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tqrgx341

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  1. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to fordlandia in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I asked the Financial Aid office at HDS a similar question about how financial aid is determined. What they told me was that:
    "HDS has two aid programs: merit and need-based. Merit aid recipients are selected by the admissions committee on the strength of their application.  HDS offers merit to about 20% of the admitted class and those awards include a full tuition scholarship and a stipend ranging from $8,000 to $10,000 to help with living expenses. For students who are not offered merit, we have a need-based program which most of our students qualify for. Need-based scholarships for the 18-19 academic year range from a half-tuition scholarship to a full-tuition scholarship."
    Not sure if this fully answers your question, but I hope it helps! 
  2. Like
    tqrgx341 got a reaction from fordlandia in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Out of curiosity over reading the HDS financial aid offers — how do they determine need-based aid %? Is it if you qualify for need-based, and then how much you get is merit? Or is the amount determined completely need-based?
    Also, are y’all counting the loans as part of the aid, or just the pure money/institutional grants?
    not sure if it’s just me or a self-selecting bias — but I had initially heard HDS was among the most generous of MA programs, so wasn’t expecting the other programs I was applying to offer me more than them. Perhaps just a more competitive or down year, endowment-wise? 
  3. Like
    tqrgx341 got a reaction from muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Out of curiosity over reading the HDS financial aid offers — how do they determine need-based aid %? Is it if you qualify for need-based, and then how much you get is merit? Or is the amount determined completely need-based?
    Also, are y’all counting the loans as part of the aid, or just the pure money/institutional grants?
    not sure if it’s just me or a self-selecting bias — but I had initially heard HDS was among the most generous of MA programs, so wasn’t expecting the other programs I was applying to offer me more than them. Perhaps just a more competitive or down year, endowment-wise? 
  4. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to xypathos in Torn: UChicago MDiv vs HDS MTS   
    I don't know what it is about philosophy but it brings out the worst in students - really, just the males. Well, I do know what it is and it's a bit of a hyperbole but every philosophy class I've been in has caused me to go drink afterwards.
    I should clarify that the dean provided no numbers of those that applied, subfields, etc. The competition to transition from M* to PhD isn't easy or automatic but possible. I know 3-4 Chicago M* graduates in my program that left because of the same reasons that @marXian cited and opted not to apply to UoC for their PhD.
  5. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to marXian in Torn: UChicago MDiv vs HDS MTS   
    I would also go with Chicago, but one other factor to consider: UofC has a deserved reputation for being a really intense place, i.e. ultra-competitive and cut-throat.
    I'm at Northwestern, and in my first quarter of course work, I took a seminar at Chicago with Kevin Hector. It was mostly M* students all vying for Hector's attention for PhD recommendation letters with 3 or 4 PhD students including me. The seminar conversations were always contentious, and there wasn't a lot of room to just "float" ideas out there (because a M* would cut you off demanding that you define a term, explain more, etc.) I did get a lot out of the seminar (we read the entirety of Schleiermacher's The Christian Faith, which is a feat) but it was a pretty brutal learning environment. I have colleagues at NU who did their M* at Chicago and confirmed that that was their experience as well. I did audit a Hans Joas seminar a couple years ago and it was a different experience--Joas was the one cutting people off, demanding they clarify.
    All that to say, some people thrive in that sort of environment, and some find it really challenging.
    I'm surprised by xypathos' report that all internal applicants were accepted into the PhD program in 2015. It struck me as much more competitive than that. When you visit, I'd try to find out competitiveness by track if possible. It might be that your specific area doesn't have as many applicants as, say, American Religions or Theology, which could further increase your chances of continuing at Chicago.
  6. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to xypathos in Torn: UChicago MDiv vs HDS MTS   
    As @runningit noted, Chicago's offer is financially better. Chicago's MDiv is also incredibly flexible.
    https://divinity.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/imce/images/webcopyMinistry Program Handbook.pdf
    You likely have already come across this resource. If not, it lays out the required courses, of which there are few, and usual progression of students. Chicago will also let you take every available course in your tradition, rather than say having an Islamic focus and taking 20+ hours in Christianity. You can truly take almost exclusively Islamic-centric courses if they're available.
