philonic

Based on your stated academic/professional interests, I would advise against applying to the MDiv program at PTS. The administrators and faculty there are not interested in students using the MDiv degree to pursue academic interests outside the church; the degree is intended for students who wish to pursue vocational ministry in the church. Also, I would strongly advise considering a wider range of programs. There are programs out there that are competitive and rigorous but not nearly as exclusive/selective as the ones you have targeted. If you want to get into an Ivy or Duke at some point, I would suggest doing an MA in classics somewhere. Best of luck

I am also a prospective Toronto PhD and haven't heard a peep. Just checked my status on the website and it still says "under review". According to the website, when a decision has been made regarding the application status will be updated to "Decision Made". I am not sure what the "shortlist" emails were supposed to indicate nor am I sure if they went to MAs only; however, my feeling is that final decisions have yet to be made.

Hmm. That looks like wait-list language to me, but the timing is a bit odd. It doesn't seem like anyone has received an offer yet. All I can say is that it is odd that UT would send you such a vague message. I hope you get an admission letter soon!

Yeah, it actually sounds like we're safe. I checked my application status on the website and it said "under review", which, according to the website, means that no final decision has yet been made with respect to the application. Based on the Results from the last couple years on this site and the app. website, results will not come out until mid March. I am hoping we don't nudge each other out of position, though! Best of luck!

Graduate Theological Union: $110 ($70 to GTU, $40 to UC Berkeley) Princeton Theol. Sem.: $110 ($75 to PTS, $35 to background check co.) Toronto: $110

I applied to Toronto as well, but did not receive an email today or yesterday. Did you apply to the MA or PhD program? At St. Michael's or University of Toronto Dept. of Religion? And, what field?

Mathetes, I think some added emphasis must be put on where and when one completed her/his MDiv and where one wishes to pursue an MTS/MAR or ThM/STM. An MTS or MAR could bear significant overlap to an MDiv degree. At schools where an MTS/MAR is un(der)funded I think it is a waste to repeat classes one would have taken for an MDiv degree. For instance, the MTS degree I completed required 4 credit intro courses in NT and OT, 3 credit courses in Church History I and II, a Christian Education course, a Theological ethics course, and a course in dogma all of which were required for the MDiv degree. Some div. schools may have no overlap in curricula for their MDiv and MTS/MAR degrees, but many do. If someone could enter an MTS from an MDiv with advanced standing, not having to repeat those courses, then I think it could be worth it. If, for whatever reason, that is not possible, then I do not see the advantage of repeating all those introductory courses, especially if the div. school offers only 25-50% tuition. The factors that weigh into one's decision on what program to choose will be different for each student. Another question is: Does one intend to finish the MTS/MAR or ThM/STM? If no, then I think one has to decide what his/her main objective is in starting the degree in the first place (e.g. to pick up a language(s), to do course work in a particular field, to work under/with a specific scholar, to participate in a large consortium of schools (ACTS in Chicago, or GTU in Berkeley, CA), etc.). There are many angles/approaches to this question of what degree is best suited to prepare one for doctoral studies. It really depends on where one is at academically and what one's financial situation is. I would highly recommend that those ready for advanced work do an advanced degree, a ThM/STM. But, if an MTS/MAR is cheaper, more accessible, or generally fits one's objectives better than a ThM/STM, then go for it. Another solution, as someone already suggested, may be to take courses as a non-degree student; that may be cheaper and more fitting for students who do not wish to complete another master degree.

ThM, STM, and MA programs are typically not competitive, since they are often un(der)funded and admit more students per academic year (sometimes there are Spring and Fall admissions).

Drs. John Kloppenborg, John Marshall, and Andreas Bendlin (Classics) would be my primary choices in the field of Religions of Mediterranean Antiquity. Bendlin's primary areas of interest are Roman reiligion, Greco-Roman social history and ritual studies. Kloppenborg and Marshall both work in social-science NT interpretation. If I get in I think it would be a near perfect fit. Are you applying to Toronto as well? Anywhere else?

Turner and Bell are the big names in ritual that I've been "using"; that word always sounds dirty in these kinds of discussions, but it works. Anyway, I'm not familiar with those other names. I've been trying to integrate some other theoretical pieces such as social drama, gender performativity, and discursive practices and power. I'm partial to Victor Turner, Catherine Bell is a bit out there; that ritual as ideology stuff is on the verge of pointless IMHO. Of course, Michel Foucault and Judith Butler are my other favs. I've also been interested in other ancient social paradigms such as patron-client relations and voluntary associations as exempla of imperial ideology. For the sake of the thread, I forgot to mention that while my interests are obviously interdisciplinary I am not applying to any joint-programs. Anyone who is interested in doing so, though should consider applying to University of Toronto; they have the best interdisciplinary programs with respect to Religious studies. I have been accepted to study at the GTU in Berkeley, CA; UC Berkeley has approved me to work in any/all of their graduate departments. I also applied to Toronto and am waiting for their verdict.

I'm interested primarily in applications of ritual theory to social-contextual/social-historical interpretation of the New Testament and other early Christian texts. It has been difficult to find grad programs that will facilitate interests in social-science or hybrid methodologies. I'm just not interested in traditional historical-critical approaches, bleh.

Someone needs counseling. There's more to life and to this field than getting ahead, making money, and being productive. Every grad student wants to find a school which supports his/her work and advance their career, but I also think the average person wants to feel fulfilled in the work s/he does. As someone elsewhere suggested, you find the place that will fit your academic interests, professional goals, and personal desires/needs best. The Ivys won't give me what I really want. I'm not delusional, I'm different. I wouldn't mind having access to their money or library, but I can find what I want elsewhere; there is nothing short-sighted, unrealistic, or delusional about it.