Admissions & Financial Aid
Ask Students or Alumni
Bank Street students and alumni want to share their experience with you.
The graduates below serve as a resource for prospective students during the application process. Please feel free to explore their profiles and connect directly with any individuals whose interests and goals match yours.
View our Graduate School Viewbook
Program: Early Childhood General Education
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Email: ahaneine@bankstreet.edu
Undergraduate Institution & Major: Universidad Anahuac Mexico (Law)
“My hometown is Mexico City, and I initially heard about Bank Street through my childhood kindergarten. At that time, I was finishing up my undergraduate studies at Universidad Anahuac Mexico with a focus in Law but knew that I wanted to make a career change to education.
I started volunteering at my childhood kindergarten in a 4s classroom while finishing up my degree. Many of the teachers in the school had studied their Masters at Bank Street and spoke about a progressive approach to education. As I researched Bank Street, I knew this was the perfect school for me. Not only for the educational philosophy I would be immersed in but also the way the course was set up. I was fascinated with a blend of academics and fieldwork.
It’s been a year since I graduated, and Bank Street was the best educational experience I’ve had thus far. It shaped me into a reflective teacher and learner.”
Sara Saltzman, GSE ’15
Program: Childhood Special Education
Hometown: Livingston, NJ
Email: saltzmansara@gmail.com
Undergraduate Institution: Susquehanna University (Elementary Education and Psychology)
During my undergraduate years at a small liberal arts college, I was deeply invested in my dream of becoming a special education teacher. I greatly benefitted from meeting regularly with my advisor and small cohort of peers while studying best teaching practices.
Choosing Bank Street to continue my studies was the best decision for me because I felt supported and confident in its community in New York City. The small class sizes, hands-on approach, and conference group discussions reflected the systems I needed as a student. Additionally, Bank Street’s philosophy aligned with my vision of a successful and thriving classroom community. I learned more about differentiation, social justice, and authentic learning experiences from dedicated professors and mentors in engaging courses.
In addition to taking courses and teaching, I became involved within the community as a staff member in the library and at Bank Street Summer Camp. As I continue to work with students with a variety of needs and learning styles, I value Bank Street’s approach and inclusiveness.
“To be perfectly honest, I did not know much about progressive education when I began thinking about making a career change. I spoke to several friends who are in the education world and they all suggested I look at Bank Street. Between their recommendations, attending the career-changer forum, and looking through the school website, Bank Street was of high interest to me. What made me realize that Bank Street would be the best fit for me was going through the application process, which requires much more meaningful writing and self-reflection than any other program to which I applied. This seemed indicative of the approach taken in the Graduate School. My hunch was right! The program encourages reflection and deep learning; it was a perfect fit and I am so thankful for my time at Bank Street.”
“I chose Bank Street because I wanted to know more about what students are learning and engaging with in the classroom. I previously worked as an educational researcher with children and knew a lot about children’s development and assessment. However, I wanted to know more about progressive education and how to teach children in a dynamic and experiential way. Bank Street was the perfect place for me because the Literacy & General Education program was a perfect combination of both my interest and passion for children’s learning.”