twilightmoon

Thanks all for your generous help! Kleets712 - Your post especially addressed my concerns. I happened to call Harvard financial aid yesterday, and they said that merit scholarship granted for the two year MTS would not be extended to the third year for MDiv. So, that made things black and white and made my choice more clear. Although the switch from one program to another sounds extremely easy, I do think the funding would be a major inhibiting factor, and so going with MDiv first seems best. Also, I called the ask-a-student line at HDS and it seems I would probably be disappointed by MTS in the face of the more holistic MDiv. So I think I'm going to commit to applying to MDiv. Thanks everyone for the help!!

Greetings, Thank you for your prompt and heartfelt responses! I am still wondering if anyone can answer my first two, more logistical questions: 1) What is the process for switching from MTS to MDiv? 2) What is the financial burden of switching from MTS to MDiv? If an MTS student is given an HDS scholarship, will that be extended into a third year if the student switches to MDiv? (Macrina - I wasn't able to find this information on the HDS website. Perhaps you could provide the appropriate link?) Thanks again!

Greetings, I am applying to Harvard Divinity School (deadline Jan. 15th) and really struggling to discern whether I should apply to MTS or MDiv program. I am attracted to the MTS because it is academically oriented and eventually I'd like to get a PhD. I am attracted to the MDiv because it grounds academics/theory in practice and seems to be a more robust and holistic education. However, I would be an unconventional MDiv candidate as I am multifaith and do not have a conventional ministry but am interested in issues of movement/dance/body and prayer/meditation within different traditions. I understand that, once admitted, students do sometimes switch between programs. I believe switching from MTS to MDiv is more common. I am considering applying to MTS and then seeing if MDiv is a more suitable program once I get there. But, I have some questions: 1) What is the process for switching from MTS to MDiv? 2) What is the financial burden of switching from MTS to MDiv? If an MTS student is given an HDS scholarship, will that be extended into a third year if the student switches to MDiv? 3) Any other advice about discerning which program is the best fit? Thanks in advance for your thoughtful and timely advice!