Averroes MD

This is what I was thinking/hoping. Thank you! Yeah, you're right. I remember looking at it and it wasn't clear what the "penalty" was for failing to meet the requirement. However, I may not have been looking at the right place. And yeah, I should probably just look this info up but I just wanted to get a general sense, as I had a nagging suspicion that it's not usually a super strict condition, as long as you get it done soon enough. Shrug. Thank you, both of you.

This is purely hypothetical but suppose I needed an extra year to fulfill my language requirements, what would happen? I realize this is different from university to university, but just trying to get a lay of the land. I feel I could benefit from being a little bit slower in moving to my next language.

I was in almost the exact same situation. In the first year I applied, I wiped out at US schools and got accepted to Oxford. I secured outside funding, and was all set to go. I lost my funding and was convincing myself to still go. But, after looking at finances, I made the decision to defer my admission and reapplied to US schools. I was accepted to three US programs the second time around, and was very pleased with all three options, which were much better than Oxford without funding. Aside from the funding, I just think US programs will better prepare us for jobs in the American market... and sorry to say, just make us better scholars.

Hi Ben, That’s not a lot of information to go on, so very hard to answer your question. But, I also had a a bachelors in Arabic although my masters is in Islamic Studies. Having said that, a strong background in Arabic can’t do anything but help you, as advanced Arabic is often a key ingredient missing from many failed applications in Islamic Studies. Good luck!

Got off the Georgetown wait list, but I turned it down - would have loved to have gone though! Seems like they are still in play, so good luck those waiting!

I would not say that you have to have 2 ancient and 2 modern languages before you start your PhD. That's certainly ideal, but what I've learned is that the accepted applicants are often far from ideal. But yeah, try for 2 and 2, and then you're golden. However, I will also say that it's even more important to reach an advanced level in the primary research language in which you will be doing the bulk of your research. For example, in Islamic Studies, it's better to be someone with super advanced Arabic and a dabbling of French and/or German, rather than someone with intermediate Arabic, French & German. If languages are power bars, then the most important thing is that is your Arabic bar should be super long, and do whatever you can with the others. I used this with regard to Islamic studies, but you can translate it to your field/sub-field.

I third the objection to publishing. Better to just focus on masters thesis and make it a really good writing sample.

Well, that may be the first thing - decide upon a concentration (even if somewhat general). Second, my regret is not utilizing the summer before and the summer after my first year to do immersion study of language. I would make aggressive use of your summers for language acquisition. For an MDiv this would be four summers, since you include the summer before starting.

Your chances are pretty good. But, I suspect you already knew that.

So I have a suspicion that gtown often goes into its waitlist. I wonder if it’s worthwhile for you to email them and reiterate your interest. Maybe that would move you up on the waitlist. Just guessing though. Good luck! I struck out last year and succeeded at my top choice this year, so there is always hope for next year in case Gtown doesn’t pan out. But I hope it will for you.

No, I don't think so, although Georgetown was high up on my list...

Waitlisted at Georgetown.

Georgetown must be waiting for the second coming of Christ...

I'll chime in here. I was accepted to Oxford's DPhil in Theology last year, and obtained (and then lost) an outside source of funding. In addition to losing my funding, I was keen on completing a PhD in the US. This was more than just optics (i.e. how I'd be perceived by potential employers). Instead, I felt the UK style PhD would not give me the tools I need to become a true scholar in my field. I felt the added coursework, comprehensives, language requirements, and teaching--all part of US programs--would help me become a true scholar. I don't know how good Baylor and Marquette are. But, I think they are probably second-tier schools. I don't know how they will fare against the Oxford brand name, and my guess is that it would be a toss up. However, Oxford is not a viable option anyways, due to the crushing cost. Therefore, I wanted to suggest a third option, which is what I did. I applied again the next year, and used the extra year to boost my CV. I was then accepted to a top-tier US program, and could give Oxford a middle finger, which I felt they deserved for even offering PhD's without funding. I think that's a racket, designed to exploit a student and their brand name. I cannot understand paying $30k/yr just to do a dissertation, especially when apparently supervisors there can be very hands-off and meet only a couple times per semester. Screw that. Anyways, I think you should cross Oxford off the list, and then decide between Baylor, Marquette, and reapplying the next year. Three good options.

But that’s not the real issue. The real issue is that age discrimination exists, not that it should or should not be covered up. If age discrimination is justified, then the age limit should be in the rules to apply and you shouldn’t take people’s hard earned money and time for the application. If there is no age limit to apply, then they shouldn’t discriminate based on age.

1. There is no guarantee that he would’ve gotten in had he been in his twenties. 2. But he did not stand a chance of getting in due to his age. I sorta hope he wins. Age discrimination definitely exists. So does being discriminated against for being “overqualified”.

This is a very difficult question to answer. There is no doubt that a prestigious MA will help with PhD admissions, but you will take on debt. I don't think there is a way out of the dilemma: prestige vs debt.

Yes. But you already knew that.

I'm in Religion, but I think the answers still apply. I also was picking between Oxford and Harvard, and chose Harvard... Although for me, I lost my funding source at Oxford... But, even if I had gotten funding at Oxford, I'd still have chosen Harvard (or any other highly ranked US program). Does a three year PhD from UK disadvantage you in the US? Yes. Does one make you better prepared for the job market than the other? Yes. How much weightage should one give to accessibility of archives? Don't know. I have been told that US programs typically prepare you more for teaching while in the UK one has to actively seek these opportunities? Yep. As long as there is no major knock against it, I would choose Princeton. You gotta be realistic with placement after graduation. You are already fighting an uphill battle. In addition, I think US program will train you better, due to (1) stricter language requirements, (2) coursework, (3) comprehensives, (4) teaching, etc. However, this isn't to deny that there must be some super stars at UK programs... I'm just saying: if you have a choice between US and UK--especially when one of those choices is Princeton or UPenn--the choice becomes easy.

No worries. Thanks for the kind words. I doubt I will go to Georgetown even if I get accepted. It was high up on my personal rank list (#3), but I was accepted to my #1. I was rejected from my #2 and I think I would've been accepted to my #4 had I not withdrawn from it after hearing back from my #1. You win some, you lose some. Shrug. Georgetown Theology looks awesome. I hope you get in!

I just got my rejection from Arabic & Islamic studies. I also applied to Theology & Religious Studies, but haven't heard back on this yet.

I had a buddy who applied to PhD programs two years ago and his heart was set on Georgetown. I remember that he thought his chances were shot since he hadn’t heard anything back and it was really late in the game. In March I believe. Then he was sent an acceptance from Georgetown. So I think they might notify really late, although it is possible they send out notifications in waves. Don’t know.

Am I the only one who is reading this "Stupid enough for NYC?" Which funny enough could mean the same as "Stipend enough for NYC?" even though I guess the answers have shown that it's not...

Also, you will find that many of them take their own, which was the case with me. It's an "unfair" advantage even, since the professors know you and have worked with you in that case. EDIT: I'm in religion, not history.

Yeah, it was a lot of work to get a rejection letter.