Dillskyplayer

Shalom, shalom! Foremost, just take a moment to breathe. Things will work out the way that they are supposed to work out! With respect to M.Div and MAR/MA programs and such -- you're "stats" so-to-speak, sound competitive. Understand this too, most of these programs, because they are masters programs versus doctoral programs, aren't going to be furiously selective. Even the "top tier" schools, which, unfortunately, are usually only considered "top tier" because they have a decent undergraduate school or a name/legacy (Harvard/Yale) aren't going to be furiously selective when they pick people for these programs. For doctoral work? Yes. For masters? Well, can you make the 150 student or so cut? It sounds like you've got some competitive stats, so, I think so. And here's something else to consider. You're fresh out of undergrad? Yes? These programs WILL change the way that you write when you become a masters student. They know how college students write. Heck, I teach a lot of first year M.Div and MAR students and I know how THEY write. So I wouldn't sweat the SOP too much. The SOP is an important component, because it is YOUR voice in the admissions process, but if you're worried about writing style or anything, don't be too scurred! What makes a strong candidate? Strong undergrad liberal arts background from a four year program with good grades (anything 3.5+ UG) Well rounded service record Recommendations from someone reputable No criminal background/can pass a background check What makes you a stronger candidate? Better grades Actual relevant recommendations, as in, someone who is directly connected to the school of your choice Relevant memberships, clubs, associations GRE scores Languages Field experience What is not expected of you as an INCOMING masters student? Publications Presentations Teaching assistantships Tutoring Publication experience (working for a journal) Fellowships Recommendation from a leader in your discipline Internships

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=aristotlistic Theology is numero three! (though this shouldn't be news to us)! http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-worst_paying_college_degrees-1263 And oh man, they've got it as number one here! http://www.holytaco.com/the-10-most-worthless-college-majors/

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=existentialist

As of right now, I am drinking a tall vodka cranberry and am working on my thesis project. Takes the edge off and makes editing tolerable.

They sent me an email saying they enjoyed my essay and I was still eligible for scholarships--just not the good ones ("Please be assured that you will be fully considered for a range of other scholarships beginning early next month.")(with some degree of hyperbole here). Honestly, I wanted to go to Emory for the scholars at the GTU -- not the M.Div program. The M.Div program isn't that great. It's the the "getting my foot in the door" for the GDU at Emory that I wanted to do. I'm actually still waiting on my PHD applications -- the Mdiv was my plan B! Let's be real: I've got a MA and post-grad degree in religion. If I have to pay-in again.... I will never get out of debt. Cripes, I've almost got enough to buy two fancy cars! Unless they can wave 80% of my tuition, they don't deserve me. Sorry to be a slapdick, but I've got several published articles, I work for a theological journal as right hand man to my editor (Most PHDs cant even say that!), I teach, I work as a research/teaching assistant--have solid grades in all of my programs AND I'm involved in my community with all sorts of service that I don't get credit for 99% of the time! Can't wave tuition? I'll find someone better who can. Yes, I'm butthurt about this -- kind of offended even, but I sure as hell won't be giving them my 100 bucks deposit until they show me what "range of other scholarships beginning early next month" that I will be getting if I write them a check. And I sure as hell won't pay-in anything more than 20% to Emory -- the Baals of Coca-Cola for crying out loud! /rant off -- I feel better now. BTW: this post is not grammatically/typographically sound.

Mass email, no doubt, with my essay title inserted into it for a personal touch. I am in awe--absolute awe right now. The only hope I have now is to not get dicked over by HDS or YDS, as I cannot transplant my life somewhere to live on loans for three years.

This just sealed the seal for me. Nail in the coffin. Screw it. I'm not United Methodist anyways. Bring it on HDS. If these clowns can give scholarship money to kids writing about Lord of the Rings and the Matrix, then I don't want to be there.

Congrats.. Though this makes me a little bit sad/sick inside. Looks like I won't be going to Emory after all.

