drivingthoughts

Hey folks, so, I got an interview at Marquette (Systematics/Ethics) scheduled for this Monday - anyone else doing the same? I know this is something new for them, as this is the second year they're doing interviews - if you've done it in the past, any tips? Thus far: 1r/0w/0a of 6 (Northwestern)

@bertochalaco Great job getting on the waiting list! Wishing you the best in getting in, UVA has such an awesome program. Thus far I've heard nothing from the TEC department, which is too bad, 'cause I assume that means I'm not being considered at all.

I know this is a silly question to some of y'all - but as I'm going to do a ThM next year with plans to pursue further education afterwards, I'm not sure exactly how to proceed. I would want to apply for PhD (2016) this coming fall when I begin my ThM; but that doesn't necessarily make any sense because I won't have any academic record of my ThM yet. Is it normal to wait until after one graduates, then apply? If so, what do you do during that gap year? Any insights? Comments? Background of why I'm doing a ThM - I (will soon) have an M.Div with a concentration in theology, I have good grades, good GRE scores, etc. but I'm more interested in Ethics than Systematics, so I'm doing a ThM with an ethics focus to give me more of a background in that area. Pragmatically, my undergraduate (2004) was an alcohol soaked train-wreck, so I'm also trying to put a little more distance between then and now. Thanks.

I took a PhD course in the first year of my MDiv, and it was awesome; I have another scheduled for this year. Excellent way to network with other students, and if you do well, you'll be on the professor's good side for courses down the road. I would echo the comments above, though - try not to get in too far over your head. Most professors will understand that you won't have the full grasp that the PhD students do on the topic, but they will expect you to try, hard as you can. Also, if you haven't taken one before, PhD courses typically involve thousands of pages of reading. If you're on an otherwise tight schedule, a PhD course can wreck your other classes. Another note on requirements: often a course won't list language requirements; however, if the course is on someone like Barth, it would be very helpful to know German, etc. Just my two cents. Enjoy whatever you do.

Tlcowgill, If you haven't taken the test yet, will your university choice allow you to take the MAT (Miller Analogies Test)? My wife has her MPA (University of Utah) and the MAT is what she took to get in to the program. Super-easy test, I think she studied like 5 hours for it with free online resources and got a perfect score.