<p>You would think so right! But unfortunately, it does nt seem to work that way in real world. College names seem to make a whole lot of difference in the doors that open for you and the automatic weight your words carry. If you go to one of the 5 schools on your questbridge list, it is highly probable that your graduate education will be fully funded by one of the other schools.</p>
<p>SRU is in fact a university with a number of grad programs to prove it. But it’s not that big … only about 6K. A really exceptional special ed program. Checkout Millersville, West Chester, Kutztown as well. Still, PSU is probably the best “known” program and is of exceptional quality. Be careful not to rule out these big places. Your circle is much more manageable. </p>
<p>In any case, wherever you go, suggest you double cert in el ed AND special ed. Be as flexible/adaptable as possible in these ever-tougher times.</p>
<p>Grammargirl – I don’t understand why you have Slippery Rock on a short list, when you have the top colleges in the country opening their doors to you. Yes, you can get a good education anywhere, but you have opportunities available to you that few have. </p>
<p>Yes, you will have credentials by just having a degree. But the opportunities you would have with an Ivy League degree would make a world of difference. </p>
<p>You need to talk to your advisors. Are you all alone in this? I don’t understand why you seem so alone in this?</p>
<p>Yes, in your case, an Ivy League degree will make a life-changing difference. Life-changing to your life, to your family’s life, and to the children you will eventually help.</p>
<p>I have Slippery Rock on a short list of colleges with a special education major in PA. I’m still researching the top schools, and now that I know I can contact schools without a spec ed major, I will do so. It’s not on my final list. I obviously don’t have that yet.</p>
<p>I am alone in this. Neither of my parents know anything about college, and whenever I go to my guidance counselor, he basically says “Ivy or bust,” without a discussion. I don’t have anyone to talk to, which I guess is the reason I seem like I’m “guessing” after doing my research. I have emailed some college admissions officers with questions, but I don’t want to ask them every question I have, especially if the question can be answered by someone else. I don’t want to seem like I’m just emailing or contacting them blindly without any knowledge whatsoever.</p>
<p>grammargirl – I’m beginning to understand your situation a little better. The next six months in your life are going to be very important. I think you will need to do “informational interviews” with professors at top colleges of education. You need to learn what their jobs are like, what the field of special education is like, and what they would advise you to do.</p>
<p>This will be difficult because you’re really still a kid, but remember, you do have incredible power and you should always use the Questbridge name.</p>
<p>I just looked at the education forum, and I see that one parent has a child at Harvard, and the child is able to take education courses at Harvard’s graduate school of education. I truly believe that there are all sorts of special programs like this that you need to find out about.</p>
<p>My final suggestion is to take your question to the Parents’ Forum. I think you could use some help from parents. Tell them that you have been in the Questibridge program but are thinking of not continuing because you want to major in special education. Ask them what advice they would have.</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck, and please, please, please, dream BIG!</p>
<p>And really finally, aren’t there people at Questbridge to whom you could talk?</p>
<p>I tried to explore the 5 open schools on QB for education (I believe Harvard probably has a great dept but you can worry about applying in RD). </p>
<p>Princeton and Yale consider you need a major first and add teaching certificate on top of it. I could nt find much at MIT. Stanford has an education department with BS, MS and PhD programs. They also expect you to do some serious undergrad coursework before you start branching off into serious areas of special ed. </p>
<p>Notredame seems to make light of education minor but when you look at their courses, they have some serious stuff listed.</p>
<p>[Teacher</a> Preparation and Education Studies Program | Yale University](<a href=“http://www.yale.edu/tprep/]Teacher”>http://www.yale.edu/tprep/)
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<p>It is just not about making money, it is also how much difference you may be able to make when people take your credentials seriously.</p>
<p>I really have to take exception to the above statement. First, the suggestion that only ivy league degrees provide credentials that people will take seriously is offensive. Second, the great majority of people who make a difference in this world went to (shocker!) non-ivy schools. </p>
<p>Furthermore, the two anecdotes about the students who joined Americorps after getting their ivy league degrees really prove nothing about making a difference. I cannot think of anyone making a bigger difference in peoples lives than a special-ed teacher. What exactly is wrong with wanting to start ones career right after graduation and begin helping special needs kids right away? Is it the fact that theres a salary involved? Theres almost a bias on CC against getting paid employment after college. </p>
