Macrina

Except the study asks "have you ever applied to grad school?" There's no correlation between age of application and acceptance, just a correlation between age and likelihood of an application, at some point. It's equally likely that grad school was easier to get into 15 years ago so more people who applied back then were accepted and are able to answer the question positively.

I ask because I'm scheduled to write in a week and I really don't have time to prepare. I'm fine with that -not applying until next year and I know I can do it again if/when I need. Just wondering how others did in similar situations... So, if you didn't prep much/at all, how did it go on test day for you?

Thanks! I'll check it out and see. It's a lot of faculty which is both good and kind of intimidating..

There is almost always more flexibility with LOR writers than with applicants. Go ahead and submit, then get extra-persistent with your LOR source.

If so, what sorts of extra academic things do you participate in? And do you think they are helpful? I've been invited to join one that focuses on my academic area of interest and I'm trying to decide whether or not this sort of thing is worth doing.

Thanks. I'm not applying for a year, so I get to sit back and watch and learn.but I am planning on applying both in-house and elsewhere, so that's reassuring. Furtivemode, are you at a place that prefers internal applicants? Because that's the kind of program my friend was talking about. They figure they don't have a chance

Can having a prof who wants to work with you get you in? I know it can't hurt, but I'm just wondering if, assuming you're a known quantity, having someone on the faculty who wants to work with you is the difference between an acceptance and a rejection? I'm asking out of curiosity. Someone in my current program commented that without a pre-arranged advisor, you don't stand a chance. True? Or false?

Well...only if it's the right kind of history...

I respectfully disagree. I enjoy the diversity and range of the posts on here, both the theological/professional and the religious studies/academic topics, and I think the conversation is often relevant and interesting. Although posts can get caught up in doctrinal or denominational issues, in general the breadth and variety of topics on here, all (ok, most) of which pertain to the study of religion/theology at the graduate level, is helpful and keeps the board moving along. I'm also not sure that we could divide into professional/vocational versus academic any more easily than with the theology vs religious studies division. The problem lies with the theological/professional side of things. There are people in professional programs with academic goals and interests - think of the MDiv students who intend to apply for doctoral programs, or the not infrequent questions about choosing between an MDiv and an MTS or similar.

Shavedice, how much education does your church want you to have? A 3-year ordination-track degree is a significant commitment, especially if all you really need is a year-long certificate program for a lay ministry. While I think lots of theological education is a good thing, it isn't always necessary and this may be one of those times when it isn't the best idea.

Shavedice also says that the purpose of this degree is to do the work of a college pastor, as understood by their denomination. It's for a specific ministry/job/calling and they are starting this process specifically to take on this position. Therefore, working within denominational guidelines and constraints is tremendously important. Ministry requires discipline, and sometimes that means submitting to education and training choices that might not be exactly what you would choose if it was just up to you. Shavedice, if you want to work as a college pastor in your denomination, your education needs to be acceptable to those who will employ you. It is possible to find places that are both relatively conservative and somewhat rigorous. Start with your donomination's preferences and requirements and go from there.

The MDiv (master of divinity) is the typical degree for ordination at the more mainline seminaries and divinity schools. Whether or not it's right for you will depend on what your denomination requires for ministry formation. Are you planning on being ordained? Or serving in lay ministries? Is the position you are working towards common in your denomination? If so, what sorts of education and credentials do other college pastors in you tradition have? (If you don't know, an internet search of church websites might help you with this) If you are planning on being ordained, what is the process in your denomination? What boards and committees do you have to work with as you move towards ordination? What are the educational requirements for clergy in your tradition? And what schools do they frequently attend? If you want to go somewhere outside your denomination, how well will that be received by your home church? By other members of your denomination? While stretching yourself is an admirable personal goal, it doesn't always go over as well with denominational hiring committees and the like. Not saying you shouldn't do it, but if you do, do it knowing what the consequences may be, And finally, when you say conservative, how conservative are we talking? Have they suggested any places to you at all, or is it up to you to find your own school?

The information you are looking for is typically buried deep in the student handbook/bulletin/program materials. I'm not a student at HDS, so I'm not the best person to find that for you. But a quick email or call to the admissions folks should get you sorted out. You won't be the first person to ask. In general, the tuition difference (including the extra year of costs) will be the likely financial burden. I don't know about HDS but I would think it was very unlikely that a scholarship would transfer from one program to another - they tend to be allocated to specific programs and courses of study and then awarded to applicants by program. But you can always ask! In general, MDiv students tend to get more money than MTS students, both because the degree is longer (+ therefore more $/ greater need for $) and because there are a lot more established funds and scholarships for MDiv students.

