HGSE 2016

[marature]

18 hours ago, Deaners said:

Heather, while I am quite certain to attend HGSE myself next fall (and hence no dilemma to resolve), I'm just purely interested on what "mind was blown times 100" constitutes. It would probably help me feel better about shellacking out our tuition money. I hope you take time at some point to post your notes or a distilled version of it at some point. 

Yes I'm interested too! I'm now deciding between HGSE and another program, and while I think that I will go with the other one if I get a better funding offer from them (I'm on tenterhooks!), I would like to have as much information as possible to make the decision... 

[marature]

26 minutes ago, Heather1011 said:

I'm on my way back from Penn now, and it's official--when I get home, I'm submitting my deposit for Harvard!!! 

Penn literally shot themselves in the foot when a professor admitted to me that Harvard has unbeatable career services and job placement and that Penn still has a lot of work to do in this regard.  While this isn't my only consideration, it's probably my biggest one, so there we go  

I will definitely share more details about the open houses for everyone. 

[GlobNomad]

Good for you @Heather1011. (although judging from your conversations here, it sounds like Harvard had always been your choice and you just needed an excuse to make that choice which it seems you got. I personally am still leaning Penn for next year!).

[Vulpix]

35 minutes ago, marature said:

Penn almost had me there too. They are definitely the more nurturing, supportive program by design. I got the impression HGSE is supportive too, just not as handed to you on a silver platter.  

 

Everyone, I will write a VERY full report in a few hours when I get home!  

Edited April 2, 2016 by Heather1011

[Levon3]

I'm so excited for you Heather!! I think I'll always a little bit wish I had gone to Harvard, so I was silently pulling for those of you making the choice this this year. Best of luck to all!

[Dracos]

1 hour ago, Heather1011 said:

I'm on my way back from Penn now, and it's official--when I get home, I'm submitting my deposit for Harvard!!! 

Penn literally shot themselves in the foot when a professor admitted to me that Harvard has unbeatable career services and job placement and that Penn still has a lot of work to do in this regard.  While this isn't my only consideration, it's probably my biggest one, so there we go  

I will definitely share more details about the open houses for everyone. 

Awesome, glad to hear you finally made a decision and looking forward to hearing your insights about both. I think you'll be successful wherever you go with your attitude. HGSE will be very lucky to have you. 

[Cat Time]

Can't wait to hear more about your experiences Heather...you'll need to change that signature soon!

 

[Vulpix]

All right folks, I'm sure you won't be surprised by how much I ramble on in this.  It's going to be organized as I took the notes during the sessions!

HGSE Visit Overall Thoughts 

So when I said I was blown away, I really mean it.  I think the key factor in this was meeting my future classmates. I knew this was important, but didn't anticipate how big of a factor it would become in my decision.  They are truly a remarkable group.  In the span of the 4 minutes of awkward mingling before the Open House started, I met an Emmy-award winning documentary filmmaker, 3 Peace Corps volunteers with amazing stories, and just, in general, one of the coolest group of people.  I think it hit me when I mentioned (to a group of fellow IEP-ers) a non-fiction book about Rwanda that I had read, and EVERYONE had read it.  I realized I was among people who were truly passionate about the same things as me, and were deeply interested in discussing these things but also in a down-to-earth way.  By the end of the day, I actually felt like I had made FRIENDS, not just one-day acquaintances, and we were sharing cat memes and Ted Sheeran (Ed Sheeran with Ted Cruz' face) photos.  What I am trying to get at with this is that to find a group of people that are simultaneously BRILLIANT in their experiences, academic ability, and passions while also just being regular, not stuck-up "Harvard" types was really great to see.  

The second major factor that blew me away was the impression I got from current students that "you really have to try hard to fail here" in the sense that there are SO many opportunities.  I feel like we've all heard that you can't fathom the Harvard network/reach/resources, and I still probably can't, but I feel like I got a glimpse of it yesterday and was completely blown away.  I think this manifests itself in the ways students and professors connect one another with other people/organizations that would be of interest to them.  

