Jufarius87

Hello all, Simply put, I have extensive coursework in Math and Economics, but little international experience or the perks that go with it (language knowledge, etc.). Thing is though I want to branch out with this degree into using economics on a very practical ground-floor level that will help build communities, rather than focusing on the technical/quant side which I've already done. I want a development program, but I feel like the lack of languages/international exp will hurt my app. Should I go ahead and try for it or focus on more economics-based programs? Also given my career in the Military, Development would serve me better, which is as important a consideration as any.

Any current students or alumni on these boards? Looking for any of the following... How is life in Austin? Were you pleased with your degree experience? What type of stats should I be looking at (GPA/GRE)?

Does anyone know anything about Public Policy Studies at Texas A&M? The school doesnt seem to get alot of talk on these boards but it looks like a great place to study. Small class sizes, financial aid is the most generous I've found, and it is the *Bush* School. Politics aside, having a living president affiliated with your public policy school can only be beneficial... The only real drawkback I could see for many candidates is location (Texas as opposed to DC/East Coast with its older networks). However I will be going right back into the Army after school, a place where the Texas A&M brand (a senior military college) would be just as well if not better respected than the Ivies. Any thoughts on this school? Any admissions info or personal experience with this school would be helpful as well.

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP Schools Applying To: Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Brandeis, Georgetown, George Washington, Rutgers, Syracuse, CUNY-Baruch Undergraduate institution: SUNY, BA Undergraduate GPA: 3.74 MCL/PBK/Thesis Undergraduate Majors: Philosophy and Mathematics Graduate institution: Yale Divinity School, MAR GRE Quantitative Score: 700-780 (estimated) GRE Verbal Score: 600-700 (estimated) GRE AW Score: 4.5-5.0 (estimated) Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3 Years of Work Experience: 3 Describe Relevant Work Experience: One year teaching high school religion and history at a reform oriented school, 2 years enlisted Army as a Chaplain Assistant hoping to promote to Sgt before applying. Languages: None Quant: Single and Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Proofs and Theory, Probability Theory, Game Theory, Masters level Macroeconomics, Honors-Intermediate Microeconomics, Econometrics. Strength of SOP: I am a good writer, and I am confident that I can tie a public policy degree to my goals for ROTC and Commissioning. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Undergraudate Advisor, Yale Divinity Professor I took about 25% of my degree with, my Army Officer... Strength unsure due to time separated from school. Any words of wisdom, or advice on my chances?

I will be applying. 1. Education: SUNY 3.74/4 BA Philosophy and Math, MCL/PBK/Thesis (4.0 in Econ through the Masters/Honors-UG level if that is significant) Yale Divinity School MAR Theology, GPA Uncalculated 2. GRE: Aiming for whatever would be equivalent to a 1350-1400 on the old scale. 3. Work Exp: 1 year teaching high school at a private, reform-oriented high school, 2 years enlisted Army as a Chaplain Assistant. 4. Goal: Finishing ROTC while completing an MPP, Go back in as an MI Officer. 5. LORs: Undergraduate Advisor, Yale Div Professor I took 25% of my degree with, O-3 (Captain) I work for. Picking this sort of program over, say, MBA schools because my profession is now deeply involved with the idea of statebuilding (for better or worse). We need some administrative skills to be sure, but economic analysis, IR knowledge, Devlopment strategies, etc. are going to provide a far more useful toolbox than courses geared toward the private sector would. IMO at least.

Also I'll just go ahead and say my bad, did not see that we had an ongoing thread for evaluating applicants.

Hello All, Long story short I am looking for advise on what schools I might be competitive for, as I have been able to find little information on average GPA/GRE scores for most schools. A little about me: Education BA SUNY-Buffalo Philosophy/Math 3.74 MCL/PBK/With Thesis MAR Yale Divinity School GPA uncalculated GRE: took them 5+ years ago, got 540V/730Q without preparation. Hoping since Im studying right this time, and since Ive done my masters since then, that I will be able to make 1350-1400 this time around. Work Experience 1 year as a high school teacher, 2 years enlisted Army at time of application serving as a Chaplain Assistant/Religious Support, aiming to be promoted to Sgt early at about the 18-20 month mark. Personal Goals: Army now allows for ROTC to fund/train graduate students. Hoping to earn my commission and make a career of it in Military Intelligence. In a sense I already have a big name attached to my academic background, however Divinity Admissions are different and frankly softer beast due to the nature of such programs. Just looking for advice on what I should consider as far as reaches and safeties are concerned. Would like to be either in the Northeast or DC. Reaches Harvard-Kennedy School Princeton-Woodrow Wilson School Columbia Brown Targets Cornell Georgetown George Washington Rutgers Safeties Syracuse CUNY-John Jay College Many Thanks.