Feeling a bit better now. I just closed my laptop and vegged out on the couch and said, "This work for tomorrow? Yes. It's due tomorrow. But... I can do it tomorrow. It won't be the end of the world." Thanks for the good pastoral care. And for lending an ear and some kind words. I know we're all stressed -- I basically live my life in a cycle of school applications, more school, more applications -- and now that I'm up to hopefully the last bout of school, a.k.a. PHD applications, it freaks me out a bit to know that well, "What if?" What if I don't get in and I've spent the last 8 years studying this stuff just SO I can get in! As yall said - it isn't the end of the world if you don't get in. Just have to try again and pick yourself up. Stress is a terrible terrible thing. Hopefully we all can have some hope filled resolutions soon.

Tonight I hit a wall: Feels like my chest/diaphragm is so tight from anxiety from all of this waiting that I feel like I could keel over. It feels like I have a burp waiting to happen that won't go away. I've always had anxiety, but nothing like this. And actually, a few days ago I went to my doctor for this chronic jaw pain that started this month. Doc said I have TMJ caused by biting down in my sleep due to stress!!! February to mid-March will be the death of me. Does anyone have any tips for dealing with the stress of waiting? The last time I was in this position was four years ago --- and I feel like I'm not going to have a single non-gray hair left (and I'm only 26) by the time this is over! Cry =[

Anyone willing to share their Leadership Candler essays? Topics or otherwise? I truly enjoyed writing it. The topic was cursory, yes, but enjoyable!

Vandy was the only one I didn't pay for this round -- and I think with the taking of the GRE, GRE scores being sent, 3 transcripts being sent to each school (UG, Grad, and Postgrad), application fees, and the expiditing of dated material with FEDEX to certain places -- I came out a little over a grand or so for 6 PHD/THD programs and 3 MDIV programs. Online apps rule -- but they make you realize how QUICKLY your money can go poof. One mouse click versus a week or so to process a check =[

I actually JUST got off the phone with the office of financial aid/admissions -- was asking a question about tax returns. They said to me that they are shooting for Feb 10th to contact people about it, but it might not happen because of the ice storms. They are, however, pretty prompt. I am very impressed so far with them.

Have fun with the monologues. Try to enjoy this week =]

That would be excellent. Sniff.. still no paper welcome package. Cry! Just some danged Verizon bill!

The website says nominees will be contacted Feb 10th (or possibly earlier).

It depends who you want to work with and why you want to go there. I personally love Emory because I like many of the professors and their research. In addition, they have funding. The PHD program is quite selective -- maybe 1-2 people per discipline (NT/OT/Ethics/Homiletics/etc). Look for scholars. Look for money. Look for a place where you won't get burned out -- a PHD is academically rigorous, yes, but its not the academics that will kill you at the level you have to be to apply -- its burnout from getting older, having kids, getting married, having family members get sick, dying, etc etc etc. In other words, life happens!

Out of the three M.div applications I sent, yes: Candler, YDS, and HDS. With Emory I can work in person with tons of Hebrew Bible people that I already work with =] at the Candler School of Theology and the GDR at Emory! Would be a blessing to get funding to do so. For me, I pray for funding because I already have an MA and MTH -- and cannot really afford to go deeper down the rabbit hole of debt. =[ Any of the three programs would be an excellent fit, however.

Was accepted into an M.Div program at Candler the 26th of January, thought I made mention of it in an earlier post, but apparently it was in a dream (currently working on thesis... late nights early mornings = one tired seminarian). Hopefully I will hear from the Leadership Candler event people soon - as it appears all of my financial aid stuff has been processed, minus a tax return (still in progress). I take that as a good sign, but let's hope I don't need to borrow anything this time. I'd love to have waved tuition - seeing as how as a pastor or teacher I'll be broke as a joke! (Lest I reach Brueggemann status =] ! Praying to the Coca-Cola Baals that I don't have to pay in for this one! And oh, still waiting on the paper acceptance letter. It said they were sending it at the end of the week over a week ago =[ I check my mailbox thoroughly! =]

