demondeac

So what's the deal with all the postings on the results page for Soandso State Univeristy, or even Univerisity? Not surprisingly, if you search for "English Univeristy", you find a great many rejections, though (scarily) there are some acceptances. Perhaps they are creative writing majors? . If you're considering spending 5+ years in a school, shouldn't you be able to spell it?

So within the last day or so, one of my two missing transcripts has been recorded as "received" on the Harvard website. So not only have they been working over the weekend, but they have even been updating the website! That's dedication, and now I feel bad for calling them out on not getting my multiple transcripts :oops: . I'm going to try to not read into this (...like why would they update materials received if I was already rejected?.....). So last year someone posted a Vanderbilt acceptance call on February 8...which is today. Since acceptances and rejections usually rest on "the Lord's Day", perhaps we'll hear something tomorrow, or perhaps Friday (since last year 2/8 was a Friday)? Speculate away!!! Any other scuttlebutt on smoke-filled backrooms and department dealings?

I applied only to the ThD in the Divinity School (thought it was a better fit). I did call and speak to someone at the Divinity School about this problem, though I think "curt" was not the word I would use to describe it :? . I explained my situation, and he told me "do whatever you feel like is appropriate." I had already sent three sets of both missing transcripts, but I simply can't make them recognize my transcripts. I appreciate your passion Genghis, but short of driving to Cambridge with a copy there isn't much else I can do. I think I had the good fortune of including xerox copies of my transcripts with my supplementary materials, but if the deal is done and I have been found lacking, so be it.

Welcome kookoo...we also welcome your inside track information :wink: That's probably bad news for me since they still aren't posting 2 out of 3 of my transcripts, despite the fact I have sent 3 copies! I need to start thinking of snide ways I can let both respective registrar offices know they cost me an acceptance. I was thinking of calling and canceling all 3 copies....could be awkward and fun all at the same time... So kookoo, what's your connection to Harvard?

I did a quick google search and it looks like it was limited to Columbia law; someone donated 3 milllion worth of "shares" in Madoff's hedge fund, so the other programs should be fine aside from the general 30% decline of most endowments (market, not Madoff related).

And who just posted a Harvard rejection? I'm assuming it was for the Committee on the Study of Religion PhD, and not the ThD through the div school (if it's legit). As for the Harvard and UVA post, I'm just not going to even consider it reputable unless someone talks about it on the thread. Genghis, you've got nothing to worry about, but I think you need to come back to threat level orange buddy.

So Genghis, I think someone followed in your footsteps and emailed UVA; there's a post for an acceptance as of this morning saying that they emailed the program and found out they were accepted. If UVA was a live option for me I'd probably do the same at this point, and just get it over with.

So this may be kind of funny/nerdy/neurotic, but I just thought I'd mention that last year's religion thread (whom we all have probably read at least 3 times) didn't even start until February 8 of last year. So my plan (having run out of other neurotic rituals) is to each day read all the posts from the previous year (but same day). So on February 8 I will celebrate the beginning of the 2008 thread something like this: Turn now to the book of humanities, religion, first page 13th post. Amen and amen.

Sorry to hear that Genghis. That's a bold move to just ask your advisor one way or the other! I chickened-out at Emory and emailed the graduate secretary to see if there was any kind of waitlist, since I wasn't invited to the "cool kids" weekend 8) . No response, as expected, but it brings up a really valid question. What is the big deal with all the secrecy and wielding of information power. Let me climb up on my soapbox... So why is it that programs routinely incorporate deception into the whole process? It seems quite normal that large groups of folks have been de facto rejected, but the program doesn't send them official notice on the off chance (probably like .5%) that the few waitlisted folks also decline offers. Why don't they disclose when they're going to be deciding, and when official offers had been made? Do they really think that absence makes our hearts grow fonder, rather than just rationalize away about how we didn't like the program anyway (even if they do admit us)? It seems like we're all adults here, and the only thing that makes us less-than-adultlike is the ridiculous information power these programs are hoarding while we try to figure out the next step of our lives. In your case Genghis, they had already made a decision, but apparently weren't going to let you know until the "official" letters are sent out in April 2027. That's ridiculous and unfair to you. It's like middle school all over again... So Christian Bale-esque rant aside... is UVA's history of religions just really quick at processing apps compared to the other areas at UVA? I would hope an earlier deadline (Jan 3) would translate into earlier decisions, but apparently not...

