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@_Ariadne_, congrats on your acceptances. I was also accepted to YDS for an MARc in Bible, and I am currently planning on attending. Does anyone know how important it is to get a campus job that suits one's PhD plans? For example, should I be trying to get a research assistant position or something along those lines (if even available), rather than a normal library or "work-study" position? I am wondering what most people who got into top PhD programs did for on-campus work while they were master's students.

I assume for a top school like Chicago, low GRE scores could definitely hurt an application (I totally forgot that some programs even require them at the M* level). Your good verbal and writing scores seemed to work in your favor. Hopefully holding an MA already will help offset low scores, but I would not be surprised if it did not (HDS actually waives the GRE requirement for applicants who already hold an advanced degree). Thanks for the info the fellowship. I will certainly look into it.

I double-checked with Paul Walker and you are correct. He said that CMES offers up to 2/3 in the first year through the Social Science division (I assume this is simply the department in the Graduate School that the CMES falls under). My only concern is GRE scores. It looks like the GRE is required for the MA programs at Chicago, and that throws my plans off. I was planning to retake the GRE sometime in the spring after I submit all my M* applications, since I was going to pour all my time into the applications themselves this fall. My GRE scores are currently very low (156V, 151Q, 4.5W), which I assume might prevent me from an acceptance and/or funding. Do you know how many students HDS normally admits per year into their HB / OT program? Reaching out to Prof Teeter about my interest may be a good idea, although I agree that it’s unlikely that the program would be discontinued. HB professors in the NELC department like Shaye Cohen, Richard Saley and Jonathan Kline are listed as teaching courses in the Divinity School.

hullabaloo, I agree wholeheartedly that finding the best fit is essential in choosing a PhD program (and by "fit" I mean one that will maximize your strengths, help you identify and attain your specific goals, develop you as an overall person, and provide an environment where you enjoy the professors and classmates you are working with). Five years is a long time to not be happy or comfortable. I guess what sparks my interest in Brown is that it's an Ivy League school and is close to where I am from in the Northeast. The training that it would offer as a PhD student of religion, the opportunities that it would open up professionally and the practicality of studying close to home all seem to make it a very solid choice. I would like to hear about your experience at the mini-conference and what you thought about the culture (I can reach out via message). I do plan to attend the Fall Open House days at HDS and YDS like Mstar recommended.

HBgrad, one of my top choices would be Brown. There are others too, but Brown is an example of a program that I am looking to get prepared for. I did look into the MA programs at Chicago. The director told me that in the Middle Eastern Studies program there is actually no funding for the first year. He advised me to consider the Divinity School if my interest is Hebrew Bible. I would rather study through the MES program if I had to choose.

I appreciate you sharing what you emphasized in your application. I also would like to include everything relevant on my CV. For my writing sample, I plan on using an excerpt from my Masters thesis. My end goal is to publish and teach. It is a very personal goal of mine to get a PhD level education in the Hebrew Bible. So even if it does not shape into a traditional professor career, I'll be okay, because pursuing study of the Bible in itself is what matters most to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I assume by being a contributing member of the community you mean things like joining or starting on-campus organizations or causes, attending and participating in lecture series, and (hopefully) working as a research or teaching assistant to a professor (although I know most of these opportunities come in a doctoral program). I can see how clarifying one's long term goals with the degree are so important. I appreciate the school's emphasis in that regard. I hope to convey how the program will enable me to benefit the local and global community in a meaningful and creative way.

Averroes, thanks for your reply. While I guess it is fair to describe my desire to get into one of the two schools as "want," the path to getting where I aspire to get is certainly made the most possible through them, which is why I put them more in the "need" category. This is not only due to the recognized rigor/quality of the training, but also due to the personal connections that the professors have with the directors of the PhD programs I am looking at. For the record, I did not get into YDS when I applied there towards the end of my M.A. So to answer your question, no. I thought I was a strong candidate, but that made me questions things...