<p>The OP knows exactly what she wants to do. Grammargirl, by all means pursue all avenues open to you. But please make sure you have a broad range of choices that YOU will be happy with.</p>
<p>horsfeathers - you give your opinion and I give mine.</p>
<p>How many presidents were elected that have nt been to Ivies in the last 60 years?</p>
<p>I wonder if you believe Obama would have been elected coming out Juniata college?</p>
<p>I have two college-age children. Thank you for the implied insult to my intelligence.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your advice, GregDashaway. Questbridge doesn’t have counselors, but there is an email address available for additional questions. Now that I have a broader understanding of my options (even if they’re not thrown in my face), I will go to the parents’ forum, sort out my thoughts (I’m a huge fan of spreadsheets and pro-con lists), and then I will email them with questions. Having emailed them a couple of times for the college prep program, I find that it helps to talk to other people who have experienced Questbridge before I email them, almost like asking classmates for help on an assignment before going to the teacher because classmates tend to be more comprehensive and have experienced/are experiencing my same troubles. I will definitely email them, though, with final questions instead of putting all of my eggs in one basket because of my peers.</p>
<p>Thanks, again, GregDashaway, texaspg, and Whistle Pig. Having your advice is invaluable.</p>
<p>I wasn’t not thanking you, horsfeathers. I didn’t see your post until now.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you, Grammargirl. You seem exceptionally bright and mature; I have no doubt that you will succeed wherever you decide to matriculate.</p>
<p>That was a dig at me and not you grammargirl because I asked Horsfeather’s age since I could nt see it but then I saw other posts about college kid.</p>
<p>Eitherway it is great for a parent to assume that a low income first generation URM without parental guidance in making education decisions to assume that you can decide for yourself and anyone providing that guidance to make use of all of the opportunities available to you is misguiding you.</p>
<p>Thank you, horsfeathers. It was nice to see a point of view that wasn’t against Ivies, but at the same time was open to other options. The best part about Internet forums is the diversity of opinion.</p>
<p>Hey grammargirl! I’m a JC student, hopefully I can be of some help.</p>
<p>First, know that the interview is very friendly and informal. It’s not so much a make-or-break determination of your acceptance, but a chance for the counselor to answer any of your questions, and to really get to know you as a person, not just look at your resume. It would be good if you came in with a question or two for the counselor, to show that you’ve invested time in the school and in listening on the tour you most likely take directly before your interview. They will want to know how you heard about Juniata.</p>
<p>Based on your post it seems you are very ready to discuss your acheivements and academic interests, so you’re set in that department. </p>
<p>I’d like to emphasize that while Juniata is certainly selective based on grades and test scores, etc, the school is also looking to accept students who are unique and charismatic individuals so don’t be afraid to be honest and just be yourself. (It is a wonderful environment here for just this reason!)</p>
<p>If there’s anything else I can help with, I’d be happy to! Juniata is a truly wonderful school, and the education/special ed programs are strong and give you a lot of experience in the field throughout your years at the college. I hope you enjoy your visit, when are you coming?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, JCSinger! Hearing about the interview definitely calms my nerves. I’m visiting on July 8. Are you majoring in education or special education, or is their education program just really well known? There are many reasons why I’m interested in Juniata, but I’m mostly interested in their special education program because, unlike most schools, they have field experience starting freshman year.</p>
<p>While I’m not familiar with all, many programs, I believe today most ed programs allow for early field experiences. SRU does it in Elec 100 … includes 20 hours of observation. I’d not assume that at all.</p>
<p>Hey grammar girl- just a suggestion from someone with a Special Ed degree: Peabody college of Vanderbilt University has the best special Ed program in the nation. It might be worth taking a look at.</p>
<p>Hey grammar girl- And one of THE MOST EXPENSIVE SPECIAL ED degrees on the planet. :eek: 
</p>
<p>Great place, good school, questionable value imo. No idea, beyond ego needs, as to why anyone would pay Vandy prices for a spled degree. Unless $$$ is no object … and/or … they offer tuition-free assistantships.</p>
<p>No doubt it is crazy expensive. But, if they were to toss a bunch of money her way, so that it was as affordable as other universities she might attend, then it might be well worth a good look. I got a special Ed degree from there and my ego seems like a nice, cozy size to me!</p>