diazalon

Greek apps: -Logeion for LSJ, better than Lexiphanes, and also free. -Grammaticus for a searchable version of Smyth -Ancient Greek is good, though not as full-featured as its Latin sister SPQR Latin Apps: -SPQR has some great resources, including texts, Lewis and Short, and a great verb parsing game. Better than Lexidium, though a bit more expensive (if I remember correctly.)

Boston U, here. What interests you at Cornell? Looking into textual criticism?

There is no tried-and-true answer for this. I would advise caution.

Michelle Alexander at Ohio State should be at the top of your list, and is in a department with extensive additional resources.

Nope, this is a sign:

Gosh, I wish I had waited until December to finish my applications. Stupidly (I am completely serious), I turned all my applications in at the end of September and the beginning of October, and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could go back and: Nothing to be done now, save for prayers to the good Quetzalcoatl for patience.

Yale starts at 28.5, and goes up the longer you stay. Plus the teaching stipend is a generous 9k, though you will only get that a few semesters. Housing is quite variable, depending on where you want to live. East Rock, you're looking at about a dollar a square foot or more. But if you want to live on the other side of Prospect, or a bit further out in Westville or further up Whitney towards Hamden, you can get a nice place for relatively little money.

"No summers" as in you do not get paid in the summer? Does that mean your stipend is $12-14k?

As a side note - at least at UNC, graduate student contracts stipulate that students may not work another job while receiving a stipend. I have a couple of friends that do it, but if the DGS finds out, they can (and likely will) lose their stipend. Let those who have ears, hear.

See also: The Ohio State University, though they require applicants to upload a copy of their official transcript. Which is, needless to say, absolutely idiotic.

Bob Cargill is good people - go make friends.

As a side note, Yale and UNC admitted a student to Ancient Christianity (Yale)/Ancient Med (UNC) without a masters in the same year. Back to watching you two blowhards go at it.

The advice I took to heart when I was anxious about my MA apps, and the advice I give out - if you are prone to anxiety, STAY OFF GRAD CAFE. This place is good for asking and answering questions, but it can get pretty toxic after a while. For your own sanity, it might be worthwhile to step away until closer to decision time. There's a long time yet, even until the application season is closed. Just a thought. I will be doing the same in short order.

Looks like you have lots of opinions already, but I will give you what a member of Yale's adcom told me concerning the same question, just a few weeks ago: "Under review doesn't mean anything - leave it out until you know." Thats the advice I was given (and took), do with it what you like.

Go ahead and apply. Top programs will decide who looks good on paper and give interviews. That is, if they need more than your application to make a decision, they will get in touch. UNC almost always admits someone sight-unseen, and most of the Yale admits in years past had little to no contact with their POI before the interview.

Check out the Facultät Theologie at Uni Heidelberg. They offer Masters Programs in a wide variety of disciplines generally under the umbrella "Religious Studies" in the States.

I am currently a student at Yale, and all I can say is: apply. Be honest, be forthcoming, and be yourself. 3.71 in WS plus a compelling story is just what the school looks for.

The interviews at Yale Religious Studies most definitely are selective, at least in NT and Early Christianity. They send out more interviews than they have spots (given that there is usually only one spot for each).

That is the case. You have to get a faculty member to vouch for your preparation and agree to serve as your advisor, but once you are admitted you can change degrees or concentrations during your time at YDS.

Students who the admissions committee find qualified and a good fit for the institution are generally offered another position when they apply, if they do not get in to the concentrate. The dirty little secret is that once you're in, you can transfer from degree to degree with only the approval of your prospective advisor.

What are you trying to do? That is, why are you interested in YDS? I think, given that you are already a cultural studies graduate student in the league, you should be able to transfer. I would call the admissions office and see what they say. You sound quite qualified.

Absolutely, with no doubt apply. If your writing is up to par and your recommendations are good, they will let the GPA slide. I have seen people get in to the MAR with much less preparation than you might expect, on the basis of recommendations from well known scholars in the field. If there is something on your transcript of which you are particularly embarrassed, mention it in the application somewhere and explain why it was a one-time thing. Don't let your GPA get in the way. I was around that range when I applied.

I am a student at YDS, and I have little doubt that you can be admitted with those credentials. Its worthwhile to come by the school for a day if you can, but really - do not worry about your GPA. If you have Latin, Hebrew, biblical studies introductions, and all your theology classes, you 're a shoe in.