At this stage in my academic journey, I really need to get into HDS or YDS for an MTS or MAR in Hebrew Bible / Old Testament in order to achieve my goal of getting a PhD from one of the schools I am looking at. At least this is what I have been advised by the directors of the PhD programs who stated that many of their successful applicants come from these two schools. This reason for this post is because I am concerned with presenting myself strongly enough in my application to secure an acceptance. As a result, I am seeking people’s input who are knowledgeable of what the admissions committees at HDS and YDS are looking for in a successful applicant to the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament concentration. I have researched what the schools’ admissions committees look for in general. The essentials include things like excellent grades, convincing essays, a portfolio of exceptional experiences and accomplishments that have shaped a vision to impact the world in some way, community service leadership and/or social justice involvement that has creatively and meaningfully addressed real-world issues. The information I need, however, is regarding gaining acceptance to the MTS or MAR program specifically. Are the HB / OT professors the ones who directly make the acceptance decisions for their concentration? I assume these would be people like Jon Levenson and Andrew Teeter at HDS, and John Collins and Joel Baden at YDS. If so, what do I need to show in my application that will shine through and distinguish me as someone who they will take? Here is a summary of my education and experience: B.A. Economics, GPA 3.64 (average state school in the Northeast) -graduated top of major; senior research paper; helped lead an organization that did frequent service projects in the community as well as hosted worship services and events for local college students M.A. Biblical Studies, GPA 3.97 (above-average private college in Northeast)* -Theta Alpha Kappa Honors Society; published thesis; awarded a graduate assistantship both years; held a significant leadership role in my church throughout program *while the school is a pretty good school (it hovers near the top 100 mark each year), it did not have a well-known Bible program or faculty, and the degree was not enough to get me into PhD programs by itself; I attended due to location and cost / funding Languages 2 years Biblical Hebrew; ½ year Modern Hebrew; ½ year Greek; ½ year German; 1 year Spanish Experience -co-founded a post-secondary school of biblical studies and ministry training; served as the director of students during its first year -served as the head of the Usher Team at my church, and previously was a leader on it, for the past four years (a large, multi-campus church) -one of the key leaders in planning and directing two national Christian events; managed a team of over a 100 people for both -taught a course on mentorship at a high school for two years -was on the planning team for several fundraising events for local and global causes including a community yard sale with proceeds to help combat human trafficking, a Christmas concert with proceeds to provide surgeries for children with cleft lips, and a 5k with proceeds to assist the homeless Thank you for your helpful input.

@AbrasaxEos thanks for your posts in this thread. You bring up some sobering points that are important to think through, even if they aren't the most hope-filled. After getting rejected from every PhD program I applied to, I am pretty convinced that I am going to end the academic journey here with a masters and start looking for a job outside of academia / professorship. What will bother me is that if I ever wanted to write and publish a book, not having a PhD in the field will probably limit that opportunity significantly, or at least the reach of it. I guess my only hesitation then is: what if you are the person with the knowledge and drive to create new, important research in a specific area, yet you lack the credentials for the audience to receive it and/or for it to be implemented in the places that it should (for example, you propose a new, well-researched interpretation of the Trinity based on biblical and extra biblical sources, but it never finds its way into academic discussion or curricula because you are not qualified to introduce such a method). I don't want to get up and speak in front of an audience at a Biblical Studies conference someday (or even a Church conference) unless I have the terminal degree in the field, as I just won't feel comfortable or qualified. Or maybe that's just pride. I don't really know.

Thanks nevermind. I guess I covered the main ones then.

I know this discussion is old, but could someone please elaborate on what the top RS M* programs at non-divinity schools are then? All the top divinity schools are mentioned in this read, but no names of said RS programs. For subfield, let's say Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible specifically) U Chicago? U Cal - Berkeley? NYU? UW-Madison? I am debating doing an MAR at YDS if I do not get accepted into a PhD program this cycle (current have an MA from an average program that's somewhat off the radar), and need to know if going this route would put me at a disadvantage compared to said RS programs.

Thanks turktheman. In anyone's experience, do schools ever accept someone without contacting first and/or interviewing? Or is a form of contact (email, call, etc) always the norm before an acceptance letter if an applicant is going to be accepted?

Does anyone have any information on the admissions timetable for the following programs that they could help me with? I have not heard one word from any of them. Brown (RAM) Yale (HB / OT) Boston University (Texts and Traditions) Boston University School of Theology (Biblical Studies) Brandeis (NEJS) Fordham (Bible) I was rejected by Baylor (Old Testament) via email on Jan 25th with no interview (obviously not a good thing). I also applied to Boston College (Biblical Studies) and I was told today by a source connected to the program that acceptance letters went out on Monday for all concentrations within Theology (Systemic Theology, Biblical Studies, Theological Ethics and Comparative Theology would thus have gone out as well in addition to Historical Theology like _PATRISTICS_ mentioned above). Since I have not heard a word from BC, I suppose that is acceptance is not a possibility now given that I was not contacted or interviewed.

AbrasaxEos I know this response is late but thank you very much for your reply. I found the symbols in the "Character Viewer" option for the US Keyboard, a place I didn't even think to look. Would not have found it if it wasn't for your answer.

I am editing my writing sample and need the Hebrew transliteration symbols to insert into my research paper on MS Word using my Macbook. I downloaded a couple transliteration keyboards online that I thought would work but have been unable to properly install, access or use them. Even called Mac tech support but they didn't have any answers and said it was a "third party" issue. Does anyone know how to use Hebrew transliteration symbols in Microsoft Word for Mac? I am using an OS X 10.9 operating system.