The last big factor was the career services session, which I explain more below.

OH and the reception had chocolate covered strawberries, fancy cheese, beef skewers, champagne.... Food is the way to my heart

Class Observation:

I observed the class Educational Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship with Fernando Reimers (head of IEP, but the class was a cross-registry of students from all different HU schools + MIT).  I was a half hour late because Admissions gave me the wrong building on the other side of the river (), but it wasn't their fault the class very randomly relocated just for that day.  ANYWAY, I was blown away by the quality of students' ideas and very impressed by how well they listened and responded to each other's ideas, and also how well Fernando connected his students ideas and pushed their thinking.  He clearly knew all of their names (or at least the ones who are active participants) and cracked jokes, even with a large class.  They talked about really interesting business/ed related topics like whether or not we have an obligation as educators to share our intellectual property, if that's a good business model, whether we need to be competitors or collaborators, how to make a sustainable profit as a social entrepreneur.  The professor clearly wanted his students' advice on his own ventures as well.  What most impressed me was how reflective both the students and Fernando were about their privilege in being at HGSE, and Fernando in particular seemed to be very concerned about HGSE's catch-22 of being in the business of education and how the school does not want to "dilute" the HGSE brand by sharing its success models, but that this is a disingenuous approach to education because as educators we should want ALL schools to have what Harvard has.  I just thought this was fascinating.  

Professor & Student Panel

One professor gave advice to engage in methods courses that give you real skills and currency in the job market, saying that you'd be surprised how many people unwittingly become quantitative researchers even though they come in thinking they're not math people

Real focus on not being stuck in the "ivory tower" and doing tangible things that make a difference in the world

- Recommend taking negotiations and management classes at HKS

- The microeconomics class is specifically ABOUT education and real issues, gives you the tools to actually analyze educational programs and not just economic skills.  Class includes very little actual math, focused on handling difficult problems faced by NGOs, etc.

- Some larger classes are supported by 3-4 teaching fellows (TFs) who are PhD students... they sometimes lead sections but never whole classes.

- Fernando Reimers' accessibility to students is unparalleled.  Most professors are busy but always willing to help.  As an example, a student went to a professor saying she wants to get involved in X organization/agency, and within an hour the professor had emailed her back with his connections to leaders in that organization, which then led to an internship.

In IEP, students are doing real development projects in their classes that are then often put into place by agencies like UNICEF, and some students are getting the chance to travel to other countries to present their projects or witness implementation.  The opportunities for internships are OFF THE HOOK.  Some students had 3 internships, including remote consultancies (with an international org, for example).  In IEP, they are doing a lot of remote work with UNESCO, constantly on Skype calls with ministries of education abroad, etc.  Several of them got to travel or will be traveling as part of their work.  The majority of these opportunities came directly from professors, program managers, or career services.  Classes are very practical and focused on implementation and hard skills (if you choose to take such classes, or you can focus on theory/research).  

It seems like almost all students are organizing/attending/presenting at conferences ALL THE TIME.

Research Opportunities

This was the part that was kinda ??  So basically, professors rarely have students get involved in research simply because EdM students are only there for 9 months, and professors are looking for a longer commitment of work, so they typically collaborate with PhD students.  It's not impossible, but it is unlikely to do research on a professor's project.  However, they are more than happy to assist you in personal research.  MORE likely are the different "centers" at Harvard that have RA positions and internships.

Classes/Cross-Registrations

This was fascinating.  The HGSE students really talked candidly about the major differences between Harvard Law/Business/Ed/Kennedy students.  As a whole, we are a less competitive, more supportive community (not surprising), but we are still driven.  They talked about how something we have to recognize is that as GSE students, we all share a philosophy that education matters and can change the world, but that this is not a belief shared by business/law/government students, so when we are in cross-registered classes, we have to really defend why education matters in a way that is a given among our GSE peers.  But this is good and pushes us all to think harder.

