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Please let me know your thoughts. You could vote using the poll above, or by writing a post. Thank you!

I wrote the professor, expressing my gratitude for his LOR, and asked if he had received my previous message with attachments. He wrote back the same day, which has been his practice, with a polite but short note saying that he was glad to write it. He still didn't tell me if he received my SOP and other information before writing the LOR. It wouldn't concern me so much except I graduated many years ago, and I don't expect he would remember details about my written work. I had also supplied three previous projects as attachments that would have refreshed his memory. Should I write and again ask him directly if he received it and, if he did not, ask if he would be willing to edit the LOR, or should I accept his quick but short reply as being all he is willing to give?

I sent an email to my LOR with my SOP and other attachments before entering his information into the application system at other universities. However, he may not have received the email and attachments if my former school's computer system blocked my message due to the size or number of attachments. I wrote the professor to ask if he was able to receive them. If he didn't, would he be able to edit his LOR after submitting it online, or would he need to mail a revised letter? Thank you!

I remember reading on multiple threads that the official reports arriving not too long after the deadline is acceptable. You could also print an unofficial score report from http://www.ets.org/gre/general/scores/get/index.html then scan it, or print it as a PDF file, and upload or email it to the institution to which you are applying.

Hi 11Q13, Bible teaching is central to my intended degree program and goals. What I did was to summarize such teaching and preaching as an item under "Teaching Experience." I also included brief descriptions under "Ministry Employment" and "Other Ministry," depending on whether it was vocational ministry or a volunteer service. I didn't list individual events or titles, I simply summarized the genre of ministry with year(s) and organization(s), if I had served the organization a substantial number of times. However, some people do list the names of particularly notable talks and the audiences.

I am applying to divinity schools for master's programs. If and when I apply for doctoral studies, then I plan to apply to religious studies departments. I am a theologian, am informed about my area of religious studies and, to a lesser degree, about other world and folk religions.

Hi, LateAntique, Thank you for clarifying your thoughts and experiences. Thank you also for offering an apology, but it isn't necessary. I hope you are enjoying the break and your paper is going well. Blessings and peace.

Late Antique, I take issue with your statement that "schools worth anything are going to help one develop and change their views on religion in general." You allowed that your previous seminary encouraged critical thinking on some levels. Therefore, they did attempt to help students develop and change their views. Positive development and change doesn't necessarily require complete overhaul or subversion to be helpful or significant. From your description, it is incorrect to conclude that a confessional education is not "worth anything" merely because you significantly disagreed with the confession of your educators. Confessional schools will presumably attempt to maintain assent to the confession they profess. Institutions without a declared statement of faith may appear to uphold "freedom of inquiry." However, perspectives exist in every type of institution and the powerful, consciously or unconsciously, pressure the less powerful to conform. This includes orthodoxy in any form, to belief or non-belief on any issue. Yes, the academy and the world do work like that.

I mentioned several relevant courses by name in my SOP. I capitalized the names of the courses using the same method as titles. I did not use quotation marks or italics for the course names. I wasn't able to find guidance for this in Turabian, so I Googled and found a university stylesheet that indicated their preference for the above capitalization method. You could look at a catalog or bulletin of the school(s) to which you are applying to try to discover their style.

The essay I plan to use as my writing sample is too long, so I am excerpting two sections to submit together. How should I indicate between the two sections that a large amount of content has been omitted? The new section does begin with a heading; is a note or punctuation also necessary? It doesn't seem that an ellipsis ( . . .) is appropriate, since several paragraphs have been omitted. What would you do? Thanks for your thoughts!

Perhaps the registrar would tell you your current GPA after you present sufficient identification. The registrar might also print a transcript, official or unofficial, to those who walk in and wait. If the problem is that the grades have not yet been given to the registrar, or the registrar is still processing them, why not wait a few more days before submitting your applications?

I made unwise choices concerning three courses, and am briefly addressing two of those situations in my Personal Statement, trying to not make excuses but expressing what I have learned in a positive light. The third course was 18 years ago, at a second school after receiving my degree from the first school. Should I invest precious Personal Statement space on explaining this situation, or would it be better to use the space to promote my fit with the program and more recent events, such as my graduate degree and work experience? What do you think?

Hi melusine, Others posted about one's GPA on the CV here: There is also at least one other thread addressing "Dean's List" on a CV. In my opinion, making the Dean's List is a form of recognition that could be categorized as an award.

Hi Cheesethunder, I unintentionally ordered my example the reverse of the question. Which method did you use to note "Dean's List"? Thanks!

When stating "Dean's List" on a CV, is it customary to note the quarter/semester or is the year sufficient even if one was on the Dean's list for merely a part of the year? Thanks! Ex: "1995 Dean's List, University of Y" OR "1995 Dean's List, fall semester, University of Y"

Have or would you place your GPA in your SOP and/or on your CV? Is there a standard convention about this? Thanks!

For anyone wishing to view examples of professional CV's, several of the faculty of Duke's Divinity School have posted their CV's online. They may be viewed by navigating here: http://www.divinity.duke.edu/faculty/biblical, clicking on a professor's name, then on the CV link. Some do not have them, but several do.

Did you include your years of membership? Is there a standard format? Thanks!

Does GRE English count as another language?

It is very normal to feel overwhelmed in the first semester of a graduate program. That was my experience in my M.A. studies, as peppermint wrote. The following semesters usually become progressively smoother as one gains experience with the program, people, and flow of projects.

This page has had more than 80 views. Would someone please help me? Please???

Hi, thanks for the very helpful ideas expressed on this forum. I see on many posts that writers begin with how they became interested in their topic. Is how I became interested in it essential unless asked? After reading mudlark's comments quoted above, I rephrased my opening to: "________ and ________'s sociocultural contexts significantly impacted the writers and recipients of the ________ and other ________. I am applying to the ________ program to advance my study of ...." The first sentence is factual and gives evidence of scholarship. The following sentences state my goals. An alternative is to state the origin of my interests combined with my first sentence quoted above. However, to me that seems weaker. In my case, I don't see that the origin of my interest (as distinct from why the topic is important to research) is especially relevant. Am I incorrect? Is it simply a matter of style or which approach should I use? Thank you!

Which structure do you think would be most advantageous with regard to these apps?

I have read several times on this forum and on other sites that the order of SOP content should have the "fit" paragraph toward the end. However, two of the schools to which I am applying have similar to the following: · Establish your desire for the degree; academic and vocational goals · Articulate why you have selected your specific program, how your interest coincides with those of the faculty · Identify the strengths you would bring to the program (e.g., credentials, experience) While their instructions do not specify the content must be in this order (goals, fit, strengths vs. goals, strengths, fit) it seems to me that it would be wisest to follow what appears to be their suggested sequence. What do you think?

Hi friends, Do you think it would be immature, worldly, less than scholarly, or other negative attributes to write in my SOP that one of the reasons I am applying to a specific master's program is because their department's average funding is generous? I would first describe the other important reasons I am interested in their department, but funding is part of the attraction. Do you think this frankness would help my application or hurt it?