    At the end of the day you simply need to ask where you feel that you belong. Both have exceptional name recognition. Baring you being wealthy, Chicago will significantly reduce the loans you'll need in order to finish your degree.
  7. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to sacklunch in Torn: UChicago MDiv vs HDS MTS   
    Go to Chicago. For what it's worth, Chicago Div has a reputation of being less-seminary-y than all other divinity schools/seminaries in the USA (including HDS), which in your case is a plus. But, really, a full ride + stipend is rare anywhere, and especially so at Chicago, which is notorious for giving less money than the other R1's. 
  8. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to runningit in Torn: UChicago MDiv vs HDS MTS   
    An MDiv and an MTS provide roughly the same opportunities for academic preparation, if you’re already focused; any MDiv fluff is offset with the extra year to take doctoral-level courses. And 100% + $12k is a MUCH better deal than 75%.
  9. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to xypathos in Torn: UChicago MDiv vs HDS MTS   
    I have some other thoughts that I need to think on so I'll likely edit or reply in a another post.
    That said, Chicago's MDiv is very much seen as an academic degree. It's not seen in the same light as a MDiv from say Vanderbilt or Duke. Yes, some of Chicago's MDiv students go into traditional ministry but many, if not most, go into academic positions or further studies.
    I think the policy is still in place, it was circa 2015 anyway, but MDiv students could take doctoral courses and were expected to produce the same quality and quantity of work. If a MDiv student did this for at least two courses and had a professor willing to recommend them, they could petition internally to just continue straight into the PhD program. When I was corresponding with the dean ~2015, every MDiv student who applied for internal review to roll into PhD studies was accepted. Not all of them opted to stay at Chicago, but they were accepted and offered the same funding package.
  10. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to sambam in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I wanted some time to absorb the news yesterday on my own before I wrote on the forum.
    By God's grace, I have been accepted to HDS MTS program in Islamic Studies. 
    A bit odd how I found out. I received HDS notification at 9am yesterday and decided to wait until after work to open it so I didn't have to remain stone cold face while at my desk. I either wanted to openly cry from getting in or not getting in. 2 hours later,  I received an email from HDS financial aid offer. At that point, I knew I got in. 
    I have been out of school for a few years and was on the path to law school. I decided to take a detour and study the intersection between law and religion first. I had applied last year to HDS but got a rejection and cried tears of fire. I will never forget that moment.
    I decided to reapply this year with much more intention. I called HDS to ask how a re-applicant should approach the application for a second time. I retook the GRE (studied for 3 weeks) and scored higher (although my overall score was not very high at all).  My GPA is subpar too. I had a very straightforward, concise, and direct SOP.  In my SOP, I told HDS precisely what I wanted to explore backed up by a very simple clear narrative of what led me here to this exact moment in time. After fully submitting my app, I traveled from CA to Boston mid-February to tour the school and meet a current student at HDS (hoping they would see my extreme interest in the school). 
    Dreams do come true. Never thought I would be writing this post. I had below average GPA (I was lost in college, didnt know what I wanted to do),  below average GRE scores and a decent SOP. I have 6 months of language training in Arabic. 
    I received full tuition and 8k/year stipend.   
    Thanks ya'll for sharing your input on this forum! It helped immensely!  ❤️
  11. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to LSiefferman in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I am beside myself with the news that my application was not accepted by HDS. I must have really messed up, but not sure where. An HDS professor has been a mentor of mine and wrote me a recommendation. I had a small group of folks, including current and recent HDS students look over my application materials, and I visited campus, sat in on classes, and had a good conversation with admissions. I left a career three years ago to pursue the work of arts and social change, discovering the deeply important role of religious literacy and reconnecting with my own spiritual path along the way. I have been doing community work towards my academic and career goals for the past three years. I also completed a graduate certificate in Social Justice online via Harvard’s Extension School in pursuit of these goals. (Not many other social justice options in my particular area in the South.)
