Hi! I've narrowed it down to Stanford vs. Berkeley and would love to chat with you more - PM me. At this point I'm leaning 60-40 towards STEP. Let us know which you choose! For me, it comes down to these considerations:
Stanford
PROS: better courses, program, syllabi. higher level of support. thoughtful, intentional teacher placement. one full-year student teaching placement. better financial aid. high level of communication and transparency. feels more welcoming. more resources.
CONS: younger, less diverse cohort. having to live in Palo Alto, fewer living options. possibly less diverse teacher placements, although I think you can advocate for a placement with more ELL students or a Title 1 school. more recent adoption of social justice lens.
Berkeley
PROS: more radical and progressive. history of social justice advocacy. more diverse cohort, more diverse faculty. more invigorating location and campus, less sterile than Stanford/Palo Alto. lower cost of living. arts integration and restorative justice courses.
CONS: stingy and not up-front about financial aid (how is this social justice/equity?!). two separate student teaching placements. less supportive, flexible, communicative. less thoughtful teacher placements. more disorganized. overemphasis on the Identity Statement. lacking in methods courses. less welcoming, more aggressive.
MA in Education: Harvard vs Stanford vs Columbia vs Berkeley vs UT Austin
in Decisions, Decisions
Posted
Hi! I've narrowed it down to Stanford vs. Berkeley and would love to chat with you more - PM me. At this point I'm leaning 60-40 towards STEP. Let us know which you choose! For me, it comes down to these considerations:
Stanford
PROS: better courses, program, syllabi. higher level of support. thoughtful, intentional teacher placement. one full-year student teaching placement. better financial aid. high level of communication and transparency. feels more welcoming. more resources.
CONS: younger, less diverse cohort. having to live in Palo Alto, fewer living options. possibly less diverse teacher placements, although I think you can advocate for a placement with more ELL students or a Title 1 school. more recent adoption of social justice lens.
Berkeley
PROS: more radical and progressive. history of social justice advocacy. more diverse cohort, more diverse faculty. more invigorating location and campus, less sterile than Stanford/Palo Alto. lower cost of living. arts integration and restorative justice courses.
CONS: stingy and not up-front about financial aid (how is this social justice/equity?!). two separate student teaching placements. less supportive, flexible, communicative. less thoughtful teacher placements. more disorganized. overemphasis on the Identity Statement. lacking in methods courses. less welcoming, more aggressive.