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?

twhitley, I was also placed as an alternate for the Vandy NT spot (and I've heard it's only one spot, unfortunately). Did you interview? Apply for T&P? I neither interviewed nor applied for T&P. I guess we're in the same boat! It'll be interesting to see what happens!

I applied to Vandy for NT/Early Christianity and just rec'd an e-mail notifying me that I am an alternate. I did not apply for a Theology and Practice Fellowship, nor did I interview. So, it's the first bit of news from Nashville for me. Congrats to the person who got the nod, and if you're thinking about turning them down, I would highly advise you to. ;-)

I have no insecurities about my school. In fact, I responded the way I did earlier to defend its reputation.

I'm a little defensive, sure, but I have my reasons. As for those schools you listed being the best places to study biblical studies... I'm not so sure. It depends on what you want to do. Many of those depts are operating on the reputations they had years ago and, in my opinion, simply are not producing the best work in NT (the field I'm in, so I can speak to it). Sure, they have money and good standing in American society, but sometimes that is about it. For instance, I prefer social historical and social scientific approaches (as well as some of the newer ideological approaches, such as postcolonialism, gender studies, queer theory, etc.) to early Christianity. With the exception of Yale (with Dale Martin), none of the "top-tier" schools really fit the bill of what I want in a program. Duke and Emory both continue to be bastions of traditional historical-criticism (which often leads to more theological work), and I am simply not interested. I'm just pointing out that on these forums here a lot of people are acting like the only schools that exist and that deserve attention are the same old group of Harvard, Yale, Duke, etc. There are more fish in the sea. That's all. I don't mean to spark an argument. I just think other voices deserve to be heard, too.

Yeah, in assuming that Brite somehow equals career suicide, I think you did decide incorrectly against Brite. There's this notion out there among some that the only schools worth attending are Duke, Emory, Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame, etc. - you can fill in the blanks on the rest of them. But graduate study (especially PhD work) is not about the name on the sign out at the curbside; it's more about the names of your recs combined with the work that YOU have done YOURSELF. Given your interests in Second Temple, I would think you would jump at the chance to work not only with Leo Perdue, but also with Toni Craven, a known expert on Judith (among other things). In other words, the biblical studies faculty at Brite is about as good as it gets, my friend (NT included). For example, Brite has sent a NT ThM student to Vanderbilt for a PhD the past two years ('08 and '09), and other students from Brite get into plenty of other programs - I know Rice Univ in Houston has taken two of the Ethics students lately. Btw, I have a MTS from Brite in biblical studies and am wrapping up a ThM there now. The bib studies profs I worked with during my masters work would make some top-tier PhD students envious. Oh yeah, and Brite offers great tuition scholarships to EVERY student (I've never seen anything less than 70% for masters students). People do very well for themselves at Brite, and Brite does very well for its students. Best of luck, though.

I wanted to open a thread for biblical studies applicants. Where are you applying? Any word? Are you Hebrew Bible or New Testament? I'm applying for work in NT/Early Christianity to Indiana U-Bloomington, Vanderbilt, and Brite Divinity School.

I heard from a pretty reliable source that Vandy is only interviewing Theology and Practice applicants. So, if you applied for the fellowship and haven't heard back, then that might be bad news. If, however, you only applied for a program, then there might be a chance.

Forgot something... funding is usually pretty good at Brite. I haven't known anyone there on less than 70% tuition scholarship, even during these hard times.

You know, you might also check Brite Divinity School at TCU in Fort Worth, TX - shameless plug, b/c I'm a MTS alum. Brite's faculty is stellar (across the board, but especially in biblical studies and theology). Also, I want to throw a word of caution to your concern about 'credibility'. If I were you, I would focus more on finding a place with colleagues and faculty with whom I feel comfortable rather than focusing on the name on the sign out by the street. In other words, do well FOR YOURSELF. The name of the school doesn't matter as much as your own drive to do good work. Keep that desire at the forefront, and you'll be fine with getting into a PhD program from any school. Anyone who tells you differently (i.e., the name on the school's sign IS everything) has a pretty small view of the world, in my opinion. p.s., I don't know if you were placing positive or negative emphasis on the faculty member at McAfee being pro-gay marriage. If you were, you might like to know that Brite has two quite open tenured faculty members and is very welcoming of all. I hope that helps.

I'm really just a forum lurker by nature. I guess, though, these things are only valuable if one participates. So... I have PhD apps in at Vanderbilt, Indiana U-Bloomington, and Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian U. My field is NT/Early Christianity.