    I certainly don’t believe I deserve anything, no. I guess I just thought I may have perhaps had a little bit of the tiniest advantage with a faculty member’s ardent support, strong writing in my essays, and all the grassroots organizing and project development I've led the past few years. I am feeling a bit lost right now. It sucks to be told you aren’t good enough by a people and place you respect very much. I truly felt I could wholly express myself and my ideas there, and perhaps within that lies my challenge... to start anew someplace unfamiliar and challenge myself to find my own way without the comfort of knowing faculty or community memebers. 
    I did get into Union with some money, though not 100% funding. That is the only other school to which I applied, and between the two Union is where I felt more at home. Of course I will still need time to process the rejection.  
    I share all of this for those out there who did not get the best of news this week in the hopes that it resonates with others navigating despondence and confusion. Tomorrow will be a new day... 
    in close, a HUGE congrats to all y’all who received acceptances and funding this week!!! What an exciting time! I truly wish the best for you!! Silver lining for me is that I suppose I don’t have to sweat over which path to pick. Ha. 
    Congrats everyone!
  12. Like
    tqrgx341 got a reaction from fordlandia in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Got into HDS MTS! They're only offering me 75% financial aid, however, while UChicago MDiv is offering a 100% tuition and a full stipend. This is hard...
  13. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to theseriouslady in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Hi all! I got into HDS for the MTS last year and MA at UChicago Div. My stats were 3.95 GPA, 161v/147q, 4.5 GRE, and I studied Philosophy and German, minored in political science. I deferred admission for a year and decided on HDS (to start this fall), but it was very difficult for me to decide between the two. If you have any questions about where you’re thinking of going, feel free to reach out to me here! Good luck! Und herzlichen Glückwünschen for those of you who have already heard back ^_^ 
    ~the Serious lady 
  14. Like
    tqrgx341 got a reaction from muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Thank you! Immense congratulations to you as well! I just emailed the Office and they confirmed the email I got was need-based, so assuming merit-based pool is out of the question for me at this point. Let me know how it turns out for you!

    Haha honestly this plays into the larger struggle I was having between activism/academia! UChic MDiv would be an amazing place to pursue the former, HDS MTS the latter...hopefully an MDiv won't bar me from a PhD but def would be a dif path than an HDS MTS. Split rn haha, will have to figure which path is the best for me. Part of me wishes I had applied to an HDS MDiv instead (I heard they give more funding), but at the end of the day everything is for the best! This way at least the repercussions of the decision is clearer.
  15. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Also, are you leaning any particular way with regards to MTS vs. MDiv? That's really hard!!! (But a happy problem to have!)
     
  16. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Congratulations!! I'm still waiting to hear from the financial aid office from HDS (is this a bad sign?); UChicago and Union are also offering me 100% tuition, so at this point, I'm really crossing my fingers for an HDS scholarship to justify potentially going there! We shall see!
  17. Like
    tqrgx341 got a reaction from muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Got into HDS MTS! They're only offering me 75% financial aid, however, while UChicago MDiv is offering a 100% tuition and a full stipend. This is hard...
  18. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Nearly got a heart attack seeing the notification. I got in!!! ?
  19. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I'm also eagerly awaiting HDS decisions! I'm thinking they might come out today or tomorrow, as March 12 was a Monday last year ? 
    I got into UChicago MDiv!!! I'm leaning more towards Union (and HDS, if accepted), but am still considering UChicago. Hello, potential cohort member!
  20. Upvote
    tqrgx341 reacted to Theobuckeye in PhD Applications Fall 2019 Season   
    I just found out that I was accepted to Georgetown's Theological and Religious Studies program! This is my third attempt at Georgetown and my seventh (yes, you read that correctly) application cycle. Never give up!
  21. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to xypathos in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I think HDS has generally released on the Monday or Tuesday of the week having the 15th in it. This hasn't always been the case, sometimes the Friday before, and sometimes the Mon/Tue after the 15th. Either way, almost certainly next week but unlikely to be beyond the 19th.
  22. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to rejectedndejected in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Why on earth does Yale not let people apply two years in a row?  Does anyone know this?
  23. Like
    tqrgx341 reacted to muse2019 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I'm a bit late to this party, but I'm also awaiting HDS and YDS results! I've heard back from two places so far. Best of luck to everybody!!! 
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