tsgriffey
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Posts posted by tsgriffey
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Got an email about an hour ago and I've been accepted! I was told that I'll recieve "an initial offer letter in the mail shortly," maybe that's in the works for you as well, RedDoor.
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Did you end up emailing Oxford? I have another offer to which I have to respond by April 10. I'll probably take it if I don't hear back from them soon.
Just sent an email. It's the middle of the night over there so should hear back by tomorrow morning.
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Still waiting! Several have gotten responses in the results page, though I wonder if our particular sub-fields are still meeting...
Thanks for the response! My guess is they have a deadline of April 1st and will wait till then. I'm going to send an email if I haven't heard by then.
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Has anyone heard from Oxford?
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I didn't get in; it wasn't a good fit anyway. Congrats to everyone who did!
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Ann Taves
She was my undergrad thesis advisor! Good puck, she's really nice!
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How is Harvard Div vs. UChicago Div?
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I was contacted by Wesley Wildman (my POI) at Bu today notifying me that applicants are being reviewed and also letting me know about the MTS in the theology school (which I won't be applying to since it is a seminary and I am not religious).
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My POI at BU brought the option of a MTS at the School of Theology to my attention. After doing a bit more research, it looks like this is a seminary for those of the Christian faith. Although he is a professor there and my specialty (science and religion) is a specialization there, am I right in not applying since I am an agnostic/atheist (depends on the day and who's asking haha).
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Seriously. The thought of a "normal job" depresses me. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing...
- colormelovely, menge and Marcion
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Omg sacklunch haha. I knew the odds, but never fun to be reminded (though important).
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Interesting. What kind of pay are we looking at? I have an idea, but I'd like to hear other opinions/estimates.
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Thanks for the reply, very interesting and helpful insights!
Other thoughts would be appreciated!
I have another thought/question. Religious ministry aside, is the work that we are/will be doing as academics of the study of religion really doing anything to benefit (i.e. serve) others? I'm not talking about teaching, but the research we plan on doing. Sometimes it seems like research in religious studies can be incredibly esoteric, to the point where it just seems as if the academic is just over-analyzing an issue for the sake of over-analyzing it with no practical purpose. Yet, maybe I am being shortsighted and should realize that no matter how fringe a topic may seem it still contributes to the whole body of knowledge that serves to inform the world about the incredibly complex nature of religion as a phenomenon.
It's funny how much animosity seems to be directed at religious studies. Many people outside the field think that religion is b***sh** and that studying is a waste of time and that an academic is a crazy person for wanting to study it, often with the assumption that the academic is religious and that that person should get a "real job". I can't help but feel insecure often when I think of the stigma attached to those in RS programs. Obviously, such people are ignorant, but it still seems to be a prevalent stereotype. I know that contributing to the body of knowledge on a subject is a real job, but it almost seems to good to be true--hence why becoming an academic is a pipe-dream for many that either do not attempt to pursue it, or don't make it because there are so few academic positions.
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- At the moment is a PERFECT Fit for the project I proposed in my SOP (although I know my interests will shift over time)
Questions
- I've read in some articles that students from Interdisciplinary programs have trouble getting placed because they can't market themselves as being suitable from a specific discipline/department. Is this true?
Seems like option #2 would be best for the reason stated above and for the better financial package. Are these M* programs?
Also, if it's not too much trouble, could you provide link(s) to the articles you're talking about?
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2. I have an Interdisciplinary Masters, and found it difficult to find PhD programs that took me seriously just at that level, even though I am very field specific. It suited me well for my diverse research at the time, but MANY of my faculty were very adamant about ensuring I DID NOT do an Interdisciplinary PhD. Hiring is TOUGH after. Very Tough. Consider that battle. If you are good with it, and you feel the other factors of the program can mitigate the defined degree after the fact, than go for it if it is really what you want.
Can you expand on this? What disciplines comprise your interdisciplinary Master's?
The reason I ask is because I am trying to decide between the well-known US divinity schools and doing interdisciplinary work in science and religion at Edinburgh, Oxford, or Boston University.
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Seriously, funding for grad school, especially in the humanities can be very stressful. I came into this process with the mentality that I would not go into debt, but the further into it I get the more I realize how rare it is to be either fully funded or be able to completely pay for graduate education without taking out a loan. Fingers crossed that the others schools I've applied to have better funding packages. On my to-do list is to check out the loan options from the University of Chicago--they may have more forgiving ones with lower interest rates and later due dates for payment.
Edit: I forgot to mention an example of how one guy managed to get through a Duke MA program debt-free through living in a van and working menial jobs. He wrote a book called Walden on Wheels (good book). Obviously this is an extreme lifestyle, but it is an interesting example of how one can afford grad school (not exactly recommending it, btw). Comic relief, if nothing else.
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For anyone applying to Boston University - I heard from my advisor this week that they hadn't even started looking at apps yet. But they do hope to have the decisions by March 1.
Has anyone heard from Boston University's GDRS?
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I would contact the POI's at each school and ask where you can improve and, if you do, how likely it is that you could get an acceptance. You mentioned the prof. at Duke saying "you need to be here," so you should definitely at least email he/she and ask: "why can't I be there?" Maybe there was a clerical error
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Tsgiffey, I see that you're applying to HDS too! Any word on admissions? Looking over the results from 2014 it seems that they generally release their decisions in March so I'll be undecided on Chicago Div til then. I feel Chicago is a better fit for me in terms of the faculty but HDS is much closer to where my partner lives so that will definitely be a huge factor in my decision if I'm accepted.
Sounds like a tough decision! I'm expecting HDS results to come around mid-March.
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Thanks for joining and congrats on your acceptances!! You got the 50% tuition scholarship as well? I'm not planning on visiting, I wish, but I'd like to save the money.
Chicago Div is pretty reasonable at $17,500 a year (for those with the 50% funding), especially for a top (if not the top) program!. The way I see it is pay our dues now at the Master's level and then get funding through teaching assistance and scholarships for the PhD and hopefully be able to start repaying loans (or maybe take a little time off to work full-time).
Finding roommates/housemates through this forum might not be a bad idea haha.
Also, another idea on funding a M* program: I plan on selling my car since I'll be in a big city for my graduate studies and it seems like having one would only be an annoyance with parking and traffic. Another 9 grand or so in the bank. Maybe you guys have some nice cars that you could trade for a nice lump of cash
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@thorongil: If we both decide on Chicago, maybe we could be roommates to save money haha. Your user name is a little known reference to Lord of the Rings, I like you already
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Thanks for the clarification. I'm assuming you guys are referring to coops such as: Disciples Divinity House, Qumbya Housing Coop, etc. Correct? Seems like it might be hard to get a spot.
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Thanks for that, Luke! I've been planning all along to live in community housing. Here's a link to the costs: http://housing.uchicago.edu/community_living/housing_and_dining_rates/
Link to graduate specific housing (off-campus apartments, I believe): https://rp.uchicago.edu/graduate_housing/
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I'm in the same boat, my friend. I've been planning on my year long UK Master's, but a 2 year long MA here would be a massive cost in living expenses alone. I do know that certain loans can be applied to living expenses after tuition has been met. I'll be trying to figure out the financial situation over the course of the next month and will keep you updated!
Masters Application Discussion - the latest and greatest.
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Thanks! I emailed the address for general graduate admission questions: graduate.enquiries@theology.ox.ac.uk