One is hosted by the Divinity School, the other by the Graduate School. There is no way they will affect each other.

I attend Yale Divinity. We have Attridge, A. Collins, and Hutlin for NT specialists, I imagine it is a very strong program. The Degree is called the S.T.M here, but the Th.M and S.T.M are essentially the same thing under different names.

I got into Yale Divinity for the M.Div. I am starting in about 2 weeks. GRE scores were optional when I applied and when I asked about them at prospective students day the admissions officer talked about them in a manner that made them seem relatively unimportant. HDS apparantly does require them now. 1. What sorts of courses do you have? I dont know much about public health as a program but if it is something involving the social sciences and public policy I speculate it will be looked upon favorably. 2. I majored in philosophy and math, I had no language background and a 3.74, again YDS let me in with 16k a year so I wouldnt be too worried. 3. Its a small issue given that you obviously werent transferring for academic reasons. That said I would still mention it the way you have here (financial constraints, actually a benefit because it exposed you to different educational settings, etc.)

Question: is your 4.0 gpa in a related field (Classics, Philosophy, Literature, etc.)? If so a 4.0 even from a few years ago, will place you on the high end of the list as far as academic potential is concerned, in which case you have a little more room to experiment with your supplemental materials. I would say your best bet is to give them both if you can. If I remember correctly, both Harvard and Yale allow you to submit more than one sample of work. In which case send the sermon, and also send a research paper or something else from college... should you find one that you think will help make your case more than your 4.0 does 8) I could never send a written sermon, I usually just do bullet points (ahh the gift of ad lib)

RE NervousN: If you are applying to a professional masters/doctoral program like an M.Div/D.Min or a first academic degree like an M.A.R I think reflective/interesting is the better route to go in which case you are fine. For Ph.D/Th.D programs however I think it is curcial to talk about one's research interests and academic qualifications. The M.Div/MAR/D.Min is to divinity schools what the JD is to law schools. They take in alot of students and want diversity, hence reflective/interesting makes for a better PS. The Ph.D/Th.D is to Divinity what the LL.M/J.S.D is to Law. More selective and academically higher calibar, hence the PS should be more academically oriented. Hope thats helps.

RE tenor: Just sent you an email, looking forward to the paper. RE recon: hmmm Yale 10', LGBT, and UCC leanings... If you wouldnt mind another 3 years in new haven Yale Divinity sounds like a perfect fit for you.

Not I. However Im posting in this thread because I am interested in the various ways the LGBT crowd reconciles their orientation to the larger portion of Christian history and theology. Most of the dialogues I've listened to follow a formula something like... Conservative Evangelical or Catholic: The Old Testament clearly states homosexuality is an abomination... [Throws a few verses out] Liberal Protestant/LGBT advocate: The Old Testament Also has rules against pork, shellfish.... [Throws out a few verses with the apparent intention of making the OT look silly] *bloodshed ensues* In other words the debate seems to be reduced to a rigid battle of strict fundamentalism on the right versus belittling our own heritage on the left. I dont want to debate so much as to simply find more thoroughly thought out opinions on the matter. Partially because I am going to a graduate school where this is a very serious and popular issue.

By all means apply. There is no reason not to, and its better to apply and get rejected than not apply and wonder what could have happened (what I did as a high schooler applying only to one sure-in school). To be honest though, apply to other schools because I wouldnt count on it. You have Work exp. with two churches, thats good but so will many other people who will be applying to Divinity Schools. The alum recommender is also nice, but again not unique or unheard of. I guess what I see as your main problem is that not only is your GPA low, but its in a near identical field to the one you are applying. It would be different if you had 2.5-2.8 in engineering only to find out a decade later you want to be a pastor. Low UGPA is more forigvable in unrelated (and frankly more difficult) fields. But Harvard Div adcomms are going to see a 2.5 in biblical studies and worry whether you would be able to handle the curriculum. If you want to have a shot, you need to 3.5+ for your remaining time in UG to convey the point that you can do graduate level theological work. Best of Luck PS: If it helps, 3.74/4 Philosophy/Math BA. Was a ministerial candidate and former board member at church, two elected positions at school, UG thesis MCL. Waitlisted then rejected.

Couple questions: 1. What was your Undergraduate GPA(s) like for both degrees? (the first being in related fields is obviously more relevent, but a high GPA in Computer Science would also go the distance in showing a naturally gifted mind). 2. Do you know any languages? Honestly, if you have been out of college for a very long time, I doubt you would be able to secure a Ph.D spot as-is. I would recommend getting either an MA in sociology or a MTS/MAR in something to effect of "religion and the social sciences" then using that as a basis to apply to Ph.D programs. Harvard Divinity School is your best chance to concentrate in such a field. If your GPA is above a 3.5 I would recommend applying to HDS.

