Congratulations to all newly admitted students!
You must be excited about your admission to the University of Southern California’s MAT program, and you should be! USC’s Rossier School of Educaiton is ranked 14th in the nation for schools of education. We outrank schools like Johns Hopkins and Cornell!
We are not ranked 14th in the nation for nothing. This is not a school where you pay a fee and automatically get a B. Be prepared for a grueling ten weeks which you will triumph through only with determination.
One of the most difficult classes is “The Framing Experience” (EDUC 516). The purpose of this course is to examine the ways that our biases influence our actions and how those biases can influence our actions to either support or impede student learning. Additionally, the class introduces candidates to or deepens their awareness and understanding of the macro and micro issues facing children and teachers in high needs schools. During this class, you will also become very familiar with the American Psychological Association (APA) format and knowledgeable with your school system.
Part of your course will involve interviewing people ranging from principals, parents and teachers to outside community members who hold a stake in your school. Instructors may advise you to go to a local church for outside contacts, which is a great place to start. I was in a small town, therefore I had to fewer outside community members to reach out to than someone who was in a city. How did I get the interviews? I happen to be Catholic so I found a local Catholic church. They were polite, but I had to be politely persistent to get my interview.
Be prepared to be persistent, but remember they are doing you a favor. Remember that once you get your outside interview (called a CBO), you are not done. Follow up to say thank you. I think it’s better to personally thank someone as opposed to the mailing them a note that they might not receive.
Interviewing the principal is not tough. My principal lined everything up for me, ensuring that I did not have to hunt down anyone from the school. He may have been particularly understanding because he completed part of his graduate degree in a program that allowed him to take distance courses at Harvard University.
One of my interviews took longer than expected because of a pep rally, but I stayed. Always stay to get the interview done. If it is inconvenient for an hour, stay. It is better to be inconvenienced for an hour than to not get the interview and risk bombing the paper.
Your MAT courses will be graded on the standard A — F scale, but remember that this is graduate school so you should treat Cs like Fs.
Be smart about how your write papers, and make sure to keep a calendar; there is a lot of work to do and many deadlines to adhere to. Keep these dates organized. Most professors are understanding, but don’t try to take advantage of the situation. They know that sometimes you can be overwhelmed, but they also know a slacker when they see one.
Once you get past the first semester, the second one is easier. If you respect the program for its challenges and its prestige, then you will be fine. Remember: This may be online, but it is still the University of Southern California. We have to uphold our ranking. You are set to be an alumnus of the Rossier School of Education, one of the finest institutes of its kind in the world; take pride in this.
Bruce is enrolled in the MAT@USC with plans to become a teacher in Mississippi where he aspires to teach upon graduating.
