newenglandshawn
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Posts posted by newenglandshawn
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Does anyone have any advice about the writing sample? My best work is an article that I published, but it is 30 pages double-spaced, which is obviously longer than most programs suggest. I have other, shorter papers that reflect the quality of my work well too, but this one is by far the best.
Is it OK to submit a longer sample that is one's best work, even though it is longer than suggested?
I always begin my comments with the disclaimer that I am not an expert on these things, but from what I understand - at all costs, do not send a paper that is longer than they are asking. So if they ask for 20, send 20, don't send 30 (I've even seen this explained on program websites and been told it by various professors). From what I've seen on here, they don't read these things with a fine-toothed comb anyway, and they probably aren't paying a ton of attention to whether you are uncovering some novel or revolutionary argument. They just want to see that you can write and put together a coherent argument, and that you know how to handle the various sources.
Again, I could be wrong - but I think that rule number one of applying is that you do as best you can to follow the requirements they suggest. They want to know that an applicant can follow directions, among other things!
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Thanks for the reply. I've spoken with admissions people at UVA, PTSem, Marquette, Fordham, and Vandy and they all said my scores (162 V, 5.0 AW) are good, but they also said that a higher score would help.
I'll probably retake just so I am not left wondering if my GRE scores did me in in the end.
Are you coming from a master's program in RS or theology?
I got a 162 on my V as well, but that was supposedly 89%. I really do think that's probably adequate - but what do I know!
I did my MDiv at an Evangelical seminary.
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So now that we have all heard back, were any of you admitted to good PhD/ ThD programs this season with a V score less than 90%?
Nope. My V was 89% - though I'm assuming that wasn't the deciding factor in why I wasn't accepted (it also doesn't help that my AW score was not quite where it should have been either).
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So has anyone gotten an official letter yet from Harvard (either through CSR or NELC)? I'm still waiting!
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I asked Professor Machinist whether students ever apply to both programs and he said that applying to both would not improve your chances.
Yeah, I don't think it improves one chances to apply to both, but in my interactions with Levenson, he told me it is very common for applicants to apply to both - and he encouraged me to do that very thing (though I only ended up applying to CSR).
He also seemed to indicate that students applying through CSR are competing with all the other applicants to different fields through CSR (e.g. African Religions, Buddhist studies, Comparative studies, etc.: http://studyofreligion.fas.harvard.edu/pages/research)and that there aren't necessarily Hebrew Bible spots guaranteed for CSR each year, while there will always generally be 2 or 3 spots through NELC.
What I find a little odd about this is that last year the ThD was dissolved into the PhD through the CSR and, from my observations, they accepted at least one HB applicant into the ThD program every year. It was also my understanding that when the ThD and PhD were combined, they would still carry over the same dynamics that the ThD would have. But maybe I just assumed that.
Also, when I've looked back at the NELC applicants that were accepted in past years (according to the NELC site), it seemed that there were multiple years when no HB applicants were accepted - or at least matriculated.
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Is there anywhere to view national rankings of divinity schools? I checked the US News rankings and did not see any divinity/seminary schools listed.
Try this: http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2012/11/ranking-theology-programs
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I'd assume that the NELC program requires more languages and is more focused on purely linguistic and philological issues, but the NELC website is pretty slim on details.
From my interactions with people from admissions, I'd say this pretty well encapsulates the difference. The GSAS also takes a little bit more of a "Religious Studies" approach as well I think.
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yes all acceptances have gone out. Columbia it is!
Not sure who posted this on the results page, but what do you make of this as it relates to Harvard? "The official method of notification is by mail. Unless potential advisors reach out via email or phone individually, that is how you will hear."
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Makes me feel like I am not crazy to be applying to these programs)
I know exactly what you're saying! I have thought on a number of occasions today that it feels as though I am playing checkers, while all the other applicants are playing chess. I was hoping for at least a wait list somewhere, but perhaps that would have simply prolonged the agony and given me false hope. So, it's back to square one and re-evaluating whether I want to attempt this all over again next year.
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Just got my rejection from Duke Divinity. This one stings more than any of the others. I had a really great meeting with the prof I wanted to write with and with the chair over the summer. The prof I want to work with actually said the words, "You need to be here."
