UCLA vs. Vanderbilt vs. Penn

[sarmstrong]

So, I am currently choosing between UCLA, Vanderbilt and Penn for my masters and have had a lot of difficulty in deciding. UCLA is the clear frontrunner, but, unfortunately, I found out that I wasn't actually admitted, I was just recommended for admission by the Ed. department. Because my jr. / sr. GPA was below a 3.0 (2.98), the Dean of the Graduate Division has to sign a special petition for me to actually be admitted. I'm guessing it's more of a formality, but I've had a VERY difficult and unpleasant experience with trying to get ANY information from them. This is a huge problem, because, of course, the April 15th deadline is fast approaching. I'm planning on sending a letter to someone at UCLA that basically says, "I'd love to attend, but I need to receive a definitive answer by April 15th, or else I'm going to have to go with another school." Is that a good idea?

Secondly, what should my Plan B school be? Here are the pros and cons, as I see it.

Penn (pro):

- Possibly easier location for my husband to find a job

- Really exciting internship attached

- Ivy league name

Penn (con):

- COLD

- #12

- I don't like the campus quite as much

Vandy (pro):

- I love the campus

- A few thousand cheaper (due to aid)

- #1 Ed. program

- Better weather

- Really nice and helpful staff

Vandy (con):

- I might get bored in Nashville

- Could be hard for the hubby to find a job

Thoughts? On any of it? I know it's one of those decision we'll have to make on our own, but it would be great to have some fresh views. Also, if it helps, I plan to either go into consulting or get a PHD and become a professor.

[ZeChocMoose]

So, I am currently choosing between UCLA, Vanderbilt and Penn for my masters and have had a lot of difficulty in deciding. UCLA is the clear frontrunner, but, unfortunately, I found out that I wasn't actually admitted, I was just recommended for admission by the Ed. department. Because my jr. / sr. GPA was below a 3.0 (2.98), the Dean of the Graduate Division has to sign a special petition for me to actually be admitted. I'm guessing it's more of a formality, but I've had a VERY difficult and unpleasant experience with trying to get ANY information from them. This is a huge problem, because, of course, the April 15th deadline is fast approaching. I'm planning on sending a letter to someone at UCLA that basically says, "I'd love to attend, but I need to receive a definitive answer by April 15th, or else I'm going to have to go with another school." Is that a good idea?

Secondly, what should my Plan B school be? Here are the pros and cons, as I see it.

Penn (pro):

- Possibly easier location for my husband to find a job

- Really exciting internship attached

- Ivy league name

Penn (con):

- COLD

- #12

- I don't like the campus quite as much

Vandy (pro):

- I love the campus

- A few thousand cheaper (due to aid)

- #1 Ed. program

- Better weather

- Really nice and helpful staff

Vandy (con):

- I might get bored in Nashville

- Could be hard for the hubby to find a job

Thoughts? On any of it? I know it's one of those decision we'll have to make on our own, but it would be great to have some fresh views. Also, if it helps, I plan to either go into consulting or get a PHD and become a professor.

It seems like you are focused on weather and location. How good are these programs for what you want to do? (I assume that is international ed?) I would be more interested in whether they offer the classes that I want to take, whether the faculty are accessible and knowledgeable, and whether I will be able to get involved in either research, policy, or practical experiences (depending on what I am trying to get a job in).

I have discussed this in length on some of my other posts-- but USNWR only ranks doctoral programs so I wouldn't try to extrapolate a PhD ranking of a program/school to a master's experience and the overall rank of the education school might not be helpful if the international ed program within that school is just average or weak.

Edited April 5, 2011 by ZeChocMoose

[sarmstrong]

It seems like you are focused on weather and location. How good are these programs for what you want to do? (I assume that is international ed?) I would be more interested in whether they offer the classes that I want to take, whether the faculty are accessible and knowledgeable, and whether I will be able to get involved in either research, policy, or practical experiences (depending on what I am trying to get a job in).

I have discussed this in length on some of my other posts-- but USNWR only ranks doctoral programs so I wouldn't try to extrapolate a PhD ranking of a program/school to a master's experience and the overall rank of the education school might not be helpful if the international ed program within that school is just average or weak.

Yeah, while fit is obviously super important, when all I have is websites with little information, I'm finding it a bit difficult to determine. I mean, I have looked extensively at the websites, the faculty profiles, etc. etc., but I still feel like it's going to just be a big surprise to me what the program is like when I get there. Also, I've emailed these schools for more information (alumni info, course descriptions, etc.) and haven't gotten much response. I DO know that I really like my advisor at UCLA, which is one major reason why it's the frontrunner. I also (from what I can tell), like the program fit better. But for the other two it's been more difficult to determine. That's why I focus on everything else. Plus, let's face it, if the weather makes me miserable, that's IS important!

[sarmstrong]

Yeah, while fit is obviously super important, when all I have is websites with little information, I'm finding it a bit difficult to determine. I mean, I have looked extensively at the websites, the faculty profiles, etc. etc., but I still feel like it's going to just be a big surprise to me what the program is like when I get there. Also, I've emailed these schools for more information (alumni info, course descriptions, etc.) and haven't gotten much response. I DO know that I really like my advisor at UCLA, which is one major reason why it's the frontrunner. I also (from what I can tell), like the program fit better. But for the other two it's been more difficult to determine. That's why I focus on everything else. Plus, let's face it, if the weather makes me miserable, that's IS important!

Also, I already knew the US News rankings only applied to doctoral programs, but since there isn't one for masters programs, I'm taking what I can get and figuring that if the doctoral program is good, the masters is more likely to be good too.

[ZeChocMoose]

Also, I already knew the US News rankings only applied to doctoral programs, but since there isn't one for masters programs, I'm taking what I can get and figuring that if the doctoral program is good, the masters is more likely to be good too.

I think the problem with that is some departments treat their master's and doctoral students similarly and some don't. You would want to talk to current master's students to see how well they feel they are being treated.

[ZeChocMoose]

Yeah, while fit is obviously super important, when all I have is websites with little information, I'm finding it a bit difficult to determine. I mean, I have looked extensively at the websites, the faculty profiles, etc. etc., but I still feel like it's going to just be a big surprise to me what the program is like when I get there. Also, I've emailed these schools for more information (alumni info, course descriptions, etc.) and haven't gotten much response. I DO know that I really like my advisor at UCLA, which is one major reason why it's the frontrunner. I also (from what I can tell), like the program fit better. But for the other two it's been more difficult to determine. That's why I focus on everything else. Plus, let's face it, if the weather makes me miserable, that's IS important!

If it was me and I couldn't visit the programs, I would ask to be put in touch with current students and at least one faculty member. Since master's programs are short, you want to make sure that the program can help you with the next step in your career.

I would want to know whether there are comps, if a thesis is encouraged, what are the methodological/stats requirements, what is the availability of internships, etc.

I understand that weather and location plays a role in the decision making process, but there are other factors that you need to find out about before you invest your time, energy, and money into a program. Good luck

[sarmstrong]

All good suggestions. I know most of that stuff, but I haven't talked to any Penn masters students yet. I talked to one from Vandy (she LOVED it) and one from UCLA (also very positive).