| Username |
Post |
| sfengali |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 11:46 AM
Any of you fellows out there go to one of the harvard graduate schools? I am interested in finding out how hard it is to get in there as a transfer, particularly in one of the professional schools i.e. HBS, HLS, or JFK. Feel free to drop some strategies that have worked in the past for nepali homies! peace
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| Nepali at Harvard |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 12:34 PM
As a Nepali Research Scholar here at one of the Schools at Harvard University I would like to provide some advice to Nepali students that are interested in applying for any one of the Grad Schools of Harvard University.
To begin with I would go through all of the websites of the grad schools and "study" the CV and Biodata of the faculty and grad students. I personally think that it is best to identify a Senior Faculty or Research Scholar or Fellow that has close working relations with the Senior Faculty whose interests matches that of yours. For example, if you are looking at Business Ethics, make sure the Senior Faculty is an "expert" in that field. To the best of my knowledge, only Professors receive "tenure" here at Harvard and therefore they are much more able to assist you. Assistant Professors and Associate Professors do not have the same amount of "clout."
The second thing to understand is that the more international work you have done, the more weight it has. Thus, a CV with a broad range of international experience goes a long way.
I am told that the "essay" or "research proposal" - depending upon which school you apply to - is taken into serious consideration. Thus, the essay or research proposal must not dwell on your past achievements but must look forward and your "potential" to contribute in that field. Thus, it is very important that you articulate how your graduate level education at Harvard will help you to contrinbute "significantly" in that field.
The third thing you must realise is that at Harvard, from Day One, you will be told you are the future leader in your field. That may or may not be true - but Harvard graduates and scholars do go on to contribute "significantly" in their field. Thus, your essay or research proposal must address this issue as well.
The fourth thing you need to do is to contact certain Senior Harvard Faculty members who may be in a completely different field from yours but will volunteer to write you a good "reference leter." The "reference letter" here is like "source force" in Nepal wa so sara!!!!! Please note that there are very Senior Faculty at Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge and Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health in Boston - that have made careers out of working and doing research in Nepal. Thus, these are people you need to identify and contact. Also, please do not forget several of the hospitals in the Longwood area that are associated with Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. There is at this moment a group of Medical Doctors at Besth Israel and Brigham and Women's that is working to provide drug therapy for vertical transmission of AIDS in far eastern Nepal. These are people that can write letters on behlaf of you!
Lastly, your past academic records need to be good - but not perfect! In the class I teach - there are several students with only 3.0 GPA and from so called "mediocre" schools. However, they have very fascinating and exemplery international work experience. If I was in the Admissions Committee - I would chose them anytoime over a student with 4.0 GPA from a so called "elite" four year college or university!
Well - I hope this helps you and others!
Good Luck with your Application Process!!!!!
Nepali Research Scholar at Harvard
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 02:38 PM
Thanks for the info. Are there any nepali students in Harvard Law School currently? Specifically in the JD program rather than the LLM.
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| Nepali at Harvard |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 02:58 PM
From my contact list of Nepalis (that is students and scholars with a Nepali passport with F1 and J1 visas) - there are no Nepali students and scholars at Harvard Law School. Again, this is based on the nationality criterion only!
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 03:01 PM
much obliged for that quick response. I am not profiling was just a tad curios that's all.
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| anepali at big H |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 09:39 PM
transfering at grad school level is little tricky..don't you think. you better have a damn good reason and strategy.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 11:11 PM
Hi Sfengali,
Great to hear that you are thinking of applying to HLS. Hope you get in.
(Your interests in HLS, HBS and the K-school at the same time makes me
wonder whether you too are in a "let's see, I am interested in too many things, but maybe I'll have a clear focus as to what I really want to do" sort of
mode -- a sort of mode I often find myself in!)
One good news is that a few Nepalis have completed their LLMs from HLS. Some
of them are working in Nepal. Some are in the US. I can put you in touch with some of them if you are interested.
To the best of my knowledge, only one Nepali has completed JD from HLS. His background was spectacular (in the usual Harvard sense, meaning: an elite boarding school education in India followed by good old Philips Exeter up in
New Hampshire followed by an undergrad degree from Stanford.) He is now
a corporate lawyer in New York, at a top-tier law firm. A really nice guy, though
I don't know him that well.
A bunch of my friends who have graduated from HLS tell me that the LSAT is the most crucial test. LSAT score seems to count more heavily during admission time than your undergrad or grad GPA. So, make sure that you get a score of 170-plus out of the possible 180. I myself practiced for the LSATs by solving countless logical problems (from Dell Logic magazines that you can buy at any decent-size magazine store there in the US!), and I ended up doing quite well. Your scores
are valid for up to 5 years.
Other than that, I guess, the usual advice applies: Essays, that talk about how you are DIFFERENT from the average applicants, are going to be of critical importance, of course. And make sure that you get absolutely glowing recommendations from your professors and employers.
I am really happy to hear that you too are thinking of applying to law school. Wishing you all the best.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 11:36 PM
well ashu mucho gracias for your informative and helpful input. I definitely would be interested in finding out who the Nepali HLS alums are, although I am pretty ambivalent about getting real assistance to get me in. Not to sound selfish, matters lying outside that sphere is purely academic strategy mongering (I made this phrase up). I would be a JD transfer and am thinking that demonstrated good performance as a 1L supersedes the statistics that admissions focus on in first year entrants. But naturally, notwithstanding the truth of that speculation, I cannot rely on that as a determinative factor.
