Notes from Appian Way: Harvard FOMO

Lisa Qin is a master's candidate in the International Education Policy Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She aims to work in creating meaningful and sustainable reforms to address the complex issues of education inequality.

Harvard FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

Hello reader! I wonder where you’re reading this post from.  Are you a potential applicant, a current student, an alumni, or just curious about life on Appian Way?  I remember reading this blog last year, after coming home from a long day of teaching at my school in Geelong, Australia and thinking, “Wow, these students are so lucky to be studying here.  Maybe… just maybe… I could join them too.”  After an intense application process (in which I never again want to mention  the three-letter word for standardized test to obtain graduate school admission)*  and huge amounts of good luck, it’s still incredible to think I’m now writing to you in my apartment from Cambridge, Massachusetts where I’ve been since September as a student in the International Education Policy program of the Masters of Education.

Having never been to the United States before this trip, and  being exposed to the culture in my formative years through books and TV shows such as the Babysitter’s Club, Goosebumps and Captain Planet, it’s now been surreal to actually eat s’mores (thanks to my lovely housemate from Maine, Samantha), see houses with the American flag hung proudly outside, go to a hockey game, and play beer pong.  And of course, apart from the awesome cultural experiences, my studies are in another wow category in themselves.   This time is sacred here because it’s only a 9-month program and will go by in a flash. Read more...

Read more student blog posts about life at the Ed School at Notes from Appian Way.

To learn more about Harvard Graduate School of Education, including programs and application deadlines, visit wpdev.gse.harvard.edu/admissions.