Yetanotherdegree

Ugh. I'm there too, well not with the GRE but with the coursework. Everything seems so important, like one misstep and it's not going to happen. I know that's not true or right, but I am feeling it and it is kind of stressful. On the other hand, I'm loving the readings and class and just being back in school. So I'm just concentrating on the positive and slowly planning for my applications.

I think it kind of depends on what degree you're going for. If it's an MDiv, most of the time, your questions are best sent to the admissions folks. If it's a doctoral program, then reach out to your POI but don't ask them anything that you could/should be able to figure out from the website.

Picture a square with a diamond inside it, where the diamond is obviously smaller because it is fully contained within the original square and there is leftover space at each of the main square's corners. It sounds like this might be what is being described, and in this case the area of the inside square is half of that of the main square (you can visualize this by drawing lines connecting the corners of the diamond, in which case you get 8 equal triangles, four of which are inside the diamond) What was the actual question?

Hi and welcome! A couple of thoughts.. Nobody is perfect and EVERYONE comes to their MDiv studies with some stuff behind them. How you deal with it all is evidence of maturity and stability. Some degree of openness is expected and necessary, both for the MDiv application process and for development and personal growth. Forgiveness is not going to be an issue. However, one mark of genuine healing and growth is the ability to move beyond important issues. There's a lot more to you than your history as an alcoholic who made some poor choices. If you can let your whole self show in the application materials, I think your case will be stronger for it. Finally, why not Duke? Your personal history intersects with some of the courses Duke offers, in a way that might be of benefit to you both academically and vocationally. Good luck with your applications.

Thanks, everyone. Right, off to revise my reading strategy. I'm going to try 1) reading reviews, 2) skimming before engaging, and 3) explore growly/mendeley.

Question: how do you read? I'm having to read and absorb a lot of pages of new material and things are starting to blur together. I need a better system for processing the sheer volume of stuff that's being tossed at me these days. In my previous degrees, I would just sit down with the materials and a highlighter and go through it all. At the end, I'd be done. Easy. Now, I need to retain more AND cover a higher volume Should I be rereading stuff once I finish my first thorough pass through the material? Taking notes? Rereading and taking notes? What am I not doing? I would ask the others in my program but, apart from the guy who admits to not reading half of the material, they're all in the same situation that I am. My old methods worked for MDiv-type courses, but they aren't working for the more advanced classes. Any tips, o wise ones?

Thanks, Joel. As always, that's really good advice. A bit frustrating to consider that fit isn't always bout you and your interests/abilities, but important. So I suppose that, as with most things, doing your homework is really important. Research, research, research doctoral applications. You know, it's funny. I keep hearing from faculty and doctoral students here how the application process itself is like having another course in terms of effort and research. And yet there are a couple of people in my program who have already been through a round of doctoral applications and are telling us that this is just not true. But this is from people who didn't get in on their first try... Coincidence? Or not?

Well, considering that a lot of us will be applying to programs in places where we've never been, I don't think the analogy works. And even if we were talking about dating, it is possible to name some of the variables at work in relationships that last...

I keep hearing about "fit" as an undefined quality that somehow makes the difference between in and out for doctoral applicants. What is it? Perfectly aligned research interests? A sense that you'll do well with the community life, other students, faculty etc? Ontological perspective? Pixie dust? I'm curious about what people think goes into "fit" that is somehow separate from finding an appropriate adviser and making the grade academically. Any insights?

Many institutions post the average stats for incoming students in previous years. I would suggest that you look up those numbers and see how close you are. If you're not in the general area, then you might want to retake. Honestly, your stats aren't great but they're not horrific either. It really depends on where you're applying. Good luck!

Yes it matters. If you are below the minimums for the places where you are applying, the scores can be used to eliminate you. Good scores won't guarantee admission, but bad scores can keep you out.

