sd_waco

I just got my unofficial waitlist rejection from PTS. My POI sent a very kind email letting me know that all of the spots have been filled and they wouldn't be going to the waitlist. It wasn't totally clear whether that was for Systematic Theology specifically or all of the disciplinary offers, but seems worth relating for anyone else who might be waiting with bated breath for news.

Good to know — I’m waiting on TEC (and now will probably be checking the portal compulsively).

Congrats! I’m hoping to hear from them soon too — what subfield are you in?

Does anyone know what the standard deadline is to respond if you’re accepted off a waitlist? If, for example, you get an offer on April 16th but also want to hold out for another waitlist, how long you’d have to respond?

In fairness, it does seem like there were at least a couple of schools that waited WAY late, which could be clogging things up. But I still thought there would be some indication of movement by now.

Okay seriously, how have the waitlist dominoes not started falling yet? I was told (anecdotally) by departments that these things are often resolved by mid-March!

Fielding input from those with experience or knowledge of others’ experiences: When does the US waitlist domino process typically begin? I’m on a couple and I know that I’m ranked at the top of one, so I’m optimistic about sliding in there soon after the shuffle starts, but the uncertainty and waiting is exhausting, and I have other non-US deadlines that are, unfortunately, coming up prior to April 15.

Coming from a non-top-tier MDiv program I can make arguments on both sides. Mostly, I think it depends on what you want to do. If you know 100% that you want to get into an elite PhD program and then go on to teach at a top-tier research university, there's no question that an elite M* degree will be a significant boon in getting into the next step. But on the other hand, if you're still in the process of determining a sense of vocation and think you might have some interest in parish or other ministry work rather than a purely academic track, there's more room for secondary considerations. If you have full funding at a less-elite M* program and would have to go into debt for a top-tier one, that's well worth considering -- especially since the job prospects even on the other side of an elite PhD are dismal. Avoiding debt at the M* level also keeps doors open to more varied PhD options -- especially in the UK/Canada, where you may be able to get into top schools but not get full funding (the situation I find myself in; I have no student loans to pay off from undergrad or MDiv so I have the flexibility to go places with only partial funding and take out small loans if needed). The bottom line is that there's no guarantee of getting into a top-tier PhD program regardless of how good your M* is, so you have to weigh that reality, particularly if there are financial considerations involved. Like @xypathos says though, if you know with certainty that your goal is a top-tier PhD program and an academic track, going to a less-respected M* will definitely create obstacles that you then have to overcome. I'm happy to share particulars of my experience/situation if you want to shoot me a message.

Especially as a multiple wait-lister (but also just in general) I'm curious how those of you with multiple offers are going about making those decisions and what kind of time frame you've given yourselves to do so. I know it's typically 60ish days or else a given date in April before you have to give answers, but I assume that you're just as ready to have concrete plans for the future as I am. - Are you giving yourself a self-imposed deadline? - Putting off terrifying decisions until the 11th hour? - Giving yourself time and space to be able to make an objective decision?' - Do you have any problematically short deadlines to accept/reject certain offers?

Admissions at Wycliffe said admissions and bursary info would come together “at the end of the month” so I’m hoping that will be more like the 20th than the 28th. Sounds like there might not be a concrete deadline based on your correspondence. What college did you apply through?

Is anybody else waiting on Toronto School of Theology? I saw some folks talking about U of T a few weeks back but haven’t seen anybody else waiting on TST (decisions are supposed to be issued at the end of the month). Relatedly, it seems like most of the major US programs have issued notifications at this point. Curious what notifications are still to come -- anybody still waiting on top choices?

So, ostensibly, being on the initial waitlist would be the “top tier” then?

Say more...how does that work?

Interesting that two UVA rejections have popped up, seemingly at the end of the day today. I was waitlisted on Feb 1, and it seemed that rejections already went out at that stage as well. Would that be likely to mean that they've filled some disciplines with accepted offers at this point? (Although neither mentioned having been waitlisted.)

So this is interesting. I have it on good (though indirect) authority that Yale didn't make any Systematics offers this year. Can anyone comment?