As a matter of fact I met PS, of whom you mention. The nyc firm that he works for is pretty up there. But they represented Christies in the recent price fixing debacle and lost and have Philip Morris as their clients. Gives me the devil's advocate vibes, but I am just venting now.
Later
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 11:39 PM
Ashu what's keeping you from law school? you should consider it, its not half that bad. If Legally Blonde could do it so could you. And that makes me feel optimistic about harvard prospects. That's two movie refrences too many.
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| Sfengali |
Posted
on 18-Dec-01 11:40 PM
To the Humongous nepali at big H,
Why do you state the obvious? Gimme something I can use
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| wanderer |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 12:08 AM
can any one please tell me how to go about transfer in grad school? I really want to get hell out of here....
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| Experienced |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 12:16 AM
I have arranged a transfer to a much better (really top tier) school after coming to
a so so school. I have also been engaging myself in a scholarship haggling.
I think you have right to go wherever you want. This is key.
Next, I found the name of a professor who happened to be the dept head also( i
didn't know that). I wrote him I liked his article which I had just read. He then
replied me something back. Then I told him I was doing the research in the same
field as that of his, and would prefer going to his school. Gave him my TOEFL, GRE,
GPA, all bibaran.
In the next email, he asked me to his school. As a potential grad student. Now, I
think I will be there pretty soon. It was a very nice experience for me.
Hope you all the best.
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 12:20 AM
All through an email about an interesting article? Have to hand it to you, that's not a bad hustle!
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| U2 |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 12:51 AM
I too have one question on Harvard. Would anybody tell me which will be better: a masters degree from Harvard or similar top univeristies, or a PhD degree but from not so reputed universities, say in the field of economics and public policy? Which degree will help you most in developing professionally? Advise and examples please.
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 12:59 AM
Big name always helps you get in the door. what you do once you are in is totally entirely another matter. If you are thinking along the lines of wall street or super power consulting like McKinsey big name is mostly what they look for. Unless you have a splendid professional experience to supplement your education with, cannot go wrong with top schools. That said Phd and masters programs are totally in a different ball park than professional schools.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 01:00 AM
>Ashu what's keeping you from law school?
>you should consider it, its not half that
>bad.
Sfengali, personal and professional reasons, of course.
On a personal front, I am committed to see four of my younger brothers succeed to the best extent they can. Three of them are doing quite well for themselves (without any help from me now, except for occasional big-brotherly advice that I insist on giving them :-)), and I manage the education of the fourth one here in Kathmandu.
Once he gets off to college in some years soon, then, I will be relatively free to pursue my academic interests in a rigorously structured setting. You know, I r
eally want to be HUNGRY for a professional-degree program, as opposed to merely be just another dutiful, bored and slugging student!!
Meantime, professionally, the kind of stuff I have been doing in Nepal can only help me leverage experiences to be a more attractive candidate to a decent professional-degree program. So, you see, over here, I can just concentrate on having a good time -- posting stuff on gbnc.org in the mornings, working with Nepali entrepreneurs/Nepali businesspeople in the afternoons, and working
late into the night in the evenings!! This suits me just fine for now. :-)
Anyway, let's see how things turn out. Sometimes, it's more fun to make
few plans and just follow your heart . . .
> If Legally Blonde could do it so could
>you.
That's a funny movie.
How about "Paperchase"?
Or, "The Firm"?
Or even "Love Story"?
>And that makes me feel optimistic
>about harvard prospects.
Good. Good.
Hope you get in.
HLS has the money if you need financial aid.
Well, PS will be a good source of info, then. Give me my 'hi".
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| ashu |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 01:20 AM
Sfengali,
I did not realize that you are already at a law school.
If so, congratulations!!
Still, why do you want to transfer to HLS or for that matter to other law schools?
What's wrong with your your school?
Surely, the enhanced possibility of your eventually working at, say,
Goldman Sachs or McKinsey can only be a "hidden" reason? :-)
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 01:47 AM
The lure of the white castle is what keeps capitalism going, or some other variation of that.
Less reverent, are educated nepali status whores? I'd qualify
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| ashu |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 01:53 AM
Sfengali wrote:
>Less reverent, are educated nepali status
>whores? I'd qualify
Being a status whore is OK, but better not put that
on your applications!! But this, you already know.
Still, appreciate your honesty.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 02:02 AM
man that's not too bad of a gig chilling in nepal town. I was over there over summer, found it super seductive. Especially the fact that I did not feel the obsessive need to be on top of things and having to constantly acquire information. Life was tangential and worries sort of shed away. But of course I was there for a few weeks only.
I'd say horizontal growth is pretty good. After all that's what bandwidth is all about I suppose. So taking time off in nepal is not too bad. I took a few years off after undergrad, but then I spent most of that in hedonistic occupation. But then I have never been accused of having a social conscience so I am pretty guilt free.
Enjoy Nepal ashu
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| ashu |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 02:44 AM
> I took a few years off after
>undergrad, but then I spent most of that in
>hedonistic occupation.
And what is that hedonistic occupation?
