Shayna

[quote="religiousphilosopher"} Yale's Ph.D. is through the department of religious studies. I'm visiting both in a couple of weeks. I'm currently leaning towards Harvard, though. But I think you're right that the visit will likely be the deciding factor. Also, just out of curiosity, why does Emory shy away from Harvard MTS grads?

Well, I can't get him to wipe his face, either, lol , but he certainly was chagrined when we told him we'd probably be moving up to Montreal. His lovely 6-year old question was "Is it warmer there than here?" Here=Chicago. And the answer was a resounding "No, sorry." Oy, he was not happy. My daughter (8yo) is stressed about learning French. And my 22 month old doesn't care, as long as Elmo can be found. And Maman.

I am writing an article on the graduate admissions process and would like to speak to people who have gone through the process

My $.02 is that if you can't go to Yale for a Ph.D. (although you should check out the Religious Studies dept before you say that for sure!) you should go to Yale - only b/c it won't be an option for a Ph.D. Otherwise...well, I think debt and quality of life are great ways to examine which you'd prefer. have you visited each place? Visiting often will make the decision for you. Also, talk to other grad students that are there. Nothing guarantees admittance into a Ph.D. program, even if you're "perfect," as so many people on this board will tell you! I ended up at Harvard for my MTS, although I had also been admitted to Yale Div school, UofC Div school, and Brandeis. We lived in Chicago before the masters, I wanted to be at Yale (with John Collins), but we still ended up at Harvard - only b/c my husband got offered a promotion in his current company if we moved to Boston. I don't regret it (although some schools tend to shy away from Harvard people) and loved working with Jon Levenson, Bernard Septimus, and Ellen Aitken (in early Christianity - she's now at McGill, which is where I'm headed this fall for my Ph.D.!) although I definitely missed the opportunity to work with Collins at Yale. BTW, I'm wait-listed at NYU and finally got a negative from UofT's department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. I also accepted the funding at McGill, so it looks like we're headed even further up north (much to my son's chagrin!).

McGill is a real possibility now I had been accepted only at McGill last year (still waiting to hear this year from NYU and UofT, although I fully expect rejections!) but the funding was terrible. I was able to defer. I finally e-mailed them to see what the story was with funding, and I've been offered a fellowship! Details to come in the mail, so I'm not sure of what, exactly, it covers, but from the message I got, the funding is comparable to most programs in the US - with one hitch. It's only guaranteed for one year. After that, there are supposedly a ton of things that current students can apply for - but no funding is guaranteed. What to do? To move the whole family - me, spouse, and three kids - to a different country is a big deal. However, this is probably my best shot. Plus my old Harvard Prof is there, whom I adore. (And if I don't go this year, I probably won't go through this hellish process again!) Opinions?

Got that e-mail from UPenn today to check the website. Rejection... That's three rejections - UPenn, Emory and Notre Dame (the last two haven't officially rejected me, but I wasn't asked to their weekend...) NYU should be contacting their people in the next week or so. UofT - God knows when they'll be in touch. I wish the Canadians ran on the same time frame as the Americans. Applied to 2 separate programs at UofT. This is my last year of going through this...perhaps God has other plans for me? :cry:

Well, I certainly don't want to spoil your ideals, but I've been out of school now - with a Masters in hand - since 2004, and have found that being "out of the loop" so to speak, does not help things in the least. People are at the very least slightly suspicious as to why you've been out. I attempted to explain it in my essay (my husband has been pursing his masters degree) without putting a huge emphasis on it. I also highlighted all that I have done in the past few years to keep myself "in the game" - taking courses, language study, meeting with people/networking, attending conferences. I even got a book review published this year AND was accepted to present a paper at the regional SBL. But I honestly think the time-situation has only worked against me. This is certainly my last year doing this (it's my 2nd round, too). I can't keep my family in limbo any longer, nor do I think I can tolerate this ridiculous waiting process. I've still heard NOTHING from the schools at all. *sigh* Good luck!

So, is there no one else on here who applied to NYU or UPenn? How about the University of Toronto? Am I suffering alone? :?:

I'm right there with you. Although I have to say that we don't do the Mac-n-cheese at my house . That being said, I'm working in the administrative side of academia right now, and while it's not the same thing as being a student/researchers/professor, it isn't all bad. I think if I don't end up going to grad school - God forbid! - then I'll stick to this kind of work. Good luck everyone and keep us updated!

It's just a formality. Consider yourself accepted!

I haven't heard from anywhere yet. However, my friend who teaches at Emory called in late January to tell me that I did "not make the list" and I know Notre Dame has their visitor's weekend in late Feb (last weekend, perhaps) and I didn't get invited. So I know I'm down two. I also applied to NYU's Hebrew and Judaic Studies program and University of Pennsylvania, in addition to two separate programs at University of Toronto. I know that the committee at NYU didn't meet yet or have just met. According to the secretary, they hope to have decisions mailed out by this Friday (Feb 29). Okay - I can handle that. But I haven't heard a word at ALL from UPenn. (UofT is Canadian and on a different schedule, so it could be April or later until I hear from them. Oy!) This is my 2nd year applying, and if I don't make it this year, I don't think I'm going. BTW, I did get into McGill last year, and deferred, but the aid is so terrible, I don't think we (as in me and my husband and 3 kids) can afford to make it work. We haven't crossed it off as an option, but it seems unlikely. :cry: