HNV721

I am not sure if anyone here even checks this, but I figured I would give it a shot. My wife and I are moving to Tally for school this fall. our budget per month, for context, is around $700. can anyone suggest an area/apartment complex that wouldn't be a death trap? Having a tough time finding decent, affordable housing there.

Nice, well I hope you enjoyed your time in K-Town. I will always love home. As for me, the process has basically ended, but I could not be happier. Got into my top choice. What else could I ask for? I hope application season treats you well. Good luck.

Well, it is official. Formally accepted offer from FSU's MA in American Religious History. Tuition waiver, $10,500 stipend (along with summer funding once residency is established), and a TA position. Top choice, very excited.

I fear we may be waiting out the HDS decisions longer than we think. According to Harvard's website, their spring break is scheduled for 3/14-3/22. If that's the case, then I wouldn't be surprised if we don't hear from them til 3/23 or later since offices will be closed.

FWIW, I believe I will be declining VDS' offer

Religious studies/divinity/history applicant here ... I think I have just met my first fellow Knoxvillian! Are you a UTK undergrad? I hope the process is going well for you.

I think this discussion has largely run its course after reading/skimming through most responses. However, to better communicate my "liberal" comment, I feel I should say a couple things because it seems to have been misunderstood. First, I do not like even using "liberal" or "conservative" as ways to characterize people or beliefs. They are too saturated but unfortunately, seemingly, the simplest way to describe certain ... oppositions. Now, most secular state programs in the Humanities or prominent divinity schools are "liberal" in the sense that they commonly challenge (or contradict) a lot of people's idea of "traditional" Protestant Christianity. Some of that is good -- such as being more socially inclusive -- and some of that is bad, in my opinion. In some ways I am both. However, I would say (and this feels odd to type) I am "conservative" in the sense that I believe Jesus was/is God and that the Holy Bible is largely a reliable, spiritually authoritative text. From what I have seen here and elsewhere, I do not think most divinity school goers would agree or even be particularly kind to those ideas. Thus, with those being two indelible tenets for me, I envision divinity school possibly being fruitless theological/spiritual battles only designed to discourage. I am not afraid of this -- and concede to possibly seeing this all wrong -- but see it as a pointless fight at a "divinity" school where the topic of God is just more ... central than at a RS program where I know I will probably be in the minority as well.

telkanuru .... curious. where have you been accepted thus far?

Of course it matters (for me at least). If I attended a divinity school, it would be for preparation to apply for PhD programs in American Religious History. So, the reputation would be quite important in terms of how attractive (or unattractive) it would make me to good PhD programs. Now I do absolutely agree that, again for me personally, theological stances matter greatly. In fact, I have kind of come to believe my belief system would not vibe well with the modern-liberal divinity school environment.

I guess I am specifically wondering about Vanderbilt Divinity -- where I was recently accepted. I am not sure of how it stacks up in terms of reputation or if it is "elite."

Is there anywhere to view national rankings of divinity schools? I checked the US News rankings and did not see any divinity/seminary schools listed.

When are we expecting news on the MTS from Harvard Divinity? Mid-March?

accepted to VDS w/ 50% tuition

News: accepted w/ 50% tuition

thanks, man. i was wondering if nashville was getting hit like we are here. let me know if you hear something.