Some guesses:
A Club Med staffer, or
hired male dancer to entertain the lonely ladies on cruise-ships or
a lifeguard on Santa Monica beach or
given your penchant for rap, a former bodyguard for J-Lo and Sean Puffy, or
what?
Do you know that in the California Bar Association finally considers it
unethical for lawyers to sleep wih their clients? Hedonism abounds in
certain law-related careers too. :-)
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 03:07 AM
Oh I did not mean professionally at all. I was paper pushing in big law but the pay was not entirely bad.
Were I guarding J Lo's booty I'd do it in exchange for getting ziggy with it. Although her latina gene is fast catching up with her. Which reminds me isn't J Lo's ass insured for butt loads of money? Don't ask me where I get my trivia, pesky little details have a tendency to stick.
Cali bar actually passed that law? I thought something of that sort was in place from the very start. something in the rubric of professional conduct. But on second thought the cali decision won't have much bearing, considering the demographic of place like San Fran.
Although Hollywood would not be a bad place to work! Hollywood definitely is in the A list. Unless you are something like a general counsel to Paramount pictures or something, it probably sucks pretty bad there I bet.
Is this a cruel joke of fate that you get richer when you get older?
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| Bhainsi |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 04:04 AM
Sfengali babe. You really talk too much with yourself. You should chill out a little bit. I'm quite tired of your YAP YAP YAP. But I guess you are training to be a lawyer. But please YAP in some lawyer.com site or something. Not interested in your philosophies of life.
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| _BP |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 04:35 AM
Lawyers...can't live with them, can't live without them.
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| Anon |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 10:34 AM
I actually sat formally on the admissions committee at one of Harvard's Master's programs last year, spending substantial quality time reading applications and screening candidates with the professors (each application is read by three people separately and one reading typically takes between 1 and 2 hours - it's a mind boggling investment on the university's part considering that time is their most scarce resource, not money). If anyone is *genuinely* interested in a professional Master's program at the K-School, I can share tips on what we looked for and how I graded each applicant. Do express sincere interest, and I'll try to be helpful privately (I don't want to give up the supreme pleasure of being responsibly and maturely anonymous). But I fear it may be too late to consider applying for this year because the deadline is in a week or two.
But, my advice in one sentence: it's the 'package' of credentials that counts. Don't be dissuaded if one or two aspects of your past career has been indifferent. A not-so-stellar GRE scores, for example, can be compensated by verifiable leadership examples, or a so-so undergradute performance can be compensated by unique work experience, etc.
We basically weighed or 'jokhoed' applicants carefully. But it's the weight of the overall 'bora' that counts, not the weight of the individual 'aalu' or individual 'kauli' inside the bora. Ok, this is bad analogy and not that funny. But do read my trilogy on Prachanda, Bhurtel, and Gaunthali. Many people thought that was very funny. I agree with them.
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| wanderer |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 10:58 AM
hi experienced
thanx for the info. please help me for the following
1. my main concern is the letter of recommendation. I dont want my present advisor know that i am not happy here. I have lost contacts with my nepali professor.
2.Do i need to start the application process right from the scratch or i can be transferred without all these hassles
3. Will the credit be transferred in grad school. i mean for the didactic course( of course not for research)
4. is it different for PhD from masters. Mine is PhD
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 11:22 AM
if you are a bhainsi I am a raging bull. But I hardly feel the need to mount. For I am the cunninglinguist
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 11:29 AM
BP
thanks for the compliment, you put in the nutshell the dilemma of existence. There another contribution to humanity
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| NK |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 11:43 AM
sfengali sfengali, tut tut
you cannot take any critcism, cay you? just my small observation from a non-lawyer/non-body.
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| Experienced |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 02:06 PM
Wanderer:
Letter of recommendation was a tricky thing. Probably no one wants the advisor to
know that. You need to dig your past professors, buddy. There is no alternative.
And you need good recommendation letters too, even if one prof in future school
is in your side.
Application process should start from scratch. Credit transfers are not big deal
either.
Start right now. My suggestion.
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 04:14 PM
NK,just goes with the territory. were I a peaceful cow, perhaps I would graze on that vast field of introspection that people graze on, after being criticized.
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| cyberpal |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 04:21 PM
> were I a peaceful cow, perhaps I would graze on that vast field of introspection >that people graze on, after being criticized.
Excellent (as Mr. Burns would say!) Did you come up with that on your own?
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 05:07 PM
>NK,just goes with the territory. were I a
>peaceful cow, perhaps I would graze on that
>vast field of introspection that people
>graze on, after being criticized.
NK, he's calling you a cow, he's calling you a cow!!
Ooohhh, time to stand back and see the fireworks now.
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 05:19 PM
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!
ohhhhh la la la
time to catch the fireworks!
me<-------------- gandhi class (for translation - drop me a line ;) for those of you non-slangers!)
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 05:26 PM
you're hilarious, sunakhari, modest and hilarious. 90 paisa?
|
| sangam |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 05:35 PM
there ain't any gandhi class nowadys. gadhi class days are over! care for a HK?
:-)
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 06:02 PM
Do you all just want to stand next to me?
Or just felt like dogging me?
joie you sound like behind the scene regulator. What are you dealing?
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 06:06 PM
On a completely different note, ye all boston dwellers what's a good place to go to there?
I dig lounges and any sort of cutting edge music.
