cavenue

Hey everyone,
Program: School Leadership 
GRE Score: 164V/161Q/5.0AWA
GPA: 3.6 (double majored with a science)
Work Experience: TFA, 4th year teaching in urban district, 2 teacher leadership roles around curriculum, summer doing school operations work
Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..):  Private, top 30
What Other Schools Are You Applying To: Unsure, probably Penn and Columbia
 
I'm curious if anyone knows anything about the admissions criteria for the School Leadership program - I know they look for people with some leadership roles, but to what extent? Are they looking for applicants who have already worked in administration roles? Also, I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the urban scholars fellowship - it says it is academic based, and I know I qualify based on my work in an urban district, but what academic credentials are typical of those awarded this fellowship?
Thanks, and good luck to everyone applying!

Hey everyone,
Program: School Leadership 
GRE Score: 164V/161Q/5.0AWA
GPA: 3.6 (double majored with a science)
Work Experience: TFA, 4th year teaching in urban district, 2 teacher leadership roles around curriculum, summer doing school operations work
Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..):  Private, top 30
What Other Schools Are You Applying To: Unsure, probably Penn and Columbia
 
I'm curious if anyone knows anything about the admissions criteria for the School Leadership program - I know they look for people with some leadership roles, but to what extent? Are they looking for applicants who have already worked in administration roles? Also, I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the urban scholars fellowship - it says it is academic based, and I know I qualify based on my work in an urban district, but what academic credentials are typical of those awarded this fellowship?
Thanks, and good luck to everyone applying!

Accepted - masters, SLP! Pumped!

I also had a recommender without an organizational e-mail address - I don't believe there has been any follow-up in my case either (although I can't say for sure because I haven't spoken with this particular recommender and I guess it's always possible she received a phone call or something.) I wouldn't worry about it. It seems to me that they would only "investigate" the recommender if the recommendation seemed unusual or out of the ordinary. 

If being a (presumably very good) teacher does not warrant being considered "super" in the education field, then I'm not sure if an ed. school is the right place for you. 

@HisGrace I am a current HGSE student, I work at HKS, and my spouse works at MIT. Your question is difficult to answer because it is getting at values deep within Harvard's history and culture. Everything I say is based on my experience and should be read as hasty generalizations. Basically, each school at Harvard looks upon the others with both a tinge of disdain and a tinge of respect. 
The B School is often hated on for being separate. They are on the other side of the Charles River and have a proclivity to not share resources like other schools do (e.g. they have the nicest gym on-campus but only HBS affiliates can use it). The only B School students I've met have been in HGSE classes or HKS classes, so they are interested in the public good. These students have been incredibly well-rounded and not just looking to make a buck. My impression is that the typical B School student may have been Greek during their undergraduate days
The College is often hated on because typical students may be teenagers with superiority complexes. I have met about 30 and this seems true for about 1/3. For example, a student from suburban Chicago told me "no one from Whitney Young HS gets into Harvard." WYHS is one of the top high schools in Chicago where Michelle Obama went— and she ended up at Princeton and HLS. On the other hand, a College student has become a lifelong friend of mine.
To be blunt, the Law School is hated on for being perceived as being full of assholes. I have heard several stories of Law students sabotaging each other (e.g. Tearing up a colleague's exam when he went to the bathroom). Most of the Law students I've met have been very laid back and have not exhibited assoholic behaviors.
Numerous times, I have heard that Ed. School students are perceived as very friendly and very liberal. Our library is known for being a very social place with great food. Critiques of the Ed. School are that it is mostly white women and that it has one of the smallest endowments of the Harvard Schools. 
The only unanimous opinion is that all Harvard schools look upon the Extension School with disdain. 
At the core, every school wants other schools to do well. We are one university and our performances and reputations all reflect upon each other. I want HBS to continue being the school that produces the most millionaires and billionaires in the world. I want HKS to keep pumping out elected officials. I want the next Secretary of Education to be a HGSE alumnus. Ultimately, Harvard students want others to be the best because we want to be the best school in the world. This shared desire for greatness supersedes any tinge of disdain. And again, these provocative, hasty generalizations are not representative of all Harvard students' views and experiences.

If being a (presumably very good) teacher does not warrant being considered "super" in the education field, then I'm not sure if an ed. school is the right place for you. 

If being a (presumably very good) teacher does not warrant being considered "super" in the education field, then I'm not sure if an ed. school is the right place for you. 

I surely don't like the content of your post, and I'd be curious to know the extent of your experience with TFA (coming from someone who has been both a corps member and a TFA staff member). It's just strange that every time you expand on your thoughts, your language becomes even more descriptive (e.g. "ill-informed" "paternalistic" "overinflated sense of messianic self-importance") - doesn't really sound like "someone commenting on something he/she heard from someone else". Rather, I'd have to agree that it sounds like someone with an axe to grind. 
Anywho, you're right that it's not the place for this type of discussion, so I'll leave it at that!