5/8 rejections. Not looking great for me.
I'm with you, my friend! I received my rejection also. I didn't have as much interaction there, but did get rejected from another program where I had a similar experience, with the professor saying essentially the same thing. It's tough. So far, I'm 4/5 on rejections, with only Harvard still not officially rejecting me (though the handwriting seems to be on the wall). Like you, I'm not sure what the next move is!
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of acceptances? today.
Meaning all acceptances have already gone out?
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no she called me and told me I was rejected
So sorry to hear this! Did she give any indication as to when official notification would be sent out?
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Just got notification of rejection from Princeton Seminary about two minutes ago. Not surprising. It's looking like I will be coming up empty-handed this year.
I also e-mailed someone from admissions from Duke Divinity about the ThD. She told me decisions were actually being released after 5 PM today.
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Someone on the results page posted that they were "notified in person by poi" that they were waitlisted for the Committee on the Study of Religion (CSR) at Harvard. So I would guess that NELC and CSR notifications may be out any day now.
There were also two other acceptances listed on the results page that said they were contacted "via e-mail." So, who knows?
One thing that I don't understand, though: can someone explain to me why schools seem to often notify those who have been accepted before - sometimes weeks before - those who have been rejected? Can't they just put us out of our misery?! How hard is it to notify both those accepted and those rejected at the same time?
I haven't heard anything from Princeton Seminary. From the results page posts from last year, two people posted that PTS conducted Skype interviews for Hebrew Bible in late January, but there isn't anything posted about notifications or interviews with PTS this year for any program.
Yeah, I noticed that same dynamic about the interviews this year and the lack of interviews posted this year. Again, who knows?
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harvard is out and my hopes and dreams are dead. I was so sure this was going to be my year, I could taste it.
Does this mean you've actually received news of rejection, or is it simply a deduction?
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I haven't from Princeton Seminary, but I did hear from Princeton proper. Not sure if that helps.
Thanks for the heads-up! I don't know if it would have any bearing, since Princeton Seminary and Princeton University are two completely separate institutions. But, again, thanks for the heads-up!
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And while we're at it, has anyone heard from Princeton Seminary?
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Alright, let's talk about Harvard. Who has heard?
Not I.
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As far as I know, BUSTH has not yet made decisions yet in practical theology.
Thanks! I contacted admissions and they confirmed that I was not accepted into the History and Hermeneutics track.
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I was one of the people admitted to BU STH in Constructive Theology and Ethics. My understanding is they met two Fridays ago and have contacted everyone admitted - I just got the official letter last week (maybe Friday). Also, I know that they decided not to take students in Hermeneutics this year (for a variety of reasons).
If you have any other questions, please feel free to PM me.
Thanks for the follow-up!
So you're saying that they've notified everyone in all subfields (e.g., Hebrew Bible)? And did you initially find out another way other than the "official letter" (also, was it a snail mail letter?)? I know I could find out all this information by contacting them, but thus far I've avoided contacting any programs so as not to bother them (and, no doubt, as a way of holding on to hope).
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Is it generally safe to assume that schools make decisions about M* degrees after PhD ones? Thus, if the results search shows someone accepted to an M* degree, then they've already notified people about the PhD program (even if there are no PhD results showing up)?
Or, asked another way: does anything know anything about Boston University School of Theology? Someone just listed an acceptance to the MDiv program (someone did post an acceptance to the Constructive Theology and Ethics PhD program a week ago, but I've not seen news of any other PhD subfields).
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When I was at Duke for the PhD weekend they said that they'd make contacts for the ThD candidates. This was about two weeks ago. Hope that helps.
Thanks for this! So are you saying that they already notified the ThD candidates or that they were planning to soon do it?
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Does anyone know anything about the Duke ThD through the Divinity School? I noticed that someone posted an "interview" for it back on February 8, but haven't seen/heard anything beyond this.
I also see that a couple people posted acceptances to the MDiv program as well just yesterday, which might seem odd if the ThD program hasn't released acceptances yet (or maybe not?).
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I don't think they've released before March in the last few years either.
Doctoral applications 2015-2016
in Religion
Posted
Of course, all this could be easily clarified by simply contacting the programs themselves. I'm sure they would be very willing to give their perspective on their expectations.