AspiringBard

A bit late and probably a bit niche, but some Catholic University of America decisions out beginning yesterday (3/5).

Best of luck. It's a fucked up process tbh

Yeah, it's always a confusing process! And every institution does things differently. I interviewed. Everyone who was there for an orientation during interviews was told by the current head of admission (DGS) that he would send all decisions at the same exact time. Take that for what you will! Wouldn't be the first time they weren't entirely honest about something, though lol

Decisions went out last Friday, all at the same time if the DGS is to be believed, but I guess this would contradict that info! Maybe a hidden wait list situation?

Notre Dame decisions/rejections are out. That's a wrap y'all. See some of you next year! Fifth time's the charm, am I right?

More rejections coming out from Emory. Looking like another brutal cycle for the lot of us. God bless you all!

Yes, interview weekend for Notre Dame is next weekend, and it's almost always the first week of February or so. If you've not heard back by now, chances aren't looking too great, but again, you never know with this process. There's a reason they don't straight up deny folks even when they don't invite them to the interview weekend, and it's not just laziness. I've been denied in January before, another time in April. If you've not been straight up denied, you might be a backup consideration in case they don't like anyone they interview. Or it could just be how the DGS operates. You never know.

Some waitlists coming out from Boston College.

Also nada, from grad. Haven't heard anything from div.

Gotcha, interesting. I interviewed last week on zoom but they made it sound like it was a first round. Maybe different areas do different things.

Does anyone else have a sense as to whether all Boston College invites have been sent out at this point? I'm starting to think it's a wrap for second round interview invites at this point.

Hard to say for certain, unfortunately. Different areas or concentrations might operate a little differently. The recruitment weekend is early February though, so as it gets pretty close to that date it should seem unlikely. But it's an almost entirely unpredictable process.

Interview invitations for Notre Dame PhD should be out, likely Boston College too (but I'm not sure about every area there).

Emory PhD interview invitation emails ought to be going out this week.

Never forget, admissions are a crapshoot in the end. You might've done everything pretty much right, and circumstances outside your control will still result in a rejection. It sounds like you really put the work in! Don't fret. That said, they gave you feedback? That's incredibly rare, and a good sign. If you address their feedback next cycle, assuming you need to apply again, that could really work out in your favor! Most places will just deny you and never tell you why, so that's honestly pretty cool. I'm pretty sure rejection/acceptance letters are just signed off by whoever is director of graduate studies/in charge of applications that particular year, which tends to change often and can be anyone at all from the department. I wouldn't expect it to be someone from your specific area of study.

Friendly reminder to accept or decline any invitations y'all might have ASAP once you've made your decision. Those sitting for what feels like an eternity on waitlists will bless your name until the end of the age! The sooner our fate may be confirmed either way, the better. Please don't be that guy that waits until April 15th to accept or decline even when they already know where they want to go. 😭

Thanks! Sorry you didn't get any financial aid. Turns out I was wrong and did get a generous financial aid offer. PSA: Always remember to check your spam folder... As for Harvard vs Notre Dame, it's a tough one for me, but part of me is still leaning towards Notre Dame, as I'm especially interested in doing Catholic historical theology and there is hardly any better place for that as far as I know. I'm also considering Duke and Candler (both made generous offers and have some pros of their own). So it looks like I'm just going to have to tour and discern where I feel most called. But what about? Do you have an idea of where you will go yet? History of Christianity. That's the subfield I'm going for for all the programs I applied to. What about you?

For GRE, I think I had 169V, 153Q, and 5.5W. 3.87 GPA, triple major in Philosophy, Religion, and Classics. Advanced level ancient Greek and intermediate level Latin. I'm also a TRIO McNair scholar and heavily involved in various extracurricular activities. Also, I'm Catholic! I wish you all the best and hope you find your way out of the waitlist! I also got admitted to the MTS at HDS! Congrats to everyone else who also did. However, I still haven't heard back about any financial aid, so judging by the rest of you having already heard back, I take it that I didn't get any. Alas.

Thanks! I'm leaning heavily towards Notre Dame, but I'm also considering Candler and Duke. I think I'll likely visit what campuses I can before I make my decision. Do you have an idea of where you're going yet?

Hey everyone, new member here! Congrats to all who have been accepted and best of luck to those still waiting/waitlisted. I, like many of you, am still waiting to hear back from Harvard Divinity (MTS in History of Christianity). But I've been accepted to the Notre Dame MTS (History of Christianity), Boston College Joint MA in Theology and Philosophy, Duke Divinity MTS, and Candler School of Theology MTS.