Int/Comp Ed - Chances of Acceptance

[sarmstrong]

Hi! I'm applying to several programs in International and Comparative Education including a range of both excellent and mediocre schools because I have no idea what I'm qualified for. Any insight on that would be greatly appreciated!

GPA: 3.2 (wish i could go back, didn't know I'd go to grad school) from a well respected university (though no ivy league)

GRE: 1490 (V: 720, Q: 770, W: 4.0)

Undergrad Major: English

Recommendations: Hopefully a couple real detailed and positive ones and probably one mediocre one

Experience: Some substitute teacher (months) and 1 year teaching English in Taiwan

I'm assuming my GRE is fine, but everything else seems to be below average. I'm hugely passionate about the field now that I've discovered it and I think I'm a good match for interests in several programs. Out of these schools: Harvard HGSE, NYU Steinhardt, Penn GSE, UCLA, Stanford, Bloomington, Pittsburgh, George Washington and Florida St., which do you think I stand a reasonably chance of getting into, if any?

I'm desperate for any inside information. Thank you so much!

Edited September 30, 2010 by sarmstrong

[Ed_Doc]

Hi! I'm applying to several programs in International and Comparative Education including a range of both excellent and mediocre schools because I have no idea what I'm qualified for. Any insight on that would be greatly appreciated!

GPA: 3.2 (wish i could go back, didn't know I'd go to grad school) from a well respected university (though no ivy league)

GRE: 1490 (V: 720, Q: 770, W: 4.0)

Undergrad Major: English

Recommendations: Hopefully a couple real detailed and positive ones and probably one mediocre one

Experience: Some substitute teacher (months) and 1 year teaching English in Taiwan

I'm assuming my GRE is fine, but everything else seems to be below average. I'm hugely passionate about the field now that I've discovered it and I think I'm a good match for interests in several programs. Out of these schools: Harvard HGSE, NYU Steinhardt, Penn GSE, UCLA, Stanford, Bloomington, Pittsburgh, George Washington and Florida St., which do you think I stand a reasonably chance of getting into, if any?

I'm desperate for any inside information. Thank you so much!

I can't speak for other schools, but HGSE takes a "holistic" view of the candidates...so being relatively low in one area isn't a deal-breaker, especially in the Masters programs. You did very well on the GRE, and a strong Statement of Purpose (SOP) and letters of recommendation should help offset your undergraduate performance.

In my estimation, the SOP is the most important part. HGSE admissions revolves around "fitting" cohorts of students, and your SOP is basically your statement of goodness of fit.

[sarmstrong]

I can't speak for other schools, but HGSE takes a "holistic" view of the candidates...so being relatively low in one area isn't a deal-breaker, especially in the Masters programs. You did very well on the GRE, and a strong Statement of Purpose (SOP) and letters of recommendation should help offset your undergraduate performance.

In my estimation, the SOP is the most important part. HGSE admissions revolves around "fitting" cohorts of students, and your SOP is basically your statement of goodness of fit.

Thanks for your thoughtful response! Good to hear that it isn't a deal breaker. I'm certainly doing everything I can to write a stellar SOP and I specifically chose these schools because of how well I felt they match my research interests, so I'm glad to hear that those two are so important.

[CharlotteRose]

No offense, but how do you get a 4.0 when you were an English major?? (I´m guessing you are not an international student.)

Your stats just gave me hope that I can get accepted to programs with scholarships.

Thanks.