NervousNellie

HDS, Andover Newton, YDS, and Meadville Lombard

This is probably one of those ignorant questions...I probably missed something big along the way... I keep hearing folks on these Grad Cafe forums (not the religion one specifically) talk about contacting profs and finding advisors ahead of time. These usually seem to be people studying in research-heavy fields, but not always. I am planning to make a few contacts at the schools to which I am applying, but I am not sure...am I supposed to try to find an advisor? What should be the goal of these contacts I am making? What should I be asking?

Phew! That's good. And thanks for the wishes of luck...I'm sure I'll need some luck!

It is my very top choice, and so far there does seem to be at least some mutuality of interest (hard to tell). But yeah, I've considered ditching the effort several times just because it is like EEek! I've also decided not to spend as much time studying it as I might otherwise, since it isn't required at the other schools. Still, I feel like I need to at least give it a worthwhile shot, since again, it is my very top choice. BTW, I meant I learned about the requirement in September (it is a new requirement), not the program LOL.

Application date is in early January. I had been planning on taking in October and re-taking if needed in November. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons that were beyond my control, studying didn't start until early October. For a while I was thinking I should just go ahead with a later October date (latest the 29th) so that I can re-take still in November if necessary. However, I really don't have $150 to pour down the drain for a test for which I am not ready. If I took it in November, does that kill my chances of a re-take if I do poorly? Or as long as my re-take was early December, might I be okay?

I was just wondering about the same thing! I am applying to four schools, and all four ask and leave four open spots for answers. I guess I should just totally expose myself and put all four? I am applying to two prestigious school, one small school for reasons that may be clear to them (I'm applying for divinity school and one school is a denominationally associated one for me), and one very historic but not quite as prestigious school. What would you do?

P.S. Forgot on that to-do list the ordering of transcripts from four schools I've attended (which also calls for money I don't have-- UGH!). See, I am already forgetting stuff. Yikes!

I especially relate to captiv8ed and pea-jay. I've been out of school since the 2001. I am applying to four schools. The deadlines are all in early January. In order of what overwhelms me most to what overwhelms me least: 1. Prepping for GRE (this was an unexpected requirement of one program that I learned about in September...the rest of my programs don't require it). 2. Finding an old research paper to use for a writing sample (I've hunted my house from top to bottom, but I've moved 5 times or more since being in school, so...), then editing it. 3. Contacting profs at the schools (which also involves me finding missing notes from my meetings with a couple of the schools). 4. Writing my s.o.p. (I've definitely worked on this, but it is nowhere near a first draft form that I can even begin to have people review). 5. Responding to extra essay questions on some of the applicatios. 6. Updating my CV. Some things don't overwhelm me, such as general completion of the applications, but those are few and far between. On top of it all I have a partner, two young children who are not yet of school age and who both have special needs and have a lot of medical and speech/occupational/physical therapy appointments, a demanding 40-60 hour/week job, and an old house that always has something going on with it that needs attention...oh, and because of my job, the fact that I am applying for school is viritually secret so I don't have a lot of support. My goal right now is just to make sure I can study for at least an hour each day, and I'm not close to making it yet. Oh yeah, and the number ONE thing that worries me is that I don't have money to register for the GRE, nor money to pay for my applications. I am totally freaking about that, especially the GRE since I want to register in time to get seats on my preferred date in my preferred city.

Okay, um crap, no calculators. But you are allowed to bring along paper for doing calculations. Right?!

Is freerice really a good study tool? I am curious. How many of you who have taken the GRE studied with freerice. If you did, what was the highest level you acheived at freerice and what was your related GRE score?

I was only going to apply to two. I need to stay within the area. But I have broadened my ideas of what is in the area, and if I can scrape together the money, it looks now like I will apply to four: two I would be THRILLED to get into, one slightly more than the other, and two that have an equal number of pros and cons but that would both work well for me for many reasons. Two offer a good chance that I'll get the financial aid I'll need, though they might also require me to quit a job I am not ready to quit. Two offer a lesser chance of good financial aid, but would allow me to continue working.

Well, I went. I think I blew it. She gave me an opening for questions, I asked a couple good ones, and then out of nervousness I went on and on with my admissions/application questions and I could tell by the end that I had not impressed her at all. Ugh. :cry:

Calculators aren't allowed? Seriously?! Oh, this just gets worse and worse.

