sacklunch

It is common for online apps to not update your GRE scores right away. As for your recommenders, they can still submit their rec well after the due date. Contact them to make sure, but it's generally not a big deal if they get them even into January.

As Macrina pointed out, 'Eastern Orthodoxy' is called different things depending on where you study. Since you are interested in early Christianity/biblical languages, I'm wondering if you are most interested in early 'eastern' texts? FWIW, I study early 'Eastern Christianity', which usually refers to Christians living in Roman Palestine, Syria, and so on. Sebastian Brock (likely the most famous guy working in early Eastern Christianity today) has called this 'Semitic Christianity' in that it largely developed alongside the other 'Semitic' languages, i.e. Aramaic/Syriac. Because of this, a lot of the folks working in early Eastern Christianity are located in Near Eastern Language departments, while the more Greek-Latin focused folks are located in mostly theology, religious studies, etc. departments. The reasons are somewhat complex. As you mentioned, across the pond there are a lot more programs emphasizing research in this area, though they are, like most of their ancient programs, decidedly more philological. However, there are some exceptions (viz., the prolific and young Bas Ter Haar Romeny). If, on the other hand, you mean modern 'Eastern Orthodoxy' in the Greek tradition...that's another story! Though, you can see how these fields are very closely related, yet oftentimes located in different departments. Throughout ancient Syria, from late antiquity well into the medieval period, the 'orthodox' tradition grew out of the co-development of the Greek and 'Semitic' traditions, and because of the Western tendency to locate 'orthodox Christianity' (that is, the True Christianity) within the 'Western' Greco-Roman traditions, we have more or less mislabeled and marginalized many of these early traditions, much because of their similarities with those Semitic Jews (a strong tendency in early Protestant scholarship that still plagues the field today). This, I think, is the definition of Orientalism. cheers

Your thesis would be too long anyways, chances are. Find another writing sample, or if your thesis is several chapters, write the first chapter with the sample in mind. Your final grades wouldn't matter. As long as you graduate before starting the program (if accepted), your final grades will not matter. I'm in religion, which is basically impossible to transition straight from undergrad unless you come from a top 20. I know some of the other humanities folks on here do go straight from undergrad, viz. philosophy, so who knows. Anyways, good luck.

Everyone knows Canadians are too nice for that.

Frankly I'm surprised more of you guys don't have to get MA's. Coming from religion, almost all of us have to get an MA to get into a top program. Hell, MANY of us get two MA's just to be competitive at top 20 schools. I am in my fourth year of masters work and I will be lucky to get into a top 10. I'm not talking about doing pastoral theology, either, but ancient history. It seems INSANE to me to go straight from undergrad (even at a good school) to a doctoral program (even with an MA as part of the gig). And it's just not religion, but classics, art history, and a lot of the modern language doctoral programs almost always require an MA beforehand. I know it's not all about coursework, but jesus, how on earth can people fit in an adequate amount of substance courses along with things like languages, esp. in advanced courses that expect you to be reading German philosopher x, y, or z, in the original German. Perhaps our language requirements are a bit more strenuous (usually 4-5 languages expected at PhD program)?

I hope that's real....!!

This also might be helpful, though in religion/religious studies: http://chronicle.com/article/nrc-religion/124664/

Footnotes. While endnotes are technically okay, I think having quick and easy access to your sources is one of the more important parts of your writing sample. Of course, they want to see that you can write, but I think equally important is showing that you know where/what to look for in your subfield, and this is most clearly seen in your footnotes..

Some might argue that he was more of a philologist anyways, eh? I'm also jumping ship over here, but reading him in undergrad while studying Classics, I was always impressed with his (classical) philology skillz.

You might as well ask the graduate school. Most applications these days require only electronic unofficial transcripts until an official offer is made. It's not difficult to get a copy and scan it (or my current uni can email them to you), then email it to the graduate school to have em update your file. The point is not so much showing the grades, it's showing them what classes you did well in, esp. if they are graduate courses. I already emailed most of the schools I submitted and I think maybe half of them allow such later updates.

You don't have to put anything down. Though, I am honest with them. From what I was told this gives them a good indication of their competition if they make you an offer. Most folks know one another in their subfield, so it helps speed the process along. It will not hurt your chances, as far as I'm concerned.

