For current students at HGSE, the application process was not too long ago! After reflecting on the graduate school application, masters and doctoral students have some application advice they would like to share! Click on their name to check out some of their other posts.
“One piece of advice I would give to prospective students about their application is focused on the personal statement. I would suggest that prospective students truly identify what experience is leading them to apply to graduate school and what tools or skills they’re hoping to gain from the program. I see the personal statement as a guiding star. I go back to it at least once a month to guide the way I’m thinking about my courses, my skill deficits and my way of interacting with others. Your personal statement should be a direct reflection of something meaningful.” – Maria Hernandez, Education Policy and Management
“It’s helpful to talk about a class that you want to take/a professor who you want to learn from, and how that class/their work aligns with your future goals.”- Naj Turner, Prevention Science and Practice
“In your essay, hone in on what caused you to commit to the field of education. I wavered a lot in what I thought I wanted to do, what I thought admissions wanted to hear, and what I could potentially be interested in. Trust your gut. You’ll learn new things when you get here, but I still think it’s important to have a clear idea about what niche/demographic/issue drives you.” – Jenni Myung, International Education Policy
“That bringing myself (my true self) to the application was the best way to make a “strong” application.”- Courtney Tee, Specialized Study Program
“Don’t stress about the numbers. I spent a lot of time dwelling on the fact that my GRE score or some other numerical value on my application would be too low, but you can spend all that time instead crafting your own unique story on your application. In the end, my personal statement spoke my story to the world and to HGSE and that is what’s most important.”- Maddie Alvendia, Learning and Teaching
“That it is okay to not know exactly what your next step is after graduate school. An application full of passion is still a good one, even without your next move attached.”- Andrew Marshall, Higher Education
“Be yourself!”-Erica Jordan-Thomas. E.d.L.D
“Taking the time to really understand how the coursework will propel you forward in your career is a key part of distinguishing which program within HGSE will be the best fit. I wish I had invested a bit more time studying the actual curricular content for each of the programs and incorporating what I had found into my application.”- Charlotte Evans, International Education Policy
“While writing my statement of purpose, I had many conversations with people I respected at work. As professionals with advanced degrees and who were farther along in their career, I found those colleagues to be a great resource when it came to discussing my goals. Some of them were super helpful with reading my application drafts!”-Amy Jiravisitcul, Education Policy and Management
“Be strategic about who you choose to write your letters of recommendation. Look at the weaker areas of your application, and then choose people who can speak to those areas as strengths. For example, if your GRE score is a weak area on your application, choose someone to write a letter of recommendation who can speak to your academic strengths and how you are prepared to excel in graduate level academic courses.” – Anonymous
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