Places I have been too
Some pseudo mexican joint because I lacked options: caled rattlesnakes and cactus or soemthing like that.
Middleeast? funky dive but not bad
Lunar Brewery or something?
Damn I forget these names pretty fast. Point me the way.
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| cyberpal |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 06:59 PM
>Places I have been too
>Some pseudo mexican joint because I lacked
>options: caled rattlesnakes and cactus or
that must be cactus. don't try mexican in east coast period. Leave that for west coast or texas.
Try penang in China town just for food.Its a malaysian joint with branches in upper west side and China Town NY. Don't forget to order Roti canai for appetizer.
>soemthing like that.
>Middleeast? funky dive but not bad
>Lunar Brewery or something?
I'd recommend wileys on mass ave. The place is congested but it has excellent jazz mostly from locals
|
| trina_ |
Posted
on 19-Dec-01 11:49 PM
Hi Harvard scholar, i recently graduated from a four year college with a degree
in Biology and eventually I would like to go to graduate school to pursue further studies in Public Health concentrating in International health. Obviously
I don't have much expereince in the field of public health let alone international
work expereince, however as you mentioned most of the schools of public health do require at least two years of work experience in the related field so i'd
greatly appreciate if you could provide me with some suggestions as to where
I should work or do in order for me to build the expereinces that I need to
get into the MPH program.
For those who're in grad school do you think it's a good idea to go to grad
school right away after completing undergraduate school or is it better to
work for a while? Please share your views regarding both scenarios because
I'm so lost and I feel like a loser not being in school.
|
| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 01:33 AM
Dear Trina,
I think it will a wise idea to wait for a year or two before you start your graduate studies. And in that waiting period, you can work, go see placee and have a significant international cultural and professional experience under your belt. I think having a gap of atleast a year is necessary to focus clearly on what's that you really want to do in your life, and to gathe experience that will make you eligible for good grad schools like harvard. Just my view. I am doing the same, i decided to wait for two years, think seriously whether i want to continue with what i studied as an Undergrad or go for something else. And I also gathered some work experience and this and that, and now, I know what my strengths are (and also my weaknesses) and I am quite ready mentally for graduate school starting next academic year (fall 2002).
And if its not poking my big nose on your business, i would also like to sugegst you to look for options/alternatives. Does Harvard have a good Public Heath program? As far as I am concerned, having a grad degree from Harvard is great, but that doesn't eman that you get the best education. I think Cornell's or JHU's public health program are far more superior than that of Harvard. Not that I have any dushmani with Harvard, I think for grad studies one needs to focus more on schools that have a good program on your field, rather than name(s). Again, my views. I wasn't lucky to attend harvard as an Undergrad, I was at a small liberal arts college somewhere in the middle of nowhere but still I find that I learned a lot as an undergrad and I am proud of my alma-matar and the education I got there.
Fell free to disagree.
Trailokya Aryal
|
| sally |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 11:22 AM
My two cents, as someone from a family where you can’t walk through a room without tripping over lawyers.
I grew up hearing from Dad that he'd rather hire the top of the class from XXX State than the bottom of the class from Harvard. The most important factors for success as a lawyer (or so he insists, and since he’s a trial lawyer, it would hard to win an argument against him!) are a passion for the law, and a passion for HARD WORK.
He has generally worked into the evening on weekdays, and went in Saturdays and Sundays too. When I was a kid I called the telephone the “hello Daddy.” My brother recently made partner in his law firm, and he’s got the same pattern of work. It’s tough. You’ve really got to love it. “The law is a jealous mistress,” as they like to say. Another young lawyer I know (a friend) comes home for dinner around 7 p.m. to see his kids, and then goes BACK to work.
And now forgive me if I'm reacting to your Web persona rather than your inner self, which I can’t know a thing about, but you sound less interested in law as an intellectual pursuit than as a passport to a nice, fun life. And that's fine. But if you want to go to Harvard to eventually land one of those sparkling starting salaries, remember that high-priced law firms darn well expect a return on their investment. They’ll work you like crazy.
And besides, what's the big attraction of Harvard? Status? Money? Smart, hard-working, dedicated lawyers can make a lot of money and have high status anywhere. If your interest is in having a good life, think carefully about law schools in a state where you'd like to practice. What kind of lifestyle would you like to enjoy during those few hours you wouldn't be at work? Chillin' on the beach? Skiing and hottubs? The bar scene? You'll be best prepared to take the bar in the state where you go to school, will make contacts thru clerking, and so on, so think about where you want to spend the rest of your life. Lawyers don't move much.
Anyway, my (probably unwanted) advice would be that if you don’t like where you’re at, or are getting an LLM instead of a JD and are “transferring” for that reason, check out law schools because of their particular strengths and what you’re personally fascinated by (such as international law, a good clinical program, etc). Like Trailokya said about Public Health.
And think about your REAL desires for your future. Your law school will be the start of your career. It's not a nice, glittering little swizzle stick to mix drinks with at your favorite dance club.
Here are the US News top law schools in various categories from 2000 that I happen to have on my desk. I’m sure you know how to find this stuff, but it’s interesting anyway, because it puts the Harvard mystique in perspective. Note that Harvard, while it invariably ranks well and of course has unmatchable prestige (if that’s what rocks your boat), is not the academic equivalent of God.
