HGSE 2026

[KellyKat]

On 1/16/2026 at 1:53 PM, Apple Sheila said:

Anyone hear anything about interviews?

Nothing here, my new guess is Wednesday because I forgot tomorrow is a holiday.  That said, we still could be waiting a while; last year, they got a second number of applications, and I can only see that going up. 

[Apple Sheila]

Thanks for your updated thoughts. What does a second number of applications mean? (Thinking you mean higher or record number?)

[KellyKat]

Sorry, that was a typo/ autocorrect. It was supposed to say "record number of applications." 

[Apple Sheila]

@KellyKat: Do you still think today is the day?

 

[KellyKat]

8 minutes ago, Apple Sheila said:

@KellyKat: Do you still think today is the day?

 

I do, but I don't have insider knowledge, so it is just a best guess.  In previous years, the interview invites have come over a couple of days, but I have a hunch it will start today!  Fingers crossed.  Remember, even if they do come out today, we could potentially receive one for a couple of days.  

[Apple Sheila]

2 minutes ago, KellyKat said:

I do, but I don't have insider knowledge, so it is just a best guess.  In previous years, the interview invites have come over a couple of days, but I have a hunch it will start today!  Fingers crossed.  Remember, even if they do come out today, we could potentially receive one for a couple of days.  

Thanks for this update! Crossing fingers for us all!

[WZY]

Program/Concentration: M.Ed in LDIT
GRE: N/A
Work experience: work-study through my undergraduate years (research assistant, mental health program assistant)
Undergrad: BS in Psychology
Undergrad GPA: 3.3 (UofT) I have no idea if the admission team will consider UofT GPA differently, as it is ... really different from the US universities.
Research:  two periods of cognitive/developmental psych research ( child learning, and cognitive-emotion relationship)
LORs: 1 from a writing professor I was close with, 1 from my supervisor (also a professor), and one from another supervisor.
Other info: I finished my undergrad at UofT, and I am really nervous about my GPA. There is no information I can get to see what the UofT GPA should look like to get into Harvard.

Please give me some advice, or just judge me! I am open to any kind of suggestions

[KellyKat]

On 1/16/2026 at 1:53 PM, Apple Sheila said:

Anyone hear anything about interviews?

I did not, so either I was wrong about timing or I didn't get invited.  

[Apple Sheila]

@KellyKat Hopefully there will be some sign interviews have started. I wish there was a way to know.

[IrfanKhan]

8 minutes ago, Apple Sheila said:

@KellyKat Hopefully there will be some sign interviews have started. I wish there was a way to know.

I applied to several universities as International student for PhD and there's radio silence. So far there's nothing updated on the portals either. In my master I have 3.83 CGPA, 2 bookchapters published, and 2 papers presented at international conferences. 4 years of teaching experience also. Let's see and hope for the best possible in coming days. 

[Apple Sheila]

@IrfanKhan It is all so nerve-wracking in an already nerve-wracking and uncertain world.

 

[KellyKat]

19 minutes ago, Apple Sheila said:

@KellyKat Hopefully there will be some sign interviews have started. I wish there was a way to know.

If we don't hear anything by Jan 30 we can email and ask if all the notices have gone out, but doing that this early would read as a bit annoying to them I think.  

[Apple Sheila]

@KellyKat Agreed. Patience is hard, but probably essential right now.

[caxiatec]

Posted as seen on Reddit:

I emailed them a few days back asking if the interview invites were extended and got a response today stating that the review process is still ongoing and the interview invites did not roll out yet. So I guess there is still hope.🤞

[KellyKat]

someone on reddit reported getting a CIS interview letter

Edited January 24 by KellyKat

[KellyKat]

Did anyone here get an interview?  I unfortunately did not but I am very privileged that I love my current job, and also a bit bummed. 

[Apple Sheila]

No, I did not. Wondering if/when we will know that all interviews have happened.

[IrfanKhan]

Nothing yet. There is complete silence. 

[IrfanKhan]

Did anybody from here apply to Stanford, UPenn, Wisconsin Madison, and Indiana University? I applied to all of them , but I didn't get any updates from them either 😕 

[KellyKat]

4 hours ago, IrfanKhan said:

Nothing yet. There is complete silence. 

@IrfanKhan The HGSE/GSAS interview notifications went out on Friday (01/23) for all three Ph.D concentrations.  I also did not receive one.  I cannot speak to the other schools on your list.  Master's programs traditionally do not have interviews through HGSE unless they want to check a student's language. 

Edited January 27 by KellyKat

[Apple Sheila]

23 minutes ago, KellyKat said:

@IrfanKhan The HGSE/GSAS interview notifications went out on Friday (01/23) for all three Ph.D concentrations.  I also did not receive one.  I cannot speak to the other schools on your list.  Master's programs traditionally do not have interviews through HGSE unless they want to check a student's language. 

@KellyKat Do you know if all interview invitations were sent out? Is there a rolling element at all or has everyone been invited already?

[KellyKat]

3 hours ago, Apple Sheila said:

@KellyKat Do you know if all interview invitations were sent out? Is there a rolling element at all or has everyone been invited already?

I do not know with 100% certainty, but I highly suspect that is the case for a few reasons.  One is that they have always traditionally gone out now.  Also, I chatted with one of the heads of one of the Ph.D branches, and I said, "So I know all the interview requests went out Friday, and other candidates got them, but sadly I wasn't chosen, and he didn't disagree or correct me, but instead gave me advice on applying more broadly to more programs next year.   Again, not 100% certainty, but it is probable.  I have only heard of one late interview in the last 5 years, and I don't know the circumstances.  (Note: I wasn't unqualified, so it wasn't like he would say that because I was far off the mark; there were clearly more qualified choices, however, since I didn't get a letter.)   

Edited January 28 by KellyKat

[Apple Sheila]

11 hours ago, KellyKat said:

I do not know with 100% certainty, but I highly suspect that is the case for a few reasons.  One is that they have always traditionally gone out now.  Also, I chatted with one of the heads of one of the Ph.D branches, and I said, "So I know all the interview requests went out Friday, and other candidates got them, but sadly I wasn't chosen, and he didn't disagree or correct me, but instead gave me advice on applying more broadly to more programs next year.   Again, not 100% certainty, but it is probable.  I have only heard of one late interview in the last 5 years, and I don't know the circumstances.  (Note: I wasn't unqualified, so it wasn't like he would say that because I was far off the mark; there were clearly more qualified choices, however, since I didn't get a letter.)   

Thanks for these insights and the update. An alum I spoke with said they cut admissions by half this year, and there is a Crimson article about cuts to the social sciences and humanities. Do you happen to know if HGSE acceptances were halved as well? https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/10/21/fas-phd-admissions-cuts/

[Apple Sheila]

Wondering if HGSE also reduced the number of PhD admits this year like other schools in the humanities/social sciences...

[KellyKat]

On 1/28/2026 at 9:49 AM, Apple Sheila said:

Wondering if HGSE also reduced the number of PhD admits this year like other schools in the humanities/social sciences...

I heard they did, but it was more gossip, not an official source.   HGSE doesn't grant the Ph.Ds for education, they grant the Ed.L.Ds and M.Ed degrees, they coordinate on the Ph.D coursework/ classes, but it is technically through GSAS that grants the degrees.

Edited January 29 by KellyKat