Fair enough. I'm not saying it's completely worthless for someone wanting to learn Greek. But overall, I think the NT is a better road into more difficult Greek. There are a lot of odd word choices in the LXX that conflict with the semantic range of the (presumed) Hebrew source. These have no bearing on someone who just reads through the text without reference to the other ancient versions. So, my comment is a bit unjustified, to be sure. But, this all comes from the load of caveats beat into my head as a LXX guy throughout my coursework. I'm sure you folks have to work with these issues in 'translation studies', too. cheers

Haha damns. Why did you do that??

Random note: UVA doesn't require a writing sample. Weird. But yeah. This process sucks. Speaking of, Harvard is due today...

You might stop over in the philosophy section and see what they think about getting an MA. Though from what I understand, getting an MA in philosophy at competitive schools is much more difficult. Strange to say, but I'm fairly certain getting into an MA program at Georgia State is harder than getting into HDS, YDS, PTS, and so on. Also, not sure if it matters, but BC (my alma mater) recently announced a joint MA between philosophy and theology. They are pretty chill with all sorts of people studying there (I'm agnostic), though it's very much not a 'faith environment.' Anyways, programs like that might allow you to get some street cred while maintaining your sanity in the process.

Oxbridge glory is there for pretty much any American that is willing to pay for it (loans). Just surf through the results section and you will see that they don't reject a ton of people. Incidentally I have also heard a lot of conservative folks end up doing their doctoral degrees at Oxbridge because the more conservative places trust that the atmosphere/coursework hasn't tainted them as much as the American programs. Meh. As far as getting a full ride to finish a doctoral degree at one of those UK schools? Seems to be pretty hard (Fulbright, etc.). I guess if you find faculty that fit that profile go ahead and apply at whatever school they happen to be at, regardless of overall liberalness. Still, I have a feeling you won't be applying to a ton of the big names if that is the criteria (which is a good reason to apply to particular places, I think!). FWIW, I have seen a fair amount of Westminster MDiv grads at good doctoral programs over the years. Also, not sure how well of a fit it would be (again, not in your subfield), but A LOT of people come out of Gordon-Conwell that go on to great PhD programs in my field (Bible). Though, I think that's much because they emphasize biblical languages more than a lot of seminary degrees! I took a class there once, through the BTI, and they did indeed seem to be pretty damn conservative. cheers

I'm not anywhere near your subfield, but, as you prolly know, most MDiv programs are not terribly difficult to get into. You clearly have defined interests, so I don't think your GPA will hurt you too much for (competitive) MA/MDiv programs. Although, I wonder what sorts of reputable doctoral programs you are thinking of? If you are fairly conservative, I don't think you would have a good experience at most of the 'big name' schools, especially in philosophical theology. As you say, if you want to teach at a conservative seminary when you are done, well then you might need a conservative degree to get a job at one of those schools. I know there has been debate on here in the past about conservative schools hiring folks with 'liberal degrees,' so perhaps someone else can chime in who has actual experience with the job market. Really, I think if you go to one of the more liberal schools (even PTS and Duke may be too liberal for you?) you will either 1) become more liberal or 2) become a jaded asshole who turns more conservative (heh)!

I wouldn't mess with the Septuagint much unless you have had Hebrew. It is so thoroughly 'un-Greek' in much of its syntax (esp. the Pentateuch) that you would be better off reading the NT (my main area has been LXX; so I feel confident in saying this!). A classical grammar that I found insanely helpful at an intermediate level: http://www.amazon.com/Eros-Banquet-Reviewing-Symposium-Classical/dp/0806141425/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1387053105&sr=8-7&keywords=greek+plato+symposium Also get the review book thing with it (has a lot of helpful charts and summations)!

Don't retake. Those scores are totally fine for a masters program. Hell, my scores are not much better and I'm applying to doctoral programs.

Congrats, friends. I may be seeing you here this fall!

MBI, does FSU really not have an electronic recommendation deal? Haha...so old school.

I think it's slightly over 20k? A friend in NELC mentioned it when he got in about how it was quite a bit higher than the other big names.

They have a high stipend, low cost of living, and apparently don't ban their students from working a side job if needed (though that likely isn't nec. for the aforementioned reasons).

Nope. Less competition for all of us, WEEE!