Clinical Training: Georgetown, New York U, American
Trial Advocacy: Temple, Northwestern, Emory
Tax: New York U, Georgetown, U of Florida
Intellectual Property: Franklin Pierce, Berkeley, Columbia
Environmental: Vermont, Lewis and Clark, Pace
Health: U of Houston, St Louis U and U of Maryland (tied), Loyola
International Law: New York U, Columbia, Harvard
Dispute Resolution (4-way-tie): Harvard, Ohio State, Pepperdine, U Missouri-Columbia
Btw, Sfengali, thanks for raising an interesting topic! Who knows whether you’re genuinely interested in Harvard or were just having some lawyerly fun by raising a topic that was sure to spark a response ... but you do seem to have that lawyer’s ability to get a discussion going. I think this is response no. 42!!!
|
| sfengali |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 12:01 PM
Sally,
Thanks for the compliment but you give me much credit than its due. I really do not have the ability to just raise a topic because I know what sort of things pique people's interest and get them going. Requires too much orchestration. Put it short I am genuinely interested in Harvard.
Obviously one is interested in harvard because of its reputation. Especially when it comes to people like myslef who are not on a crusade. I do not particularly feel the need to draw lines just yet. Which is why I am not pursuing law because I want to be a trial lawyer, defense attorney or any other such permutation. It is an intellectual profession, at least when you are in school, which crosses through every facet of every other thing. And all I am looking for right now is having some options which I can cash in when the time comes to make a decision choosing a job. Call it shallow but I think its sensible. Elite schools definitely would give you the options. Also I do not regard harvard as be in and the end of it all, Yale, Stanford, Columbia and U of Chicago are comparable in most regard to harvard.
I would quote stats but that would be superfluous.
Although focusing solely on harvard, in a broad discussion about the relative merits of other schools, may be construed as lack of intellectual vigilence, but what better forum than this to discuss nepali experience at harvard?
Anyhow, I anticipated from the getgo to hear countless trite lawyers jokes when I made a decision to go to law school. So you comment about the over poulation of lawyers, I am just taking that as occupational hazard.
What is wrong with swirling drinks? You did not think that I would have shaped my idea of the profession by watching Ally McBeal or worst yet First Years, now do you?
Finally, I am a little intrigued. What do you do? I suppose considering close association with your family- oozing with lawyers, would give you some knowledge. But you speak with the wisdom of a person who contemplated going to law school and shelved the plan in the end.
|
| sally |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 12:29 PM
I thought about it briefly. But then I looked at some law books. The Party of the First Part (hereinafter referred to as Me) discovered that whereas the use of logic in the legal profession exerts a certain attraction, not to be constructed as irresistable, she enjoyed and appreciated the English language too much to tolerate, endure, or otherwise suffer through a life in the law and therefore decided, "no way."
As for what I do, I'm a journalist, so I get paid to write. (Does that surprise you?) We're not in a publication cycle now. Hence all my postings. I sometimes think about grad school, but not in law.
|
| Nepali at Harvard |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 12:36 PM
The different Schools within Harvard University are competetive to say the least. However, one of the biggest benefits of coming to Harvard is the opportunity it provides you to cross register and take classes at the Cambridge, Allston and Longwood Campus. For example, a Harvard medical student can take classes on ethics at Harvard Divinity School and a student of health economics can take classes at the Harvard School of Public Health. Thus, Harvard students get to take classes and participate in a very unique environment. Unique doe not necessarily make it better though. Also, Harvard students can cross register at MIT as well. Unfortunately, they do not get to cross register at BU or Tufts or Northeastern - unlesss special permission is granted.
Other thing to note is that Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School have much smaller student intakes than that of - say Johns Hopkins or Tulane. So the students get to interact with the faculy at a very personal level. Also, at the end of the day, Harvard students go on to contribute "significantly" in their respective fields. Thus, I would strongly encourage prospective Nepali students to consider Harvard. Please do not shut the door slam because it it too "elite."
|
| sfengali |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 12:55 PM
Journalism is not a bad gig. Has affinity to law, granted its not as pedantic. Are you left leaning or right sally? You all start the propoganda and we, ganted I choose to prosecute or defend civil cases, make the profession of undoing the damage. then is bad law the source of all problems? then its circular like kundalini. haha.
What's your publication if I may so ask
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| sally |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 01:27 PM
Journos have the reputation of being left-leaning. In my experience, there's only a small and very incomplete kernel of truth in that.
People who pick journalism as a career are people without an overriding interest in money--I didn't say NO interest, or journalists would be poets or liberal-arts grad students instead :-) -- so in that sense the field is probably short on Republicans. Compared to the general US population, anyway.
But working reporters do get to be realists and a bit cynical about politicians. Which pretty much undermines any ideology you might have started with, although my lawyer Dad still likes to needle me by calling me the family Communist. (Which I'm not. I'm not sure I can be classified easily on a simple left-to-right spectrum. Too simplistic.)
Anyway, my sense is that most journos are political skeptics with liberal inclinations. I don't really feel these inclinations come out much in stories, though. Contrary to the general public (mis)impression.
Btw these comments are really only about reporters for dailies. (Which I've done, for a major chain, but not now. It's exciting but not a good mommy "gig." The hours are too unpredictable, and it takes too much career commitment for someone who might end up back in Nepal in a bit.)
