own right. Just trying not to get my hopes up too high, which I'm already doing in my mind That being said, unlike some graduate schools, HGSE does not have a "cap" on the number of students they can take. So, in theory, if they think you are a fit for the school, they will have a seat for you. They don't have to deny anyone they think is qualified because they don't have room, which is definitely a consideration Harvard and other schools have to take for undergrads.

I finally fleshed out a first draft today and I'm not happy with it. I thought that after mulling over it for months, brainstorming what I would write about, and planning an outline, a beautiful SOP would just flow right out. It has not. I guess that's what the revise, revise, revise process is about Anyone else feel this way with their first draft? How did you go about improving it? Also, anyone else frustrated that different programs ask for sometimes radically different lengths for SOP? I can submit generally the same narrative to every school with a few vital changes specific to the programs, but it's quite annoying that HGSE wants 1500 words, Penn wants 750 words, and TC wants 2-3 double-spaced pages. It's like I have to randomly cut parts from each or extend them to make it fit.

Awesome! Yes, the Hudson Valley in the fall is to die for! (Missed it this year ) Well, it seems like HGSE cares more about the SOP than many places. Everything I've heard, they consider applications "holistically" aka who cares what your numbers are, tell us what you stand for. So I really do feel like I can win or lose this admissions game based on my SOP. Given that my GPA/GRE/experience is probably no worse and no better than anyone else's (average), it's really what it comes down to. But if you turned phrases like "akin to a bloodletting" in your SOP, I'm sure it was top notch! I'm also eagerly awaiting my AWA score for the GRE because they've said that's the statistic they value highest in the application. If I can get a 5 or higher I will feel much better

Which Seven Sister school did you attend? I went to Vassar (OK, we have men now...) Best of luck to you! Jealous that everything is in and done, I'm hoping to have it all submitted by early December. Still have to get up the nerve to actually write my SOP. I just have like 9 pages of random ideas and notes!

Agreed. It's kind of a catch-22 because the items on your resume should realistically play a huge role in your purpose for applying to school!

Thank you SO much for such a thorough and clear overview of your day!! Sounds like it was powerful and productive experience. I have a question about "do NOT rehash your resume." Of course this makes sense to me, and you said you can still mention parts of it while telling your story. I'm still trying to figure out what the balance/fine line is on this. There are elements of my resume that may seem unremarkable but they were formative moments in my trajectory to now. I want to focus on these moments in how they shape my desire to apply to HGSE. Do you think the admissions committee will see this as "rehashing" or recognize the difference between just "showing off or listing" what's on there vs. re-telling it with a deeper purpose? It seems like a really tricky, nuanced difference!

Just took the GRE today! (jeez, what a ridiculously high-security process... I was not allowed to remove my sweatshirt during testing if I got hot because it was a 'security breach'?) So here's me... Program: International Education Policy (IEP) MastersGRE Score: V 161, Q 155, AWA: TBD, but I felt confident about it today? GPA: Undergrad 3.69 (why can't my transcript just round this up to 3.7, I don't know!), Grad: 4.0Work Experience: My work experience is limited to 3 years teaching inner-city math since college at different New York City charter schools, focusing on closing the achievement gap. I have also served as a special education teacher. Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..): Ivy sister school Research Experience: Awarded a grant to conduct thesis research abroad at Oxford on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, studied in Spain and received certification for TESL, received a fellowship in which I researched and co-authored with a professor an English curriculum for immigrant youth, which I presented at the National Association of Multicultural Education Conference (was the only undergrad there, other scholars were professors/education policymakers). I also am currently completing an MS.Ed in Literacy. What Other Schools Are You Applying To: UPenn IEDP, TC IED, NYU IE I hope my lack of international policy work experience will not be a major deterrent to the admissions committee. I believe I can articulate the origins of my passion for IEP, my goals, and how my undergraduate research experiences prepare me for this. My recommendations should be strong, particularly from my former advisor who holds an EdD in IED from TC... wow that's a lot of abbreviated jargon!). What do you guys think? I think my GRE scores/GPA are average or good enough (especially GPA coming from a prestigious institution, and also when they look at my transcript they will see that if not for my first semester freshman year, I would have a 3.9 ) I think all things considered, it will come down to my SoP.

This is a really silly question... do people put titles on their SOPs? ("Statement of Purpose" vs. "My Journey" or something cheesy like that )

That's all I have left as well. (Taking GRE's tomorrow!) I have like 9 pages of random notes/outline/ideas (mostly lists, not paragraphs), but have yet to tackle actually writing the darn thing. I'll probably start next week and take most of December to revise. I want to submit early but really there is no point, I assume. They likely don't begin reviewing applications until next year anyway. I can't go, but I'd really love and appreciate any observations you can share! You sound like me (sort of!). I'm applying to IEP as well, similar GRE scores. I've worked in education but NOT in an international capacity, which I feel is the most important thing they are looking for in applicants (if not international experience than like you said, theoretical proof of genuine interest). I feel like if you can craft a narrative about why and how you were drawn to the field, you stand a strong chance. I attended a virtual info session last week and the admissions staff really emphasized that they value people with different experiences because it adds something enriching to the cohort of students to have a scientist or whoever mixed in. If you have the grades, scores, and recs to back it up, and can defend your interests passionately, I don't see why they wouldn't take you. That was equally a pep talk for myself I've been a math teacher for three years but I want to study humanitarian intervention and refugee education under IEP, none of which I have any actual experience in. But I want to believe that if I can explain where this desire to switch careers comes from and how HGSE can help me achieve my goals, I could be accepted. It's tough, I feel the program is slightly more competitive than the teaching ones, and the majority of applicants will be coming from international ed/development backgrounds.

Anyone know about the International Education Development Program? Super competitive? (I read there are only 30 people in the cohort) I decided today to apply to Penn. It would be my last choice because I'd rather not move to Philly, but the program seems good. I like that the application is free and the admissions is ROLLING! (Sadly my recommenders are going to take another month to write, and I'll be waiting on GRE scores, but I plan to submit before 2016).

It's nice to know there is no cap... makes me feel like they'll evaluate me based on my own merit and not necessarily in comparison to others (as much as possible). For those who have taken the GRE already AND done practice tests... how closely did your practice scores mirror your actual GRE score? I have taken practice tests on PowerPrep and gotten HGSE average percentile scores, but still have to take the test next week.

Anyone else applying for International Education Policy program? This will be a career change for me (3 years teaching NYC urban schools, now I want to go into NGO/international policy work), so I'm a bit nervous with my lack of international work experience. I think I can defend myself well in my SOP, though. I have good GPA/recs. Taking the GRE for the first and obviously last time November 7 (wouldn't have enough time to take it again)... really dropped the ball on giving myself time to fail on that one... looks like it's gonna be a one-shot deal, so here's hoping a little bit of studying will get me decent scores. Eeek! Is anyone else struggling with/confused by the "other activities" section of the application? Like, I work full time in education, and I am currently finishing another Masters degree.. I don't tutor kids on the side . I can easily fill this up with education-related volunteering I did as an undergraduate, but that was almost 4 years ago now and I'm not sure Harvard wants to see that. Plus, wouldn't anything important already be on my resume? But I feel like I couldn't possibly leave this section BLANK. Advice from current students? Do they want to know about my non-education activities? (Such as fundraising for cancer research or ... I don't know...)