probingtheology

Rollofthedice: You seem like you fit at either school. Wilken at Virginia would be another great resource for you if he is not retiring soon. I am interested in Christology and Phenomenology--specifically the French version (Marion, Henry, Lacoste, Levinas, etc) as well as Heidegger. Obviously, Kevin Hart at Virginia would be great to work with as well as Jones and Mathewes. Getting into that program has gotten immensely more difficult over the last few years, or so I hear--which means I am preparing myself for a rejection there. I am interested in Fordham because of the many there who work on the atonement, especially Viladeseau. I like the work of Papanikolaou too. Have you contacted anyone at Virginia? If so, how were they in responding? Some programs the faculty get back to you easily and some, like Princeton's Religion dept, act like they don't receive prospective student inquiries, which annoys me. and where did you get your MTS? I'm curious.

Rollofthedice: I think you make a good point about the GRE scores. Also, I have to think that within each department GRE scores are weighted differently and even within each professor's mind at a specific school the GREs are weighted differently. Who the hell knows if there are arbitrary cutoffs or not, and if there are cutoffs, then who knows what number it is. So, did you apply last year and no acceptances? Who are your interests, especially at UVA and Fordham? Best of luck this year, we all need it!

Demondeac: I don't think you should worry yet about UVA. That department will not call everyone all in one day...it is my assumption that the Ethics, Theology and Culture subdiscipline will be sorting through lots of very qualified applicants. If you have not heard from them say this time next month, then I might be worried. As for Emory, I'm not too sure about your odds there, I just don't know. Congrats on the person accepted there already...it must be nice. It is a great program, a program I am hoping to get into myself Anyone heard from UC-Santa Barbara or Columbia yet? I saw that Duke has begun to reject folks already....

Studyordie Actually, I called the department yesterday and talked to the secretary about various issues and I asked her about budget cuts to the Religion dept. She said they are going to have the same number of fellowships they have had in previous years and that the economic crunch (and Tim Kaine) is not going to effect them this year. I hope that makes you feel better, because it does me. Best of luck and by the way, I think your interests sound fascinating. To me, it seems like you would definitely be able to write a dissertation under advisors Peter Ochs and Kevin Hart among others. If you have any kind of background in phenomenology, especially Marion, Lacoste, Henry, etc, then you might be able to make good on Hart.

Studyordie: If I may ask, with whom at UVA do you wish to study? What are you interests? I know that one element of the application process that is really important is the purpose statement, so if that is strong you will increase your chances in this extra-competitive year.

studyordie: where did you get that information? I was actually wondering that very thing for state schools...

Like many of us applying this year, I am wondering how strong my application is. I feel like I have at least a competitive shot, except my GRE is low. Here are my stats: 2 master's degrees in theology: 4.0 in each Religion BA German/Greek languages very solid Recommendation letters publications: 1 article in Heythrop Journal and a couple of book reviews. GRE V: 670 Q: 640 A: TBD Now, I also have considered at length my 'fit' with each school I am applying to. With all of this in mind, should I consider my GRE a bit under the cut for programs like UVA, Chicago, UC-Santa Barbara, Duke, Columbia and Fordham? Should I think about even trying to squeeze one more test in early December and rush it to the schools? I'm feeling very nervous, so any straight talk would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all