Program Suggestions for Higher Ed (not admin)

[rync]

Hi All!

 

I've been on the forum for a while but haven't posted yet.

 

I am a current senior graduating this year from a top-5 undergraduate school. I've basically decided that I want to pursue an academic career in higher education and am exploring Ph.D. programs to apply to in the fall. I have pretty solid GRE scores (163v,165q,4.5w) a solid undergrad GPA (3.7) but obviously don't have experience in higher education. However, seeing as I'm not really looking to study administration, per se, I'm thinking that applying directly to Ph.D. programs might be the correct route (but correct me if I'm wrong).

 

My research interests are:

 

1. Access to institutions of higher ed (especially top-tier schools) and the cyclic reproduction of elites; also looking to explore the continuing redefining of merit in the college admissions process. 

2. The factors that go into college choice for Asian-American students

3. How the changing face of tenure (and the lack of tenure track positions at most universities) is affecting the higher education landscape (both for graduate students and for the administration of the university)

4. How programs like ROTC affect the undergraduate experience.

 

My goal is to be a faculty member teaching at GSEs and potentially some undergraduate courses in interdisciplinary departments (like American studies) and hopefully later serve in the administration of the university.

 

I'd ideally like to go to a top-10 school when it comes to education, but obviously, USNWT ranks programs in Higher Ed. Admin. which is a bit different from what I believe I'd like to pursue. I'd love any feedback on programs that might fit what I'd like to study and especially certain faculty members that I should start exploring.

 

I appreciate it a lot! Thanks!

[hesadork]

Take a look at this thread:

[michigan girl]

If you are serious about studying issues affecting higher education, you may want to pursue a master's degree in higher education first. Most Higher Education PhD students have master's degree + relevant higher education experience (average: 5 years).

[nerdvana]

rnyc -

 

1. As some have mentioned, it will likely help you to pursue your master's before applying to PhD programs. Many programs explicitly require a it before they'll consider your application while others just stongly prefer it. Apart from actually qualifying you for admission, a master's could really help you hone your research interests. It would be difficult to form a clear, succinct statement of purpose around your list of four research interests (some of which are very different). There are some good, funded master's programs out there, but you shouldn't feel the need to limit yourself to higher ed. Sociology, econ, public policy/whatever you're actually interested in are all good options.

 

2. Based on your goals, it's more important to look at which higher ed programs are actually producing faculty members more than at the rankings. The US News Rankings in higher ed admin are based on reputational surveys sent to deans. A high score reflects productive faculty members but also reflects the skill of an institution's PR department in advertising that productivity. So while they'll give you some idea of the good programs out there, cutting it off at ten might eliminate some schools that do a pretty good job of placing graduates in tenure-track positions (Arizona, Stanford, Iowa, Wisconsin), while including others that may have a different focus.

 

Hope this helps!

[Lbessmer]

I agree with what everyone has said so far in this thread. In addition to honing your research focus and making you more competitive later on, doing a Master's first will help give you some perspective on what you want your career to be. I would actually take it a step further and recommend working for a few years before going back to school. Education is not like other fields where it is expected that you move straight from undergrad into a grad program. Work experience is highly valued, and for a good reason. If you went into a PhD program straight from undergrad, and then worked in a university, you would be in school your whole life. How well can you learn how education works in a larger context if you never leave it? I worked in jobs related to higher Ed for a few years, but outside of the university, and it almost completely changed my perspective. There is no hurry to get the next degree, if it is still what you want to do two, five, or even ten years from now you will make it happen.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Lbessmer

[hesadork]

rync, I just saw your other post on race/ethnicity, education and the military.

 

I'd strongly suggest that you look into sociology of education doctoral programs rather than higher education doctoral programs.  I think they'd be much closer to what you're looking for...and could facilitate direct entry into a PhD program without getting a professional master's or years of work experience first.  You'd be at a disadvantage without an u/g major or minor in sociology, but a strong SOP could go a long way to making up for that.

 

I'm most familiar with the soc/ed programs at NYU Steinhardt and Columbia TC (both of which are administered jointly with their respective grad schools of arts and sciences), so perhaps take a look at those as a place to start and then go from there.  You might be particularly interested in the work of R. Teranishi on the faculty at Steinhardt, as an aside.

 

Good luck with your search.

[rync]

rync, I just saw your other post on race/ethnicity, education and the military.

 

I'd strongly suggest that you look into sociology of education doctoral programs rather than higher education doctoral programs.  I think they'd be much closer to what you're looking for...and could facilitate direct entry into a PhD program without getting a professional master's or years of work experience first.  You'd be at a disadvantage without an u/g major or minor in sociology, but a strong SOP could go a long way to making up for that.

 

I'm most familiar with the soc/ed programs at NYU Steinhardt and Columbia TC (both of which are administered jointly with their respective grad schools of arts and sciences), so perhaps take a look at those as a place to start and then go from there.  You might be particularly interested in the work of R. Teranishi on the faculty at Steinhardt, as an aside.

 

Good luck with your search.

 

Thanks for the advice! I've actually reached out to Professor Teranishi about this. He actually said that I should go straight for higher ed if it's something that I want to study. He said that one of the drawbacks of this is the fact that you will become attuned to applying a sociological lens to higher education, whereas he says he has had much more freedom in applying various methods to his work. That being said, since I'm not a sociology major, I can't say that either is better or worse. Also, having taken a look at the coursework in both, the courses in Higher Ed programs just seem more interesting to me outright.

 

But maybe I'm just being stubborn...

[hesadork]

Glad you two are connected!  Seems like a good match.

 

I have to say, I'm really surprised by that advice...his program at Steinhardt hasn't taken someone directly from undergrad in recent memory.  You should definitely vet it with POIs at other top schools.