Chances of getting into a doctoral program in education?

[Alilla3]

Hi all,

 

Like many people, I'm worried about (okay, fretting over) my chances of getting into a doctoral program in education/sociology for the fall of 2014. I applied to the following programs:

 

Boston College (Curriculum and Instruction PhD)

CUNY Graduate Center (Sociology PhD)

NYU (Teaching and Learning PhD)

Columbia Teachers College (Curriculum and Teaching EdD)

Harvard University (Culture, Institutions, and Society PhD)

Stanford University (Sociology of Education PhD)

 

I had a 3.97 GPA from my M.A. program in education, but a 3.34 GPA from my B.A. program. I got a 157 verbal, and a 147 quantitative score on the GREs (I've never been a strong standardized test taker). 

 

As far as experience goes: I've taught for three years, and have pretty substantial sociology, developmental psychology, and education research experience (all-in-all, about six years of research experience). 

 

 

Can anyone offer some insight into my situation, and what the odds of me getting into these programs are? Also, any clue about when I could hear back from these programs by?

 

Thanks, everyone!

[iphi]

For questions about when you might hear back from programs, go ahead and use the "Results Search" at the top of this page.

[ctcpx084]

I'm the doctoral program in C&T at Teachers College. Gauging GPA and GRE score is difficult. A wealth of experience seems to be the interest of the department when admitting students, rather than GPA, GRE, etc. I'm not saying they don't matter, but it would not surprise me to find out that students in the program had a sub 160 V/150 Q score. It seems more like they are trying to find people who have done different things in education, and who are from very different backgrounds. Your teaching experience will come in handy, as all but one of us have taught K-12 for at least some period of time. I also think the research experience you mentioned could help, too. Most of us had little to no research experience coming into the program, with the exception mostly of students who had been at TC as master's students and who had found their way into research assistantships and other projects.

 

If you've published, you'll also set yourself apart from other candidates. I know of two people in the cohort who have any meaningful publications. Again, that's not to say they are the only two, but it seems like most students in the program haven't reached this point yet.

 

The department generally sends decisions by March 15th if you've met the early deadline. My letter arrived March 12th via the online system, actually. Typically, if you receive a scholarship, this will be listed in your decision letter. In some instances, the department may come back and offer some funding after this, but don't hold your breath. Teachers College is pretty notorious for its limited funding.

[NatureGurl]

This is a difficult question since admissions committees are so... idiosyncratic. For example, my advisor took on a new grad student this year and later confided in me that he was reluctant to admit her. Yet she was admitted. So I suppose I see no point in trying to answer the question. You applied, and now you wait. There's no sense in wondering "what are my chances"? Better to distract yourself with activities and people you enjoy, especially if any of these universities are in locations far from your family and friends.

[RandiZ]

I just finished my first semester a in PhD program. It is my understanding, and this can certainly be different in different programs, but the main thing to getting accepted is fit. Does the school think that you will fit in with the existing researchers, students and professors, in regards to research interests, background, and personality. As a PhD, it is more a job than mere student. You have to know why you want a PhD (go with a burning research question, NEVER that you want to teach in a college), why you think the school to which you are applying will help you achieve that goal, and which professors you want to work with and why. Again, different schools use different criteria to sort the voracity of each candidate on these things but this is what you have to hit. It is kind of late now to send emails to professors, and you may not get a response. But, it won't hurt to identify more than one professor and find out if they might have a few moments to meet with you via phone or Skype if you can't go in person. You will be working very closely with your advisor for the next 4-6 years so you and s/he need to figure out if that is a good thing.

 

It is also my understanding that the quant number of the GRE is weighed strongly when the schools decide who gets funding. I recommend checking the College Board's matrix on GRE scores by major to see where you fall in relation to other ed majors in general, and your subspecialty as well.

 

Good luck.

[ctcpx084]

I couldn't say this for certain, but I don't think Teachers College is making any funding decisions based on GRE quantitative scores. Then again, their reputation is so poor when it comes to financial aid that it is a miracle that anyone receives it. From it sounds like, they offer funding during the first semester or year in many cases, but once you've earned some credits the funding goes bye-bye and you're left with tough--and extremely expensive--decisions for the years to follow.

Edited December 27, 2013 by wjdavis

[Alilla3]

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate your help!

[higheredphdapp]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know when the majority of schools will be sending out phd interview invitations? I believe HGSE does their interviews around Jan 17, and Penn does them early-mid Feb. I would imagine all competative programs do interview, but I haven't seen many details on the websites of higher ed programs to which I applied.

[Sunshinegrl456]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know when the majority of schools will be sending out phd interview invitations? I believe HGSE does their interviews around Jan 17, and Penn does them early-mid Feb. I would imagine all competative programs do interview, but I haven't seen many details on the websites of higher ed programs to which I applied.

 

The assistant dean of admissions for the EdD/PhD in Education at HGSE told me mid last week that interview invitations will be sent out in "late January" - it may already be late January and I just didn't get an invitation but seeing as the semester doesn't officially start until the 27th and professors are still making their sleepy way back to campus, I'm not planning on starting to really worry until next week. 

 

The only other school I have a PhD application into currently is Stanford (SHIPS - Organization Studies) and they don't do interviews so I get to hold my breath until late February when final decisions roll out  

 

Speaking of, has anyone found an Education PhD forum for either of these schools for current applicants? 

[HIgherEdkmg]

The assistant dean of admissions for the EdD/PhD in Education at HGSE told me mid last week that interview invitations will be sent out in "late January" - it may already be late January and I just didn't get an invitation but seeing as the semester doesn't officially start until the 27th and professors are still making their sleepy way back to campus, I'm not planning on starting to really worry until next week. 

 

The only other school I have a PhD application into currently is Stanford (SHIPS - Organization Studies) and they don't do interviews so I get to hold my breath until late February when final decisions roll out

 

Speaking of, has anyone found an Education PhD forum for either of these schools for current applicants? 

 

I, too, would love to hear from PhD applicants in Higher Ed/Ed Policy. So far, I've received e-mail invitations from U. Michigan and Boston College Higher Ed PhD for skype interviews. Still waiting to hear from UPenn, Maryland, IU, USC and SHIPS. Are there any forums out there for these schools?

[higheredphdapp]

Penn sent out invites for their phd weekend last week (I didn't get one). I got an email from USC two weeks ago to interview; I believe they plan to have decisions finalized by the first week of Feb.

[Alilla3]

I went to a non-research graduate teaching institution and spearheaded a number of research projects throughout and prior to my graduate career. So I think I'm doing just fine on the research front, thanks.

[natxio]

I went to a non-research graduate teaching institution and spearheaded a number of research projects throughout and prior to my graduate career. So I think I'm doing just fine on the research front, thanks.

Have you heard back? I have similar stats