tdwightdavis

Weekends are nice because I just assume admissions won't be contacting anyone since the office is closed. Now that Monday is here my crushing anxiety is back. Have a good week everyone!

Was this for the div school or the department of religion? I'd imagine the religion department has been meeting, it seems late for them to just be starting but that would make sense for the div school since applications weren't due until the 15th. Didn't get a call from Emory today so I assume that means no interview for me. Unless the theology department is just waiting longer than NT to call.

I'm not sure if I appreciate this information or if I hate you for it. My refreshing of the Emory results page and my email has increased by 5000% in the past few minutes.

Another question: I just noticed that someone says that they got an interview at Boston College for the theology PhD on January 11, but the application deadline wasn't until January 15. Is this something that happens? I didn't even submit my application until January 11...

I feel like I've done a lot of stumping for my alma mater on here lately, but check out Beeson Divinity School. It's not going to be as prestigious as a Duke or a Harvard, but it's a solid program that does a good job of mixing academic and ministry prep, and we have a good track record of sending students to good PhD programs (like I said elsewhere, I know we have students in PhD programs at Duke, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Boston College, and a smattering of UK programs). They also offer every student at least 45% funding and it's not an expensive program to begin with. Shoot me a PM if you want some more info.

Has anyone heard from Vanderbilt yet?

Good for you! Although bad for me!

I did my M.Div at Beeson Divinity School. It's a fairly small school, but some good scholars there. I'm also an Anglican. Beeson has a pretty big Anglican presence and a certificate in Anglican studies available. They also have a good track record with sending students to PhD programs (I know we've sent students off to Vanderbilt, Baylor, Duke, and Boston College as well as some UK programs). May be worth looking into for you.

I think it just depends on the M.Div program you're in. My M.Div allowed me a lot of room to shape it into a theology program (15 hours of required systematic and historical theological courses and 15 hours of electives, all of which were either theology courses/master's thesis) and I've been told that it's a fairly competitive degree by my POIs in different programs. It may be worth it for you to ask admissions if graduates from your seminary get accepted into PhD programs and, if so, if they have a list of schools where they have been accepted.

Thanks. I did get an interview at Baylor, so I'm not nearly as stressed out as I was this time last year when I hadn't heard anything (and ended up getting all rejections). I was just curious because I felt like this was super early to have heard back. I remember my friends who did get in last year didn't really start hearing anything until late Jan. / early Feb.

It feels like this is really early to be hearing back. Is that accurate?

Me too! See you there.

Theology and race, specifically the work of the Duke School (J. Kameron Carter, Willie James Jennings, and Brian Bantum). Hoping to do something that combines race, liturgy, sacraments, christology, and theological anthropology.

Just got my rejection from Duke Divinity. This one stings more than any of the others. I had a really great meeting with the prof I wanted to write with and with the chair over the summer. The prof I want to work with actually said the words, "You need to be here." 5/8 rejections. Not looking great for me.

So I have numerous questions. Here goes: I applied to 8 programs for a systematic theology PhD and I've been rejected to 4 of those, officially. A friend of mine was accepted to the one spot at Vanderbilt, so I know that's a rejection. I didn't get an interview at Duke Divinity so I know that's a rejection, so a total of 6/8 rejections. I'm not feeling great about my chances at the last 2, either. First off, the data. I have a 3.84 GPA in my grad work at a fairly well-respected and rigorous school, a really terrible 2.75ish in my undergrad (I didn't care about education until my senior year of college), 165 Verbal, 145 Math, 6.0 writing on my GRE. Also had 5 conference presentations on my CV. Is that really good enough to get me into a top program? I feel like my undergraduate GPA is screwing me over, which is unfortunate because it is by no means representative of where I'm at now. Second: What can I do to better my chances next year? Obviously I'm seeking out some publications, but how aggressive should I be in contacting (or re-contacting) potential advisers? Has anyone else applied a second time after rejections and have any advice to offer? Thanks in advance.