They recommend cross registering in the first semester and getting comfortable with it... it's not hard!

Financial Aid

Depressing session - don't bother appealing your aid package, it's not gonna change.

Careers********* THIS SESSION WAS AMAZING

Seriously, after this session, everyone around me just wanted to marry the CSO woman.  HGSE will start working with you THIS JUNE to help you start thinking about job opportunities next year.  With internships, she said they always have more opportunities than students, and that there is an internship expo in August with over 75 employers (seeking multiple students).  Additionally, HGSE receives over 300 job postings a month, usually from alumni who not only want to hire you but also probably get a referral bonus for hiring you, and this is how many students get jobs.  Many students also get jobs (or interviews) through professors who are deeply connected to EVERY organization in the world.  

Some job stats:

50% of HGSE students have jobs secured to start immediately after graduation (considering this is the teaching industry and many jobs start in September, this is actually an impressiv enumber)

85% or more of HGSE students have jobs secured within 3 months of graduation, the remaining 10% typically do some kind of summer fellowship (not sure what these are)

These stats are also considered under the different "time to hire" timelines (corporate jobs take 30-40 days, government jobs 120 days)

She said that for the remaining 5% who don't have jobs, it's usually for a very specific reason (aka they have offers but are being super picky, or they have some kind of interviewing problem) and that if you are "still seeking" then you receive EXTRA coaching and one-on-one intensive appointments to help you change your resume/interview skills/acquire some other experience.  Basically, if you need help, they're gonna get you there.

Random fun fact:  Texas is DYING for HGSE alums!  CSO lady said that if you want to work in Texas, she has people banging on her door!

You have access to HGSE job postings for the rest of your life.

Professors (even if they're not yours) are VERY giving with their professional network, so don't be shy, they love to hook you up

 

Edited April 3, 2016 by Heather1011

[betweenthepages]

Thanks so much for your notes, Heather!! Looks like I'll be seeing you at HGSE in the fall

[Vulpix]

9 minutes ago, betweenthepages said:

Thanks so much for your notes, Heather!! Looks like I'll be seeing you at HGSE in the fall

 

[dear_valentine07]

Ah! Thanks, Heather! I'll be there Monday and I'm super excited. 

Quick silly question: was the attire business casual or just casual?

[Vulpix]

37 minutes ago, dear_valentine07 said:

Ah! Thanks, Heather! I'll be there Monday and I'm super excited. 

Quick silly question: was the attire business casual or just casual?

People were half and half.  Nobody looked out of place wearing jeans, so I'd say casual is just fine!

[marature]

thanks Heather! very helpful! btw, you already probably know this, but I was looking at the courses at HGSE again and you were right - the IEP courses are more focused on policy than skills, and some of the more skills-focused classes that I saw earlier are no longer being offered. however, the curriculum is more flexible so you could still pick the skills-focused courses that interest you, and it sounds like the Kennedy School has opportunities as well. All the best! It sounds very cool... 

[Vulpix]

4 minutes ago, marature said:

thanks Heather! very helpful! btw, you already probably know this, but I was looking at the courses at HGSE again and you were right - the IEP courses are more focused on policy than skills, and some of the more skills-focused classes that I saw earlier are no longer being offered. however, the curriculum is more flexible so you could still pick the skills-focused courses that interest you, and it sounds like the Kennedy School has opportunities as well. All the best! It sounds very cool... 

Have you decided for sure yet?

I initially thought that IEP courses were more policy than skills, but in listening to students, it sounds like they are very pleased with how practical the courses are, and this was one of the big pushes that the program faculty was communicating, that they have a focus on implementation.  Either way, I intend to take the classes that I know will give me the skills, so it's all good  

[marature]

Just now, Heather1011 said:

Have you decided for sure yet?

I initially thought that IEP courses were more policy than skills, but in listening to students, it sounds like they are very pleased with how practical the courses are, and this was one of the big pushes that the program faculty was communicating, that they have a focus on implementation.  Either way, I intend to take the classes that I know will give me the skills, so it's all good  

no... I have the feeling it's going to be right down to the wire with me! thanks for the feedback about the courses being practical.

