applying to top schools for Ed.D... what does it take?

[KRim7]

Hi all! I'm new but I would really appreciate some advice/input. I am looking to apply *next* year (I'll explain that later) for an Ed.D. at Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford. I'll give a brief overview of my work/experience below. I really just kind of want an idea of if I have a chance or not, or what it is that these schools are looking for.

I graduated from a big state university with a degree in math (3.3 gpa.. not super great), and then from the same school's GSE a year later (accelerated program) with an Ed.M. in Education (3.9 gpa).

Since then, I've been working for a small private education company, which is growing rapidly. We mostly do SAT tutoring, other tutoring and college advising, however we really run more like a mentorship/guidance program where we follow kids through their high school years to get them into their top choice schools. IOur results are highly competitive; we have gotten many kids perfect scores on the SAT, and guided them into nearly every Ivy League school. My main job, besides teaching, is writing math curriculum. I have written and run a team to edit a 1000 problem math workbook, designed to get any kid to complete it to get over a 700 on SAT math. So far, its worked. We are looking to mass produce/publish it in the next year or so.

The current project I am working on is a more general math curriculum that, basically, can be used to catch up kids who are struggling with math in high school (reteaching it to them), help students who are good at math refine their skills to tackle more difficult or complex problems (learning how to problem solve), and teach younger kids (grades 3-8) where they can get ahead in school (an accelerated program). Yes, all the same curriculum. So far, we have good results with our students. I am looking to develop this though my company and work in conjunction with a local high school (non profit) on a "guinea pig" group of high school juniors, combining it with college prep, and following them into their senior year to track their progress. Essentially, this is really why I want to go get my doctorate degree - to go back and help my company expand, and develop this idea, and move into helping "fix" the math issue in our schools. Later on, I hope for an administrative position involving curriculum or running a school district.

My concerns: I do not have experience in a "traditional" classroom setting, even though I still "teach", and, I have only been out of school for a year and a half (another reason I am putting off applying). Also, I just don't know what these programs are looking for.

Reasons why I am hopeful: My boss is a Stanford/Columbia grad, knows A LOT about higher education, etc, and he is very confident in my chances. I need to take my GREs again, but on practice tests I am scoring about 650 in verbal (I know I can get this up) and 800 in math.

Sorry this is so long, thanks ahead of time!!!

[Ed_Doc]

I can't speak for Columbia or Stanford, but the EdD at Harvard is a pure research degree. I only mention this because I know that Stanford and Columbia offer PhDs in education that are more research focused. That being said, what is your goal post-doctorate? Are you looking for more of a leadership and management based degree?

Though the average years worked for this year's HGSE EdD cohort is 5.0, there is a wide range:

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/admissions/live/class_profile.html

Your GRE pre-test scores also seem to fall into the range.

Good luck!