I’m applying to Harvard, and I’d love to hear some tips from those of you who’ve studied or will be studying in an ivy league school. I already have a Bachelor’s from a top school (NYU). Now, I want to aim a bit higher by applying to Harvard and Columbia. Do you have to follow the “show-not-tell” pattern? I am a writer, and I usually bring lots of metaphors in my writing. Or, do I have to go easy and direct, use sophisticated language, and mention (or make connections) with events heard on the news? What’s the secret?
There is no secret, apart from having a research interest that can best be satisfied in the program to which you are applying (for a PhD program) or an interest in professional training you are seeking. You should discuss how your educational background and future plans fit in with the specific program.
Without more specific information about your future goals/plans, it’s hard to advise, but, in general, for most graduate school programs you need a coherent statement of purpose and strong recommendations, in addition to writing samples, GREs, etc.
I’m interested in a Master’s degree for now. I was looking into the math education program offered at Harvard and Columbia University. I’ve been working as a math tutor since I was a high school sophomore in both public and private schools as well as a freelancer. I’ve worked with international students whose English was not their primary language (I’m fluent in four languages) and was twice hired as a domestic tutor.
Though my Bachelor’s degree is in Psychology, I took 11 classes in math —including Calc I & II, and Linear Algebra, which are three of the courses required by most of the local colleges I’ve researched so far. Furthermore, I believe that my degree has given me problem-solving skills, which I think it’s important when it comes to teaching students from diverse backgrounds. I plan to develop a career in teaching, and eventually, open two STEM specialized schools in the developing world. I also want to apply my knowledge at the Peace Corps (I have plans to serve abroad after my Master’s).
I’m also fresh out of college. I’m just 21
Many of the schools have specific directions on the type of personal statement they are asking for, specific prompts, etc. Also some university career centers have good information about how to write personal statements for graduate school. Search for those online.
How familiar are you with the application process? And those programs, not just the prestige of the schools? Eg, what aspect of their offerings would you pursue, which degree?
Your best first advice about grad school is often from profs in your UG work. You’ll likely need their support. And it’s not a tip that you were a tutor in hs or even college. Have you worked with mature programs? Especially since you say you want to found one?
It’s different than the undergrad application essays telling about how you realized you wanted to go to X University by feeding orphans or scoring the game winning goal.
Write well and use the opportunity to make a case for good research fit. Name specific professors you want to work with and mention their research and your interest in it.
Writing a good personal statement to an elite/Ivy League school isn’t any different from writing a good personal statement to any other kind of graduate program. They take the same basic structure:
- the preparation that you have undertaken that makes you qualified and well-suited to the program of your choice, which may include a brief account of how you got interested in the area in the first place;
- why you have chosen the specific program you’re applying to - this includes specific characteristics of that program (faculty, location, centers, libraries, research) and how they align with your professional interests;
- your career goals and how the program will help you achieve them.
The bulk of the statement is taken up by #1 and #2.
For a professional master’s program, it’s less important for you to talk about research, ‘research fit,’ or specific professors you want to work with - although it certainly can’t hurt. Either way, you should talk about your professional interests as well and why you think Harvard or Columbia’s programs are a good fit for your interests and goals. Be sure to highlight unique, specific aspects of the program that appeal to you. For example, in my personal statement to Columbia (which is where I went to graduate school), I wrote about Columbia’s location and my desire to use New York as a ‘living laboratory,’ since my research was concerned with the lives of urban peoples. But I highlighted that because I knew that 1) Columbia prided itself on its New York location and had lots of centers dedicated to that, and 2) I did research on HIV and LGBTQ people of color and New York is pretty much a hotbed for services for that. At Emory, I highlighted specific connections with the CDC and with Atlanta’s public health community. Etc.
Easy and direct are good. You don’t have to use overly sophisticated language - write clearly but well. You don’t need to make connections with current events unless it’s relevant to your interests somehow.
Donald Asher wrote an excellent book about graduate admissions essays. It has great tips and also some sample statements: https://www.donaldasher.com/books.html. You can also find free sample statements all over the Internet.
@lookingforward: What do you mean by mature programs?
@Mandalorian: I’m not particularly interested in research work. I’m interested in professional work. I want to be the best math tutor in America, but for that, I’ll need the help from the best school.
@juillet: This is all I wanted to read! Thank you so much for sharing and taking your time to read my thread. You’re awesome! I will follow up on the link you shared with me to better assist myself.
I believe I have a pretty good chance of getting into Columbia. I’ve conducted research before with them for two years with one of the top-performing professors from the Nursing Department, who is willing to write me a letter of recommendation. I also know the former dean of the Engineering Department. I’m sure he’d feel comfortable disclosing my specific qualifications and skills. However, I want to study math education specifically, and these individuals have nothing to do with math or education.
My D is in a Master’s program at an Ivy school. She did follow a the basic format suggested by @juillet. Note that unlike the common application had to tailor her basic essay to the specific prompt and length required for each grad program. She wrote things out fairly to the point (no flowery language with the space restrictions of the essays).
I read over some of essays and I think her basic format was to:
–Explain what led her to want to this path/this program – she took a more roundabout route to her destination than many so she noted what she leaned along the way and how it benefited her.
–Describe how she gained the appropriate background, experience, and qualifications to determine this was her area of choice,
–Note some things she felt made her stand out (ex. she had done a lot of undergraduate research and was published).
–Talk about why the particular program was a good fit for her (she only applied to a handful programs and she would be truly excited to attend any one of them so this was from the heart in each case).
