turktheman

That's quite alright. I'm about 70% I'll accept PTS' offer and attend this fall. Where have you applied? Heard back from any?

I just recieved an email from Candler. Their offer was depressing: 12,000/yr through the Baptist fund. To be honest, I am a little shocked at how low the offer was, esp. considering the generous offers elsewhere that I have received. I believe I'll hear back from Vanderbilt today--regardless of full-ride or otherwise--since I requested to hear back by today. I'll update when I hear.

That's helpful! I'll stop checking haha

DCole, Have they updated your online application to reflect your admitted status? I ask to see how dependable checking the site is. I'm waiting to hear back, but I put a request to hear back before the 14th--so perhaps anyday now. Same boat with Candler. Thanks.

Rabbit, That is my point exactly. PTS offsets many full ride offers with cheap base tuition and incredibly affordable housing options. Still, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a full ride from them, esp. for non-PCUSA. I see you are a current student. How long have you been there? I'm very much considering to attend, but I'm waiting on some financial aid offers from other schools before I commit. One thing concerns me: I'm interested mostly in NT and would have loved studying under Stuckenbruck. I have heard while at the last SBL that he was not allowed to teach Ge'ez at the seminary, which helped lead to his seeking employment with Munich. Any truth to that? I ask because I also heard that PTS is moving more towards ministry than research. Have you gotten any negative vibes while there concerning your academic interest or topics of research?

DCole, I would say your chances at PTS full funding are slim to nil. They are actively moving away from merit based funding and more towards need-based, which caps around 80% of tuition. However, the tuition is already quite affordable coupled with cheap student housing. For example, Emory housing averages about $500-650 more a month than PTS seminary housing. Candler and Vanderbilt both typically have great funding. I would imagine your chances at 100% tuition are greatest with those two. However, Atlanta is very expensive near Emory. All things considered (tuition + housing), VDS would cost about $6,000 less than CDS even with full rides to both schools. So, not all full rides are created equal despite comparable tuition rates. I can't speak to Yale. My guess would be that of all your schools it would be the hardest to gain admittance. If you do, they certainly do offer more merit based financial aid packages than PTS but tuition is higher than PTS but housing is comparable. I have a spread sheet I can send you with all the costs and an aid calculator of those schools--I'm applying similarly. Just PM me.

Trains, I talked to the financial aid office this week since I have a deadline to accept a different offer and am wanting to hear from Candler first before going ahead. Decisions for the Leadership Candler are made Feb. 3-5. If you hear back that week, then you are being considered for their top scholarships. All others begin hearing from financial aid the following week until all decisions are made.

Hey All, I was accepted a little over a month ago. According to the financial aid office, decisions concerning funding for the MDIV are not made until the spring. Top scholarships are tied into their Leadership Candler (LC) program, which seems to require an in-person interview in the Spring during that particular conference. From what I have been told, if you receive an invitation to visit as a part of the LC (not the regular visit invitation), then you are in the top of the application pool. I hope this helps and congrats on your admittance!