KungFuKenny
-
Posts
24 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by KungFuKenny
-
-
Major curveball: I’ve been talking to my POI at Emory GDR from when I applied to the PhD there. He says that pursuing the MTS will be unnecessary since I already have a 48 credit hour MA. He suggested completing a ThM and has committed to supervising my research paper. This is big because he’s a pretty big name in my subfield and a well respected scholar. A ThM supervised by him (along with a recommendation, hopefully) will go a long way in the next round of apps. Now I’m trying to leverage my MTS acceptance and funding into a ThM with funding at Candler. Hoping it all works out!
Relatedly, anybody have any insight on how schools are handling residency requirements next school year? Trying to figure out the logistics!
-
*we just had a baby (or alternatively, we have a newborn) lol
-
On 3/10/2021 at 1:54 PM, xypathos said:
Ask for more money.
The worst thing that can happen is that they'll say no. They will never revoke an offer simply because you asked for more money.
I was offered 75% to attend Vandy but simply asked for more. I explained that I loved the school, Nashville, etc but I needed more money to commit. They asked me to wait until closer to April 15th so they got a better sense of who was/isn't coming and the director called and offered me an increase to 100%.
Was just offered 75% to attend Candler. I decided to apply for the MTS late in the game since I already have one M* degree and was banking on a PhD acceptance. I really like the program; it was the only MTS I applied to and would love to go but we just had a newborn and I’m not sure if/how we can make the finances make sense at this stage. Wondering if it’s too late to ask for more funding.Thoughts?
-
Thought y’all should know since we go way back to like January lol...Just received an admissions offer from Candler school of Theology (Emory) with 75% tuition funding! This was the only MTS program I applied to along with my 4 PhD apps.
- amam, True_hope, Trevor Smith and 3 others
-
6
-
Just received an admissions offer from Candler school of Theology (Emory) with 75% tuition funding! This was the only MTS program I applied to along with 4 PhD apps. I didn’t get into any of the PhD programs so this is a welcome sight!
-
Official rejection from UChicago yesterday. Didn’t really sting since I’m used to it at this point ? lol. No official word from Vandy yet but I already know what’s coming. At this point I’m shifting attention to the one MTS application I put out. I’m hopeful about that one but worried about funding. Will follow up on the MTS page.
- amam, CafeConGabi and Pierre de Olivi
-
3
-
34 minutes ago, Trevor Smith said:
Hi folks! Joining the party late, but the little bits of information I've gotten here have been helpful to me as we hit the home stretch this cycle, so I figured I should do my part.
I applied to theology (systematic) tracks at Yale (currently finishing my mdiv here), Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt, Fordham, Boston College, and Boston University (school of theology). I was rejected from Duke (1/21) and Yale (2/12). I was invited to interviews at Emory (1/16) and BU (1/28), but was not offered admission at either program (2/9 and 2/22 respectively). I was waitlisted at Fordham (2/16). I'm still waiting to hear from Vandy and BC.
I would absolutely love to be admitted to Fordham (Enormous and genuine congratulations to those on here who were accepted this cycle! fighting that green monster as best I can...) as it was one of my top programs originally. I'm expecting that I'll be getting "no"s from Vandy and BC since I haven't heard from them yet. The rejection from Emory stung the worst because they were a top program for me and I thought the interview process went very well. But obviously there truly are more deserving applicants that spots available. Anyways, well done to everyone for applying this cycle and what a great thing that we have each other here. Best wishes for everyone!
If it helps, I got confirmation from the GDR dept. head at Emory that there were no offers made to applicants in the subfield of theological studies. It definitely helped me to know that!
-
8 hours ago, stlmo said:
Does anyone have intelligence on what’s going on with Vandy? I applied for the E&S track and interviewed on 2/3. I did see that a couple of people (who knows from which track) posted unofficial acceptances on the results page on 2/12. But I’ve had radio silence from them since my interview. I’m guessing I’m on some kind of WL, but there’s no uniformity on the results page from past years in terms of how and when results were communicated.
Feeling a bit frozen in place here... ?
Someone I follow on Twitter posted a picture of her admission letter and mentioned that she attended a virtual meet and greet with potential candidates sometime before receiving her decision. I also applied and I’m expecting a rejection but I’m surprised that all decisions apparently haven’t gone out together.
-
On 2/25/2021 at 3:31 PM, KungFuKenny said:
Official rejection from Emory GDR. Was expecting it but it still stings a little bit. Hope is a hell of a drug.
Followed up with my POI at Emory and got some great feedback! It’s crazy how much personal feedback can help one’s confidence, even if critical! Feeling energized for a second round of apps. Even if that doesn’t work out, considering doing a second masters and not hating the thought of it!
-
Official rejection from Emory GDR. Was expecting it but it still stings a little bit. Hope is a hell of a drug.
- CafeConGabi and amam
-
2
-
20 minutes ago, cosmo92 said:
GOT REJECTED FROM BC HELL YEA LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I understand this energy lol. I’m thankful for the kindness and mutual support on this page. I’m not sure how I’d feel if it were as competitive and ugly here as the process feels like it might be in my mind.
Anyway, I’m also facing multiple rejections so with you in the season of mourning/despair/(hopefully)hope.
-
Official rejection from Yale. Not feeling great about the other programs I’ve applied to either. I’ll have to strengthen my application for another go at it next time around. Congrats to those who were accepted!