It was also important that her GPA and GRE were within range for the programs she was applying to, that she had what she thinks were terrific and very personalized professor recommendations (she had worked with both closely on projects during her undergrad years), and that she had taken clearly defined steps to demonstrate interest in the area of study she was applying for her masters degree in. About half of the programs she applied to required interviews which she did (2 in person, 1 using Skype).
As with undergraduate 1) there is no secret formula – just put yourself out there in the most positive light possible and hope for the best outcome and 2) recognize that there are many many amazing colleges and universities out there that can help you to achieve your goal.
Lol, don’t tell a best school you want “a best school.” And I still wonder which programs at H or C, whether you’ve weighed to that degree or it really is about prestige.
OP, what do you know about grad school admission, in general? How do you feel a LoR from nursing or knowing a former engineering dean will help when you’ll apply for some form of math educaton?
When I said a mature program, I mean existing and with some record over time. I’s not just about tutoring as a student or freelancer. If you want to open “two STEM specialized schools in the developing world” or be the “best tutor in America” (what’s that even mean?,) you should have more experience than volunter or freelancing.
FWIW the best math teacher my kid’s had did not go to anything close to a top college. However, he is a brilliant and kind man who not only understands the material incredibly well but is also able to connect with students and is willing to work hard to help them to understand complex material. He is well recognized outside of the school including helping to write AP math exams.
my $0.02: join the peace corps first; you’ll be a much better applicant to grad school.
Joining the peace corps only works if you are passionate about that type of work - it’s extremely difficult. Joining it only as a path to grad school is not the best plan… in my opinion.
@twogirls I agree with you. Nonetheless, I understand @bluebayou’s point too. I know that the PC is not a joke. Fortunately, the PC offers positions in education —I love teaching! It may not be a smooth experience, but it’d be a life-changing episode for sure 
I once considered @bluebayou’s idea. However, I am afraid to lose interest in school once I get back from service. We’re talking about a 2-year commitment volunteer experience and tons of opportunities available for you after service. Moreover, I’d like to be very prepared before I start teaching abroad.
@lookingforward: Obviously, I wouldn’t tell schools what I wrote exclusively to you. Please, don’t get me wrong. As I mentioned before, I want to get a professional degree in math education so I can teach that subject in the classrooms. I have no interest in research, which I emphasize because some people believe that grad school is only about research work. Surprisingly, I’ve been underestimated a couple of times for wanting to go to grad school with no interest in research. I want to be clear about what I want so I can be better assisted in this forum.
For me, grad school is an academic institution that offers students in-depth training on a specific subject. Unlike undergrad, where you get more of a liberal education, grad school focuses on a topic of your choice and prepares you to become a skilled professional in that field. When I was studying psychology as an undergrad, I learned how to identify and treat specific mental disorders. However, I never learned how to approach a real-life situation or what the next steps would be. Not even in upper-level courses. Everything seemed to be research-based. In short, I see grad school as a training platform that prepares you to become a master in a subject whereas undergrad as an introduction of the topics in your area of interest.
Interesting, I’ve been to other countries and have mingled with some locals who have told me that most people in their towns become licensed upon their undergrad completion. Their universities offer them training so they can acquire the skills they need to succeed in their fields. Apparently, that does not exist in America; I haven’t heard of anyone being bestowed on a license in teaching for completing their undergrad studies in education. For a reason, most schools in my state require prospective teachers to have a Master’s degree or at least plenty of years of experience.
About the people I mentioned for possible LoRs, they are relevant because they possess a high reputation at Columbia. I’m sure they wouldn’t recommend just about any prospective student who wants to apply to Columbia. Right? Since they can confidently speak about my specific skills and qualifications, and one of them would love to write me a reference, I thought they’d make great recommenders. Of course, I never ensured that “Columbia has to give me admission” just because some Columbia staff will write references for me. If you carefully read my last sentence from post #10, I am very skeptical because they have nothing to do with math and cannot speak about my performance in math. I mean, they can take a look at my academic records and resume, or even chat with me. Nevertheless, grad schools would rather have references from people who have worked with me and can speak about the specific skills that would guarantee me a positive experience in their program.
And yes, I’ve worked in mature programs. I have four years of experience teaching for NYU and Columbia (yeap, that’s why I feel a bit confident). Sorry for the misunderstanding. I meant that I’ve been doing teaching and tutoring in math since I was in high school to get across the idea that I’m not an “improvised” person but a passionate and experienced one.
“It may not be a smoothe experience” is a huge understatement. Try living there for 2 years without enough food to sustain you, where family members have to send supplements… and the mail is slow to non-existent due to the remoteness of the area. That being said…Peace Corps is a wonderful experience for the right person. My daughter considered it for awhile but realized she is not cut out for it.
In the US, one can teach after college with the right teaching certificate required by a particular state. Many kids obtain this as part of their undergrad work and do go straight to teaching jobs.
With a degree but not the cert, many states offer an alternative program, with various requirements. In NY state, as an example, this requires a degree in the field you want to teach. Sometimes, you can get into an MAT program. It does not require an Ivy name. Not even close.
But you did write, “I want to be the best math tutor in America, but for that, I’ll need the help from the best school.” Not necessarily so. One can go to any certified program, if the goal is to teach or tutor.
So when you first said masters in the “math education” program at H or C, it was unclear what you intend to study. Much of a graduate program in education is to enhance a current teacher’s skills and knowledge. Some grad students are interested in the pedagogy or policy, research, etc.
So I asked how familiar you are with the programs at H or C. Columbia, eg, offers a number of degree choices via Teachers College.