whoami99

Did you interview with UVA?

Makes sense. That sucks that they waitlisted you twice, but I'm glad BC supports you! That's honestly the most important thing. The institution I will 99.9% probably choose has expressed the most interest in me and my work; it's the best feeling to know you'll be well-supported and that somebody really cares!

What about waitlists? Might be worth waiting before committing if it was your top choice, just to see. I had a friend once that thought she wasn't going to get an acceptance but was actually waitlisted. She committed to a different school, then did get accepted and withdrew her commitment, which was not fun for anybody. Just a thought, but I don't know much about Duke's ThD!

Interviews depend on the school. Probably about half do interviews. I have done a few interviews so far, though not for Brown. Questions are usually how you came to be interested in religious studies, why religious studies for your area of interest, what are your main research questions, why this particular school, what are some formative classes you've taken, or formative books you've read. It's probably normal to expect 1 or 2 questions you didn't prepare for. Be sure to reread your statement of purpose and be ready to answer any clarification or follow-up questions. Hope this helps, and good luck!