CQE

I already sold my right leg. If HGSE doesn't work out, at least I could (hopefully) get a job at IHOP. ...har...har... lol

I have two tests tomorrow, but I have 0 cares. Thanks, HGSE. HTFU, PLEASE!#4134%#48008341#!!

ROFL @ Viagra ad. I remember back in 2007 and 2008 when awaiting my ACT scores. I, along with a bunch of others, were posting everyday on collegeconfidential.com in anticipation of our scores, similarly to the way all of us are doing here today with respect to our HGSE decision. Anyway, somebody ended up finding a "glitch" web URL that allowed us to see our score before the ACT site actually allowed us to. All you had to do was use the "glitch" link and replace this particular # with your identification/student #. The only catch was that you had to wait until your status switched to "Tested" after originally being displayed as "Registered." I wish there were such a link in this instance.

I know! I read my Penn acceptance email while I was at school, preparing for a presentation. It was so random. I mean, it was still a great moment, but not exactly what I envisioned. At least when I took the ACT and saw my score online I had to go through a couple of pages AND THEN scroll down to see my score. Personally, I like the suspense (well, only if it's positive news).

Good to know Kobe Bryant is on here.

No checklist for me, either, though I'm only an M.Ed. applicant.

I know, right?! I got my acceptance email from Penn and was just eager to get my actual letter in the mail. After waiting for about two months, I was like, OK, I'm going to just ask about it (as a secondary question, of course, within my email - LOL. I didn't want to look like I was worrying about something that might seem petty to them). Alas, I was informed that all we were getting was the online acceptance "letter". Oh well. I'm just going to print it off on some nice, white matte paper. LMAO Gotta make due somehow!

For sure. Usually, I'm pretty confident, but occasionally I'll think to myself: "Ugh...I might not get in." But, if I were rejected, then, at the end of the day, I know I'd use it for motivation to be a better applicant for doctoral programs down the line. Additionally, I'd avoid beating myself up about it; instead, I'd view HGSE passing me up as a mistake on their end - a mistake that I'd want to later make apparent to them. For me, it's easier to motivate myself by looking at it in that light rather than taking the "awww, shucks - I wasn't good enough" mentality. It may appear to be arrogant, but it's what I'd force myself to believe to remain confident and stay motivated. Thankfully, knowing that I'll feel that way is what gives me peace of mind. It still doesn't change the fact that I want this really badly, though.

Haha! Or possibly a day NOT to remember. Hopefully we hear around the 7th or 8th so that your vacation is da best 0f all tymez and my birthday isn't spent swimming in a pool of my own tears. Had to +1 you for the "#firstworldproblems", too. I said that to my buddy last week after he posted something on FB along the lines of, "When I ordered the JUNIOR plate of pancakes, I didn't think I was going to get a GIANT plate."

lol I used a full bottle of sarcasm on my post. I really thought everyone would pick up on it, but I guess I'll use two bottles next time.

You can say worrying is negative all you want, but my grandma (aka Nanny) worries 100% of the time and 90% of the time NOTHING bad happens. So, to me, worrying = positive. Also, you just gotta nut up or shut up, bro, because now you got everyone - oh, and I do mean everyone - in the Gradcafe realm thinking you got a 170 V, 170 QR, 6.0 AWA, and taught the entire country of Angola English using Rosetta Stone's French box set. Even though you weren't supposedly trying to make anyone worry, you, ironically, just made me poop myself...just like you pooped on our party. Anyway, post your stats so *I* can stop worrying, or just simply refrain from posting again so we can get back to the aforementioned party. Speaking of which, will allow us all to do that! w00t!

March 8th is actually my birthday... What a birthday gift it'd be to get into Harvard, eh? Similarly, what an equally brutal birthday it'd be if I got REJECTED. I already got the wahhhhhhhhbulance on speed dial, just in case.

Thanks, Merry. Hopefully HGSE agrees! Your stats look great, too, BTW. A 3.8 at Swarthmore, Amherst, or Williams is definitely something to be proud of (US News, ftw!)! I've already begun following the Boston Bruins since the NHL season has started, LOL. I'm a big sports guy, so adopting Boston teams would be an awesome time for me considering little 'ol Alabama has no professional teams to speak of. BTW, if anyone is visiting Boston to see HGSE anytime soon, I recommend staying at the Harborside Inn. Priceline usually offers pretty good deals for them, so the price + location is just about unbeatable. Perfect location, as a T stop (called the Aquarium stop) is literally right beside the front doors of the hotel. Additionally, you can walk to Quincy Market in about 2-3 minutes and be on some part of the Freedom Trail in about 5 minutes. Plus, Boston Harbor is super close (hence the name, derp derp).