Thank you for the insight. I always try to be somewhat gingerly with my opinions about online education, not only because a lot of people are doing it these days, but because people become, well, pretty upset (butt-hurt) if you aren't sensitive about it. I think DL is not a bad thing. One of my Hebrew students is a DL learner, she listens along in the classroom via Skype while we lecture. But yes, there is something about being immersed in a community, having access to flesh-and-blood people AND books (though e-books are OK). I also find that in online communities, at least in the classes that I have TA'd -- we have a lot of regurgitation on message forums. One person, as the vanguard, leads the pack. The rest post in slightly rehashed, watered down versions of the original persons post. Yikes!

I was watching an old episode of King of the Hill earlier this afternoon while editing my thesis project, hah! Peggy Hill, Hank Hill's ditz of a wife (who continually lifts up being substitute teacher of the year for 3 years running!), ended up enrolling in an overnight PHD program specifically for getting the title so people take her seriously as an educator--not for the experience of becoming a better teacher/contributing to advancing research in a discipline. Unbelievable, yes -- but I'm certain that some people think that becoming a doctor of X validates their life! Funny stuff, but sad at the same time. Well, the title of doctor is both an honor and a perk The role of teacher, on the other hand, is something I have wanted to do for almost a decade But, to be sure, I too worry for "online PHD" people finding jobs after doing their doctoral work. Personally, I do Bible myself -- and with seminaries shutting down around the US, and people holding on to their jobs longer due to economic depression, all I can say is that now would be a really bad time to "test the water" with a new thing, that is, online doctoral work for Bible. Seminaries and Divinity Schools have a "graying" population, but with most of my professors being in their 60s -- and planning on staying for another decade or more.... it doesn't look like jobs will be flooding the market anytime soon (at least for traditional seminaries). I assume that most people will take traditional brick-and-mortar over the virtual doctoral degree, at least for now. Maybe within the decade. For "online PHDs" to be validated, I assume that brick-and-mortar schools will have to start offering online PHD components.

Does anyone else get a little offended when seeing "Get a PHD in Religion" or "Get a PHD in Theology" online ad pop up on Google or Facebook? Knowing what I (and you) know about how freaking hard it is to actually find a job in these disciplines AND how selective many decent tier schools are to get into today (some only take 1-2 persons per discipline a year, at least in Judeo-Christian studies such as ethics/theology/homiletics/Bible (Old and New Testament)) -- it makes my blood boil to think that some people think they can just whiz through what normally requires at least a master's degree to apply for in the first place - in like 2 years! Or - that they can apply without doing any prerequisite work because they think that religion/theology is some sort of hocus-pocus degree. Most of these programs don't offer funding for their students, as they are purely for-profit... and could potentially end up costing one of their victims around 75-100k! Chripes! I'm not saying DL or online education is purely bad. I helped TA a couple online courses through my school, which is a brick-and-mortar school, but I am saying that for a PHD in religion or theology today would be suspect at best. Any thoughts? Not trying to sound like a brick-and-mortar snob here btw!

Hi, Just got this from HDS with respect to the M.Div application. I submitted all of my material ahead of schedule -- did not require the extra time due to the ice/snowstorms! Just for a timetable for ya! Dear XXXXXXX: The Final Verification of your online application to the Master of Divinity program is now complete. Your application and supporting materials have been forwarded to the Admissions Committee. We will contact you by email when admissions decisions are available. Doctoral admissions decisions will be available online in late February. Master's and special student admissions decisions will be available online in mid-March. You may log back into your application to find out your decision. The decision will also be mailed via U.S. Postal Service to the current address you provided to us at the time of application. Please be certain to contact our office if your address changes. Best regards, XXXXXX Director of Admissions

Hi. I applied to the THD at Duke. I don't believe they interview.