Crunchy like granola, i.e. very health-conscious and holistic, slang for folks who wear hemp and presumably munch granola... They don't interview, but I took a campus visit to the philosophy department two weekends ago. They were just starting to look at apps that day (good timing, maybe?). My interests at BC would definitely be in philosophy of religion, though most of my apps were in theology proper. Thanks sbyoda02 and studyordie for the well-wishing; it's a hard road ahead so I appreciate the support!

Bostonians are a rare group! I visited a week ago and honest to God there was a big, italian guy talking at about 140 decibels on his cell phone and he said the very words "you go tell Vinny and dose clowns....." The lack of hospitality up north was almost universal in my experience checking out both Chicago and Boston. My wife and I (both Georgians) played a game called "freak out the northerners" where we would address perfect strangers on the street with eye contact and a simple "hi" or "how are you doing" as we walked past. It was a blast, and good practice for impending application rejection! Funding at GTU is always a question mark, as with most grad-only programs (like Claremont, to which I am also applying). We'll have to see how it shapes up, but the most one could hope for might be full-tuition and maybe some work study. I certainly would not mind living in Berkeley (it's so crunchy), and only an hour from Napa.

I apologize since I was the one who made this sweeping generalization; my experience was with the philosophy department at BC. They don't fund their masters students, and this presumably pays for their PhDs in the same fashion as some theological programs. I did like the coziness of the theology and philosophy departments at BC; they said it wouldn't work at most places, but it works quite well at BC. How can you hate Boston? What a cool city. In a side note, I can now quit dwelling on my de-facto Emory rejection with an acceptance to GTU. I at the very least will not go 0 for 12!

After 12 applications, flying across the country to California, Chicago, and Boston, retaking the GREs (and sending 12 transcripts), and driving to several closer programs, I don't want to even think about the cost. I do know that the poll should have had more categories above $1,000!

I would make sure you're up to date on Baptist life nationally and globally; Baylor has claimed it wants to be the "Baptist Notre Dame", so I would try to be familiar with their recent history (their presidential issues, the ID controversy, the time PETA made them quit feeding the bear in the quad Dr. Pepper all the time, etc.). Be able to talk about the glory days at Southern seminary before "the fall" in the 80s and 90s; there are always some good stories there . More generally (the business degree suddenly becomes useful) try to keep the interviewer talking about him/herself substantially. I know it sounds odd to not want to talk as much as possible (since they are interviewing you), but interviewing is more psychologically effective when the interviewer talks about him/herself more than the interviewee. Studies have shown that they attribute more "likeability" to the candidate after talking about themselves for 45 minutes. Don't allow dead air time, and remember that when you do talk, you are trying to sell your project (or at least the one you put on your SoP). So be excited, because you will conceivably be doing this project for the next 7 years!

I visited a program to which I was applying, and had a professor who gave me an article of his to peruse and respond. I didn't get to it until January (presumably when they've started to look over applications), and sent a detailed response with hopefully sensible questions. I included a "don't worry about it if you're too busy..." disclaimer, but when he actually took me up on it (and didn't respond), I'm worried that he may think I'm meddling in the process. They were really funny about not making a campus visit during the application review period, so I really hope I didn't burn any bridges there. Especially since there are only 4 bridges in that particular department, so to speak.

So everyone in this post is online right now....wow.

Thanks rollofthedice, You definitely have more firsthand knowledge of the program, and I appreciate the help. I think I was guilty of conflation with the two very different "practical" programs at Vandy and Emory, as these things don't generalize well at all. I think Vandy has already interviewed its Practical Theology folks, while we Un-Practical theologians (by implication!?) wait impatiently in the wings for any word at all. So in their case I think it can help your admissions, but not at Emory from your description. I guess with the Emory de facto rejection coming so early in the process, with lots of downtime until our next word from programs has forced me to try and come to terms with how anyone wouldn't love to have me as their phd student . So being evangelical may have been a strike against some folks, but I guess my point was even if you are doing continental philosophy, deconstruction, etc. and wrote your SoP in your direction (as did I) it won't of necessity even get you close to an interview let alone an offer. So for future generations of PhD seekers trying to glean anything they can from these forums remember this: Beware! :twisted: Sorry, that was a little dramatic.

I'm not so sure this is the case; with my interest in continental philosophy and theology (right along with Wendy Farley) I couldn't even garner an interview. I talked with a good friend of mine who is a candler student and he was certain I wasn't orthodox enough for the program! If there is an implicit bias against evangelicals, then it cuts equally towards us heretically heterodox folks as well. The so-called "southern bias" has to be additionally tempered by the fact that southern programs are additionally held to the standard of "practical theology" by their major donors (who likely have evangelical backgrounds). Likewise both Vandy and Emory have a strong "practical" component that may work in the favor of evangelically minded folks (as long as their projects aren't inconceivably strange like the guy last year trying to derive a biblical theology using the principles of analytic philosophy!). If you want to study some facet of Barth or another evangelical theologian at either Vandy or Emory, there are plenty of welcoming folks who would be more than happy to direct a dissertation on that particular topic.