Not sure how journalism is "propaganda," though, or how lawyers have to undo the damage. What exactly are you talking about?
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| trina_ |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 01:46 PM
Trailokya, I'd like to thank you for taking out some time to answer my questions,
I feel much better now and thanks for the suggestions. I guess one
of the reasons why I chose not to go to grad school right away was because i needed
a break from 16 years of schooling continuously and also like you I wanted to
figure out what exactly i wanted to do in life. I didn't think it would have been such a good idea to jump into something just for the sake of getting a graduate degree and then regret it later in life. But what had been bothering me lately and
really stressing me out was the age factor, I mean originally I had planned on
finishing my graduate studies by a certain age but now I guess I'll be a year or two
older than I had anticipated when I receive my grad degree. But I guess I'll
learn how to accept that.
And regarding Harvard as a grad school for me I didn't really have Harvard on my
mind when I asked those questions relating to Public Health I just wanted someone
to give me suggestions regarding public health in general regardless of the school
I'd be attending. However, I did have JHU's public health program on my mind.
Oh yeah one more thing l also went to a liberal arts school and mine was in the middle of somewhere unlike yours :).
thanks again Trailokya.
p.s. I'd also like to thank Mr./Ms. Harvard for the information relating to
Harvard school of Public Health.
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| Riti |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 01:54 PM
Hi Trina,
I am currently a graduate student at a school of public health. I also graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biology. I took a year off to go to Nepal after finishing college. I would have to say it was one of the best things I could have done. I do think taking time off is important for grad school since it gives you perspective. At the same time, it's interesting for me to look back at my year abroad and see how much more I know now that I didn't know then - that is, grad school has given me a number of skills that would have heightened my intellectual experience abroad. I'm longing to go back to Nepal someday.
The school of public health experience you get really varies from school to school. I'm at a place that has major emphasis on quantitative/analytical skills - so, our curriculum is heavy on stats and methodology. This would not be the right place for someone interested in doing grassroots community work. So, you must research your schools first and see if they fit your interest. I think taking some time off before grad school will help you develop more solid interests.
As for international health - you really need to be at a school that has strong faculty research in areas you are interested in. To be involved in international health requires lots of experience abroad - you won't get that at a school of public health with little resources or contacts abroad. Without doubt JHU is the place to be if you want to do international health. It's really important for you to do some serious thinking about whether or not you want to commit yourself to this field - which is why, again, taking time off will help you.
I would suggest you try and get some international health experience and see if you like it. If you can go to Nepal, there are a number of organizations doing work in public health you can hook up with.
Don’t feel like a loser if you’re not in school! I know it’s hard to get yourself out of the hard-core school mentality sometimes but I do think it’s really important to go out and experience the world. You’ll realize that there’s so much more to life than just getting another degree. I think the other posters have reiterated this…
Good luck!
p.s. Trailokya – ke cha? I thought this was pretty funny: “small liberal arts college somewhere in the middle of nowhere” Come on, it was only one train ride and two buses away from a “real” city! :)
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| Riti |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 02:12 PM
Oops, I didn't notice you'd already written back, Trina.
I certainly understand what you're going through. It's really hard to get out of the school mind-set when you've been doing it for so long. I always thought I'd go straight on through and be done with grad studies in no time but I've come to realize that you really need to be passionate about what you do (I know this really is the obvious). And, this passion is most often the product of life experience. You need to go out there and see what you want to get out of your degree and know exactly why you're doing it. Don't do it passively because it's just the next step. I think you've already put thought into it and I'm sure things will work out just fine.
I hope I'm not embarrassing you by giving you this pep talk over this discussion forum. Feel free to email me if you'd like.
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 02:14 PM
Sally, never mind the propoganda comment. If anything that was just meant to be provocative. Well at most it was an unconscious manifestation of Chomsky-ish or Edward Bernays kind of take on the media. How do lawyers undo the damege? go figure, I have no idea why I said that. Although there probably is an argument, but I don't want to stretch it that thin.
I have not pledged myself to any one piece of paper out there. you have your standard staple of NY Times or WSJ and the like but they are fairly clear cut in their political orientation liberal and republican. To be honest I really do not know what goes on in journalism even though one of close relatives in the old country is a well established one- the standard educated definition of journalism not withstanding.
P.S. I am sure liberal arts education certainly has nothing to do with your liberalism :)
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| o: |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 05:51 PM
Hell
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| o: |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 05:51 PM
Hell
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 20-Dec-01 10:13 PM
Dear Trina,
Study is a continious process, so don't think much about the age factor. Ek-dui barsa dhilo bhayera nothing's wrong. The average age of enetering students at grad schools is from 25-27. So, if you don't get into grad school right away, its not the end of the world.
And it was a pleasure assisting someone who is in the same situation like me. I know it gets frustrating and everything seems wrong when you have to spend a year doing nothing. Here's a suggestion: look for jobs, and even in that period, you ccan always go to B&N and Border's, get some good books and write reviews for TKP review of books:-) ashu dai can be of help re: this and this will look good on your resume too.
