thiscalltoarms

So sorry to read this.

Are you getting a full ride to Conwell?

You want funding for your PhD and to get in on your application cycle? Go to Duke. If you don’t get into a PhD after the mdiv, you can find a better ThM (Yale Harvard Notre Dame, etc) while you are applying to PhDs. But plenty of MDivs from top schools get in. I’m not crazy down on Conwell. I actually went to Gordon College for undergrad... but these schools aren’t remotely in the same tier for getting you where you want to go.

My BU GSAS Religion rejection came yesterday.

Is that undergrad or masters gpa?

No, I haven’t heard anything. I’ve been assuming the worst and moved on.

Well, I just accepted my offer of admission to Fordham in Systematics. Declined my acceptance to Drew. Writing an email to my mentor at Drew was and is heartbreaking. These are such complicated decisions, decidedly not fun. Sigh.

I have two acceptances, and trying to figure out which one will help land a job after seems to be the main thing that I’m overthinking. Such a tough season to make any choices...

But... I got my reject on 2/17 from BC theology. So maybe that leans towards both of you being waitlisted without telling you?

It depends on the school for whether they roll or bulk offer. No idea about Vandy. I was waitlisted at Drew and Fordham last year, my advice is to work on publications and AAR conference presentation prep while you wait. If you don’t make it, those type investments now are the only way to boost the resume convincingly by the next application due date. That seems to be the brutal reality here. The biggest advantage of a waitlist spot is that you know you’re an inch away, but in order to cross that gap you need to start the process now. I think AAR extended their open call due date... do you have two conference proposals in already?

Seriously though, is it all about funding? I’m seriously considering taking much less. I’m weighing so many factors but right now- the opportunity to teach classes during the PhD process seems the most valuable thing to me today...

Temple rejects are out!

That’s a great question.

I have a couple thoughts... first, I checked my email records and Drew knocked me off their waitlist last year on 3/23. No guarantee of course, but that might mean you have closure on Drew before you have to make your Toronto choice. Second, I want to harp again on the strange nature of this application cycle. This is mostly anecdotal, but amongst my friends that are trying to get in this cycle- there are three distinct sets of people. Those with 1 acceptance seem to have 2-4 acceptances, those waitlisted seem to have 2-3 waitlists, and I just don't know anyone that only has 1 WL or 1 acceptance. In previous years, things seemed a little less rigid. I think that might mean there is actually more WL movement than previous years maybe. I heard the same thing last year- with covid there were schools that were on their third set of waitlist options. This multi-year set of covid adjacent acceptances/applications is just so weird.

Five spots for 150 applicants at BU-STH. Harvard only take 4 music PHDs. Holy crap. What is going on this year- obviously, we all kind of know, but I'm still dwelling on the possibility that: 1. there are MORE applicants (bc ppl are unemployed? Bc GRE is waived? Why else?) 2. there are less spots (because of covid effects on funding, faculty time/energy?) 3. I also know a significant number of final year masters students at both my alma mater Masters programs that decided not to apply this cycle bc “pandemic academics is hard enough with an application cycle to deal with”. Premises 1 and 3 seem to go together weirdly. Maybe more undergrads are trying to jump the MA stage and flooding places like BU? I'm just puzzling through it all. My need to diagnose and understand complex systems is what makes me a systematic/constructive scholar... And why I secretly love Whitehead I suppose.

Same here! Feels good to know, was my first choice originally but I’m molding to the environment a bit I guess!

I also haven't heard from BU. I applied to both School of Theology and GSAS Religion. Obviously, I love BU. Hahaha...

When I was waitlisted at two schools last year, I went super intense on my AAR paper applications. Kept me busy and I think the AAR presentation that came out of it might have played a role in putting me over the top this time. I did 98% of the paper between February and March last year.

Oh, for sure. I lived in Boston for years and love the BU SOT faculty in particular. I'm not sure that I personally see BU-SOT as much of step down from HDS but I do see YDS as significantly above both- at least for me. And to be totally honest, it is really really really hard to pick a city to stay in for a PHD. You pretty much have to go where they want you. If PhD isn't already the priority, then BU for free sounds ideal.

I don’t really disagree with this sentiment but I will point out that religion is also a field where converting a Lower prestige masters into a PhD acceptance with a stipend is very very difficult. The top 5 schools take mostly prestige candidates. But there are stipends beyond the top 5 for sure. I definitely agree that loans for religion degrees are a bad idea, but I’d really have to think twice when I look back between free at BU or loans at YDS. I would probably take the YDS and pay the price. But then, my masters was lower prestige than BU so who knows which schools unlock which doors. Fit seems to be the deal maker lately.

Fordham Theology- systematic theo track. I’m still in shock even after a few days and an official call from Fordham. Doesn’t feel real. And somehow I’m still really stressed about my outstanding apps. Probably no more results until Monday or Tuesday.

I got my reject, perhaps you’re a WL option?

I feel that. This is my fourth application cycle, and I’ve learned a lot along the way, and added a second masters in the mean time too. I finally have my first fully funded (and stipend) acceptance this year. I got an acceptance with only 25% funding in year 2 and balked. Two waitlists in year 3. I’ve been on grad cafe but mostly as a lurker, and I can confirm that this is a place of expectation and sorrow. Less triumph than relief. And so, where we could be competitive, it feels more honest to be in solidarity. Even in acceptance I feel a bit of grief that isn’t easily dismissed, a specter of fear and rejection haunting me, haunting us. So I suppose I want to say something like, learning and grieving on the grad cafe was essential to my journey. In year 1, I lurked because I viewed it as competition. But here after many years of tweaks, of rethinking my path, of fighting and pushing to find my voice beyond what I was capable of in year 1- it’s not about competition but slow growth and grinding through cycles of doubt in creative ways. Maybe I’m just becoming a constructive Whiteheadian. Though that might also be one of my mentor’s fault. oh, and yes, I got my BC THEO reject today...

No idea in terms of Fordham, but I do know from sources in a couple other programs that those schools with 3-4 tracks used to (pre-covid) start by take 2 students per track and then there would be a few remaining spots (2-4 school depending) that would be selected based on best available. So some years you'd get 4 systematics and 2 biblical studies and 2 ethics and others it might be 3 per track or 4 ethics and 2 of the others. Further complicating it, the waitlist might mean that you are the runner up for that track only but not the next best available over all... so depending who says no you might or might not get off the list. It's basically chaos! And every school has a different strategy and different internal politics.

Systematic theology here...