Dear Prospective Doctoral Student:

You may be wondering if you should  apply to a doctoral program in the Stanford University School of Education (SUSE).  There’s not enough space to give you all the reasons that might make this the right place for you, but let me tell you about three important characteristics of our programs.

First, we guarantee that every doctoral student will receive half-time assistantship support for four years.

Second, we’re a relatively small school.  Since we have about 45 faculty members and we admit only about 35 doctoral students a year, you’ll have very close contact with the faculty.  Classes are small and the number of advisees per faculty member is also small.  As a result, you’ll be able to develop a close relationship with your advisor and with a variety of other faculty members, both in classes and in research apprenticeships.  As a school without departments, you’ll find that the boundary between programs is low.  And since the school is also closely integrated with the university, students are encouraged to take courses in other departments on campus.  In fact, doctoral students are required to take a minor outside the School of Education, and many pursue a full master’s program in another department.

Although these factors are important, the primary reason for picking a doctoral program is really the quality of the faculty; and SUSE’s faculty is extraordinarily accomplished.  Just take a look at the lineup of faculty members whose interests are related to your own.  You know they’re good because of their publications and other accomplishments.  You also know they’re good because of the school’s ranking among the nation’s best education schools.  (U.S. News and World Report perennially ranks us in the top 4 overall and number 1 in the assessment of our peers.)  And you’ll find that our faculty members care a lot about teaching as well as research, working hard to craft effective classes and to enhance the professional development of our doctoral students.

With these factors in mind, I do hope you’ll apply.  I’m confident that, like others before you, you’ll be enriched by your experience in our program.

Best,

David Labaree
Associate Dean for Student Affairs