It's with the Assistant Director of Admissions for the department. Thanks for the advice. RedPotato, when you say "everything," what would that include? My CV isn't done or anything. Do you mean just transcripts, or other stuff too?

One of the schools to which I am applying doesn't have applicant interviews, but somewhat alternatively, encourages folks to attend a small group (3-5 people on average) "informational meeting" with an Assistant Director of Admissions. Somewhat spontaneously I called admissions this week with my many questions, and ended up scheduling myself for the session TOMORROW . It may not be a real interview, but it sure feels like one. Should I come in transcripts in hand and try to sort out all my application headaches, or should I treat this more as an interview and really try to present myself as the ideal candidate for the school that I believe I am ?

Thanks for the advice, and for trying to get me to calm down. That's helpful. Sounds like October, then!

My first school of choice for an M.Div. program did not require the GRE as of last year, but it just posted on its website that it now requires the GRE scores. I am in a panic, as I do NOT tend to test well and I don't have a lot of time to study. The admissions application (including GRE scores) deadline is around January 10th. If I took it in November, would there be time to re-take in December as needed...or do I have to fit this first test in in October? How long does it take to get scores?

That is good advice. Will do. And it is hard alright!

Other people might not see it as related (public health). Another factor to consider is that I saw a couple days ago on the HDS website that they are requiring GRE scores for the M.Div. program this year. I hadn't remembered that when I looked at the materials a few months ago. Yale I think has always required them for the program. I don't have time to study (not REALLY), and I don't test well. I expect/fear a very low score. My GPA was great, I agree, but I worry about a few things: 1. I probably wasn't as well-rounded as I could have been, mainly because I wanted to get through school more quickly due to financial concerns. 2. I have no language background. 3. The GPA is 4.0 in all schools, but I ended up attending a total of four schools before I graduated, two of them community colleges...this was all due to said financial issues (am I supposed to explain that somewhere on my application?), though I actually liked going to a variety of schools because it gave me a chance to challenge myself in different academic settings (smaller and larger classes, etc.). Thanks for the advice. I'm going to double-check that they will accept multiple writing samples, and then will look for a college research paper. Oh man LOL, wish I had the gift of ad lib. I've tried it a few times in the pulpit. I think it would take me a lot of practice. I hate to admit it, but I like having the whole sermon written out.

I have a question about supplemental writing samples. What are the universities looking for in these samples, say at a place like Harvard or Yale? Are they interested in the content or are they more interested in the writting abilities and/or reasoning abilties of the author? Let's say I have a writing sample that is fairly simple in style, but is a well-received sermon that covers some aspect of what would make me contribute to a school's diversity. It also happens to be a major part of my life, and also part of how I understand my call. Knowing that the schools emphasize and are interested in having a diverse student body, should I also cover that same aspect of my life in my personal statement, even if it sounds redundant? Should I choose a different writing sample to avoid redundancy? Should I choose a writing sample that is less simple in style? What makes a better writing sample for an MDiv candidate: a sermon or an academic paper? Do you include the whole thing, or only part of it? I should note that it has been over eight years since college, and I don't have a lot of my work from way back then (computer crashes, etc. since that time). I found one nice bit of writing I did in college recently, but it is too long of a project to fit within the length constraints. While I graduated with a 4.0/4.0 in my degree program, I know I probably should highlight my academic potential since I may not be able to get academic reference letters (due to no fault of my own...program turnover). Should I keep digging for old academic work?

Thank you. That does help a great deal. And, can I just say...phew!

I am new to this forum. I am applying this fall at two-three schools including HDS, for the 2010-2011 academic year. It has been eight years or so since I graduated from my undergrad studies. I haven't written a lot of academic work since that time. I have, however, written several sermons. My questions are: *Should the writing sample be academic work, showing my academic abilities and my ability to maintain an argument *Or should I go ahead with one of my sermons, which demonstrates more of my theological background and unique life experiences while also creating something of a coherent "argument" Also, I have some good references, but I am concerned I may be challenged in getting academic references. My academic work is pretty good, and I graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0/4.0. However, the deparment at my former university has been restructured and none of my former professors are still there. I am having trouble tracking them down. I know HDS asks for two letters of academic reference. What would be my best approach?

Really? Reflective and interesting is the route I thought I should take for a theological/divinity school application. If what you say is true, it is going to mean I start yet again, from absolute scratch this time. I was hoping my CV and application materials would be a good snapshot of more of the facts. I'd love to see more feedback from others, particularly those who have recently gotten accepted by top M.Div programs.