kacei

Pros- Dr. Amy Jill-Levine. Cons-Tennesee (just kidding, I've actually never visited Nashville)

**Virginia Theological Seminary

Just received word about funding from YDS. I got about 75% tuition, which is unfortunate since I'm in over 60k debt from undergrad. I guess my application at VTS is still in the running. Anyone know anything about how much work study offers?

You know all of the languages I want to learn! Do you find that you are rare in your field with such a specific bunch of languages? And how easy was it to transition from Hebrew to Aramaic/Akkadian/Ugaritic? (Assuming that you took Hebrew first)

General/GTS seems to be focused mostly on gender and sexuality. VTS seems to be growing in its focus towards emergent theology/the emergent church. I can't find clear focuses on the others because I haven't looked too far into them. GTU offers a relatively wide selection of courses, taught by incredible professors. If you went to CDSP you could take classes from seasoned Jesuits who come from a variety of academic backgrounds. I think CDSP would offer a decent and well rounded theological education. If you're thinking serious academics, I would reccomend GTU, Yale or Duke. But it really depends on the faculty that you are looking for and what you are hoping to specialize in if you do plan on applying for a PhD in the future. At Yale, you have the added benefit of the ability to take nearly any class (even spanning from MBA to environmental studies grad programs). YDS also offers one of the leading scholars on the Dead Sea Scrolls, and offers professors with interests in classics/antiquity and Jewish studies. At GTU you have the benefit of a diverse variety of disciplines, religions and backgrounds. At Duke you have the seriousness of study combined with a focus towards history and theology. I must admit, I am biased due to my undergraduate experience (religious studies and classics minor with Hebrew and Latin language) I'd take a look at the faculty. Ihttp://divinity.duke.edu/academics/faculty http://www.gtu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/gtu-old/Experts%20by%20topic.pdf http://divinity.yale.edu/faculty-listing

I'm in my second Latin course now and took three courses in Hebrew. I thought it was helpful to start Hebrew first, because Latin was less daunting. Reading classical Hebrew and memorizing every single tiny vowel (we used Hebrew with vowels/Biblia Hebraica) was rather difficult. I'd assume Greek is also daunting, I've heard mixed reviews, but I've heard it's somewhat comparable to learning Hebrew. But whatever you start with, be prepared. Greek is hard. Latin is also hard, everything has declensions. These languages are not like learning french. There are conjugations and genders, like french, and there are many cognates to french, but there are also declensions. So you will have to memorize a 5 forms of 5 forms for each direct object, indirect object, genitive possessing noun, subject, etc. Wheelock isn't perfect. Having a professor teach me in person helped greatly. Like everyone has been saying, get started ASAP. I got a C- in my first semester Latin after 6 years of French and 2 semesters Hebrew. (albeit i'm still awful in French)

Oh yeah, DDS is moderate from what I hear. My Bishop would have been find had I considered it.

This doesn't relate to your post about whether to choose MDiv or MTS, but here is some background on schools. You probably don't want to go to Sewanee right now, they are in extreme financial debt and they are also in the middle of nowhere Tennessee (unless you're not interested in a city area). Actually, most seminaries are in debt, save VTS and YDS/BDS, which are heavily endowed. CDSP (GTU) opened up two new full ride scholarships, and have some funding, but I think you have to be noted as an applicant that is for sure going to be ordained. Those scholarships are full tuition, but also require you to work in California as a parish priest for two years (paid though, so that's nice if you're a baby priest looking for job security). GTS has little funding. EDS (HDS) is considered a fringe school in some dioceses for how liberal it is (my bishop knows i'm liberal, and he even helped ordain Bishop Gene, but he wouldn't even send me there). Nashotah house is extremely conservative, also considered to be a fringe school. Trinity in PA is evangelical episcopal, more fringe than the other two. Other schools are Bexley in Ohio and SSW in Texas. SSW has high funding, and may fund MDivs completely, from what I hear.

Also, YDS has a spiritual direction program with Berkeley Divinity School, so you can do discernment while you are in graduate school.

Are you currently discussing this with anyone in your diocese? My Bishop told me he preferred that I attend an Episcopal seminary, so while I wanted to apply to UTS, I had to decline that opportunity. If you go to church where you live, I would try to talk to a priest that you feel comfortable, and ask for their opinion.

Eh, YDS notified many people on a Monday at 5:30p.m. their time, so it's debatable. GTU replied that they had received my application at 9:00p.m. their time. Odd. Very odd indeed.

I wonder if this means they will let us know about funding before then...?

I feel like they might have only notified or might only be notifying priority applications, their official notification date via email and mail is March 15.

From what I could gather, I believe they offer a rigorous liberal arts program through the ISM. Not all of the programs are 100% music focused.

Except for those who are applying to Mar 1 deadlines. But I am praying for all of you for good news!