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kaaat

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  1. kaaat
    I agree with what was said above. I don't think GRE scores, especially average scores, make or break an application. I was given advice from a former student who advised me to establish "fit" and stress a passion for community service, social justice, etc. That seems to be the culture at HDS, from what I've collected. Of course, this is usually coupled with a solid GPA and some background in one or more languages. My best advice: seek honest advice from people who will give you the unfiltered truth and read the GradChat from previous years to see other stats, situations, and commentary. It has been helpful during my own journey.
  2. kaaat
    Accepted at HDS for MTS Warmest wishes and sincere congratulations to everyone. I was sweating it when I saw that email, I was not expecting that our decisions would be out today but was pleasantly surprised!
  3. kaaat
    I would guess the 16th, earliest the 15th.
  4. kaaat
    Congratulations!
  5. kaaat
    It does happen, but in my own personal experience it depends heavily on the program itself (the funding situation, the applicants who applied during that particular application cycle, the departmental politics, etc.) and so many other internal "moving parts." Quite frankly, most of which goes on behind the scenes and you may never understand it or some of which you may only begin to understand after you start the program. For example, I didn't know it at the time but I was lucky as a domestic student to receive a tuition waiver and stipend for my MA. Most of my departments funding goes towards the international students in order to make it possible for them to attend. Funding at the Masters level is almost always limited depending on the institution, the department itself, and what other scholarships or opportunities exist for students. However, as others have pointed out, be prepared for them to say no. I would find out who directly makes (or influences) these decisions and either arrange to meet with them in person or arrange a phone call. I think it's worth a try. I would be up front about your financial situation and if possible, try to find out the kind of packages other students in the past have received to see where you stand and if asking for more funding is reasonable. I was straight forward with my graduate advisor even before I was accepted, expressed my interest in the program and the fact that I would not be able to attend otherwise due to my financial situation. It's an uncomfortable conversation to have, but it's important to learn how to have these kinds of conversations. I believe that it does get easier over time, you just have to be professional and state the facts. Make a case for yourself and your potential. You must learn to advocate for yourself and your bank account, because nothing hinders opportunities quite like financial hardship. Trust me, even if you can negotiate for a little bit more, it makes a difference!
  6. kaaat
    Congratulations to everyone who got into Chicago Divinity! Great school!
  7. kaaat
    Congratulations!
  8. kaaat
  9. kaaat
    This is a bit late because I was trying to sort some things out, but I've been accepted at Vandy - MTS. @JDD Congrats!
  10. kaaat
    @Boolakanaka Same, my MA and graduate assistantship serendipitously fell into my lap the first time around, granted it's a state school and a small RS department. But still, I figured I was going to be a lot more "composed" than it actually turns out! I also feel that although grad chat has provided some degree of insight, advice and a support system...it has made me more anxious seeing other people post their results, comparing myself to others, etc. Perhaps ignorance is bliss.
  11. kaaat
    Who else is holding their breath over the next month? I'm just trying to distract myself. I'm going to start a new Turkish series as I just submitted my M3
  12. kaaat
    Congrats!
  13. kaaat
    Thank you Best of luck to you as well, please keep us updated!
  14. kaaat
    @Boolakanaka I'm applying this application cycle as well, but for the MTS. I'm no expert on these admissions by any means, but being that you're involved with the tribes and that you largely represent a group (that I would imagine) is very much underrepresented in divinity schools to be a huge plus. I think you would offer a very unique perspective and I can only imagine that it would be viewed positively. GPA is important but because you've been out of school for almost 30 years, I would assume that your application would be evaluated more holistically than say someone who was 22 and straight out of undergrad (don't quote me on that).
  15. kaaat
    I already heard back last night, which I was surprised about. That's why I asked.
  16. kaaat
    Did anyone who applied to Vanderbilt hear back yet?
  17. kaaat
    I'm applying this cycle for the MTS at HDS and all of my documents have been verified, I just checked. I submitted my application in late-December.
