How recent was the acceptance? Students from our HS who are top 1% and ACT scores of 35 are usually waitlisted unless they apply ED…But we are in an over-represented state. Years ago these students were accepted. You also don’t know if there were any hooks ( recruited athlete etc). In any event it certainly is worth trying. Good luck!
I don’t know when the acceptance was from. Probably a few years ago.
Our Naviance goes back 3 years. It used to go back 5 years but they changed it due to how competitive things have become.
My naviance shows three years too.
Ok good… Apply and see how it goes. Best of luck!
Thanks!
I have another question. Will I have a higher chance of being accepted at Vanderbilt (or any of my reach schools) if I apply early decision?
Typically yes for most schools. You can look at the Common Data Set for each schools to get better idea.
Vandy for example had an acceptance rate of 9% for regular decision and 24% for early decision.
I think you will have a higher chance… but the school is still a reach. If you are 100% sure … with no doubts…that this is the school for you, apply ED and see how it goes. Don’t apply just because of the prestige… you may be sorry.
Go to a big name place if that’s what you really want, but understand that elementary teaching is a field that does not favor prestige at all. In fact, I don’t understand the discussion of “connections” from one school or another. I have taught in three different states and have never seen any favor for a particular school in the hiring process I’ve been involved in. If anything connections come from student teaching experience in a particular district, or knowing someone in that district. Maybe it’s different in a high-pay state like NY or MA.
OP, are you sure you definitely want to teach lower grades? I say this because you can major in a specific subject and then get licensed to teach that subject for grades 6-12. Many people grow disillusioned with teaching early on and quit for something else. If you major in a subject other than education, and you decide to make a change, then a prestige degree would be helpful.
@twogirls That’s the thing. I’m still not sure which school is for me. I really like Vanderbilt, but I feel like the more I look at any one school, I develop more of an interest in that one just because I feel like I know it better. I think I’d do really well at a competitive/prestigious school. I can’t figure out what any major differences are between all of my reaches though and that’s making it hard to decide which ones right for me.
@hopedaisy I’m pretty sure I want to teach lower grades. Around 1st or 2nd grade would probably be my top choice. Could I double major in something else?
@extra21 my son is an elementary major at Rowan in NJ. He is required to double major at Rowan - he’s elementary ed and history, but you could pick from several areas. I think most of the NJ state schools are handling it this way right now - although Rowan is going to move back to an inclusive education degree soon. You can certainly major in a subject like math or science, and minor in education. A friend’s son is doing that at Ursinus.
Do not apply ED to a school unless you are 100% sure. What is it about Vanderbilt that would make you apply ED?
Everything that I’ve been mentioning that I want in a college that Vanderbilt has: the prestige, the name recognition, the sports, the education program, the location, etc. And then the fact that if I applied ed I’d have a better chance of getting in.
I think you have a shot if you apply ED specifically to Education, because fewer applicants designate this college and have the stats to have a shot at getting into Vanderbilt. So, if it’s your clear first choice, apply ED. And come back to your thread to let us know the results (as well as wherever you apply early action or rolling).
I think you have a great shot at Penn State Education if you apply in August (quasi safety) and do apply to Schreyer because they want more education majors. Same thing for Alabama, UIUC, UF. You should know before Christmas!
Look at the different majors: Pennsylvania has a K-12 World Language major that allows you to teach Elementary as well as High School - you have both certifications.
Illinois offers a Special Education degree as well as Elementary (K-6) and Middle Grades (5-8).
Thanks! I’ll do that!
I haven’t read all of the replies and I’ve only read through page 4. But here’s my 2 cents so far:
- Going to a 'prestigious' university will likely have NO bearing on how much you will earn as an elementary school teacher.
- If you want to advance in your career, eventually go into administration, etc., then a master's degree will likely be necessary.
- It is foolish to spend $60-70k/year on an education when your starting salary post-graduation could be as little as $40,000/year.
- I know teachers in California. Teachers who are considered high earners in their profession in CA and they, even in their 40s, have roommates. There are a lot of salary calculator tools online in which you can compare a salary in 1 city and it will tell you how much you'd have to earn in the other city in order to have a comparable lifestyle. The differences can be quite interesting.
- High teaching salary + southern US does not usually go together. The higher salaried areas are usually the parts of the country where cost of living is much higher. Exceptions to the rule would be miserable places like El Centro, California, which is an arm pit of a place to live in. But get ready for the super high CA state income taxes.
- It will be hard to find a teaching job in another state than where you are going to school. This is because of student teaching which occurs later in your college career and oftentimes, where you end up student teaching is where you get a job offer to start right after graduation.
- Another option might be to work at a private school, but those salaries can widely vary depending on what type of private school it is and other factors.
You will have to make some compromises. You won’t be able to get everything that you want.
Also FYI, California is not in the south. It’s a western state.
Southern states would include:
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Arkansas
Alabama
Louisiana
Mississippi
Texas is sometimes considered in the south, yet others consider it in the Southwest.
General cultures are quite different between California and southern states, so just be aware of that.
If you’re going to spend a pretty penny on OOS tuition or private school tuition, don’t pursue an education degree at Cal Poly. It’s not a school that is known to excel at the education major. It’s a technical school. If you were into a STEM major, then absolutely it would be worth considering. But for an elementary education degree? No. Foolish. You’d be better off going to UCSB. But keep in mind that you’ll be spending the equivalent of a private school tuition rate at a California public school.
You need to put the real $$ in front of your parents and show them the total COA (cost of attendance) and have a “come to Jesus” discussion about money.
In post #134, you said “I’m not really interested in going to any school without name recognition.”
Here’s something you don’t understand yet…in the teaching profession, nobody really cares about name recognition. What is the real reason why you’re focused on name recognition?
Is it for bragging rights?