JMR0408

Accepted to Brite Divinity School (Texas Christian University) for the PhD in NT (and it's funded, too!). I just got word tonight through e-mail.

Officially rejected from Indiana U-Bloomington. (figured I might as well put a smiley face...)

Well, I got my PhD rejection letter. Oh well. Really wanted to work with Brakke and Harrill.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with OneStart. I checked my online application for admission and there was no result there. I'm a PhD applicant, so I hope they have all the results ready. I guess we'll just have to wait this one out! It is good to know that things are ready to move forward, though, no matter the outcome. According to the results search, in years past they have called their PhD admits, so hearing that letters are already out makes me squirm in my chair a little. Thanks for the news! Good luck to you!

I'm doing a ThM in NT right now, and for me it was the right move. I didn't have any ground to make up - that's not the only reason to enroll in one. I've been taking nothing but PhD seminars for three terms, and I think it has given me a lot of perspective, really helped me define what I want to do after. I've been taking mainly methods seminars (one general one, one in social science approaches to biblical studies, one in cultural studies [postcolonial theory, critical race theory, gender theory, lgbtq approaches], and one in imperial critical approaches), so that has been the difference for me.

Did you call them and ask? Or do you know your result yet? What is your field? MA or PhD?

So, all of a sudden there is a M.A. rejection from IU on the results list (whoever posted it, sorry to hear that). I guess this means the folks in Bloomington are ready to start contacting folks. *keeping fingers crossed...

There's a decent discussion going on under the thread "BEST MDiv Programs". If you join in there, I think you might find some of the answers helpful. I know someone over there posted a link to the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) website, which is an invaluable resource. Best of luck!

Wait lists are no fun at all... I see you're applying to IU-Bloomington for the MA. Have you heard anything yet? I'm doing PhD apps, but I assume they'll get back to us all at the same time at IU. I haven't heard a thing yet - and I'm really starting to sweat it, as all I have so far is a spot on a waitlist.

Well, at this stage you should start to think broadly of what your goals actually are. Do you have a religious affiliation to which you feel strongly connected? If so, do you think a denominational seminary would best serve your goals (ask your denominational leaders where they went, or at least where they recommend you go)? Or do you imagine yourself in an ecumenical environment? Assuming you're already in Oakland, the Graduate Theological Union is right around the corner from you; the member seminaries all offer MDiv degrees, I would think. That might be a good place to start looking.

I echo this; get Jannach and Korb, German for Reading Knowledge. I think it's in the 5th edition by now. This book is fairly standard across the board for blitzkriegisch - yes, they can be violent... - German reading courses for graduate students. It is the one I used, and I loved it. While offered in the divinity school I attended, the course was taught by a prof from the university German dept, and he uses this book all the time. He had us get the Modern Theological German book, but he ended up pretty much tossing it. There are plenty of translation exercises in Jannach and Korb, and you can find the Luther Bibel online at U of Michigan (just Google it) for free. As far as just reading the German bible alongside the English bible as someone mentioned above, I would advise against it. Instead, learn the language by learning it analytically (those grammar and syntax rules DO matter, after all). That way, you actually learn German on it's own merits. When you get to German material not available in English, that kind of thing actually begins to matter quite a bit. NB: I went and pulled Ziefle's Modern Theological German book from my shelf. I amend what I said before. You probably should get it, if just for the dictionary section. It is quite helpful. I would keep in mind, however, that with any kind of 'theological' approach to a language, you have to watch for translation biases, as I remember this coming up in my German class. It is a book worth having, though.

I think you pose a good question about these 'second masters' types of programs, because they really are helpful to folks who might not want to do a PhD. Rather than worry about the right "stats" (which I see is a common topic on these forums...unfortunately...as if people just boil down to numbers on paper...), I suggest you look into these programs at schools with good liturgical studies profs. I have a friend in liturgics, and from what I understand Boston U, the GTU, and Notre Dame often come up. Boston U has a STM, but I think a MA would be the closest options at those other two schools. Anyway, to make a long story short, look into who is where, as well as what they are doing at present, and then go from there. E-mail some folks with letters of interest and see what comes about. For a MDiv graduate with no intent of doing a PhD and who just wants to hone ministry skills, I can't see the GPA being a huge deciding factor on admission for a ThM/STM. At the end of the day, you'll just have to give an application a shot and see what comes of it!

You wouldn't happen to be a Big Lebowski fan, would you? ;-)

Nytusse put it well. If you have the MDiv, you should consider a further degree above that level. I will add my two cents on the ThM/STM option, though. One of these degrees can be a good move for you, especially if you think you need to make up some ground (say, in languages). There are several of these around: Yale, STM; Drew, STM; Harvard, ThM; Duke, ThM; etc. Funding can be an issue, like Nytusse said, but I will say that Brite Divinity School at TCU in Fort Worth has such a ThM, which is usually funded with at least 3/4 tuition. I'm currently finishing this up myself. There are things to consider: Do you want to move somewhere for one year and then apply to other programs after that year? Is the money worth it? Otherwise, I think Nytusse's advice to find somewhere and just take a few courses is quite good. Then again, there's always the option of doing a MA in a cognate field.

Just waiting to hear from IU-Bloomington... I think they usually make their move on calling admits the last week of February (I was told I would know something by the end of the month anyway). Anyone else in the hot house with me this weekend?