PhilOReligion

Hi everybody! I was a math major undergrad, and now I'm applying to MA programs in the Philosophy of Religion. My ultimate goal is to get a PhD, but it seems that I need a Master's program to prepare me for a PhD program. At the moment, I am very confused and a little overwhelmed about the application process.I have three main questions, hope you all can help Question 1: Can I get into a good Master's program? Are any of my concerns actually worth worrying about? GPA: 3.79 Major: Mathematics School: Elite liberal arts college Relevant coursework: 4.5 religion classes (Hinduism, Tantra, Buddhism, Interpretation of Religious Experiences, Esotericism in the West ) 4 philosophy classes related to religion (Ancient Chinese Philosophy, Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism, Comparative Philosophy, Ethics) Out of these 8 graded classes, I have 6 A's, 1 A-, 1 B+. GRE: 165V 95%tile, 161Q 81%tile (I will retake the GRE's before applying) Concerns: I do not have language experience at the collegiate level. I am white and male. I will probably get average-to-good recommendation letters, nothing incredibly good or bad. Average resume. Being a math major, I may have less experience studying religion and philosophy than my peer applicants. Not totally sure on long-term plan and career direction-- I would love to be a professor, but I've heard it is insanely competitive, and I also would love to somehow work in the non-profit sector. Is this indecisiveness a problem? Question 2: Related to the first question, here is a list of schools that professors have recommended. What do you guys think of this list? Harvard, UCSB, UChicago, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, possibly Stanford My top choice is Harvard I think-- ideal area, good possibility of funding, reputation could help get me into PhD programs, etc. Apparently all of these schools are excellent and rather competitive. Question 3: When applying for a Master's program in the philosophy of religion, how important is the match between student's and faculty's interests? I realize that at the PhD level, it is very important to find a professor who will be a good fit for your studies. For a 2-year MA program, does it really matter? My general interest is religion and modernity, Buddhism in the West, Buddhist philosophy, religious vs. secular epistemologies and ethics, etc. Given my general interests, are there any schools that I should apply to or avoid applying to? Also should I work to further narrow down my interests? Any and all suggestions would be extremely helpful! Thank you all so much, and best of luck to everyone in their academic journey! We got this