Can I play? I think I've decided not to apply this fall, but I'm starting extra-early to put stuff together for an application the following year, and I'll be going through all the steps in anticipation of 2014. Plus, there's still a possibility that I will get stuff sorted out and do it after all... Why am I waiting, you might ask? Because my languages are insufficient and I could use a couple of more current references. I'm doing a couple of courses this year, but I also have a job and family commitments, so it seems sensible to do this slowly and do it right. Where applying? Duke (Div School ThD, Religion PhD), UNC-CH (Religion PhD) Subfield: Early Christianity/ Historical Theology/ Church History (the emphasis is the same in all areas; sub field varies depending on how the institution likes to name stuff). JDM, how 'bout you?

Hi, I'm also working (and taking a course) and I'm scheduled for April. I don't need the scores yet and I would prefer to spead out my studying and work around my job, class and life stuff. I suppose it depends on how well you want to do and what you need to learn to get there, but 8 weeks would not be enough time for me. One thing I am doing is I signed up for magoosh and I'm listening to their lectures during my commute to work. I drive, so I can listen to stuff but I can't read or do problems, so magoosh works for me.

Rose Egypt, how are things there now? The news reports still don't look great but it's hard to know what the actual situation is. Are you ok?

I can't see why you wouldn't try to go for the best possible institution. Apply for some TT programs, as well as some less ambitious places and see how it goes. Since you seem to be worried that you won't get in, why don't you get in touch with some of the departments and academics that you would love to work with? Ask them (instead of us) about your chances and your fit with their department.

This thread is more than two years old. Which means you had to go looking for it. Thanks for the offer to "help" but no thanks. Spam. More subtle spam, but stil spammy spam spam.

I don't think there is anything comparable to an MDiv. Theological education and formation is so varied outside of North America that you would have a hard time finding anything that would count towards ministry formation. You might be able to find a one or two year masters-level theology program somewhere, but it will almost certainly lack the ministry/professional aspects of an MDiv. Let us know if you are interested in something like that and we might have suggestions.

I don't think it's possible to just do part of the test. If you only do the Q sections, you will receive a score of 0 on the verbal etc, and when you send your score, you will have to send both test results. If I were you, I would retake the whole test.

These are awful! You are missing things like articles and other basic features of English grammar.

I'm scheduled for the GRE next Saturday, but I don't think I am ready and I have had a series of work etc things come up that have and will prevent me from studying. I don't need the score until fall 2014, and I'm seriously thinking about rescheduling until May or June next year. If you have rescheduled, were you able to choose a test date that far out? Is it easier to call because the dates I want aren't showing yet on the website? I don't know if this will be an issue for rescheduling or if its just an issue for booking now, but there are no test dates showing into 2014 yet. Thanks!

Thanks, everyone. I'm trying to decide between two courses, one of which seems easier, but also perhaps less helpful. The easier course is masters-level and interesting, but also at a less than perfect time for me, and with a small scheduling conflict that would mean that I would have to miss several classes. The doctoral-level course is also relevant and interesting and does not seem to have any language requirements. The prof is asking masters students to petition for entry. Is that typical? Anyway, with my scheduling/work conflict, I think I'm going with the doctoral level course. It sounds fascinating. And hard.

Thanks, everyone! There's a new edition of Peter Brown's bio of Augustine being released In November, so I think that's on my list, as well as some stuff by Daniel Boyarin and maybe a few of the more obscure early church writings

I'm trying to sort out my courses for registration next week and I'm interested in a doctoral-level seminar that will admit only a few masters-level students. I'm wondering if it is worth taking a doctoral-level course as a masters-level student. Are they that different? How complicated is the process to enroll as a masters-level student? And do doctoral programs look favorably on applicants who have successfully completed classes at the doctoral level? Good idea? Or not? Thanks for any info!

I think that before you decide on new study materials, it's important to figure out why you got the score you did. Then, once you know what your weaknesses are, focus specifically on fixing them. Were you too stressed during the test? Too slow? Or were there questions you didn't expect to see? Thing you hadn't covered in your prep? How you study should depend on what you need to learn or improve.

Ah, but that's the thing...I already have/know most of the really relevant stuff for my (narrow, boring) area of interest. I would love to branch out a bit, or to come up with something a bit new.. Any suggestions welcome!