mtshopeful

Hi all, I feel very grateful to be in this position, but I'm having a very difficult time choosing between offers. I work on Archaic and Classical Greek religion and I have offers from UChicago History of Religion and Penn Ancient History. At UChicago, my potential advisor has told me she would want me to do a double degree with Classics, which sounds insanely cool but also very difficult (you have to pass comps and teach in both departments). Here are my pros/cons: 1. Faculty fit: Much stronger at UChicago. My potential advisor at Penn is retiring in 3 years (though has still said he would advise me). He is more senior than my potential advisor at UChicago, but the ability to access him in retirement is worrying to me. I also just have more people I could work with at UChicago in Classics, Divinity, Art History, Social Thought, etc.. 2. Program reputation: I think they're both very strong, but I think Penn is much more of an archaeological program than UChicago. I've recently gotten involved with excavations in Italy and Greece, but I don't think it's my primary methodology. I have an undergrad degree in Religion and Classics (also from UChicago) but I'm currently in a religion masters at Harvard. I see myself primarily as a historian of religion who employs both archaeological and textual methods. 3. Community/Location: Penn wins out here, because my boyfriend is a G3 there and I have a solid group of friends. It's also much closer to my home in Boston and friends in NYC and DC. However, because I did my undergrad there, I have friends who are still in Chicago and I don't think it's a bad location (I mean, Hyde Park's not great, but neither is West Philly). 4. Financials: The stipends are comparable (both high 40s). Penn offers 5 years with high potential for 6+ if needed and UChicago offers 7, though I imagine a dual degree would need all of those to finish. I'm worried about the financial state of UChicago as a whole because of the university's bad investments. My friends and former advisors are saying it's not as bad as the news says and that they feel secure, but I am still concerned. Penn doesn't have the same restrictions on conference or summer funding, which makes me feel more secure. 5. Other stuff: Penn has a fantastic university museum I could work in that I'm very excited. UChicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is cool but focused on the Near East, not Greece. I'm semi-worried about the look of going back to my undergrad for my PhD, but I also did my masters elsewhere and worked for a year at Penn, so it's not like I have no connections elsewhere. Placements from each program seem comparable, though the job market is so tough that neither of them are consistently great. I also worry that Chicago makes forever-scholars, while Penn trains people that can actually explain why their research is important. I think I'm leaning toward Chicago, but I'm very unsure. Do any of you have thoughts on what to do here?

So, surprise announcement from UChicago today! I got in but I'm not thrilled at the scholarship offer. Still waiting on HDS/YDS. Anyone else hear anything?

Hey all, I've been slow to update but I interviewed this past Tuesday. I received my invitation the Friday before (so I think they only send invites out on Fridays?). I'm applying for Ancient Mediterranean Religion MTS. It went well but WOW 15 minutes is SO short. I'm used to hour long interviews from colleges and jobs. Questions were pretty basic, interests/experience/etc.. I think anyone on here would be well prepared. Good luck to you guys!

Thank you, I feel like I've been spending time with a lot of PhDs and their admissions process has been raising my blood pressure and clouding my judgment perhaps.

Sorry, I know this is so cliche, but I'm scared I wasted time/money to get rejected by my dream school. I'm applying for MAs at HDS, YDS, and Chicago's Div School, but HDS is my top choice. Here are my stats/interest. Undergrad: UChicago, graduated in 2023 Major: I triple majored in Classics, Religious Studies, and a sort of legal philosophy major (unique to Chicago) GPA: 3.7 (this is what I'm most nervous about) Thesis: Honors in Classics and RLST, advised by chair of a dept and another prof w dual appointment in Classics and Div school Interest: Public religious ceremonies in the ancient world (particularly marriages, sacrifices, and funerals), both pagan and early Christian. Secondary interest in political theology/philosophy. I applied for the Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean subfield at HDS, the Bible or History of Religions subfield at Chicago, and the New Testament subfield at Yale. Job: I currently work at a nonprofit theological institute at an Ivy League university (not Harvard or Yale). I teach non-credit classes to undergrads/grad students on theology/philosophy. This was a big part of my application bc it's also what solidified that I wanted to go into academia. Goal: I want to teach ancient Mediterranean religion. I do not have interest in being a priest/pastor, hence not applying to MDiv programs or seminaries. I will apply to a PhD probably in Div or Classics after getting an MA. Recs: My two thesis advs and one political philosophy prof who just really liked me. Other stuff: I spoke with three profs from Harvard in the subfield I was applying to and all conversations went extremely well (one offered to advise me!). Concerns: I know the GPA isn't the highest. I didn't get Latin honors. I haven't published aside from undergrad journals. I don't have research experience with a professor. I'm also religious myself and I know sometimes Div schools think that clouds your ability to do serious scholarship. Anyway, please give me your thoughts. I'm incredibly nervous that I haven't gotten an interview request yet, but I don't know if I'm going crazy. Any input??