PS: Ritii, k cha? are you the same ritii that I am thinking of... the one who went to the same consortium from where going to the "real" city was a real adventure? (not to mention eating the Collin's food was ..well, you know..) How's everyone in that small lovely city? Ritii, I never thought I would miss that small city in the middle of "somewhere" so much, but, ce'st la vie. Please pass on my regards to dai, bhauju and didi. I heard about you getting a prestigious fellowship to spend a year in Nepal. Where are you now? I'll be in Nepal until august, just let me know if you are planning a trip to nepal next year.
Trailokya Aryal
PS: Interesting eh! never thought this forum would help me reconnect with people!
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| ashu |
Posted
on 21-Dec-01 12:45 AM
I have to admit that in this "grad school business", I have many role models, and one of them is Bikash Pandey -- a Nepali professional in Kathmandu.
Bikash went to MIT as an undergrad. Then, as an electrical engineer, spent more than a decade working in various villages across Nepal, helping bring bijuli to many places. Worked hard, taught himself economics and policy issues. Read widely and developed professional networks.
Then, when he hungered for more, went off to Cal Berkeley to do a Master's in resource economics in his mid-to-late 30's. Turned down an offer to stay on do a PhD. Now is a widely respected figure in energy/micro-hydro and hydro-electricity issues WORLDWIDE because of his background, published papers and professional competence. He seems happy, productive and doing quite well for himself in Nepal . . .traveling to all over the world.
In Kathmandu, I learn more out of talking with Bikash for 20 minutes than listening for an hour or more to some PhD-wallah Nepali economists who call themselves "intellectuals".
Moral of the story?
Go to grad school or a PhD program when YOU feel ready, when you feel
HUNGRY for more education. For some people, they are ready at the age of
23. For some, at the age of 30, or for some like Dr. Roop Jyoti, even later.
And that's fine.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| GP |
Posted
on 21-Dec-01 05:13 AM
Whether you need Post Graduate degree and Ph.D. or not?
My observations:
1. For Peoples in developing countries, Masters and
Ph.D. is another form of employment, and another way
to escape from the domestic poverty. I don't know
the situation in USA, but, most of the Grad. students
in Japan, fall under this category. In their home
country, the poor life and lower economic condition
drives them for higher studies.
2. For peoples in developing countries, after completion
of Undergraduate courses, you hardly involve and practice
what you had studied in your undergraduate level.
So, the cream layered peoples in their home country
find Chakadi everywhere from job position to promotion
to transfer, Chakadi badhata sakti dincha. So, they
great frustrated with those situaiton and leave the
country and the chances to leave their country is
only to pursue higher studies.
(I worked with atleast 5 organizations in first year
after completion of B.E. and realized those situations).
3. One Nepali , let me not give his name, when I asked
him did you join for Ph.D., because he told me sometime
back that he don't need Ph.D. at all. His answer was
that he went to several conferences and workshops
around the world, he was irritated by Dr. XYZ(his name)
and had to explain that he did not have PH.D. It
was so irritating to him, he joined PH.D. So, if you
are interested to be within academia, want to preach
peoples in conferences and workshops, in your later
years (as you get old), peoples will start discrediting
just because you did not have Ph.D., well they
praise you while young, but, as gray haird people
you will be likely be chased by "Ph.D. kaha bata garnu
bhako". So, don't be caught by young zealous mind
that I can do things withou PH.D., you will find
it very difficult to get responsible higher position within
academia, and you will find yourself cornored.
4. Some peoples who work in data analysis, especially,
in engineering and science, find it necessary to learn
about writing papers, reports and through knowledge
in their subjects, find PH.D. a need and useful. Because
in Ph.D. you spend 3 years on one topic, and I think
the work in Masters level is more on case stury or a
very general one, but, in Ph.D. you are supposed to
develop a concrete concept that can have direct impact
on industry or publics. If you fall in this category, its
better to work 4-5years and come back for Ph.D.
5. Ronbun Hakase (Practicing Ph.D. candidates):
I met one Prof. from UK and when talked he was
telling that Cambridge University has rule that if
you work for sometime like a few years, then, you
can file application for Masters without attending any
classes. They will check your work experience and
ask to pay some lumpsum money and confer the
Masters degree. He had gotton that kind of MAsters.
Well, all most all Japanese Universities offer
Ronbun Hakase (Ph.D. for practicing Peoples).
As you know in Japan or any developed countries
they have seperate research labs or centers
belonging to all most all big companies, thus, the
peoples working their as researchers, also produce
new ideas, concepts, and materials, and publish
a lot of journal to conference papers for years.
Thus, they can combine those research papers and
make a conclusion and file in a university for Ph.D.
conferments. In fact such peoples do exists in
Japanese companies in a large number. Most of the
peoples in such category are above 40years old.
6. As we all know, the young brilliant minds can
produce good results especially in science and
engineering where lots mathematics and equations
to lab. expt. simulation involves. In such cases, there
young peoples continue to PH.D. degrees and get
Ph.D. as early as possible. If you are interested in
pursueing Ph.D. in very theoretical work involving
maths. and lab. expt. then, its better to continue
to Ph.D. as early as you commplete Masters. As you
get old, your knowledge to play with maths get
stiffer and as you lose flexibility of maths in your
old days, you can hardly be genius to produce new
things.
7. Last but, not least. Getting Ph.D. is everywhere
a great social status whether you like it or not.
