Vulpix

Still totally torn, basically not trying to choose until after the open houses in two weeks. I did meet up with my best friend who went to Penn for undergrad in engineering (is now in med school) and is generally one of the wisest people I know. She loved Penn as an undergrad but basically thinks I should choose HGSE for very simple reasons: 1) She thinks cost and shorter program is better in the long run financially (although until I hear about aid from HGSE, the programs are about even, and I may or may not receive a big scholarship from Penn in a few weeks) 2) She thinks program ranking is the most important, and although I don't have such information for IEP/IED, we do know that Harvard is #2 and Penn is #6. I don't think this is very significant, though. 3) She does say that Harvard's network is unfathomably impressive and that, whether we like it or not, connections and prestige means a lot in this world and can lead to amazing opportunities. She said it sucked to spend 4 years of college trying to explain that she didn't go to Penn State (which is a great state school that a lot of our friends went to, but it's annoying when people don't know the difference, especially considering how prestigious Penn is). 4) She said that people don't know Penn internationally. She is Indian and said everyone in India/her family knows Harvard, but they did not know Penn until she went there. Considering I want to work in international development and policy, coming from a school that is TRULY a known quantity across the globe, even in more remote places, is definitely a plus.

Thanks! Weird though, I thought I just saw a new list that had HGSE at #1, but Stanford appears to be there now. Not that it matters, nor do I think this is really quantifiably accurate. I wish there was a way to know about my program. Oh well!

I definitely don't think it matters if they can't speak about education, although you should ensure that they at least write about your transferable skills as it may relate to being successful in ed school. For HGSE (and all my schools), I submitted 2 LORs from undergraduate professors, and 1 LOR from a supervisor (in the school I teach in). What made these strong was not necessarily their ability to speak about education, but their ability to speak about me. I had the chance to read my supervisor's rec, and she wrote FOUR PAGES (I think this atypically long for a LOR), sharing anecdotes about really personal and deep things that I did as a teacher for/with students that showed a more human side of me than the rest of my application had the chance to explain (i.e. going to students' homes when family members died, taking a kid to a Broadway show, mediating a conflict at school related to Islamophobia, etc.)... Point is, she could write about really specific, positive things that HGSE would never have otherwise learned about me. You want to find professors/supervisors who can and are willing to do something like that for you. And if you don't think they will come up with these things independently, definitely suggest to them a list of things that you think they can speak about, either topically or maybe assignment-wise... attach your papers, highlight the best parts, remind them about who you are and things you learned together. I agree that the last professor sounds like the best of the 4. My last piece of advice is to make sure that you pick 3 people who will all be able to say something deliberately different about you. I had one history professor (my major), one education professor, and one supervisor. My history professor spoke about my writing and research skills, my education professor spoke about my fellowship in curriculum design and conference that we presented at together, and my supervisor spoke about all the aforementioned goodies. I also made sure to tell them directly (in a polite, requesting way!) that I had other people writing about other things, and I was hoping that you, in particular, could focus on _________________. Of course, I never anticipated my supervisor would be that thorough, and I still really don't know how much/what the other professors wrote, but I at least know I gave them the kind of guidance that would look good in my complete application!

I was actually inquiring about healthcare in this thread: Please share what you find! It sounds to me like we won't be eligible for Obamacare in place of Harvardcare . I'm also a NYC teacher trying to survive this school year! Can I ask where you found ed admin-specific rankings? I've only ever really seen ed school rankings overall, not by program. In particular, I wish I could find actual rankings for my program, International Ed.

I'm anticipating that cost of Penn vs. HGSE will be the same for me (pending HGSE aid decision), because Penn is more expensive, so even if HGSE gives me no aid, it will be the same cost as Penn. I am going to entirely rely on how I feel upon my visits, because right now I'm totally torn. I'm currently leaning a bit toward Harvard because of all I've heard about the network and opportunities.

The health costs are annoying to me. I was wondering if state health insurance (affordable care act) would be cheaper, but apparently you can't get that if you're up for student insurance. I don't think we'll get the financial aid package until the end of next week or the week after. Good luck shutting down! Sounds busy. I'm just counting down the days until I visit Cambridge!!