[Vulpix]

22 hours ago, GlobNomad said:

Good for you @Heather1011. (although judging from your conversations here, it sounds like Harvard had always been your choice and you just needed an excuse to make that choice which it seems you got. I personally am still leaning Penn for next year!).

Funny thing is that I was *definitely* leaning Penn for the longest time.  If you go back and read old posts, I'm sure half of them were me saying "I hope I don't get into Harvard, I just want to go to Penn now!!"  Originally, I only wanted to go to TC.  I'm glad I rolled with the process though.  I'm sure either school, I would have no regrets!!  (Well, TC I might've regretted, because it seems that people do!  But Penn and HGSE, I haven't heard much negative).

[Vulpix]

6 minutes ago, marature said:

no... I have the feeling it's going to be right down to the wire with me! thanks for the feedback about the courses being practical.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be successful wherever you go!!

[marature]

3 minutes ago, Heather1011 said:

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be successful wherever you go!!

Thanks, and whatever it is, perhaps we'll meet at the next CIES conference! It seems like students from most of these programs attend...

[Vulpix]

45 minutes ago, marature said:

Thanks, and whatever it is, perhaps we'll meet at the next CIES conference! It seems like students from most of these programs attend...

I definitely want to!

[eduphd]

On 2016年3月17日 at 11:40 PM, Mithrandir27 said:

Dear folks

 

Hope you are doing well. Kudos to those who've received their admits! I am a graduate student of Education from India. I understand it's a bit early, but due to my apprehensions, I am posting here to gain some insight and advice regarding grad schools I'd be applying to this year (for Fall 2017). I am aiming for a PhD in the domain of education technology. Your views would be extremely helpful for me.

 

My experience includes software development, research analytics, and teaching in low income schools. Here's an overview of my current profile:

 

Education:
B.E. (Hons.) in Computer Science from BITS Pilani, GPA: 3.36/4 (served as Vice-president of Association of Computing Machinery (ACM))
M.A. in Elementary Education (ongoing) from TISS Mumbai, GPA: 4; Class topper
(Both top tier universities)

Professional Experience (excluding internships): 4 years (till date)

1 year as a software developer

2 years as a Teach For India Fellow 

1 year as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Education, Innovation and Action Research (I am currently working on designing secondary school mathematics curriculum and developing learning games, in an edtech project for underprivileged children, undertaken by TISS Mumbai and MIT Boston)

 

2 journal publications; 2 conference proceedings publications; conducted 1 public talk.

 

A few of my queries presently are:

• I have currently looked at HGSE, Stanford (LSTD Specialization), Peabody College, and Penn GSE, as possible destinations. Should there be any other good schools I must look at?
• I have understood that doctorate programs at top schools have acceptance rates less than 5%. With my current profile, it would be great if you could comment on whether I even have any realistic shot.
• As a prospective PhD candidate, there might be some loopholes in my profile that I must be missing. It would be great if you could provide me with any feedback, so that I can work on those in the coming months.

I am taking my GRE in May. Looking forward to any feedback from your side. Thanks.

I recommend other doctoral programs such as Northwestern (Learning Sciences), Purdue, Penn State and CMU - depending on your focus on ed tech. 

Good luck with your GRE! I'm also an international applicant, and one of the important keys to get into such PhDs I think is a strong letter of recommendation. One from famous uni professor would be perfect. 

[GAPeachyKeen]

On 4/3/2016 at 9:33 PM, Heather1011 said:

All right folks, I'm sure you won't be surprised by how much I ramble on in this.  It's going to be organized as I took the notes during the sessions!