Your verbal score of 159 is in the 80 percentile, which is only 3.1 below the average percentile of an Ed.M. student at Harvard (which is equivalent to a 160). I wouldn't classify that as "pretty weak" at all; in actuality, that's close enough to average. Percentile wise, your QR score (56 percentile, 153) actually has a greater disparity relative to Harvard's average (66.6 percentile, which is about a 155-156). That being said, your AWA is spectacular - exceptional by all standards. Moreover, you have good experience and a nice undergraduate GPA. I think you're fine, tbh. I, on the other hand, have no work experience going for me (only a senior in undergrad) and have a GRE of 154 V, 154 QR, and 4.5 AWA. So, I'm average in QR, well below average in Verbal, and about average on AWA. I'm also 21, which is at the bottom of HGSE's age range (same goes for work experience, obviously). Therefore, I'm hoping my GPA (3.94 overall; 4.0 major; public state school), being in multiple honors programs, SoP, and recs get me in. If I do get in, it surely won't be because of my work experience (since it's non-existent) or GRE score. It'll only be due to GPA, SoP, and maybe my recs. I can't speak to how good they are, as I waived my right to access. But, they did help get me into Penn...so I'm hoping they're also good enough for HGSE. In all, though, I feel like I'll be lucky to get in, as I think I have age, work experience, and my GRE verbal working against me. Anyway, I hope that serves as a confidence booster to you!

I visited Harvard and Boston about three weeks ago. And, after visiting, I feel like I just have to get in because I loved both Boston and Harvard. I'm going to jump off a building if I don't get in...a one-story building, that is. But seriously, March cannot come fast enough. BTW, I looked back at the past two HGSE threads on here and found that those in my program (PSP, M.Ed.) received their decisions around 3/9 or 3/10. That was the case the past two years. I'm not sure when those from other programs found out, but I'd assume most Master's decisions are made available at around the same time. Either way, March 9th-ish is better than March 25th!

As an applicant for the 2013-2014 school year at HGSE, this is clearly something I'm interested in. Specifically, I'm applying to the PSP program, meaning that I might do a second year in the CAS Program. If that were to occur, then I'd be doubling that 60k to 120k. Fortunately, I'll be coming out of undergrad with 0 debt. Still yet, 60-120k is still a tremendous sum of money, particularly for one entering the world of education. So, given all of that information...is it worth the money given the opportunities that HGSE offers? I'm particularly interested in hearing from those who have direct or indirect experience (maybe through a close friend) regarding an HGSE M.Ed., whether that experience relates to the program specifically or the opportunities available after being part of an HGSE M.Ed. program. Thanks, CQE

Agreed!

Thanks, Loseric! Your mentioning of Duke reminded me of UNC-Chapel Hill. I totally forgot about it, for whatever reason. UNC was VERY impressive. I really liked Chapel Hill, mainly because it being a little college town makes it feel nice and cozy. Additionally, the buildings were pretty, the mature trees were beautiful, and the Carolina Blue street signs were a nice touch.

Clearly, nobody is basing their doctorate or Master's decision off of who has the prettiest campus...at least not entirely. That being said, I thought this might be a fun thread to see what others think, especially if there are differing views regarding the same campus. Moreover, this is simply just another thread to pass the time that we all wish we could just forward through until hearing our admission decision(s). Anyway, I suppose I'll start... I recently saw Penn, Harvard, and BC's campuses. All were beautiful, but I believe Penn was the most beautiful of the three. BC's upper-campus was amazing as well, and I managed to see Harvard's campus after a nice snowfall. I think from top to bottom, Harvard's was more impressive than BC. However, BC's Gasson Hall might just have what I believe to be the single-most beautiful building of them all. Vanderbilt was another one I saw a few years ago that was amazing. Very clean, nice campus with tons of gorgeous trees (after all, the campus itself is referred to as an arboretum). Additionally, I consider Nashville to be the "Boston of the South" due to its rich history and cleanliness. So while Nashville and Boston are not technically part of Vandy or Harvard's/BC's respective campuses, the fact that all are so close (or even within, in Vandy's case) to such great cities certainly adds to the draw of the schools. So...what's the prettiest campus(es) you've ever seen?

Yeah, I visited BC a couple of weeks ago while in Boston for 3 days. They pissed me off, tbh. To come all the way from Alabama and to only talk to a graduate assistant for 15 minutes? I mean, c'mon now. I didn't even get a campus tour. I was given a map, and the grad assistant circled where the two bookstores were located so that I could "get a BC shirt or hoody." I mean, it's not something that one should really weigh into their decision to go to that school, I don't think. However, when another school (Penn) allows you to speak with the program coordinator, gives you a shirt, and hooks you up with a graduate assistant to actually give you a tour of the campus...it just makes you look bad, IMO. I'm not saying I expect to be wined and dined, but I do expect some effort considering the time and money that goes into making these trips. At the end of the day, it just makes you feel like you'll just be another face and another dollar rather than someone who is valued and cared about.

Not to be a prlck, but that's kinda funny. lol Sorry for the bad news, though. I may feel the same pain come March.

I wish I could, but, unfortunately, it doesn't look as though I'm eligible for any of them. For what it's worth, I'd be an incoming M.Ed. student from Alabama, with no past ties to Harvard in any way. So, if I'm wrong regarding my eligibility, please let me know ASAP!

I submitted my app on Halloween night (was a Wednesday), and got my acceptance email from the program director on the following Tuesday. She emailed me prior to the official UPenn email that came shortly afterwards (I think it came later the same day or the following day) that stated that my admission decision was posted online.

Heh. I'm from Alabama, too.