What's in the package? Where's mine? I'm starting to think I'm not really accepted

Well, one of my friends felt she was disappointed intellectually---that the course content was not challenging, stimulating, or as enriching as she might have expected from an "Ivy league" school. She was in the Education Policy program, or Ed & Sociology or something like that. Similarly, a Gradcafe poster who chose TC told me that it felt like a "diploma mill", that some classes/projects were jokes, and the impression that TC doesn't hold as much weight in the job market as other schools. As for the new-ness of Penn's program... it seems like they really have their stuff together there. Students seem to have close relationships with the program faculty and build personal and professional networks around them. They attend conferences together and meet for support.

I am choosing still between Penn and Harvard. TC was originally the only school I was interested, but I have since become sort of disenchanted with it after speaking with so many alums/others who speak negatively of their experience (something I have yet to encounter at either Penn or Harvard, everyone seems glowing). Even though TC's faculty probably matches my interests most, I just didn't get the impression that the school was fulfilling to students---several have said to me they felt like their time there was 'wasted' or that they regret not choosing another program. I think Penn's program is incredible. The guaranteed internship and close-knit cohort seem very well designed, and you can build strong relationships with faculty. They also have very specific job-skills embedded into the coursework.

Philly is considerably cheaper, and if you are in my program, the cost of the program is also considerably cheaper.

Washington Heights is a great option for Columbia students. Many of my Columbia friends live there and it's a very easy commute on the A/1. Inwood is a bit further out and not quite as nice but still gets the job done. Washington Heights really varies street by street imo, but it's definitely residential, there's plenty of your basic needs around and the express trains get you to midtown in 20 minutes, so that's a plus.

I assume you are talking about TC? I've been accepted to Penn and TC's IED program (which is in the department of international and comparative education). I am fully convinced, based on virtually everyone I've talked to in the field, that TC's program is less focused and supportive than Penn's. I also received the $9000 from TC, as well as $10,000 from Penn. TC's school is the biggest ed school in the country and you may feel pretty anonymous, compared to a very small cohort at Penn. Also, many students are part-time at TC which gives the program a different vibe if you are one of the few pursuing the degree full-time, you may feel lonely. These are just things that I personally feel that have caused me to eliminate TC.

I would echo not taking out loans for Columbia, although you could argue that being in NYC and the writing opportunities available there would outweigh the type of network/potential you may find in NC. I don't know anything about Wilmington but if it's actually as bad as you think it is, then I suppose you have to follow your gut and go to NYC. But I really do think interminable debt is the lesser choice.

I did find out that Columbia will notify me by April, but Penn not until the summer. This is extraordinarily upsetting as Penn is one of my top choices and this information could make or break my decision

I haven't gotten anything in the mail yet!! Waiting patiently. Also waiting on my lucrative tax return... would be a nice combo in the mail this week

I think the difference is that HGSE's funding is almost exclusively need-based, unless you get the specific Urban Scholars/other merit awards, which are rare. I don't really understand how they gauge that need, though, because we will all be out of work for the year we are full time students, so certainly the vast majority "need" the support. I've heard they consider pre-existing loan debt and other factors... Also, we should hear from HGSE Financial Aid the last week of March.

I'm choosing between HGSE and Penn GSE. I have heard about Stanford's very small size. I would wonder if that's stifling, either intellectually or network-wise (I know for my program, it would have been around 15-20 people). You would, just numerically, make fewer "connections", at least in meeting people, but if they are true quality connections vs. spread thinner in a program of 60-80ish people (that's what IEP is, I think your program is similarly large?), then maybe a smaller, tight-knit cohort is worth it. I have heard that HGSE programs are still tight-knit despite being larger (after all, 60 people isn't *that* large). Also, I think it's small enough that even if you barely form relationships with 50% of the people, you could still count on your shared experience to provide you with a professional contact after graduation. I think Harvard funding from past admitted students seems to have ranged from $5K-$20K grants, with average being around $14K or $10K. Is Stanford also a 1-year program? Is your fellowship full-funding? As for the competitive/ambition thing, I believe this is likely true at Harvard Law or perhaps undergrad, but from the impression I have gotten from alums I know of HGSE (both in my real world friendships with alums, and talking to alums on this site), I get the impression that this is far less of an issue at GSE, because education by nature is a much less competitive/corporate type of field. I could be wrong on this. I am also visiting HGSE at the end of the month, so I'm sure we'll both get a better impression of it then!

