Ellie_Li

Hi, thank you for your detailed response and valuable advice! I hadn't considered MDS before, but now I believe it could greatly benefit my PhD application. Since my financial situation poses a significant limitation, I will endeavor to gather more detailed information about living costs and potential financial aid options. To be honest, I am not lacking in the courage to try again, especially after receiving such warm replies. However, I am confronted with a harsh reality: if I invest too much time in pursuing my PhD and ultimately graduate past the age of 35, it may become nearly impossible for me to secure a job, whether in academia, enterprise, or somewhere else in my country. While my options seem limited, I can at least take solace in the fact that I have made an effort. Thank you once again for presenting me with a potential opportunity. I wish you a bright future ahead!

For me it might be a good idea to seek help from your local theological academy(if there is one). Or you could try to contact nearby college and ask if they have language class you are interested in and request to audit. Good luck!

I'm an international student so I guess it may be a little bit difficult for professors to evaluate me from my academic background. I've joint several research programs but haven't got any published results yet. And those programs were also settled in my local academic system so it may also difficult for committee to evaluate their value, their function is to prove that I got some research experiences and that's it. Maybe I should mainly focus on finding potential supervisors with similar research interest and refining my writing sample? Could you please share your opinion with me? Thank you for your reply!

Hope both of us will make it one day(･∀･), we'll make it!

Ok, I'll keep trying, and it is your valuable experience that has reminded me that if I want to continue on my academic journey, then I have to overcome these obstacles. Thanks a lot!

Thank you for your warm-hearted reply. I've already tried to send emails to my POIs, but I only received a reply by one of them explaining that our research interests did not match yet. I understand that professors are very busy, but to be honest, I've nearly been totally beaten down by all those obstacles in my way... As for my financial burden, it's quite complex and hard to solve since I'm an international student, so my problem may be unique. Thanks again for your kindness. I'll try to rebuild my mood, though it may take some time."

Well, there is a joke goes like "Adolf, you were rejected" but I'm not Hitler and I just can't stop crying.

My sub field is Islamic Studies and I tend to choose the topics about gender issues and modern religious thoughts. I've applied 6 PhD programs and already been rejected by 4 of them, since I haven't receive even one interview, I guess I'll end up with nothing this year. I've decided to try again for 25 fall, but I still can't help to feel desperate and unconfident. Since my financial burden is heavy(I guess it is quite common in the field of Religious Studies), 25 fall would be my last chance. Is anyone willing to share your feelings with me? Oh god I really need to talk with someone……