That's just not true. The MDiv is a perfectly acceptable degree for folks applying to doctoral programs, the reason many people with more academic plans choose the MTS is that it's shorter since it cuts out the practical and pastoral pieces that are not seen as necessary for a more academic career path. The core academic parts are typically very similar, and both degrees are acceptable preparation for advanced degree work. If the practical piece seems relevant, or if you think you might benefit from the professional training aspects of the MDiv, then apply for it. If you want just the academics without the fieldwork and ministerial formation, then pick the MTS. Other than a phd, what do you want to do with the degree when you're finished? If the answer to that is you only want it for the PhD then you should probably stick to the shorter program and not waste the time on work you don't want or need. You'll be able to find the answers to your other questions by looking at the detailed program descriptions/student resources part of the HDS website. Good luck with your decision.

Hi and welcome! Eastern Orthodox types often disguise themselves in other areas, so someone who looks like a church historian or medievalist may have a specialization as a byzantinist, or someone who works in contemporary theology may be an expert in Schmemann or similar. If you want to limit yourself to a degree in Eastern Orthodox studies, you will have only a few options. If you're willing to look for experts in your chosen area regardless of department or degree name, the you will have many more options. So, what area of Eastern Orthodox studies? If you can tell us a bit about your more specific interests, we might be able to point you towards places and people who work in the specific area

Ask the profs from the online courses. Remind them of when you took the course and your grade, they will give you a very uninformative/ok reference, something like "shonamiller248 took my econ666 class in fall 2012 and received an A, signed, professor dontremember" this will be enough to fulfill the requirement for a rec, and your application should be judged on the rest of it. Good luck.

It sounds like you should try. If you can get the scores you need, you can start the program you want in the fall. If you don't try, there's no way you'll be able to do that. Go for it!

I'm wondering if anyone can comment on the magoosh study plans? I know there's a big thread just down the page about magoosh test prep results, and I don't think we need to revisit those issues, but magoosh has a number of different study plans listed on the site and I'm thinking about trying the advanced one. If you've tried the magoosh plans, how did they work for you? Did the pace work? Did you feel well-prepared? Any suggestions for someone considering one of the plans?

Thanks, Balatro. I'm planning on T1 and am currently working on an advanced masters. This place seems to have a pretty clear rubric for grading, and the number I got matches the published info. It was the number I was expecting. Much appreciated.

I've just got my first course grade back and, while it's a perfectly respectable grade, I'm aware that I have no idea about what it might mean for a doctoral application. So... What's the average grade where you are? Is a 4.0 difficult to get? Do some schools have a reputation for marking harder? Or easier? And, for good measure, what kind of GPA do you need to be 'safe' for a doctoral application, for the GPA part that is. And yes I know that there are so many other variables that go into a doctoral acceptance, just humor me. I did my MDiv in another country and I am still trying to figure out the American grading system. Thanks!

Thanks, folks. The suggestions are much appreciated. Petros, I've been working my way through the New Testament, hadn't thought to look at the Septuagint -great idea! And I really like the suggestion of de viris illustribus. Perfect!

Hi there, I usually hang out over in the religion section. I'm trying to learn latin and Greek on my own (will take a course this summer) and am aiming to be at an intermediate level in at least one of them before next fall so I can take a class or two. I'm working with Wheelock and Mounce, and am still very much at a beginning level, slightly more advanced with the Latin. I would love to add in some reading of Latin and Greek texts, preferably from late antiquity, Can anyone recommend a couple of books or authors, texts, etc written by native speakers but at a more basic level? I don't expect to understand every detail, but I'm looking for more stuff like the brief passages in Wheelock's, only I don't know enough to know where to start on this. Thanks!

That sounds awful. I would call ETS and ask for a rewrite ASAP to make up for the ongoing alarms/lights/noise/interference with your test.

I'm just a paragraph or two away from being done for the holidays! Yippee! I'm not sure what I'll do with myself between now and mid-January. I guess I'll start reading ahead, try to revise a paper for submission somewhere and find other things to do with my time. What about you? And can anyone rec any other websites, boards, blogs, podcasts, etc? Just stuff that is generally related to graduate studies in religion or theology, because this can't be the only place to chat or read about stuff like this on the interwebs

I'm in the middle of big essay hell here so this may not be a post I would write at normal times, but.. I write well, I know I do, and I've heard this many times from profs, advisors, etc. But I find it really difficult to do, I get all angst-ridden and I avoid it, and I get bored partway through, etc etc etc. I love it when it "works" and when I'm editing/submitting, but I find the blank screen (or, even worse, the half-filled mess of a screen) to be really intimidating and I feel like I waste a lot of potentially productive time just messing around and avoiding getting stuff written. Anyone else? Any tips? And does it get better with time/experience?