TeeDub

Oh, you have just made my day - I got the same email last night and was worried that it was a sign that I'd been rejected, even though the status check website says that they're still reviewing my app. Glad to hear I still have a chance!

Also still waiting to hear, but from the PhD program. Really hoping that this one comes through for me, as I did my undergrad at UT and would love to come back to Austin. No change on the online status yet. Good luck to all - hope we all hear soon!

Just got the HGSE rejection email. Happy Friday?

Yup, looks like someone posted something for Harvard EdD last night. That's the same concentration/program that I applied to (Education Policy, Leadership, and Instructional Practice), and their call supposedly came on Friday the 20th, so that makes me more nervous. My friend applied to the Human Development & Education concentration, so they may have been calling different programs on different days. Wish they'd just go ahead and tell us whether we're in or out!

Hey, no problem, I'm just reporting what I was told by a close friend who is very, very reliable. And I completely understand your concern - a few bad apples who have reported fake results have made all of us (myself included) very skeptical. I also think that it is odd that no other HGSE EdD admits have posted acceptances on the results page this year, but if you'll search past years' entries, I don't think anyone has ever posted a HGSE EdD acceptance. There's always the chance that she was notified before others, as she is a HGSE alum who still lives in the Boston area and still does some research work with professors there. I apologize if I upset anyone with the information I posted. It certainly was not my intention to hurt anyone who has put so much time and energy (and yes, money) into this process. I'm just reporting what I was told because I thought others would want an update on the process. As always, nothing is official until you hear otherwise - I'm even hoping that my gut feeling is wrong and I'll still get that call! Best of luck to everyone who applied to HGSE EdD.

Harvard GSE doesn't notify EdM admits until mid-March, so don't rule them out just yet - it's still early! I considered applying to GWU's Ed Policy PhD program because I currently live and work in DC and wanted to stay at this job while I complete my PhD, but I was actually talked out of it by a friend who is about to graduate from their MEd Ed Policy program and hasn't enjoyed her experience (PM me if you want more details). Will you have a chance to visit any of these schools? If not, you might want to contact them and ask if you can talk to current students in your chosen programs. That's usually the best way to get a good feel for the program. Good luck with your decision - you have some great options!

A friend of mine got called by HGSE last Thursday, she's in. They usually call all of their EdD admits on the same day, so I'm assuming that those of us who haven't heard yet are not so lucky.

Hi jesbriwel - I'm not sure how many people apply to the MBE program, but I know they admitted around 35 my year, and I believe we ultimately had 32 in the cohort. We tend to be one of the smaller masters cohorts at HGSE, which is great because you get to know everyone well. They don't admit a specific "type" of person to the program - they look for people who can bring a unique voice/viewpoint to the group. I think I found out around March 15th (via email) when I was admitted, so you probably have a few weeks before you hear anything, but good luck! I really enjoyed the MBE program and my experience at HGSE.

Yup, got a rejection email this morning too. Not a surprise - knew it was a long shot because I wasn't sure they had a faculty match for my interests. I applied to Administration & Policy Analysis PhD. Lovely way to start the week, though. :roll:

Hey, just an FYI for those who applied to HGSE EdD - they started calling admits today. One of my former classmates from my master's cohort got a call...I didn't. :cry: Don't know if they've finished notifying those who got in. Hoping that they'll continue tomorrow, but not optimistic at this point.

I was surprised to see a Stanford decision so early. I was under the impression that they didn't notify until March, regardless of whether it's an acceptance or rejection. Hopefully that person will get on here and tell us more! Also, I saw on the results page that there were on-campus interviews for at least 2 Vanderbilt Peabody programs this past weekend, but my program (Leadership and Policy Studies) wasn't one of them. Does anyone know if there were interviews for all Peabody programs, or just for selected programs? Just wondering if I should go ahead and chalk that one up as a loss, or if I can continue to have some hope...haven't heard a thing from them, and the online status check hasn't changed since I submitted my app.

I applied to one Public Policy PhD program - at Texas LBJ. The rest of my applications are to Education Policy doctoral programs in education schools. Haven't heard anything from them (or any of my schools, for that matter...annoying), but the status website says that my "file has been forwarded to the Graduate Committee for review"...not quite sure what that means, but I hope it means I'll know something soon! Would love to get in there - I did my undergrad at UT and it would be so great to move back to Austin, plus I like how interdisciplinary the PhD program is at LBJ. Good luck to everyone!

Congrats to everyone who got into Berkeley! I'm jealous that you have heard from at least one school! I'm think I'm starting to annoy my family and friends with my freakouts... Monamour - I liked the MBE program a lot, but it's pretty rigorous. I wasn't a big fan of the core course, HT100, but I hear it has improved now that Gardner isn't teaching it anymore (my advice - form a small study group for that class, it makes life SO much easier). There isn't really a "type" of person they look for when they admit - more than anything, they look for people who will bring a strong viewpoint to the cohort. It was a very diverse group my year - several people (including me) had taught before coming to HGSE. One classmate had a biology background and went on to medical school the next year. Another had a linguistics background and wanted to study how people learned languages. A few had worked in neuro research (Parkinson's, Autism, etc.). Kurt Fischer, the program head & HT100 prof, really wants people who can bring a unique perspective to the group - which makes for really interesting class discussions. MBE is usually one of the smallest (if not the smallest) program cohort at HGSE. I think we had around 30 in mine, which was great because you get to know everyone really well. I loved that we had a lot of freedom to take the courses we wanted (only 3 required courses), which allowed me to get what I wanted out of the program. Definitely keep me updated on whether you get in! I heard via email around March 15th, and the financial aid for masters students at HGSE kind of sucks...aka I'm going to be paying off loans for that one for a LONG time!

I've contacted professors at every school except Stanford. I'm somewhat confident of my chances (except for Stanford - it'll be a miracle if I get in there!). When I was making my shortlist of schools, I really only included ones that I would be really excited about attending if I got in. I have a job with great security and potential for promotion that I (usually) enjoy, and with the economy being as scary as it is, I decided it wouldn't be worth it to leave my job unless I get into a really awesome school with full funding (all of the schools I'm applying to offer full funding to everyone they admit, from what I understand). My friends think I'm crazy to even consider leaving a job like that to be, as one friend put it, "a research slave" for 5 years or so, but I'm not as passionate about what I do in my current job as I am about what I want to continue studying (special education policy). magiclogic - my masters is in Mind, Brain, & Education (basically an interdisciplinary program where I studied neuroscience, cognitive psychology, child development, education, etc. - I focused on how neuro research can affect future education policy).

IvyHope- I hadn't heard that. In fact, around half of the doctoral students I knew when I was there had done their masters at HGSE, and several classmates from my masters cohort have since been admitted to the doctoral program. I definitely know that I'm not a "lock" to get in there just because I'm an alum - their doctoral admissions are REALLY competitive. Honestly, my first choice changes on a weekly basis. I'm still close with one of my profs from HGSE, and since he's one of the leading experts in the topic I plan to write my dissertation on, I feel like that might be the best place for me. I really loved the environment at HGSE, too, so it would be nice to go back. On the other hand, some of the other schools I've applied to (Vanderbilt and WashU specifically) also have people who are leading experts in the topic I plan to research - and Vandy has incredible funding. I'm originally from Texas, and my family still lives there, so I wouldn't be upset if I ended up there - great school too (though I'm a little biased because I did my undergrad there). And Stanford needs no explanation - plus, after several years on the east coast, warm temperatures are incredibly tempting!! So really, I don't have a solid first choice - it's going to be a really hard decision if I end up getting into more than one school!