Ed.D. at Harvard

[The Other Cheek]

I thought I'd go ahead and create a thread for those who applied to the Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) program at HGSE. This way, we won't have to shout at each other across a room full of Ed.M. applicants.

 

Any word on the size of the applicant pool this year? Given that it's the last Ed.D. cohort, do you think less applied (and are holding off for the Ph.D.), or did more apply (with everyone trying for what they assumed were better odds)?

 

Also, I applied for Culture, Communities & Education. Any idea whether this concentration is more/less selective than others?

Edited January 9, 2013 by The Other Cheek

[ay761]

I also applied for Culture, Communities & Education.  And also curious as to how selective that specific program is! 

[EdYouKateOr]

Applied for EDLD, but just wanted to say hi! Good Luck!

[PhDHigherED]

I applied to the Ed.D. in Higher Education. Looking forward to walking through the process with you all! 

[ism]

I applied for QPAE. I emailed the admissions specifically asking about how the ph.d/ed.d integration would work and was told that there would be no opportunity to convert into the new program from the ed.d. Not sure how this affects the pool, I had the same question as you, The Other Creek!

[RandiZ]

I am surprising myself at how I am not obsessing about the details. I am VERY curious about the size of the applicant pool, especially in the HDE concentration. HGSE is my first choice out of the two schools I've applied to. So I'll definitely be a bit heartbroken if I don't get accepted. I just have to believe that my recommenders are telling me the truth: they'd be lucky to have me. And if I don't get accepted, I've got to find another way to follow my passion. Thankfully a new semester is upon us, providing a welcome opportunity to re-prioritze my thoughts.

[RandiZ]

In the never ending search for hints about where I/we stand in the process......I received an email reminder about completing my financial aid application and FAFSA. Does that mean I've been moved from one pile to another or did everyone get one?

[IdlerWheel]

In the never ending search for hints about where I/we stand in the process......I received an email reminder about completing my financial aid application and FAFSA. Does that mean I've been moved from one pile to another or did everyone get one?

I received one as well. HGSE, you can't send me e-mails that aren't about admission!!!

[PhDHigherED]

I received the financial aid email too. The email did say that it was sent to all applicants. The website said we need to complete the form before we hear our admission decision. I guess I won't procrastinate on taxes this year!

[EdYouKateOr]

I recommend starting you FASFA now (especially if you don't know your PIN). You can always add your tax stuff later. Also, the HGSE financial aid form can be submitted without your taxes being done.

[RandiZ]

FAFSA complete and processed. HGSE financial aid form completed and mailed with delivery confirmation. I'm so efficient with this application process I'm scaring myself. Now, I have to get my tax info to the accountant anticipating good news in February, necessitating sending my signed tax forms in March. Oh, the distractions to worrying about acceptance!

[michigan girl]

I hope everyone knows that starting Fall 2014, Harvard GSE is switching to a PhD program in Education. Fall 2013 is the last year that the school will enroll an EdD cohort.

[EdYouKateOr]

FAFSA complete and processed. HGSE financial aid form completed and mailed with delivery confirmation. I'm so efficient with this application process I'm scaring myself. Now, I have to get my tax info to the accountant anticipating good news in February, necessitating sending my signed tax forms in March. Oh, the distractions to worrying about acceptance!

Wish I would have thought of delivery confirmation! The Fin Aid office said they will be sending everyone a letter mid Feb to confirm receipt!

[EdYouKateOr]

FAFSA complete and processed. HGSE financial aid form completed and mailed with delivery confirmation. I'm so efficient with this application process I'm scaring myself. Now, I have to get my tax info to the accountant anticipating good news in February, necessitating sending my signed tax forms in March. Oh, the distractions to worrying about acceptance!

Can you do FASFA without taxes done as well? That's the part I was waiting on. By the way, do they realize I won't have this job if accepted and therefore won't have any money to contribute?!? Lol

[Guest HEPhD13]

Can you do FASFA without taxes done as well? That's the part I was waiting on. By the way, do they realize I won't have this job if accepted and therefore won't have any money to contribute?!? Lol

Yes, you can do the FAFSA now-- just estimate from last year. Once you complete your taxes, go back in and adjust the tax info manually and also select the IRS validation. 

 

Tax forms are due to HGSE by March 4.

[HigherEd2013]

I work with FAFSAs all the time at my current job. Please, please, PLEASE use the IRS data retrieval tool when you put in tax info for 2012. It's new as of last year. If you file electronically, it takes "2 weeks" (although last year with my students, it took closer to a month sometimes) to work so plan accordingly. If you file by mail, good luck. If you don't use this tool, there's a huge chance that you'll be flagged for verification aka. extra paperwork.

 

Also, word from Dept of Ed as of last Friday is that the tool won't be available until the end of February as opposed to the beginning...

[EdYouKateOr]

I work with FAFSAs all the time at my current job. Please, please, PLEASE use the IRS data retrieval tool when you put in tax info for 2012. It's new as of last year. If you file electronically, it takes "2 weeks" (although last year with my students, it took closer to a month sometimes) to work so plan accordingly. If you file by mail, good luck. If you don't use this tool, there's a huge chance that you'll be flagged for verification aka. extra paperwork.   Also, word from Dept of Ed as of last Friday is that the tool won't be available until the end of February as opposed to the beginning...

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

[ever12]

I, too, applied for Culture, Communities & Education Ed.D. program and would love to learn the selectivity of this particular concentration compared to others.

[cdm601]

I posted this on the general HGSE board before I saw this one. I have been admitted as a PhD student elsewhere and am waiting for the Harvard decisions to go out. How do people feel about potentially being part of the last EdD class at Harvard? Is the degree change affecting your opinions of Harvard, or is the school's reputation and quality enough to keep it at the top of your lists?

[RandiZ]

HGSE's change to the PhD is multifaceted. By no means do I have all the information. Two things stand out for me. Historically only the college of A&S could give out the PhD. All other colleges gave out professional degrees, like the EdD. Harvard's EdD has always had the reputation of a full fledged research based doctoral program within the field. However, larger granting institutions like NSF and the Ford Foundation were not easily recognizing the EdD as equivalent. This last issue is the only thing that may concern me. Otherwise, I'd be honored to be part of the Harvard community.

[RandiZ]

Sent my taxes to the accountant last week. Goal: get them to Harvard by the March 4th deadline. If I don't get accepted, at least I won't be scrambling with everyone else on April 15th. I used to be one of those people who went to the post office near midnight to get my taxes in. All us slackers had a great time greeting each other. The USPS workers were always really nice too.

 

Why no chatter in the EdD thread? Is everyone just white knuckling it or incredibly busy?

[lonewarrior1]

I'm just busy. In addition to my teaching duties, I'm coordinating a series of clubs, sitting in on a course and doing some consulting work on the side. I'll check GradCafe once a day to see if there is any new information available, but I don't expect any news until the 22nd. Your post was a good reminder to get my W-2s and 1099s in so I'll have my return ready for the 4th.

[The Other Cheek]

Any insider knowledge about size of the applicant pool this year? They were predicting that the pool would be smaller since it's the last prospective group of EdDs.

[lonewarrior1]

This is historically notification week. Nothing has popped up in the results form yet, but there should be some movement in the next day or two. Best of luck to all those that apply. Here's to getting an email before Friday.

[Guest HEPhD13]

Good luck to everyone! i know from conversations last semester, they are only looking to offer 2-4 spots in the Higher Ed track (closer to 2)-- tough odds but good luck to all!