HGSE Visit Overall Thoughts 

So when I said I was blown away, I really mean it.  I think the key factor in this was meeting my future classmates. I knew this was important, but didn't anticipate how big of a factor it would become in my decision.  They are truly a remarkable group.  In the span of the 4 minutes of awkward mingling before the Open House started, I met an Emmy-award winning documentary filmmaker, 3 Peace Corps volunteers with amazing stories, and just, in general, one of the coolest group of people.  I think it hit me when I mentioned (to a group of fellow IEP-ers) a non-fiction book about Rwanda that I had read, and EVERYONE had read it.  I realized I was among people who were truly passionate about the same things as me, and were deeply interested in discussing these things but also in a down-to-earth way.  By the end of the day, I actually felt like I had made FRIENDS, not just one-day acquaintances, and we were sharing cat memes and Ted Sheeran (Ed Sheeran with Ted Cruz' face) photos.  What I am trying to get at with this is that to find a group of people that are simultaneously BRILLIANT in their experiences, academic ability, and passions while also just being regular, not stuck-up "Harvard" types was really great to see.  

The second major factor that blew me away was the impression I got from current students that "you really have to try hard to fail here" in the sense that there are SO many opportunities.  I feel like we've all heard that you can't fathom the Harvard network/reach/resources, and I still probably can't, but I feel like I got a glimpse of it yesterday and was completely blown away.  I think this manifests itself in the ways students and professors connect one another with other people/organizations that would be of interest to them.  

The last big factor was the career services session, which I explain more below.

OH and the reception had chocolate covered strawberries, fancy cheese, beef skewers, champagne.... Food is the way to my heart

Class Observation:

I observed the class Educational Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship with Fernando Reimers (head of IEP, but the class was a cross-registry of students from all different HU schools + MIT).  I was a half hour late because Admissions gave me the wrong building on the other side of the river (), but it wasn't their fault the class very randomly relocated just for that day.  ANYWAY, I was blown away by the quality of students' ideas and very impressed by how well they listened and responded to each other's ideas, and also how well Fernando connected his students ideas and pushed their thinking.  He clearly knew all of their names (or at least the ones who are active participants) and cracked jokes, even with a large class.  They talked about really interesting business/ed related topics like whether or not we have an obligation as educators to share our intellectual property, if that's a good business model, whether we need to be competitors or collaborators, how to make a sustainable profit as a social entrepreneur.  The professor clearly wanted his students' advice on his own ventures as well.  What most impressed me was how reflective both the students and Fernando were about their privilege in being at HGSE, and Fernando in particular seemed to be very concerned about HGSE's catch-22 of being in the business of education and how the school does not want to "dilute" the HGSE brand by sharing its success models, but that this is a disingenuous approach to education because as educators we should want ALL schools to have what Harvard has.  I just thought this was fascinating.  

Professor & Student Panel

One professor gave advice to engage in methods courses that give you real skills and currency in the job market, saying that you'd be surprised how many people unwittingly become quantitative researchers even though they come in thinking they're not math people

Real focus on not being stuck in the "ivory tower" and doing tangible things that make a difference in the world

- Recommend taking negotiations and management classes at HKS

- The microeconomics class is specifically ABOUT education and real issues, gives you the tools to actually analyze educational programs and not just economic skills.  Class includes very little actual math, focused on handling difficult problems faced by NGOs, etc.

- Some larger classes are supported by 3-4 teaching fellows (TFs) who are PhD students... they sometimes lead sections but never whole classes.

- Fernando Reimers' accessibility to students is unparalleled.  Most professors are busy but always willing to help.  As an example, a student went to a professor saying she wants to get involved in X organization/agency, and within an hour the professor had emailed her back with his connections to leaders in that organization, which then led to an internship.

In IEP, students are doing real development projects in their classes that are then often put into place by agencies like UNICEF, and some students are getting the chance to travel to other countries to present their projects or witness implementation.  The opportunities for internships are OFF THE HOOK.  Some students had 3 internships, including remote consultancies (with an international org, for example).  In IEP, they are doing a lot of remote work with UNESCO, constantly on Skype calls with ministries of education abroad, etc.  Several of them got to travel or will be traveling as part of their work.  The majority of these opportunities came directly from professors, program managers, or career services.  Classes are very practical and focused on implementation and hard skills (if you choose to take such classes, or you can focus on theory/research).  