  18. kaaat
    Hi, I have a question about the Admissions Process for Divinity Schools. My situation is a unique one (yeah, I'm sure this is the first time you've all heard that on here) anyway, I'm applying for the MTS/MaR at HDS, YDS, VDS, Union and Wake Forest Div. My undergrad GPA is 3.89/4.0 - INR My grad GPA is 3.96/4.0 - Religious Studies I battled Depression and sought treatment when I was 18 years old and right out of high school (I also had other personal and family problems going on during that time including a family member who was dying of cancer, etc.) and that coupled with immaturity was a disaster. I did not focus on school nor did I ever imagine myself continuing on to graduate school. It just wasn't on my radar. I finished my AA degree with a 3.4 and I never gave it much thought. Things began to turn around in my life, and I transferred to a state school and eventually graduated with my BA and a 3.89 UG GPA with a degree in International Relations and a concentration on Middle East and Central Asian Studies. I'm graduating with an MA in Religious Studies this May with a 3.96/4.0 from the same state university. I pursued an Abrahamic Religions Track, but the degree itself although an MA with graduate coursework was still very generalized and I did not feel specialized (enough) or prepared for the PhD application cycle which has already passed for this year. It's partly my own fault because the program was not specialized in my area of interest nor did it have any notable faculty that was (my major professor specializes in South Asian religions and my thesis was on Iraq). I did not have the opportunity to take languages in the department like Syriac, Coptic, Classical Arabic, etc. because they were simply not offered. I'm pursuing a second Masters degree with the intent that I will be more competitive for PhD Programs, to be around more faculty and other students in my area of interest(s), and improve my language skills in Arabic. I'm a female, I'm a dual national of the U.S. and Iran. I have a background in Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish and French (and 1 year of Greek of the New Testament) which I hope to further build upon. Most of my language skills come from my background and personal pursuits (not academic transcripts) although I have taken up to intermediate Arabic in my Undergrad and 1 semester of Greek in my Grad transcript. I began my SoPs with my fieldwork experience in Iraq working with various minority communities (IDPs and refugees) which became the absolute highlight of my graduate career. My MA thesis explored the transformative role of ritual for the Yezidi Community in the aftermath of the Sinjar Massacre by the Islamic State. But I realized while I was in Iraq that whether I want to pursue doctoral studies or NGO work in the future that I absolutely need to improve my language skills which will be my #1 priority in future years to come. I decided to apply to an array of various programs (some of which are "better" fits than others) just to keep my options open. My real question is that I mentioned my Depression in my SoP. I wrestled with it for months and I rewrote the Sop several times. I framed it in a sort-of-way like "I've struggled with depression, but I maintained a 3.96 Grad GPA." I was hoping that it would be viewed as a positive, that I've made significant progress in my academic pursuit and personal life and I overcame my difficulties (and grew up in a sense) which I felt at the time was honest. Then after I submitted all of my applications, I started googling it and I realized that I might have made an awful mistake even mentioning it in the first place. Many forums and threads even labeled it as a "Kiss of Death" which I'm sure goes along with the fact that most people view mental illness as an excuse and it is still highly stigmatized. I've been worrying about it ever since. I only wrote a few sentences about it and I figured that divinity schools might be more forgiving and compassionate (perhaps I thought wrong and honesty is not what they want). At the same time I feel that it's human to go through these kinds of struggles, life's a journey and I have to forgive myself for what I was going through when I was 18. That's the way I see it. But then again, I'm a person with too much compassion if that's even possible? .....and, if AdCom is going to throw out my application solely because I brought up that I struggled with mental illness at one point, well that's not a place I would want to be anyway. For a job application or interview, I would see it as pointless and detrimental to bring it up because the bottom line is about being able to get the job done. But because I'm applying to Div Schools and because the academic journey should be one where you are constantly learning, re-making yourself (especially when you're so young), and progressing I feel that it's a bit different. For me, I find inspiration and courage in stories of hardships where people turn it around. After all, should higher education only cater to those who hail from highly privileged backgrounds or those who never had to overcome significant challenges in life? I'm also not framing my struggles with mental illness as an "excuse" (as if it were an excuse anyway) for a poor transcript, but I framed it more like I have good GPAs but I have improved and I hope to continue to do so. Ive already submitted all my apps. But any thoughts and (constructive) advice/comments for future reference or to simply ease my mind?
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