Almaqah Thwn

First, on the interview itself: Pre-Covid, Baylor had two open spots per subfield. I don't think they did on online interviews (at least I don't recall getting one) but only a big on-campus interview. They would invite four people in, pay for their travel, and lodge them during the interview with current students in the program in which the students are interested (sometimes multiple students in the same house, so you get to share a room with one of your competitors). I came a day early and booked a hotel on my own expense, just so that I would be fresh the day of and not groggy from travel. My interview began in the afternoon with everyone, potential students and current students of all fields of the department, meeting in a big room in a meet-and-greet and just talking to each other. Following that at some point was a free roam period where all the perspective students run around the department trying to find the offices of your professors-of-interest and then meeting with them briefly, all the while accidentally barging in on other students who are meeting with the professors on accident. There's just enough time to meet all the professors in your subfield and potential students end up visiting the offices of professors in other fields as well as they wait for their professor of interest to open up (I had a decent length conversation with one of the professors in New Testament. So, it might help to know generally what professors outside of your specific field research in case you find yourself in their office). During my time, students also did an informal bar meet and greet afterwards. I can't remember if this was all the students in every field, but primarily it is with students in your field at least, or at least they try to put you near those students. I don't recall much about that night, just that the beer I got was nasty and overpriced and then a cat bit me afterwards. Anyway, I forget the activities of the early second day, but there's a big lunch with professors included, after which all the professors then meet up to make decisions. Within the week following the interview, they send out acceptances to two of the four candidates in each field. That being said, this was all pre-Covid and things might have changed after the pandemic. Second, the timeframe for interview invites: When I applied to Baylor, the first thing I saw was that someone else got an interview invite. I flipped out because I assumed that meant all the interview invites had gone out and I was not invited. That being said, I got an invite around a week later. So, apparently they don't send out their invites all at once. So, if you see someone get invited, don't lose all hope yet. I'd give it probably another week and a half before writing it off as a rejection. Anyway, if you can score and interview, it's pretty great and was formative to my direction in graduate school on whole, even though I did not end up attending there. Baylor was at the bottom of my list going in and rose up to the middle afterwards (In retrospect, if the decision for me personally had been between Baylor, Duke, or Vanderbilt, I would probably prefer Baylor if funding ended up being equal). They have a high placement record, tend to graduate students on time, and are excellent at encouraging comradery among cohorts. So, it can be a fun and informative time if you can score an interview.

I'll throw a few tidbits out that may or may not be helpful. Don't stress yourself over the small stuff. Pre-Zoom backgrounds, I took a Skype call for an interview to a place where I got accepted. Yet, the only private room for the call that I had was my childhood bedroom. My Skype test camera did not show my bed and dresser, yet I made sure my bed was neat and my dresser was clean beforehand. Lo and behold, the Skype camera expanded and included a larger view that I had not seen before. However, since it was neat, it ended up not being an issue and I just rolled with it. If you had a good advisor look over your application, I wouldn't fret about having an ace in your sleeve or anything. You've probably already emphasized most of your best points already and I would think they're probably just looking for a further chance to discuss them (although, I could be wrong). I'd recommend refamiliarizing yourself with the program (yet again). Go back over the website and their other public documents and make sure you're not confusing them with anyone. Also, this might remind you of some aspects of the program that are interesting but which you may have forgotten about because it wasn't directly relevant to your application. Additionally, if you do get in the program, it's great to know the student handbook when you get accepted because it might help you in a pinch (for instance, I was able to forego one class after noting it wasn't actually a requirement for my coursework). And most importantly, just don't make any personal faux paus. Part of the interview process is seeing how well an individual meshes with the program. If you come off as not a good fit or seem to have a bad personality, then that ends up hurting you.

Another aspect to consider: If you're going on the job market and have to worry about providing a living for yourself, all that time you spend working on that will cut into valuable time that you could use honing your research or building up your CV with talks and publications. I know it's hard to wait another year. I got rejected across-the-board one year, then got into my top choice the next year. But honestly, I would have preferred this in the long run over going into a non-funded program or going into one of my lower ranking schools. A year's a long time, but it's not wasted. And, it's definitely not worth the stress of more student loans! In retrospect, if you wait it out another year and then get into a fully funded program, you'll eventually look back and see you made the right choice!

