Levon3
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Everything posted by Levon3
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@marrrr This thread may be helpful for you:
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Why do you say this?
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@frissoliI briefly talked with some professors in the C&T department about an Ed.D., and was promised that they are working to increase funding there too. I didn't end up applying, but professors sounded optimistic about funds.
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Tuition is not automatically covered. I know that they have been working to increase the amount of funding for doctoral students, but I I believe it is still spotty and program-dependent. I have friends there with almost zero funding, and others with 4 years of tuition covered. However, even with the latter it still sounds like living stipends leave a lot to be desired. The only way to know whether you'll be funded is to apply, and wait for your financial aid letter a few weeks after acceptance. It is by no means guaranteed.
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Really uninformed question about programs in Education
Levon3 replied to Treerim's question in Questions and Answers
It may not be a bad thing to have your MA in English rather than in education. I think a strong SoP can clearly explain why you want to study what you do, and how your background will be an asset in this new field. Many programs allow starting with an MA and progressing to PhD if you show strong potential. Out of Chai_latte's list, I don't recommend Columbia, unless you are guaranteed funding. Their ed tech programs can be insanely burdensome financially. (I don't mean don't apply--but I do mean don't accept unless you have a strong scholarship offer.) How did you learn of the ed tech field? I suggest looking up some of the projects you heard of, reading those researchers' bios/publications and choosing programs associated with work you find particularly interesting. -
A couple more notes: it is possible to get research experience while teaching. You can do an independent "action research" project in your classroom, which would set you apart as an applicant, especially if you present or publish it somewhere. There are numerous journals that describe this process. Additionally, depending upon where you are placed, TFA may require and/or subsidize a master's degree in education while you teach.
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Also, if you do decide to go with TFA over the MA, it might be prudent to mention to professors now that you intend to apply to PhD programs in a few years, you may ask them to write a LOR, and that you'd like to stay in touch about your research interests.
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For the PhD programs you've listed, I think it will be immensely helpful for you to have teaching experience. Therefore, I recommend TFA. It's certainly not required, but I think it will help you focus your interests, and be more familiar with the field you're studying. I honestly can't imagine studying education without at least some experience teaching. LORs are an important consideration, and I can see what you mean, but I was still able to find an undergrad professor willing to recommend me even after 5 years of teaching. TFA will also provide multiple contacts that could potentially write LORs. A combination of academic and professional LORs is very much acceptable.
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We've wined, we've waited, now it's time to celebrate 2016
Levon3 replied to hippyscientist's topic in Officially Grads
Actually, most waiters/waitresses make $2.13 per hour. I made slightly more bartending (around $4 per hour), but never once made minimum wage. Legally, I think the restaurant is supposed to compensate if tips don't average out to at least minimum wage, but my employers never did that, and I didn't know how to go about fighting for it. Even though federal minimum wage has been raised, wages for servers were overlooked. -
@lapril, It doesn't sound like there's much of a comparison then. Based on the pros and cons you've listed, the PhD at UMD is the better fit in almost every way. It seems that the only question is whether they'll let you continue to work at your current job while working toward your PhD. I hope they do allow this, as it sounds like you're doing great work. Your goal sounds awesome, btw!
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I bought a bed on wayfair.com because it was affordable and fit in my tiny space. It lasted a year, which is all I needed it to, but it was pretty poor quality (came missing a few crucial holes) and fell apart when the movers tried to move it.
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Does anyone know if Vanderbilt's software store has any citation software for free? I haven't had luck searching any brands that I know of.
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@lapril, an Ed.D. does sound better for your goals, especially since it would allow you to continue working throughout. Have you asked whether you could work during the PhD program at UMaryland? I know that some programs allow you to do so. What is it about the Ed.D. at Johns Hopkins that you dislike? Another consideration is the cost. If tuition would be free at UMaryland, that's hard to turn down. Do you have an estimate of the costs for the Ed.D.? Also, what are your ultimate career goals? Could the PhD serve equally well in accomplishing them?
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Also, if you want to teach K-12 and have never done so, I highly recommend getting classroom experience during your masters, when you have coaching/support available. I'm not sure an online program would offer that kind of preparation.
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I found Kaplan to be helpful (raised my Quant score from 159 to 164) Hours studied: appx. 20
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I hear Johns Hopkins has good online masters options, but don't know how affordable they are.