It seems like almost all students are organizing/attending/presenting at conferences ALL THE TIME.

Research Opportunities

This was the part that was kinda ??  So basically, professors rarely have students get involved in research simply because EdM students are only there for 9 months, and professors are looking for a longer commitment of work, so they typically collaborate with PhD students.  It's not impossible, but it is unlikely to do research on a professor's project.  However, they are more than happy to assist you in personal research.  MORE likely are the different "centers" at Harvard that have RA positions and internships.

Classes/Cross-Registrations

This was fascinating.  The HGSE students really talked candidly about the major differences between Harvard Law/Business/Ed/Kennedy students.  As a whole, we are a less competitive, more supportive community (not surprising), but we are still driven.  They talked about how something we have to recognize is that as GSE students, we all share a philosophy that education matters and can change the world, but that this is not a belief shared by business/law/government students, so when we are in cross-registered classes, we have to really defend why education matters in a way that is a given among our GSE peers.  But this is good and pushes us all to think harder.

They recommend cross registering in the first semester and getting comfortable with it... it's not hard!

Financial Aid

Depressing session - don't bother appealing your aid package, it's not gonna change.

Careers********* THIS SESSION WAS AMAZING

Seriously, after this session, everyone around me just wanted to marry the CSO woman.  HGSE will start working with you THIS JUNE to help you start thinking about job opportunities next year.  With internships, she said they always have more opportunities than students, and that there is an internship expo in August with over 75 employers (seeking multiple students).  Additionally, HGSE receives over 300 job postings a month, usually from alumni who not only want to hire you but also probably get a referral bonus for hiring you, and this is how many students get jobs.  Many students also get jobs (or interviews) through professors who are deeply connected to EVERY organization in the world.  

Some job stats:

50% of HGSE students have jobs secured to start immediately after graduation (considering this is the teaching industry and many jobs start in September, this is actually an impressiv enumber)

85% or more of HGSE students have jobs secured within 3 months of graduation, the remaining 10% typically do some kind of summer fellowship (not sure what these are)

These stats are also considered under the different "time to hire" timelines (corporate jobs take 30-40 days, government jobs 120 days)

She said that for the remaining 5% who don't have jobs, it's usually for a very specific reason (aka they have offers but are being super picky, or they have some kind of interviewing problem) and that if you are "still seeking" then you receive EXTRA coaching and one-on-one intensive appointments to help you change your resume/interview skills/acquire some other experience.  Basically, if you need help, they're gonna get you there.

Random fun fact:  Texas is DYING for HGSE alums!  CSO lady said that if you want to work in Texas, she has people banging on her door!

You have access to HGSE job postings for the rest of your life.

Professors (even if they're not yours) are VERY giving with their professional network, so don't be shy, they love to hook you up

 

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences Heather. I had to cancel my participation in Open House after being diagnosed with bronchitis (blah!) and an ear infection (pretty sure I haven't had one of those since I was 5). Anywho, your notes were super inspirational and make me want to submit my deposit now. Thanks!

[Vulpix]

3 hours ago, GAPeachyKeen said:

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences Heather. I had to cancel my participation in Open House after being diagnosed with bronchitis (blah!) and an ear infection (pretty sure I haven't had one of those since I was 5). Anywho, your notes were super inspirational and make me want to submit my deposit now. Thanks!

Feel better!

And my notes are definitely biased based on my own attitude and feeling there, but I'm glad they were inspirational!