Thanks for your answer, Enki Knows. I am planning on presenting this spring but won't be preparing for it until after PhD applications are due in December and January, so the things you mentioned will definitely take priority until then.

TakeruK and rising_star, thanks for your replies. I was referring to the opening line of the LOR because it looks like most of the online applications are asking for electronic submissions of the LOR's. You're right too that my professors should be quite familiar with doing this type of thing already!

Thanks for your answer eteshoe. I found out today that 2 of the programs I'm applying to actually have a December 15th deadline, so I will need to take the GRE much earlier.

Should my professors be addressing my LOR's to the director of the program I am applying to? To my person of interest? Use a general title such as "Dear [School Name] Graduate Religious Studies Admissions Committee"? What is the standard thing to do? If standard procedure is to address the letter to the director of the program, what if the director of the program teaches a concentration that is different than the one I am applying to and may not even be the person to read it? Any info would be appreciated.

I am planning on retaking the GRE on November 30th for application deadlines of January 1st. In the event that I score lower than the first time I took the test, I was not going to list any schools this time. I am simply going to see the score, and if I like it, then I'll pay the extra $25 for each school to have ETS send them to those places afterwards. My question is, how long does it take to send scores to schools that I did not list on the test like this? Would I be cutting it too close taking the test on November 30th for January 1st deadlines?

Alright, that solves that. That's why this site is great. Thanks for your insights.

I am in the process of choosing who I want to write my letters of recommendation for the PhD programs I'm applying to in religion. For 2 of the letters, I am obviously going to choose professors who I've had who's classes with that I have done well in and who know me well. For the third, I was going to have one of my closest friends write it. He has his PhD in a different field (Aerospace Engineering, from a top program) and can personally attest to my academic ability, work ethic and character. I know people say LOR's should only be from people who's relationship with you originates either in academia (although we were high school classmates) or employment, and not from friends, but he knows me better than anyone else with a PhD who can write it. Also, given the fact that his degree is in a difficult field from a prestigious program and that he's a recent graduate, I figured admissions committees would be welcoming of his perspective. What are your thoughts about this?

You bring up some good points. I did well in econometrics (A) and pretty much the same in the other math-related courses for an Econ major (stats I and II, quantitative analysis I and II, etc). I did not take advanced calculus or anything like that though. You're right about how having more passion for different subject could potentially show through in the application process. My reasoning for applying is mostly economic (no pun intended), and while that may be a topic to avoid in the statement of purpose, is not necessarily an uncommon one. I've got a little more time to think about it. Figured I'd throw it out to there to some Econ grad students who are familiar with the field.

Hello, I am considering switching my academic path and applying to Economics PhD programs instead of (or in addition to) Religion PhD programs. I have a B.A. in Economics from an average state school with a pretty good GPA (3.64) and am finishing an M.A. in Biblical Studies from a good private college this spring with a projected high GPA (3.8+). Does anyone have any ideas what admissions committees at Econ programs will think about someone with an Economics B.A. and Religion M.A? I know Econ MA's aren't typically required to get into the PhD program. Having a Religion M.A. might even make me an interesting applicant given that economics has somewhat of a history in religious thought, but I don't really know. My GRE scores are currently low (50th percentile low) but I will be retaking them before the coming application season. My reason for the potential switch is that the path to a Religion PhD is longer (sometimes requires two M.A.'s to even get accepted), the professor pay is lower (roughly $30,000 less) and the job openings are much slimmer. I like both subjects, admittedly religion a lot more, but I figure that I could always teach a religion undergrad course with a Econ PhD at my future school of employment (one professor I know does this), whereas I couldn't do the reverse with a Religion PhD. The abstract nature of teaching religion also seems tougher to prepare lessons someday (essentially pure lecture) whereas drawing graphs, putting formulas on the board, etc could be much easier do. Any advice would be appreciated.

BodyPolitics, Thanks for the heads up. I found the "Program Units" page for the annual SBL meeting in Atlanta this November, and there are some sections focused on the Hebrew Bible. As for the regional meeting in my area (New England), looks like I just missed it - happened last month in April. I will be prepared for next year's though. colormelovely, Thanks for the info. Their annual meeting is combined with SBL's in Atlanta this November, and the regional meeting for New England was a couple months ago in March. Like I wrote to BodyPolitics, I'll be prepared for next year's. I'll look into some of the sections they do for study of the Bible. Abdelazar, That is great information. I should probably become a member of both the SBL and AAR as I'm sure most aspiring PhD students in the field are. Thanks for putting the CBL and Association of Jewish Studies on my radar as well.