I suppose I'm OK with a summer sublet, especially if I could get something furnished. Would love to get a month-to-month sublease that starts in July and lets me stay indefinitely (I see this a lot right now, just homeowners/long-time residents in Somerville or wherever who need a roommate)... I just wonder how in the world I'm supposed to find fellow incoming Harvard student roommates to collaborate on a lease with? I don't know anyone, so I can't imagine how I can search for something with strangers and sign a lease together. Maybe the magic of social media will bring us all together in a few months . I haven't even decided 100% on Harvard yet but it's good to start thinking about it. And then, signing a Sept 1 - Sept 2017 lease just sounds like a bad idea in general... because I will graduate Harvard next spring (1 year masters), and likely move back to NYC (or wherever I find a job...) after... but I'd be stuck with a lease until September?

Does anyone know what month is best to move to the Cambridge area? My current lease is up July 1, so I would want to move then, but if more is available Aug 1 then I could wait a month. I have heard Sept 1 is a nightmare with everyone looking the move at the same time, but that probably means more available.

That's how I felt at t a lot of different moments---like with TC, I was hoping I wouldn't get much financial aid, because I knew I didn't want to go there, but if I had gotten the most aid, I would have felt like I had to go!

Philly is cheap after living in NYC! My friend has an awesome studio in a beautiful doorman building for $800/month. I pay more than that for my bedroom in a meh building in a meh location. I would hope it's not impossible to find a place visiting one weekend... I'm not that picky... and I'm not looking for my own place, definitely roommates... in Philly OR Cambridge!

I've heard of this too. Definitely a last-resort as far as I can tell. I've been browsing craigslist cost of living in Cambridge, because I was also drawn to Penn because Philly is so affordable. However, I am finding things in areas just outside of Cambridge that are easy via public transport to Harvard that seem to be in the $650-$800/month range, so that doesn't seem as bad as I feared. Certainly better than my current situation in Brooklyn!

Thanks OP for reminding me to do this.... as soon as I saw this topic, I was like, oops, I gotta send those out! Just whipped out my cards and googled some professional addresses . I was going to just do this by email, but Agrippina's comment made me realize that, yes, hand-written is just so much better. I didn't do that when I applied, but I am certainly doing it now! (Now that i have good news to share!)

A current Penn student in my program who went to Harvard for undergrad said the only reason she didn't go to Harvard for this program was because she had "done the Harvard thing" already and wanted a different experience. Like you said, the BA from Harvard was enough! Just having gone to Harvard, at whatever degree level, elicits some gasps like you said. I agree that it sounds uncomfortable. An alum told me that depending on where she is, she downplays or tries to avoid saying she went to Harvard, especially in certain parts of the country (I think she was referring to a few things: anti-elitism (even though I know so many Harvard students/alums who come from decidedly un-elite backgrounds and do not become "elitists" afterwards), notions of over-qualification for certain positions, and people thinking that you are bragging simply by stating where you went to school.) Last week, when a current student in my program called to talk to me about Harvard, she told me that she found that when attending conferences or job fairs, "people take you really seriously because you're from Harvard. They assume you're brilliant and that you know what you're talking about". (This is problematic for a host of reasons, but worth mentioning). The attitudes you encountered certainly mirrors that of my friends and family---and these are friends who are in medical school, other Ivy grad schools, prestigious law schools, etc---they all were happy for me when I got into Columbia and Penn, but FREAKED when I 'got into Harvard.' As for saving money, if you're actually interested , it didn't feel all that difficult or complicated. I basically spent one paycheck and saved the second each month (two paychecks per month). My total rent/bills typically came to $1100-1200/month (had a roommate). As a first year teacher in NYC, I think I made about $2500 per month. (Actually, when I first got hired as a 'teacher intern', I was making $1400 per month, but I still saved in the same way, just lived in a cheaper place and much more frugally). So basically I saved at least $1000 out of $2500 every month. In the beginning, I made sure to watch how often I ate out, cooked for myself, and rarely dropped $5 here or there on Starbucks (I cannot overemphasize enough how much those little Starbucks/Dunkin trips add up!!). But I still lived life! I went to a lot of discount Broadway shows, went on two vacations (cross-country road trip and Puerto Rico), and went out for drinks. But I just feel like so many of my friends, my age, will drop $100 in a weekend on drinks alone. And then they marvel at my savings vs. their own I just can't fathom that! $60K is how much I anticipate having by this summer (saving since 2013), when I quit my job and move to grad school.

I know a few people with a masters in psychology. In some masters programs, you can get certain forms of clinical certification that allow you to do group counseling at various centers (such as rehab, autism, behavioral disabilities) and other scenarios. Not sure about this program at Vandy but there are definitely jobs out there. If in India you don't need a doctorate to practice, then I suppose it's not an issue.