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Rabbit Run

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  1. Rabbit Run
    This is good advice. At PTS, you can do Greek or Hebrew this Summer before your first year, which might be something to keep in mind, especially if Bible is your interest. Second, you can take intensive reading courses in French, German, or Latin at Princeton U over the Summer (you can even do two bc they have a Summer A/B set up); if you're interested in doctoral work, definitely keep this in mind for the summer after your first or second year. Be sure to try and take courses at PU in Religion (or potentially Philosophy, German, History, Classics or whatever else fit into your concentration); a lot of PTS students, even PhD hopefuls, neglect this--which is understandable given the extensive offerings at PTS--but I think it matters some come PhD applications.
  2. Rabbit Run
    To echo what others have said, I went to a small liberal arts school that's not really known outside the region, did well, was able to develop relationships with professors and got into multiple top Masters programs. The sort of institution you go to at the Bachelors level isn't as significant in religion. Of course, a BA from an Ivy League school (or a Chicago, Duke, Stanford etc.) will look good come Ph.D. applications and job searches, but the advantage of transferring into a more prestigious undergrad is marginal at best since what matters at this stage is cultivating relationships with professors who can write good LORs for you and help you become a better writer.
  3. Rabbit Run

    YDS vs. HDS

    Rabbit Run replied to _Athena_'s topic in Religion

    I think this is right: HDS casts itself as an interfaith divinity school whereas YDS is more a Christian oriented divinity school that welcomes those of other faiths
  4. Rabbit Run
    I take it this is a way of saying "its fit, not scores, that gets you in. Perfect scores and a bad fit = rejection"
  5. Rabbit Run
    First, wait to hear from Yale about admission/funding and from Union about funding. BU giving you full tuition is big though. One thing to note is that YDS, Union, and BU will ALL have a ministry focus to some degree since they're divinity schools/seminaries. This doesn't necessarily detract from their academic rigor. BU, for instance, is a good school with access to plenty of other top programs through the BTI (i.e. Harvard Divinity, Boston College, etc.). Going there and taking advantage of those resources will set you up well for applications. Further, since your interests are relatively broad, doing a degree in a divinity school/seminary setting might be good to help you narrow. I'm skeptical, for instance, that UVA's Theology, Ethics, and culture track will allow you to do much with your biblical studies/early Christianity interests (although they will be excellent for your 19th/20th religious thought interests). If you get into Yale with good funding I'd certainly go there, but you have a lot of good options on the table.
  6. Rabbit Run
    I think HDS is the clear choice here. Full tuition + stipend for a Masters degree in religion is a rare opportunity that you should take, even if Chicago is a better fit. You can certainly be trained in philosophy of religion at HDS, especially considering the resources of the BTI. Part of Masters programs is allowing your interests to be shaped by your mentors to some degree meaning, I take it, that if you go to HDS you won't have regretted it at the end. Best wishes with the decision.
  7. Rabbit Run
    I'm pretty positive they don't. If you're Episcopalian look at the Skinner scholarship, which is quite generous
  8. Rabbit Run
    PTS generally does rolling admissions, so I wouldn't worry too much about not having heard yet. Especially if you're doing an MDiv, I don't think it would hurt to apply to Duke if the application is still open
  9. Rabbit Run
    Congrats! Let me know if you have any questions about PTS
  10. Rabbit Run
    PTS's acceptance rate is between 40% and 50%. They're shrinking the student body some, so that might affect things. Between 30% and 50% is pretty standard for Masters programs at most big name divinity schools and seminaries.
  11. Rabbit Run
    They did this last year too if I recall. Very strange.
  12. Rabbit Run
    My guess would be to look at MA programs in Religious Studies or related fields as well as Divinity School/Seminary M.Div. or MTS programs that have people specializing in South Asian Religions. I'd second Harvard or Chicago's Divinity Schools; you might want to check out the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, which I believe has relations with UC-Berkeley
  13. Rabbit Run
    You'll be a good applicant for any of the programs you've mentioned. M.Div programs are set up to have both second career students with a lot of experience and students right out of undergrad. Your age won't be an issue and your experience will be seen as a strength. Most M.Div programs want to have diversity in backgrounds/life experience in their incoming class and I take it you'll have a lot to offer in that category given your previous work As for your weaknesses, I think that you're applying to enough schools where even if your GPA hold you back at some schools you most likely won't be rejected from all.
  14. Rabbit Run
    My school has a joint M.Div./MSW that's quite popular amongst students. Basically, you do the MSW all in your fourth year, people do it to be chaplains, social workers, community organizers etc.
  15. Rabbit Run
    Not sure; all know is what I'm seeing here
  16. Rabbit Run
    Historically, Biblical Studies is the only department that consistently interviews (I think Religion and Society does too)
  17. Rabbit Run
    No. PC(USA) students get 100%, but they do have some 100% scholarships for students from other denominations. Otherwise you'll probably get 80%
  18. Rabbit Run
    I wouldn't worry. M.Div programs are meant to include people from diverse backgrounds, not just religion or theology majors, since its a professional degree. II'd highlight your leadership experience and be clear about yoursense of vocation (in other words, why do you want to pursue this degree?) in your documents.
  19. Rabbit Run
    I've heard anecdotally that masters applications to the Divinity School where down last year by a noticeable amount due to recent faculty departures. I could see how this might impact the Religion PhD for certain fields, but I'd think they'd still have plenty of attractive applicants.
  20. Rabbit Run
    Since you mentioned it, I'd advocate for Princeton's religion department. Hegel is a popular figure in the religion department due to Jeff Stout's interest (although he is retiring this year). Leora Batnizky does work with some of the philosophers you've mentioned as well as Spinoza, Levinas and some more continental types. You'd also be able to access the philosophy, English, and German departments as well with ease.
  21. Rabbit Run
    I have a friend studying with Dorrien who speaks very highly of him. Dorrien's work is expansive and quite good. I'm sure he's busy, but I'm sure Cruz is also. If Dorrien and Cruz (and others) share some of your research interests and you would like to work with them, then mention that in your statement. The people you want to work with (especially those who you aren't planning on having as your advisor) don't have to line up exactly with your interests. You want people who can help you develop as a scholar, that involves people working close enough to your interests (which it sounds like Cruz and Dorrien both do) who are also able to push you in new directions through the interests they have which you don't necessarily share. So I wouldn't see the areas that Cruz is interested in the you aren't exactly as an issue. You can figure out which of the two will be your dissertation advisor during coursework and comprehensive exams, you don't have to nail it down right now.
  22. Rabbit Run
    Yeah, like most schools, when you get to the dissertation stage you'll have an advisor as well as a committee composed of two or three other people. Even though you can certainly work with Gregory, don't mention him as a POI in your PTS statement since he's on faculty at Princeton University, not the seminary.
  23. Rabbit Run
    If you were at PTS with those interests then your committee would naturally include Day, Bowlin and Gregory. I'd also look at Mark Lewis Taylor, who does a lot with religion and society/postcolonial stuff. Hope this helps
  24. Rabbit Run
    You can find some on the CCCU (Council of Christian Colleges and Universities) website. Only a small segment of the market to be sure, but I've seen some jobs show up here and not some of the above mentioned places before. http://careers.cccu.org/jobs/
  25. Rabbit Run
    It did help me tailor my applications to a few schools a bit better and it made me realize I didn't want to bother applying to one program.
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