First, I highly doubt that it is allowed to apply to both the M.Div and the MTS at the same school. Second, I would strongly discourage applying to both even if it was. The M.Div is primarily geared towards ministers, and the MTS is geared towards academics. It shows a lack or direction to apply to both, you dont want to give them the impression that you are applying for the sake of prestige value. If you want to be a minister (or have even the slightest inclination of going that route) I say apply to the M.Div, if you are dead set on academia, then the MTS.

If you are a theologically conservative Baptist, I say Duke, If you are a liberal Baptist (or a conservative Baptist who wants some healthy debate) I say YDS. But if you dont mind my asking, what on earth are you gonna do with Latin as a Baptist? Dominus vobiscum. :wink:

With a 3.9+ gpa and relevent language(s) I think you are competitive everywhere, at least one of YDS or HDS will take you (probably both) assuming you have decent ECs and a good personal statement. I had a final 3.74 (3.82 at time of applying) with no real language work. Got into YDS and Duke for M.Div, waitlisted at Harvard, and my harvard app was late. What denomination will you be getting ordained in? I'll list what is prima facie the best choice based on denomination HDS- Unitarian, Liberal Protestant YDS- Episcopal (or any other flavor of Anglican), Lutheran, UCC and other congregationalist groups Duke- Duke is THE training ground for Methodist pastors, especially for United Methodists. I Honestly wouldnt recommend Emory over any of the other three, not that it isnt a great school, but I just think you will get into at least one of those three.

Unless you are a UK citizen, funding will be difficult to find. Everything depends on academic factors though. You will probably get more and better responses if you would post your GPA/GREs/ECs/Languages etc.

Hello all! And Thanks in Advance for any help you may post Long Story Short I did well in undergrad at a State University (3.82 gpa, PBK, honors program, etc.) and I've been accepted to a good grad school (Yale) for theology. While Yale is a good fit for now because I plan to pursue ordination but my real passion is writing, especially theologically inspired fiction. I am wondering what the standard applicant looks like for MFA programs in fiction and whether I have a chance. My stats by the time I would be applying Undergrad SUNY GPA 3.82/4 BA Philosophy and Math Research: Thesis in Philosophy (Ethics) Honors: Summa, PBK, University and Dept Program Grad Yale Divinity M.Div GPA: ? Work Exp U.S. Army (3 yr commitment after Yale) I guess my worry is that while I've done well in the fields ive studied thus far, I know I cant look like the standard applicant to one of these programs. I have strong humanities background through philosophy, but have only taken one formal english course (grade of A).

Will be attending Yale Divinity (M.Div) Stats 3.82/4.0 UGPA in Philosophy and Mathematics (2 grad courses in econ, 1 in PHI, 2 other PHI that were grad but recognized as honors UG work) No prior grad degrees No piror languages No GREs Other relevant information Two elected positions at college Summa and PBK Honors Thesis University Honors Program, Philosophy Honors Program Things I Would Do LEARN LANGUAGES, it may or may not help you get into more schools, but Im gonna be playing catch up with all the people who actually majored in relevant fields Get Work Experience (1 or 2 years) Couple more courses in history or literature Things I would not do, SWITCH DENOMINATIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF APPLYING - causes unnecessary complications :shock:

. I will almost definately be at Yale, given the peculiarity of my situation, A Methodist school like Duke is no longer a good fit for me (whereas it was the best fit for me before my change of heart). I love New Haven, Financial Aid tends to be generous (average 80% tuition), outstanding faculty, and the Ivy league status never hurt when applying to PhD programs. Everything makes so much more sense when people understand the huge distinction between pastor and priest. The flood of reformation theology essentially destroyed the notion sacramental authority, and sola scriptura required that each parish leader be able to knock down heresies, The pastor is first and formost a speaker and a scholar, whereas the Priest is a minister in a deeper sense. That was part of the reason I switched actually. Episcopal eh? I will probably end up in the western rite of Orthodoxy, which means my services will appear very Episcopal, (even though the theology is wayyyy different)

I was originally on track to be ordained in the free methodist church, but am now in the process of converting to eastern orthodoxy... being a priest is way different than being a pastor, so its a maybe for me.

Congrats on Yale emmyphil! I kinda screamed (scared the crap outta my family lul) when I checked online. You're the only other M.Div person Ive seen on these boards, do you want to get ordained?