newenglandshawn

Your explanations make sense, but the reason I raised the question is because of the advice of a guy who did his PhD at Durham and he explained the application process in these steps: This is then what footnote 16 says: "British schools are interested in insuring that Americans can afford to pay tuition fees and general living costs in England.Therefore they require a statement that proves your ability to fund your studies.This is often accomplished by a statement from your bank or endorsement letters from family members and friends who pledge to fund your costs." http://nijaygupta.wordpress.com/phd-advice/

Is it true that Americans have to give a concrete explanation of how they are going to fund the schooling at the time of application for PhD programs in the UK?

May I ask a question on here that I seem to be getting conflicting reports on? I am reading a lot about the importance of stating in one's SOP a clear explanation of a "project" that will align with the program to which one is applying. Is this to say that in the SOP one should clearly articulate what his/her dissertation will be about? There does, of course, seem to be a significant difference between the UK and American PhD process. I had heard - and had confirmed since I've been interacting with some POIs over in Britain - that when one applies to a program in the UK, you essentially need to have a very narrowed dissertation topic already in mind. Here in the US, however, it is different - and, in fact, I have heard from one professor that the dissertation topic shouldn't even be considered until one is already in the program and can make his/her decision based on what meshes with your professor's knowledge base and interests. But, again, I still keep reading people talking about how, when applying to American PhD programs, we should articulate how a "project" we are interested in aligns with the strengths and interests of a program or specific professor. Am I missing something?

Maybe this was implied in the various answers, but, assuming we have professors on the M* level who are familiar with our work, should we only use those who are from the area in which we are trying to apply (ie, OT/HB professors if I am applying to that particular field). Though I will be applying to OT/HB, I have one seminary professor from under whom I took a number of classes in theology. He might be more familiar with my work than the some of the OT professors I could use.

Thanks! And, no, I'm not real well-versed in the pros and cons. Care to share some?

I'm sure this question has been raised a thousand times before on here, but I can't seem to track it down (or lack the patience to do so). But are "Assistant Professors" able to take PhD students?

Thanks for your perspective, AbrasaxEos. To be honest, the main motivation is to bolster my application (especially with it being as weak as it is). This is the loudest feedback I've gotten from people: I need wider exposure to the languages. Ergo, my thinking!

I can probably devote a fair amount of time to it, I'm hoping! I have not taken any courses in Aramaic - though I really wish I could. There is a chance that this college will offer Aramaic next fall. I have no great interest in Syriac or the Peshitta; I just figured it would be advantageous to familiarize myself with as many languages as possible, both for my application as well as when I do get into a program (should I have to expose myself to the Peshitta at some point).

I have the opportunity to either audit or take for credit a course in Syriac at a tiny, non-accredited evangelical college/seminary. It will be pretty cheap to take the course (probably leaning toward auditing it) and it fits into my schedule. Is it even worth auditing a course in Syriac from such a program in anticipation of applying to doctoral programs in OT in another year? It is really the only opportunity in my small and remote community to take any further language courses between now and when I hope to apply.

To answer my own questions: I got an e-mail from admissions and they said the acceptance rate into the ThD program is about 8-10% and everyone receives 5-years of tuition and $20k/year stipend. They also told me that it is very likely that the School of Theology will be switching its ThD to a PhD.

Does anyone know what the acceptance rate is for BU's ThD program? And whether all people who are accepted automatically get a 100% scholarship/stipend?

Perhaps a person with a BA in religion could do what many have done before: go into ministry. It seems that's what the original design was. But many these days have separated religion from ministry and made it a purely academic pursuit. In saying this, I don't mean to belittle those who approach religion from a secular perspective - but it seems that the secularization of religious studies is partly to blame for this percieved narrowing and pigeonholing of potential future employment. Of course, sometimes a simple BA doesn't open up ministry opportunities either. I know that in my context it did however.

So what would that mean on a practical level? Would the PhD program be expanded, or would the ThD program (funding, number accepted, etc.) merely disappear?

Now that I've had time to think about it, I have realized that my dream program would be studying the theology of the Hebrew Bible (specifically the prophets) under Abraham Heschel. Truly inspiring! But I would have liked to study under him in Boston, rather than going to New York!

PhD or ThD? What will you be focusing on in OT/HB?

I'm assuming that it is not they who do not want to call it a PhD but other programs within the school who don't want them to call it such. Just a hunch!

Well, all my grades are history! I am not currently enrolled. I graduated five tears ago from a small, relatively unknown Seminary. And, though I have taken all the Greek and Hebrew I could (abd passed them with flying colors) my languages are a deficiency. So, I am who I am and I've taken what I've taken! All I can do at this point is not sweat it and see what happens.

Thanks for the feedback, luciernaga. You must be a genius. What did you get on your GRE? I have yet to take it. How much language work did you do prior to application (German, French, Ugaritic, Hebrew, etc)? And, if you don't mind me asking, where have you applied to, been accepted, rejected, etc? I am working on my writing sample right now. I do believe that it will meet the criteria you have outlined - but who really knows!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Part of my reason for starting earlier is perhaps just the insecurities I have about being out of academia for so long (five years) and the fact that I know no one in any of the potential schools that I will be applying to. So I feel like I have to get a "head start" on trying to familiarize people with me. The thing about summer, too, is I feel like it's vacation-time for many people, and communication is not as consistent or reliable. I also stumbled upon a blog that was written by a professor (in another field) about the whole process, and I asked her about advice on when I should contact. This is what she said - for what it's worth: I don't know if I will contact them in the next month or so, but maybe April-ish. I have decided one way or the other, but that is just the way I'm leaning right now (though, as I am reading material that these professors have written, I am anxious to simply communicate with them about that!).

Is it ever too early to start contacting potential Professors of Interest? I am planning to apply next December to PhD programs, with a Fall 2014 matriculation. I'd like to get going on the process of connecting with POIs. However, I am cognizant that many of them just got through the process of selecting students from this application season, so I don't want to weary them from the application discussion already. What do you think?

So does a person have a higher chance of getting accepted into a PhD program, or having a proposal accepted for SBL?

How do top programs look at one's undergrad GPA though? My graduate GPA is more than adequate, but my undergrad GPA - though not reprehensible - is not stellar.

I'm sure I missed this, but who was it that got into the HDS ThD program in Hebrew Bible?

I think this is a very insightful question! Whether the modern interpreter cares about questions of theology is one thing, but it doesn't seem like he/she can study ancient religious literature without considering the theology the author(s) was trying to convey. One cannot deny, for example, that the authors/redactors of 1st, 2nd, or 8th ( ) Isaiah definitely had theological motivations in mind when composing the book. So, to divorce theology from the study of a book seems problematic. It completely ignores a critical element of the compositional process.

Can you have someone you know and trust check your e-mail and call you if the need should arise?