[Heaslch09]

So here's my rundown with a decision date approaching.  I was accepted into the EPM program, offered $15,000 grant, $5,000 work study and $20,000 in loans.  I have about $3,000 in my savings account (It's hard enough making ends meet teaching part time) to make the move to Boston. So assuming costs to live in Boston for a year in addition to tuition, I'd have to take out conservatively around another $25,000 or so in private loans to finance my degree. So I'd be adding on $45,000 to the $40,000 I have in loans for my undergraduate degree. My friends, family and former professors all have wildly different opinions on whether $85,000 is a responsible amount of debt to be taking on. They say you shouldn't have more student loan debt than you'll make a year, and I can't imagine starting at $85,000 with just an Ed.M., even if the degree can ensure me a job. Is anyone else in a similar position? I just feel totally dejected.  I'd love to go to Harvard, but I think financially it makes more sense to stay and try to find a full time teaching job in my area. 

[Vulpix]

7 hours ago, Heaslch09 said:

So here's my rundown with a decision date approaching.  I was accepted into the EPM program, offered $15,000 grant, $5,000 work study and $20,000 in loans.  I have about $3,000 in my savings account (It's hard enough making ends meet teaching part time) to make the move to Boston. So assuming costs to live in Boston for a year in addition to tuition, I'd have to take out conservatively around another $25,000 or so in private loans to finance my degree. So I'd be adding on $45,000 to the $40,000 I have in loans for my undergraduate degree. My friends, family and former professors all have wildly different opinions on whether $85,000 is a responsible amount of debt to be taking on. They say you shouldn't have more student loan debt than you'll make a year, and I can't imagine starting at $85,000 with just an Ed.M., even if the degree can ensure me a job. Is anyone else in a similar position? I just feel totally dejected.  I'd love to go to Harvard, but I think financially it makes more sense to stay and try to find a full time teaching job in my area. 

You might consider reapplying in a year or two when you have more savings. I happened to not even come to the realization I wanted to apply here until I had been working three years (teaching). Even though HGSE gave me ZERO aid outside of loans, working and living within my means has meant that I have enough savings to make this a low risk in terms of the amount of loans I'll need to take out (I'm not sure how much yet, but I'm aiming for the smallest loan possible.) Personally I might put Harvard on hold for a bit, there's a great chance you'd be accepted again when financially you're in a better place...

[GAPeachyKeen]

11 hours ago, Heaslch09 said:

So here's my rundown with a decision date approaching.  I was accepted into the EPM program, offered $15,000 grant, $5,000 work study and $20,000 in loans.  I have about $3,000 in my savings account (It's hard enough making ends meet teaching part time) to make the move to Boston. So assuming costs to live in Boston for a year in addition to tuition, I'd have to take out conservatively around another $25,000 or so in private loans to finance my degree. So I'd be adding on $45,000 to the $40,000 I have in loans for my undergraduate degree. My friends, family and former professors all have wildly different opinions on whether $85,000 is a responsible amount of debt to be taking on. They say you shouldn't have more student loan debt than you'll make a year, and I can't imagine starting at $85,000 with just an Ed.M., even if the degree can ensure me a job. Is anyone else in a similar position? I just feel totally dejected.  I'd love to go to Harvard, but I think financially it makes more sense to stay and try to find a full time teaching job in my area. 

This almost exactly mirrors my current position. I applied to Harvard and was accepted into the EPM program after considering it for the past few years. I too received the exact amount of grants, work study, and loans that you received.This, as you know, will cover most of tuition but will leave a huge gap to cover the remaining fees. I had a conversation with a current EPM student/former colleague yesterday and I asked her whether or not it was worth the debt. As loaded as that question is, she was able to give me a pretty solid response from her perspective and from the experiences of others. With that being said, your work experience going into Harvard will largely impact the job that you're able to secure. Of course networking, interning, and relationships with the right people will also improve your prospects but it doesn't hurt to have a great resume going in. She also suggested that success in the program means being able to have a laser-like focus on what you'd like to achieve by receiving this degree. If you're not yet sure of what that is or if you need more time to build your resume, I'd say wait. I'm giving this perspective instead of directly addressing the money issue because things can happen/pop that impact your ability to save or there's a chance that you may not be readmitted (I knew a person who this happened to). So as a person in your position, I think the best question to answer is "is it worth it".