Which interview do you have coming up? It could vary based on whom you will be speaking with and in what subdiscipline you will be interviewing.

That sounds just like Wake. It kind of is and isn't a baptist affiliated Divinity School; it has historical ties to many different baptist ties, and around 50% of the students are baptists of one shade or another, most of whom either started the "recovery" process. The good news is that the other 50% come from quite a few different denominations (there was a Coptic priest in my entering class, already went to seminary in Egypt 30 years ago but ministry had changed so he thought he might too!), so you'll get good (and bad) exposure to lots of different opinions on just about everything. Plus, as a recovering baptist you can shoot the **** with the professors who used to teach at Southern (Tupper and Leonard), and there are some good stories hear. The downsides are simple; it's a smaller school, you don't have the depth of multiple faculty members in every subdiscipline. They supplement with adjuncts and visiting profs, but it's not going to have as much depth as Yale. As a younger program, it may also have a "?" as far as reputation goes. Wake is a top 30 program overall, but Yale has instant name recognition. Just for thought. If you have any specific questions shoot me an email through gradcafe.

Congrats...the irony is I am actually sipping coffee out of a McAfee mug as I read that. I was a Mercer undergrad (go Bears), but solidified my black sheep status by declining McAfee to go to Wake. It's a good program though. Just make sure you're a good theological fit with the lindbeckian postliberal experiment going on at Yale; my experience with Yalies and Dukies is the stuff doesn't translate into into actual congregation ministry well at all. And on the academic side of the ball, it seems to be getting declining playing time at national meetings, in publications, etc. But that's just one opinion; if you like the program and have experience with its grads you can certainly disagree.

It was probably only about 8% in jest . If I ever did make it into academia I would tell anyone to do exactly that; it was kind of like "here's my observation" I'll make it funny so I don't keep reflecting on what I could have done that would make this process a whole lot smoother. So Plutarch, are you willing to share which Ivy you're at? It's okay if not, I certainly don't want to spark any internecine feuds amongst the ivys...

It really all depends on the setup of the program. Some will have funding allotted for both masters and PhD programs independently, so they will usually admit around the same time (and be less likely to make masters offers to PhD applicants) Other big programs who have the "cash-cow" masters programs (Chicago, Harvard (I think), BC, etc.) admit masters students regardless of PhD admits, because it is in their best (read that financial) interest to have as many masters students at half tuition paying them serious money. No need to wait around in handing those out, though they will likely make Masters offers to those who were rejected from the PhD program (someone called this "we don't like you, but we like your money"). Some smaller programs (like my current philosophy program) make their waves of PhD offers (admit & funding), and if any funding is left over from people declining phds, they will award it later to Masters students they admitted without funding. This seems less common in religion programs, though. It really depends...just think like you're the program and you're acting out of pure self interest; that's usually the best way to figure out what actually happens behind closed doors FYI...Emory GDR has definitely made all its initial offers as the interview weekend is in a week or so. If you are wait-listed it could take much longer....like late march.

So I'm starting to learn what might really be the "best prep" for PhD programs, i.e. what I DIDN'T do and wished I had known 10 years ago: -come from a ridiculously prestigious masters program (can even forgive a small liberal arts undergrad) -At said ridiculously prestigious masters program, buddy up from day one with the professors who either (1) were the pupils of whom you want to do a PhD, or (2) good old drinking buddies with the professors with whom you want to do a PhD. Needless to say at ridiculously prestigious masters program, these faculties will also publish at breakneck speeds and be universally known by all adcomms. :wink: -Have published extensive journal articles in top publications, which luckily are published at the very same ridiculously prestigious masters program and edited by the professors with whom you buddied up. -Have scores of professors who mentor and assist you in every aspect of your application, making you re-draft your SoP and writing samply myriad times (I can't even get an email response from my thesis advisor to talk about my thesis!) -Make sure that said professors make calls to old drinking buddies on your behalf. I of course mean this with a little humor, but for the most part, I think this is solid advice that I would give to anyone who is finishing up their undergrad and considering teaching as a vocation. Any thoughts on what you all would have done differently?

I'm applying mostly to theology programs since I'm kind of a transient/vagrant in both worlds. For philosophy I'm also applying to Loyola UC, then pretty much all over for theology. The waiting is straight up killing me.