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This was the impression I had too. The PhD program in the MST department seemed quite easy to get in to. Everyone I knew who applied was at least admitted to the EdD, with the option to transfer to the PhD later. I only know one person who was discouraged from the PhD, but this person was still admitted to the EdD. I didn't ask many people in the C&T dept. how difficult it was, but I definitely didn't have the impression that it was highly selective.
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I just went to the Ed.D. website because I was curious, and it looks like you can transfer up to 30 credits from another institution toward the Ed.M. You'll then have completed 60 if you complete an Ed.M, which puts you 2/3 of the way toward your Ed.D. (90 credits total), obviously excluding the dissertation. http://www.tc.columbia.edu/curriculum-and-teaching/ct-programs/degrees/doctor-of-education/ I would still get verification in writing with regard to which and how many of the credits from your previous masters degree transfer over, but I hope this is helpful as you weigh your options! Also, I would ask them for a copy of the "Studying for the Ed.D. Degree in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching" booklet the website refers to. Seems strange that they don't have a pdf link online. It sounds to me like you've got a viable path, but it will be expensive. At least one more year unfunded (possibly two), and then I don't believe living stipends are provided even if coursework is fully funded. So you're looking at the possibility of over $200,000 in debt by the time you graduate with an Ed.D.
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No, I just did the MA. Even that cost me $60,000 for the year, with the scholarship, which I was told at the time is the maximum they offer to masters students. I wanted to stay for doctoral work, but with the state of funding at TC it just didn't make sense. I hear they're trying really hard to actually fund doctoral students now, but I haven't heard that (and doubt that) masters funding has increased.
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I wouldn't say it will be easy to enroll in the doctoral program upon completion of the Ed.M. Everybody I know who went on to the doctoral program after the masters had to apply, and not all were accepted on their first try. However, It will provide you with the opportunity to build relationships and impress professors that could strengthen your application. Additionally, I believe in the department of C&T, many credits from Ed.M. transfer directly toward your Ed.D. HOWEVER, I would verify that fact from a reliable source before you take my word for it! I heard this from current students, but policies may change. The Ed.M. program exists, as far as I understand it, mostly to provide a way for NYC teachers to advance their careers. Under the DOE payscale, a masters with 60 credits (e.g., the Ed.M @ TC) pays more than a masters with 30 credits (e.g., the MA/MS @ TC). It also definitely serves as a source of income for the school. By offering admission to the Ed.M. rather than the Ed.D., they can see your work and get to know you before investing much financial aid in you. I received my funding letter several weeks after admission. (A few years ago now) I received $16k, which barely puts a dent in the price of the program. Since you already have a masters, I would contact them to find out how many of your credits would transfer toward your Ed.M. If you can transfer 30 toward a 60-credit degree, that might make it less expensive. Best of luck to you!
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Did you try calling admissions?
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Applying to HGSE - Do I stand a chance?
Levon3 replied to StrangersLikeMe's topic in Education Forums
I was supporting my sister, paying off my undergraduate degree, and making under $30k my first few years teaching. I never went out for drinks, and still didn't manage to save much. But I didn't mean to imply that your saving wasn't impressive--it very much is! -
Applying to HGSE - Do I stand a chance?
Levon3 replied to StrangersLikeMe's topic in Education Forums
You were blessed that you could save! -
Congratulations! Do your MA credits transfer into the M.Ed?
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Applying to HGSE - Do I stand a chance?
Levon3 replied to StrangersLikeMe's topic in Education Forums
I agree with Heather1011; it seems like you stand a chance! As far as financial aid, I'm not sure how it shakes out for international students. Harvard gave me a decent amount of aid, but it was still more expensive than my other choices because the tuition is so high. I would definitely steer clear of TC because of poor financial aid offerings. You might also apply to Vanderbilt. They have a few (albeit rare) 2/3 tuition scholarships and you never know if you might get one. If you plan to return to Pakistan, the name recognition might not get you as far as HGSE, but they are consistently ranked in the top 5 schools of education, and policy is one of their strong suits. As far as the # of schools students typically apply to, I think it varies quite a bit. I applied to four. I've heard of people applying to as few as one, and as many as 11. Keep in mind that applications can be expensive, so I would have a narrow list of "best fit" schools, which includes one or two "reach" schools (a little above what you think you could get into) and one "safety" school - in case you don't get into your favorite programs, you could still accomplish your goals at, and afford, this other lower-ranked school.
