Jump to content

muse2019

Members
  • Posts

    27
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Reputation Activity

  1. Like
    muse2019 reacted to Absurd'sTheWord in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Muse2019, as a current student at YDS, I can assure you that YDS is a great fit for “nones.” When I visited as a prospective student I was surprised at the diversity of the religious community, and (frankly) that visit won me over. I’d definitely recommend coming to admitted students day to get a feel for the atmosphere. @muse2019
  2. Like
    muse2019 reacted to southernhope1 in D (suddenly) feeling intimidated by "tough" schools   
    Hey you guys, OP here. 
    I'm an idiot. Your comments helped though.  All calmed down here....and D is happily heading towards the school of her choice....
  3. Upvote
    muse2019 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! 
  4. Upvote
    muse2019 reacted to xypathos in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    All of the schools generally extend their most generous offers for MDiv students. Most of the top schools were started for the education of clergy and that's an identity that they still take nominally serious. Most of their MDiv graduates will go onto relatively low paying jobs but community development and social work related, which the school indirectly benefits from. So, it's free marketing for them. Their MTS graduates that go onto PhD studies will likely attend a funded school and live a reasonably more comfortable life. So while those that show significant promise will be "taken care of," that isn't always extended to everyone else because there isn't as much of a benefit to the school.
  5. Like
    muse2019 reacted to tqrgx341 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? 
  6. Upvote
    muse2019 reacted to xypathos in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    VDS offers stipends to maybe 4-6 students. While I was there they were only offered to URMs (Underrepresented Minorities), and they all had multiple URM identities.
    There's no official housing support from VDS, at all. This may have changed since I left but I'm pretty active with VDS communities and haven't heard of this. Now, there is a Disciples House by campus that VDS students live in as part of an intentional community but you likely need to apply now for it. Rent is super cheap in comparison to other nearby options. I had some VDS friends that landed jobs in Residence Life as RAs since that position is open for VDS students - free single room, $200/month or so stipend.
    We debate here all the time if HDS or YDS is more academic than the other and which is less-seminary. I come down on HDS being less seminary and fostering academic achievement but I have best friends who would fight me over this.
    I had a classmate that graduated from VDS and applied to law schools afterwards. He ended up at Columbia but said the people at Harvard and Yale were really turned off by his detour to divinity school.
  7. Upvote
    muse2019 got a reaction from ravinglove in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Same boat; I received full tuition, but the breakdown of all the other expenses has me like ?
  8. Like
    muse2019 reacted to FrigidSky701 in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    What the &@$!. I received an answer by someone from UVA requesting my correct version of the writing sample, so I sent it to the person and called him by his first name. It turned out that he is a professor at the University. Because I sent it to the alleged email address for Jennifer, I did not obviously read his signature at the end of email cuz I was too desperate on this matter, but now I see it, and I feel &*&#ed. Should I laugh at myself for doing that, or curse myself for possibly ruining my chance, or just brush it off because he ain't my prof yet? Anyway, it was a hilarious and frightening moment at the same time.
  9. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from fordlandia in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    I wish they'd send out financial aid/scholarship information at the same time as the admission letter. I don't know whether I can let myself celebrate yet! Has anyone already heard from the YDS financial aid office?
    The letter says, "Shortly following this letter, you will receive an email with the financial scholarship you have been awarded," which seems to imply I got at least a little money, but that could also be a generic line that's just worded weirdly? Guess I'll have to just be patient  
  10. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from PBenjy in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Sorry about Yale, but best of luck with Oxford! And Duke MTS sounds like one amazing option to have! 
  11. Like
    muse2019 reacted to xypathos in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Back in 2014 when I applied I think decisions were posted mid-day but emails about decisions getting posted didn't go out until 5 PM EST. I found my decision by hitting the Refresh button every 30 seconds like the mentally stable, well-grounded applicant that I was.
  12. Upvote
    muse2019 reacted to PBenjy in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    They say to check the application portal (https://apply.divinity.yale.edu/account/login?)
    I think they're also supposed to send out an email, but last year they posted the decisions online before they sent any emails.
  13. Like
    muse2019 reacted to PBenjy in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Happy YDS Decisions Day everyone! I'm refreshing my application portal like every 5 minutes, but still nothing...
  14. Like
    muse2019 reacted to AspiringBard in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    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?
  15. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from AspiringBard in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Nearly got a heart attack seeing the notification. I got in!!! ?
  16. Like
    muse2019 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!  ❤️
  17. Like
    muse2019 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!
  18. Upvote
    muse2019 reacted to Boolakanaka in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    UTS allows for classes across the street, e.g. Columbia...,,
  19. Upvote
    muse2019 got a reaction from theseriouslady 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!
  20. Upvote
    muse2019 got a reaction from theseriouslady in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Nearly got a heart attack seeing the notification. I got in!!! ?
  21. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from fordlandia in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    That's incredible!!!!!!! Huge congratulations!!! (And I'm also very relieved about GRE scores not being everything LOL!) 
  22. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from fordlandia in 2019 MDiv MTS MA Applications   
    Nearly got a heart attack seeing the notification. I got in!!! ?
  23. Like
    muse2019 reacted to tqrgx341 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.
  24. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from tqrgx341 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!)
     
  25. Like
    muse2019 got a reaction from tqrgx341 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!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use