Decisions 2013?!

[Lbessmer]

Well that is one year sooner you get to start working and paying off any loans you have to take out! There is always a bright side, and it sounds like no matter what you will end up at a great program.

 

I have a question for folks: for loan forgiveness for public service, the requirement is that the organization that you work for has to be a 501© 3. Many universities and colleges fall into this category, but are not specifically mentioned in any of the literature I have found. Would it be possible to work in a university for 10 years and then have your remaining debt forgiven?

[nerdvana]

I have a question for folks: for loan forgiveness for public service, the requirement is that the organization that you work for has to be a 501© 3. Many universities and colleges fall into this category, but are not specifically mentioned in any of the literature I have found. Would it be possible to work in a university for 10 years and then have your remaining debt forgiven?

 

I'm counting on it! Yes, most post-secondary institutions (aside from for-profits) are 501c3, so these fall into the 10-year (120 payment when working full time) forgiveness category.

[edstudies]

Decision deadline looming so I'm open to receiving any feedback from you all.

 

I'm undecided between Stanford POLS and HGSE Higher Education. Harvard offered me slightly more grant aid but I much prefer Stanford's location for superficial (much nicer weather) and personal reasons (much closer to family, who I have been away from since 2008).

 

The main difference is that POLS includes a K-12 and Higher Education concentration under one program umbrella and features a final research project while Harvard is Higher Ed-specific and has no final culminating paper or assignment. Harvard seems to offer more paid internship opportunities and is an older, more established program.

 

If I am interested in pursuing a PhD somewhere down the future, how much of a benefit would it be to have the POLS project on my CV as part of my master's work? Anything else I should consider?

 

Thanks for your help!

Edited April 9, 2013 by edstudies

[merrysoprano]

IMO, I think POLS sounds like a better fit for you. You won't make a wrong decision, and HGSE certainly will shine up a CV just like POLS will, but the research project can probably only help you for future PHD hopes. Also, I mean, it's closer to your family, and you like the weather more, and those count for a LOT in my book. I dunno. Boston weather is brutal in the winter, y'know? I don't think that's superficial at all if California weather is more your style (especially since Boston weather is pretty much the opposite). This is all totally my speculation, of course!

[ZeChocMoose]

The main difference is that POLS includes a K-12 and Higher Education concentration under one program umbrella and features a final research project while Harvard is Higher Ed-specific and has no final culminating paper or assignment. Harvard seems to offer more paid internship opportunities and is an older, more established program.

 

If I am interested in pursuing a PhD somewhere down the future, how much of a benefit would it be to have the POLS project on my CV as part of my master's work? Anything else I should consider?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

I am not sure why it makes a difference whether K-12 and higher ed are in the same program or in different departments. Are you interested in the transition between K - 12 and higher ed?  It is really not going to make that much difference whether they are in the same program or in different departments unless the K- 12 program makes it difficult for higher ed students to register for their classes-- which honestly is really unlikely.

 

Instead of location/weather concerns (esp since these are short programs), I would focus on the research interests of the faculty and whether that matches what you want to study.  It is hard to say whether the POLS project is going to make a difference on your PhD apps.  What it would do (hopefully) is expose you to research which can be helpful in determining whether a PhD is the right direction that you should pursue.  That can be a value in itself - but more important on your PhD apps will be the work you do after your master's. 

 

Personally, I would end up selecting the school that has the best course selection close to my interests because master's degrees are extremely course heavy and gives me sufficient work experience in higher ed.

[HigherEd2013]

We spoke a little about this before. Go with HGSE. I know moving to a cold climate is going to suck. I'm about to do that no matter which school I choose and not looking forward to it. Just remember that it's one year! Then you can move to wherever you want .

 

If I remember correctly, you have already had significant research experience and are looking for something more practical. With only 40% of Stanford's students having internships (mostly unpaid), you're better off at HGSE (80-90% have internships, 70% paid). HGSE also has the option for you to work with professors or get a research-based internship if you would like to offset the non-research focus. They also have great statistics classes that you can take (easy, advanced, ridiculously advanced). You could also cross register to take more classes outside of the Ed School. I'm thinking about doing a research based internship one semester, and a policy or non-profit internship in the spring. You just can't beat the flexibility of the internship and location of Boston (50 colleges and universities!).

 

I think the K-12/higher ed meshing is not going to be as beneficial for you. You could always take some K-12 electives if you wanted. Anyway, it's easy to be swayed by family and warmth so remember to pick the one that is going to be the best program. 9 months of cold won't kill you. Do your PhD at Stanford instead . That makes more sense to me. Anyway, that's my $0.02.

[edstudies]

Thanks to all of you for your responses!

 

ZeChocMoose, it matters to the extent that many of the available courses are designed to be generally applicable to both K-12 and Higher Education, including required core courses like Organizational Studies. Plus, it's not just the course content but also the classmates and fellow cohort members that may be drastically different, given the mixture of K-12 and Higher Ed people. I do believe that this can actually be a good thing, as higher education does not exist in a bubble, but it makes POLS different than most other higher ed programs from what I have gathered.

Edited April 9, 2013 by edstudies

[hesadork]

Edstudies, you really can't go wrong either way.  The subtext of your posts is that you want to be at Stanford.  So I say go with your gut.

 

The HE/K-12 integration does not strike me as a big deal.  The reality is that some number of classes at Ed schools (e.g., Org Behavior, Rsch Methods) are cross-listed such that students in many different programs have access to them.  The OB class I took as part of my HEA master's was open to folks in HE, K-12 and public/nonprofit admin.  It really didn't matter, and I enjoyed having to operate outside of my HE comfort zone.

 

In my humble opinion, some people make too much of the practice vs. policy vs. research distinction at the master's level -- especially in one year programs.  The reality is that you're going to get exposed to all three irrespective of how a program markets itself, and any differences are of degree not kind.  Strong performance at either Harvard or Stanford is going to stand you in very good stead for eventual doctoral admission regardless of their 'focus.'

 

Best of luck.