I surely don't like the content of your post, and I'd be curious to know the extent of your experience with TFA (coming from someone who has been both a corps member and a TFA staff member). It's just strange that every time you expand on your thoughts, your language becomes even more descriptive (e.g. "ill-informed" "paternalistic" "overinflated sense of messianic self-importance") - doesn't really sound like "someone commenting on something he/she heard from someone else". Rather, I'd have to agree that it sounds like someone with an axe to grind. 
Anywho, you're right that it's not the place for this type of discussion, so I'll leave it at that!

I surely don't like the content of your post, and I'd be curious to know the extent of your experience with TFA (coming from someone who has been both a corps member and a TFA staff member). It's just strange that every time you expand on your thoughts, your language becomes even more descriptive (e.g. "ill-informed" "paternalistic" "overinflated sense of messianic self-importance") - doesn't really sound like "someone commenting on something he/she heard from someone else". Rather, I'd have to agree that it sounds like someone with an axe to grind. 
Anywho, you're right that it's not the place for this type of discussion, so I'll leave it at that!

I surely don't like the content of your post, and I'd be curious to know the extent of your experience with TFA (coming from someone who has been both a corps member and a TFA staff member). It's just strange that every time you expand on your thoughts, your language becomes even more descriptive (e.g. "ill-informed" "paternalistic" "overinflated sense of messianic self-importance") - doesn't really sound like "someone commenting on something he/she heard from someone else". Rather, I'd have to agree that it sounds like someone with an axe to grind. 
Anywho, you're right that it's not the place for this type of discussion, so I'll leave it at that!

Not here to get into a debate, but I'd just like to point out that everything you are saying is nothing more than hearsay, so I think anyone reading it should take it as such. You are very critical of a program and organizations like TFA (of which, yes, I am an alum) without ever having experienced them for yourself. That tells me everything I need to know about your posts. 

Not here to get into a debate, but I'd just like to point out that everything you are saying is nothing more than hearsay, so I think anyone reading it should take it as such. You are very critical of a program and organizations like TFA (of which, yes, I am an alum) without ever having experienced them for yourself. That tells me everything I need to know about your posts. 

Hey everyone,
Program: School Leadership 
GRE Score: 164V/161Q/5.0AWA
GPA: 3.6 (double majored with a science)
Work Experience: TFA, 4th year teaching in urban district, 2 teacher leadership roles around curriculum, summer doing school operations work
Undergrad Institution (Public, Private, Ivy, etc..):  Private, top 30
What Other Schools Are You Applying To: Unsure, probably Penn and Columbia
 
I'm curious if anyone knows anything about the admissions criteria for the School Leadership program - I know they look for people with some leadership roles, but to what extent? Are they looking for applicants who have already worked in administration roles? Also, I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the urban scholars fellowship - it says it is academic based, and I know I qualify based on my work in an urban district, but what academic credentials are typical of those awarded this fellowship?
Thanks, and good luck to everyone applying!

Current SLP student here.
The mode and average age of SLP students this year is approximately 28 years old. The youngest is 25 and the oldest is 40+. @Vulpix is generally accurate in saying that SLP is older than other programs because the state requires 3 years of teaching experience in order to become a principal. The program with the oldest average age, in my estimation, is the Ed.L.D. The programs with the youngest students are the ones without a work experience requirement (e.g. EPM, PSP, MBE, AiE etc.) In my biased opinion, SLP is the strongest master's program followed by EPM.
@cavenue I would say that SLP wants to see leadership skills more than administrative experience. The program does not expect you to already be a principal before enrolling in a program to become a principal. They want to see that you have a track record of leadership skills (e.g. curriculum design, instructional leadership, community engagement etc.)
The Urban Scholars Fellowship (USF) is merit-based. I'm not certain, but my understanding is that the Director handpicks the top candidates who they really want to matriculate. I was told that there is usually one USF per program. SLP has three USFs this year, which indicates the quality of our cohort and the generosity of HGSE. The three students selected were: Yale TFA, Yale TFA, and Vassar. Let's just say that USF means you write a single paragraph and if HGSE really, really wants you then they offer you the USF. I think they care more about your overall profile than your test scores or GPA. My recommendation for your USF application is to tell an emotionally-moving story that talks about equity and leadership. Also, if you happen to earn the USF, I recommend not telling other students in your cohort. You don't have to hide it, but definitely don't flaunt it.
I'd be happy to send my Statement of Purpose to anyone in a personal message. For the record, my scores were nearly identical to yours @cavenue