Alright, let's get this bad boy started. There's been a growing trend, year by year, of increasingly less posts for the NELC departments, which is kind of crappy because this is one of the few places early on where you can actually chat with people in your field that have your same interest, even if you feel like you're competing with each other sometimes. That being said, I'm in a department already and know how crappy the application process can be, so I'd just like to throw some bits of information and encouragement out there: 1. Your statement of purpose is important, but you're not chained to it. I remember spending so much time, cramming every bit of information I could into the statement, and then the professors just remembered nothing about it when I got here. Get someone qualified to look over it, but don't fret too much. 2. If you're in Bible, don't overlook Baylor or UT Austin. Baylor is considered a second-tier school by many, but the department knows you'll be fighting an uphill battle to get a job and their Bible department is exceptional in its preparation of students for jobs afterwards. That being said, they have an about 50% placement upon graduation, which is pretty good (and actually rivals some top tier institutions). As for UT Austin, it's at a crossroads: Hackett and Huehnergard, the former Harvard professors have retired, so they're going to get less students applying. However, they still have swag in the field, because everyone still considers them in light of Hackett and Huehnergard, even if they're retired. That being said, I've heard their stipend can be a little low, but chances are, they might not fill all their slots and you might be able to try negotiating for a better stipend. 3. Don't disqualify yourself before applying. I've met some decent students that could have gotten into higher-tier institutions, but simply didn't apply. Just apply to one at least. Sometimes, you'll be surprised where you get in, or at least wait/short-listed. 4. Also, I know how awful it is, but don't be afraid to take a year to enhance your application or do your own personal studies. Also, don't be afraid to do a masters, if you can find a funded one. Albeit, you may need to do it in a related field, like Jewish Studies or Archaeology. A year can make a ton of difference in your preparedness for a PhD. 5. Yes, the German language requirement is scary, but in reality, most students have to take some German when they arrive at their PhD program anyhow. Depending on the program, too, language exams can get backlogged until before comprehensive exams. So even though it says "Some knowledge of French and German," don't beat yourself up if your German isn't as strong as you wished, very few applicant's German is. Also, finish your dang German exam by the end of the second year of coursework. 6. French is easy. But also, be very conscious about your research field as it may push you to learn other languages you were not initially expecting. If you get too involved in archaeology, you might need to take some Arabic and/or Russian eventually, maybe after dissertation work. Unless your focus is Arabic languages. Then you'll probably take Arabic. Or, if your focus is Russian languages, but then why are you on this post? 7. Never move into an apartment before seeing the place. Bedbugs, crime, and crazy landlords may abound! 8. Yes, it does get easier to email professors. 9. Don't fret if a type or two makes it into your application material, the professors are going to give them a surface examination anyway. You don't want to have dozens, but they know you're human. 10. After you get into a program, you will never come back to this forum, never. Also, I am a darn liar that has too much time on a Sunday afternoon. So, just a few pieces of unsolicited advice. Hope the application process is going well, there's about a month left!

I would resound this. Also worth noting, most departmental websites are putting on somewhat of a face with modern language-prep skills, specifically in German. Don't get me wrong- Decent German skill will really make your application stand out and you should train it as much as possible. But, from what I've seen a lot of students at higher institution schools in my field either fall in one of two categories- they lived in Germany and have perfect German skills, or they've done some but are still struggling to keep it up and pass the exam by the time the test is due (and hence, have to end up taking German anyway upon admission). The latter seems to be more prevalent; albeit, those generally struggling with German often have training in other languages to offset that, such as Akkadian, Ugaritic, Turkish, Persian, etc. Schools can also be more lenient with language exams than they put on. Like, they may say you need this language by the end of the second year; but, ask the students- they may be a lot more lenient. Now that being said, you don't want to push off your languages until before A-exams or comps, because then you'll be in a bit of trouble. But still, it illustrates that the demand for language skills often seems higher on the application page than they are in reality.

How often do undergrad theses even get read? Even in STEM? Even at my lower ranked grad program, in the teacher assistants' lounge we had a bunch of master's theses and we just used them for paper weights or for laptop props, for when students wanted to pretend to have a standing desk.

I would echo this. I'm just starting my PhD program this fall and in the process of submitting my first article for publication, but it's to a peer reviewed journal and only after my MA advisor at a top-tier institution. That way, there are several checks to prevent me from saying anything stupid (And if I do, it will have already slipped by three experts in my field and probably by someone on a future search committee). Additionally, one of my professors at a top-tier institution stated to avoid publishing in collected volumes early on in your career, because they tend to have lower publication standards. The only exception to this is if the volume promises to be something leading in the field- that is, if the volume is going to be a ground-working study on a previously neglected subject or something of the sort that everyone in the future will cite. Then, it'll be fine.

An alternative route is that you could start the degree program at one of these schools without intent of finishing. I had a friend who meshed well with a professor at an upper tier school overseas, so he started a PhD program at an SBC school and then switched out. I'm not advising this route- personally, I would apply for funded MA programs and PhD programs next year at secular schools, lest you run the risk of reinforcing the fundamentalist stereotype. Although, I'm in an off year of academic studies and I do understand the frustration that you're facing. It's no fun. But sometimes, an off academic year can land you in a better position academically than doing more schooling.

So, I'm preparing to send off thank you cards for letter of recommendation writers this past season and also wanted to send each of my recommenders a modest gift to express my thankfulness for all the time that they sunk into my application. I was considering doing a restaurant gift certificate; albeit, I am quite far from my college now and don't have the ability to get gift cards for somewhere good and local. My parents also had recommended fine liquor, albeit I do not know if this is faux pas. Would anyone have any recommendations for thank you gifts?

I mean, they shouldn't take any more money before sending word on your application because then it looks like they're asking for bribes. And if they accept you and then ask for money, it looks like they're asking for a bribe for grades. But hey, if they reject you, there are no moral quandaries preventing them from asking for more of your money. So why not have at it?

But hey, at least we know they're putting that $85 application fee to good use by upgrading their website!

I got the Duke email today, albeit previously I had emailed them and told them to withdraw my application a little more than a week ago. Had to still make a new account to log in and check the letter, in the off chance that they had waitlisted me and I was blocking someone else's spot to enter. Did anyone else have to create a new account to check their decision? That was really weird.

The University of Pennsylvania, which has one of the best NELC departments in the world, has a suprisingly 90s style webpage.

Shortlited means either one one of two things: 1. You've made it past the initial cut, but you're not guaranteed a spot yet. You're still competing with other people, but the pool is much smaller (I.E. 2 other candidates, instead of 40). It's a bit of a double-edged sword to know your shortlisted. On the one hand, you're close to getting admitted and you know it. On the other hand, there's still a good chance you'll get beat out and it'll blow up in your face. Don't put too much stock into the program until you're actually offered admission. 2. To light a candle with a very short wick. This is hard, as there is not much room for the candle to burn.

Congratulations! That's a good program and I know that you were really gunning for it!