Harvard GSE?

[emylauren2794]

I was wanting to apply to Harvard's Graduate School of Education. I'd be doing the Prevention Science and Practice with maybe the CAS the following year. I have a good GPA but don't have a lot of experience. I was told by all of my grad schools that they didn't require experience and it would be good if I had it in case everything else wasn't balanced out. I looked at several other Ivy Leagues in social work and I really liked Columbia and Harvard's the best. I have yet to take my GRE and am super nervous for that.

 

Anyone else been accepted by Harvard to tell me what they're looking for? I have a 4.0 GPA and hopefully will have experience to go along with it, but I'm not sure. Let me know. Thanks

[UrbanMidwest]

Why solely the Ivy League?

[emylauren2794]

21 hours ago, UrbanMidwest said:

Why solely the Ivy League?

I'm applying to other schools like Boston Denver Washington Howard too

[morningjunky]

For Columbia's MSW, the GRE isn't required. From my experience and anecdotal (so take this with a grain of salt) experiences, Columbia's MSW program is holistic in its approach to admission. That is, you can have a lower GPA if something else is substantial in your application (experience, essay, LORs). You have a superb GPA, so just make sure your LORs and most importantly, your essay highlights things your GPA isn't able to. Expand on your resume and what led you to pursue the field of social work. It's extremely important to show the committee why you are drawn to this field and what past experiences (both personal and professional) led you to social work. Columbia's program tends to admit a lot of students due to a lower yield (probably attributed to the high sticker price and smaller funding packages offered). Columbia's program is massive and has over 20,000 alumni worldwide and tends to be more macro/policy focused than other MSW programs, but you can certainly obtain a great clinical education here as well. 

https://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/columbia-university-school-of-social-work-000_10014163.aspx

Two former college classmates applied to Harvard's GSE and it seems a bit more competitive than Columbia's MSW program, but it isn't fair to compare these two programs as they are extremely different. The Prevention Science focus is very narrow and for those who are interested in working with adolescents/children within a school setting whereas the MSW is broader in its practice and theory, focuses more on human behavior within the social environment and has a overwhelming social justice focus. GRE, GPA, experience and the essay seem to all be important in admissions into Harvard's GSE. It would be extremely important to highlight what led you to want to practice with this sort of population (children/adolescents) within this particular setting (schools) through LORs, your essay and your resume. Good luck!