Those who missed Ph.D. degree because of
ego "I can do without PH.D.", will surely like
to tease you, PH.D. walla yasto usto, but,
it pays in society. In Japanese animations,
to gameboy games, when someone knows things
very well in the subject matter, they call him
"you look like PH.D. walla" i.e. Hakase mitai ne.
Masters is like reaching to 50meters below
Mt. Everest in acdemic circle, and Ph.D. is
like on top of Mt. Everest among peoples who
are in research and professional field. Whether you
like it at young age or not, it will be worth having
Ph.D. in later age if you wish to play with numbers
, data and forcast something in your field.
8. Well, there are many peoples who get Masters and Ph.D. on
fake things or imaginary data. One Nepali did Masters on
Nepal's transportation, and submitted his thesis to his Guru,
he wrote that "80% of Nepali women wear burka in Kathmandu",
the teacher did not know the condition in KTm, but, when he
later visited KTM, was surprised with women in bus, where
he could not find even woman in Burka. So, what happened
to the student? He copied his thesis report from one Pakistani
student who did Masters in Islamabad's transportation system.
Well, there are peoples varieties, don't get frustrated with
such silly Masters, we need to minimize such fake masters by
having better Masters and Ph.D.s
|
| GP |
Posted
on 21-Dec-01 05:14 AM
(Contd. .. from previous posting)
9. When I was in KTM last winter for Mahendra Bidya Bhusan
for receiving it from later King Birendra, I remember one
good thing he said. There were about 75 Ph.D. wallas
getting MBB, and after receiving MBB, we had group
photo session which was the first time group photo in
the whole history of MBB. After group photosesson was
over, King was about go away from us, and he suddenly
turned back and said one sentence (almost like this)
"What you have done in your studies and doing now
after Ph.D., its impact will be observed in the kingdom
or in society 25years later". So, don't rush to
comment on some Ph.D. wallas' work Not bring any
differences. Thats why Nobel Prize is conferred on
peoples who have crossed all hurdles and gotton gray
hair after their Ph.D. or research for which they
were getting Nobel Prize. Recently, Japan has established
a new prize for researchers whose research is new
one and has shown great impact in industry and society.
Probably you read the news, the guy who published
"WWW html protocal writers" was given this prize.
Who knows you may be one in future to get such
prizes.
10. If you think you deserve PH.D., don't get
fooled by peoples who say "you can do things
even without Ph.D.". Ph.D. is some sort of license
to do research and also a public recognition on
what you speak.
GP
|
| Aastha |
Posted
on 22-Dec-01 06:36 PM
I have a feeling that I know you Sfengali. Deep down I sense that familiarity, of a person who I once admired as a friend who let me down in the end...as if a story was over or a book finished and tossed aside never to be touched again. Even the wind's blowing hard and the humming birds whispering in my ears that you are who I think you are. Not that I am really interested to know it. But it certainly feels different to see you through your words. Anyways, why am I even writing this, I don't know. But my friend, you have all my wishes. I hope the continental shift's been good for ya. Trying out for Harvard? I heard Harvard's for people who are "boring, ugly and serious" (legally blonde). You don't fall in that category, do ya?? Just kiddin' anyway have a great year and enjoy life!!!
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| Maya |
Posted
on 25-Mar-02 03:20 AM
well said, true to bone
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| Rekha |
Posted
on 25-Mar-02 08:40 AM
>Any of you fellows out there go to one of
>the harvard graduate schools? I am
>interested in finding out how hard it is to
>get in there as a transfer, particularly in
>one of the professional schools i.e. HBS,
>HLS, or JFK. Feel free to drop some
>strategies that have worked in the past for
>nepali homies! peace
Hi,
My husband goes to HBS and there is also a Nepa girl (Monika), both of them are in first Year MBA program. Monika's husband got his Law degree from Harvard too, he works here in Boston now. If there is any help you need fro MBA school, just email me. My husband can assist you.
You can't transfer to MBA program. You can apply for next year if you are seriously thinking about Grad school. The application deadline is over for this year.
Good Luck,
Rekha
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| GB |
Posted
on 25-Mar-02 09:58 AM
Hi Nepali at Harvard,
I am seeking some relevant infos as well regarding admission to Harvard Medical School. I have my bachelors and masters degree from a private institution in the US. now I wanna go to medical school. Do u happen to know any nepali medical students or faculty that I could contact? Please feel free to advice.
GB
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| sfengali |
Posted
on 25-Mar-02 02:15 PM
Aastha, though I didn't read this thread in ages and the response is outdated,here's my response. It is not so nice to be so vindictive. I do not know who you are but then I do not have the talent to talk to the winds and the birds and the bees. As for your ability to decode reality through hearsay and hollywood, I am sure your life is more colorful than mine, but colorfulness was not what I was after when I asked this "intelligence gathering" question.
Besides as an observation, don't despair if your subjective criterion of what "it is supposed to be" doesn't match experiences in life. That's why we have markets. Hope this helps you and good luck talking to the wind.
Rekha,
Thanks for your efforts. I did not see your email so that I may email you. Did you say your husband is doing MBA in harvard? Although not administratively related to law, I may have some questions to get the wheels in motion anyhow. Thanks
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| PBS |
Posted
on 25-Mar-02 04:12 PM
Is it harder getting into an MBA program if you are considering it on a part time basis? Or does it even matter?
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