going crazy

I have a divinity degree as well (from a seminary that is extremely conservative-evangelical). I don't think that where you got your degrees will be the thing that kills you. Here are some things about what you communicated above that raise some red flags in my mind, and I'm certain they would raise red flags for adcoms. Just things to think about.

First, I'm getting the feeling that your choice of grad schools had more to do with location than with whether those programs have folks doing serious work in the sociology of religion. In my opinion, you need to kiss that kind of thinking goodbye. If you want to be a professional sociologist of religion, you need to be committed to going to the places that have folks working in that area (UT Austin, Baylor, Rice, Purdue, Notre Dame, Princeton, Duke, Minnesota, Yale, UC San Diego, Boston U., etc.).

Second, because sociology of religion is a popular area of interest, it's competitive as hell to get into the good places. That said, you NEED to take the GRE again. You particularly need to get that quant score up. You've got time. Study up, take the class, do whatever you need to do.

Third, I WOULDN'T discuss anything regarding your religious background, church experience, or ministry training in your SOP. It should be a non-issue. Focus on your substantive research interests, where you see the gaps in the literature, how your dissertation would fill those gaps, and why you know that particular program can offer you the training and resources to develop you professionally. Think about it this way. You're trying to convince the adcom that you want to be a professional sociologist and not (1) some person who couldn't decide what they wanted to do with their life so they decided they'd get a PhD in sociology of religion, or (2) some minister who wanted a secular PhD to seem more relevant. See what I'm saying?

Just my thoughts. Hope that helps.

I have a divinity degree as well (from a seminary that is extremely conservative-evangelical). I don't think that where you got your degrees will be the thing that kills you. Here are some things about what you communicated above that raise some red flags in my mind, and I'm certain they would raise red flags for adcoms. Just things to think about.

First, I'm getting the feeling that your choice of grad schools had more to do with location than with whether those programs have folks doing serious work in the sociology of religion. In my opinion, you need to kiss that kind of thinking goodbye. If you want to be a professional sociologist of religion, you need to be committed to going to the places that have folks working in that area (UT Austin, Baylor, Rice, Purdue, Notre Dame, Princeton, Duke, Minnesota, Yale, UC San Diego, Boston U., etc.).

Second, because sociology of religion is a popular area of interest, it's competitive as hell to get into the good places. That said, you NEED to take the GRE again. You particularly need to get that quant score up. You've got time. Study up, take the class, do whatever you need to do.

Third, I WOULDN'T discuss anything regarding your religious background, church experience, or ministry training in your SOP. It should be a non-issue. Focus on your substantive research interests, where you see the gaps in the literature, how your dissertation would fill those gaps, and why you know that particular program can offer you the training and resources to develop you professionally. Think about it this way. You're trying to convince the adcom that you want to be a professional sociologist and not (1) some person who couldn't decide what they wanted to do with their life so they decided they'd get a PhD in sociology of religion, or (2) some minister who wanted a secular PhD to seem more relevant. See what I'm saying?

Just my thoughts. Hope that helps.

I have a divinity degree as well (from a seminary that is extremely conservative-evangelical). I don't think that where you got your degrees will be the thing that kills you. Here are some things about what you communicated above that raise some red flags in my mind, and I'm certain they would raise red flags for adcoms. Just things to think about.

First, I'm getting the feeling that your choice of grad schools had more to do with location than with whether those programs have folks doing serious work in the sociology of religion. In my opinion, you need to kiss that kind of thinking goodbye. If you want to be a professional sociologist of religion, you need to be committed to going to the places that have folks working in that area (UT Austin, Baylor, Rice, Purdue, Notre Dame, Princeton, Duke, Minnesota, Yale, UC San Diego, Boston U., etc.).

Second, because sociology of religion is a popular area of interest, it's competitive as hell to get into the good places. That said, you NEED to take the GRE again. You particularly need to get that quant score up. You've got time. Study up, take the class, do whatever you need to do.

Third, I WOULDN'T discuss anything regarding your religious background, church experience, or ministry training in your SOP. It should be a non-issue. Focus on your substantive research interests, where you see the gaps in the literature, how your dissertation would fill those gaps, and why you know that particular program can offer you the training and resources to develop you professionally. Think about it this way. You're trying to convince the adcom that you want to be a professional sociologist and not (1) some person who couldn't decide what they wanted to do with their life so they decided they'd get a PhD in sociology of religion, or (2) some minister who wanted a secular PhD to seem more relevant. See what I'm saying?

Just my thoughts. Hope that helps.

I have a divinity degree as well (from a seminary that is extremely conservative-evangelical). I don't think that where you got your degrees will be the thing that kills you. Here are some things about what you communicated above that raise some red flags in my mind, and I'm certain they would raise red flags for adcoms. Just things to think about.

First, I'm getting the feeling that your choice of grad schools had more to do with location than with whether those programs have folks doing serious work in the sociology of religion. In my opinion, you need to kiss that kind of thinking goodbye. If you want to be a professional sociologist of religion, you need to be committed to going to the places that have folks working in that area (UT Austin, Baylor, Rice, Purdue, Notre Dame, Princeton, Duke, Minnesota, Yale, UC San Diego, Boston U., etc.).

Second, because sociology of religion is a popular area of interest, it's competitive as hell to get into the good places. That said, you NEED to take the GRE again. You particularly need to get that quant score up. You've got time. Study up, take the class, do whatever you need to do.

Third, I WOULDN'T discuss anything regarding your religious background, church experience, or ministry training in your SOP. It should be a non-issue. Focus on your substantive research interests, where you see the gaps in the literature, how your dissertation would fill those gaps, and why you know that particular program can offer you the training and resources to develop you professionally. Think about it this way. You're trying to convince the adcom that you want to be a professional sociologist and not (1) some person who couldn't decide what they wanted to do with their life so they decided they'd get a PhD in sociology of religion, or (2) some minister who wanted a secular PhD to seem more relevant. See what I'm saying?

Just my thoughts. Hope that helps.

Not silly at all. It's a big decision! My wife and I are doing the same.

Damn right. I just want to get it over with and I feel like schools totally drag their asses on this.