- _Athena_, sorenerasmus, amam and 2 others
-
5
-
39 minutes ago, beorn1968 said:
Probably going to hate myself for asking this but has anyone heard anything from Yale Religious Studies? From reading last year's results its seems an interview is not absolutely necessary to get accepted, or does it depend on the field? If not covid delayed, looks like Yale will send out acceptances by the middle of the month. hoping we all hear positive things soon. Solidarity!
Haven’t heard anything from Yale yet either.
-
3 minutes ago, stlmo said:
Hey all,
I just got a long email from Loyola Chicago (Theology Dept.). Apparently, they only had one new Ph.D. line for 2021 (in normal times, they have usually had four). The one and only offer of admission went/will go to a NT applicant (I was an ISET applicant). The email was ambiguous as to whether the single offer had been made and/or accepted.
In short, it’s a rough year.
In case it helps anybody:
Vanderbilt GDR: interview invitation Jan. 15
Duke GPR: rejected Jan. 21 (someone suggested above that Duke has probably already extended its offers)
Loyola Chicago Theo. Dept.: rejected Feb. 1
Emory GDR: radio silence
ND Theo. Dept.: radio silence
See my previous post re: Emory GDR. I didn’t get a date, but got confirmation from the admissions dept that initial interview requests have gone out. Thanks for the additional info.
-
Called the Emory GDR admissions office this morning and found out that initial interview requests have already gone out. There may be another round of interviews and decisions will likely go out shortly after mid-February. Trying not to be discouraged since the website indicates that not receiving an interview does not preclude admission, but it’s tough.
-
37 minutes ago, _Athena_ said:
Hi, friends! It's great to see some activity on this forum. This is my second PhD application cycle (I was rejected from every program my first go-around, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel!), and I've applied to several programs in Hebrew Bible/Ancient Mediterranean Religions (Yale EMWAR, Harvard CSR, UVA, UNC, NYU, Fordham, JTS). I have received an offer of admission from UNC (yay!) but have yet to hear from any other programs. Wishing everyone the best of luck in this stressful process!
Congrats! It’s helpful to know that offers of admission are possible lol. Thanks for the solidarity and for sharing the good news!
-
Is it ever alright to contact a POI during this waiting period? I connected with professors at each school I applied to but that was weeks/months before submitting the app. I’d like to jog their memories of our interaction by reaching out but I worry that this would be construed (rightly, I suppose) as manipulative. Thoughts?
-
2 hours ago, beorn1968 said:
hi all, after little over a decade I'm returning to academia to get a phd. have a masters in history. my area is modern U.S. religious. I presented at a major academic conference this year to a positive response. I'm applying to a mix of History and RS programs at Northwestern/Harvard/ Yale / Virginia / Notre Dame. I've had positive email contact with POI at Harvard, Yale, NW and Virginia. Have not heard anything since early Jan and no interview requests, is this bad or good? thanks, good luck and solidarity
I haven’t heard anything from Yale yet. Can’t speak to the others!
- sorenerasmus and beorn1968
-
2
-
On 1/22/2021 at 9:46 AM, Amama said:
Let's stay hopeful guys! I did hear back from one of my schools, inviting me to an interview weekend next month. I have also received an email from another saying they were still in the process of shortlisting applicants for interviews and that we can expect to hear back next week. There's nothing more to do than to try and stay hopeful! lol
Do you mind sharing which school said that you might hear back next week? If you’d prefer not to, no problem!
-
2 hours ago, crossroadsph said:
I can relate to the "check email-check gradcafe-refresh-repeat" cycle! I do that once a day...
My two top choices here in North America have yet to notify me about anything, interviews included, and that does not bode well for my prospects. Might as well fall back on what someone at BU told me back at the AAR-SBL meetings in San Diego in 2019: if you're turned down, it's not about you. It has proved to be reassuring, even if at first it does not.
I did apply to a school outside North America, which is a European university that is prominent in the field of theology, and I got accepted to a pre-doctoral master's program that, from the way it's structured, feels like the coursework phase of a Ph.D. program across the pond (because the Ph.D. programs over there are purely research/thesis work). That's another consolation in the event the other applications fall through.
It may be hopeful thinking on my part—because I haven’t heard anything either—but I’m not sure it’s necessarily a bad sign that you haven’t heard anything yet. It looks like many folks hear back mid February.
-
2 hours ago, AnxiousinSyriac said:
Man, I am anxious! Fellow religious studies friends, I think grad cafe is making me more anxious, haha. Two days ago, I received an email from my top choice saying that my application was missing my writing sample. Luckily, I got that squared away. I don't know whether to take their reviewing of my application as a good thing, in that perhaps, I'll hear something from them soon? Man, oh man... I wonder what my chances are...
With you! The “check email—check gradcafe—refresh—repeat” cycle is probably unhealthy lol. As @Amama asked, what school reached out re your writing sample?
-
6 hours ago, Amama said:
Also waiting it out. Applied to Baylor, Boston School of Theology, Notre Dame ( 2 programs) . I've heard back from Baylor with a preliminary interview. Still waiting for the others. Has anyone heard back from any of the above schools?
I’ve not heard anything back from the four I mentioned yet. Based on posts from previous years, mid-Feb—mid-March seems to be the admission decision hotspot.
- amam and sorenerasmus
-
2
-
Fall 2021 MTS
in Religion
Posted
Those who know better can feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I want to think that Chicago ranks close to HDS in terms of prestige for RelStudies....is that a misconception on my part? At the very least, I’m not sure that a degree from Chicago (as compared to one from HDS) will significantly decrease your shot at a top tier PhD...