kay0213

Georgetown must be waiting for the second coming of Christ...

Good points. As you said, Brandeis is well regarded in HB; but, as you also mentioned, schools like Emory or JHU are very well regarded inside and outside this narrow field. Recent research suggests, as you are likely aware, that the overall prestige of a school makes a big difference in getting a job (perhaps sometimes regardless of whether said school has a good program in one's field). I will say that when I was at a very similar crossroads I went with the big name school/department. In some ways my decision was easy, since the big school/department also had the biggest stipend (with the best weather, cost of living, and so on). But, at the time, I felt like I was 'selling out' because my fit seemed (felt) better elsewhere. In the end, I'm glad I didn't go with my gut; I am very happy at my current school/department. Good luck!

My recommendation would be to straight up ask LeMon or Strawn about job placement. As for Newsom, Yeah...she's retiring this year, which is why I'm headed elsewhere (DSS is my main interest). LeMon and Strawn are definitely known for their iconography research, but they’re both doing interesting research outside that area. Personally, I also think Jacob Wright is brilliant. Where are your interests in HB?

That's a nice list, well done. I would put Emory first. NYU is underrated on this subforum, though the problem there is funding. Unless you get some sort of extra fellowship money, surviving in NYC on their stipend is difficult. I know two PhD grads from NYU in another discipline in the humanities who left during the summers because of funding issues (they would sublet their rooms). Perhaps the department of interest has extra funds set aside for the summer?

Congratulations! That's a good program and I know that you were really gunning for it! 

Just a heads up, Brandeis decisions are out. Accepted to their Bible and ANE program!

I think I can claim it at the behest of my peer from our department. He has not make any decision yet. I will let you know when he decides (of course, I will ask for his permission).

Now I am really wading in over my head! But . . .
I could speculate a top 6 and second 6 for HB and NELC might look something like:
Top group:
University of Chicago
Harvard
Yale
Brandeis
Johns Hopkins
NYU
Second group:
Duke (PhD)
PTSEM
Berkeley
UT Austin
Brown
UCLA (or Cornell, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Michigan, Toronto, Emory, etc.)
Here is a link to placement results for NYU in this area: http://as.nyu.edu/hebrewjudaic/graduate/phd-placement.html

I'm going to claim the UCLA acceptance. Also, I just got accepted to the Bible program at Johns Hopkins! So, I'm really stoked right about now! 
 
 
A couple Duke Divinity graduates told me this as well. 

Thank you so much for your reply, Almaqah! I have literally been checking my application website every hour, but whether fortunately or unfortunately I don't see any change yet. I guess I feel a bit relieved for not being rejected yet. Have you also applied to Brandeis this year? Btw, congratulations on your acceptance to UT-Austin. It is really an excellent program!   

When I applied to Brandeis two years ago, I got moved to the MA program. It showed up on their website a day or so before I got the notification. You can tell if they've done this to you by logging on the website and seeing if the application title reads MA instead of PhD. When they move your application over, it's a process and not everything updates at once. 
 
(Also, Brandei's MA is quite expensive, even with financial aid. I'd recommend looking elsewhere if you do get demoted)