Dillskyplayer

Not the U, but close to one of its campuses, at least. I'm at Luther Seminary right now finishing up an M.th.

I have it forwarded to my cell also, but for some reason I have the feeling that if I check it they'll miraculously be something there! I'm actually eagerly awaiting Candler's paper decision letter, because it might have some information about the stipulations about getting accepted. Also, I really am on edge about Candler's scholarships right now. Hopefully they give me a decent package, even though I'm not Methodist!

Not sure why it's acting like I'm in some odd timezone. I'm central time USA. I received the email this morning around 10-11am or so. Submitted my application to Harvard probably a week or so before the deadline, not that it should make a difference!

Being from Minnesota and currently attending grad school in the Twin Cities -- snow and ice doesn't phase me! But apparently the east coast is not prepared! Dear XXXXXX, Thank you for your application to Harvard Divinity School. Due to a winter storm in the Cambridge area, Harvard Divinity School will be closed on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. Weather permitting, we expect to be open today until 5:00 PM EST and available to answer questions by phone at 617-495-5796. However, please note that the best way to reach us today and tomorrow is via email at admissions@hds.harvard.edu. Thank you for your patience with the frequent storms we are experiencing this winter. Best regards, HDS Office of Admissions admissions@hds.harvard.edu

YDS deadline extended until the end of the week! Let's hope that priority filing does something when this mess with icestorms and snow gets cleared up.

=] True!

Know this. The statement of purpose is virtually the only thing you have on your essay as YOUR voice! Everything else -- transcripts, recommendations, and so on are arbitrary. Who is to say that a class taken at an ivy league school is different than a large state school? An A is an A -- in MOST cases but not all. This is besides the point, however. The statement of purpose is your voice. Your voice! I think a good framework would be like this: 1. Anecdote leading up to your... 2. statement of intent for study 3. description of why you want to do an M.Div/working definition of ministry or scholarship 4. reasons why you are qualified to study at this school 5. the big reason for studying at this school and why THIS school is the only place that should take me and why they'd be fools to think otherwise! 6. closing remarks !

As an MDIV? No one will really care about your GRE. On the other hand, it might be some sort of salvific figure for you if you have absolutely no service activities, extracurriculars, or anything to make you -pop- and stick out as a distinctive candidate. My advice? I've done an MA and MTH so far -- I've met a lot of M.Divs in my day. Have a strong personal statement/intellectual autobiography, ace the essay (if you've got one) that you have to respond to (you'd be astounded at how many M.Divs CANNOT write to save their lives!!!!!), have a good writing sample, and a strong CV or resume. Your recommendations? Should be good -- but they're pretty arbitrary. I mean, who in the world is going to give you a BAD one? =] And oh, unless you're recommendations are from someone that is well known in the field you're interested in concentrating upon -- I wouldn't get too excited about nitty gritty networking. "Oh, so-and-so did an M.Div at HDS in the 70s?" It's unlikely that anyone will remember them. Just saying! Goodluck!

Anyone else getting knots in their stomachs checking their email/mail? Every day around 3-4pm I pray that I find something good other than a loan payment or bill -- or, for that matter, some crappy flier! It's been a painful last couple of weeks and it won't get any better until mid-March for sure. Any news? The good? The bad? The ugly? Any ULCERS yet from waiting???!

Hi, I'm new here. Sounds like you're fine on the academic end, though M.Div programs aren't exactly the most academically rigorous. Admissions people will want to see that you aren't some soulless, academic automaton -- play up some service activities on your resume or CV. Demonstrate that you're a human being that will somehow, someway, contribute to the greater discussion/advancement of the church -- be it through teaching, preaching, pastoral care, etc. But honestly, it's a crap shoot. I think you're fine. Chill.

Hi, I'm new here. I applied to a hand full of THD/PHD programs with a Hebrew Bible concentration and three M.Div programs as a plan B. So far, I've heard back from Candler, but I'm waiting to see what kind of scholarship money they might give me. I'm hoping that YDS is a possibility - I think they'd be kesils to turn me down! The only thing not working in my favor, perhaps, is that I have accrued a significant chunk of debt from my MA and MTH programs. In terms of chronology, an MTH (not MTS is grad-- MTH is a post-grad research degree) I'm doing things abit anachronistically if I end up getting admitted to an M.Div program versus the PHD/THD programs that I want to do. I'm just hoping places like YDS don't see my debt and say, "This guy had his shot, he blew X thousand dollars and still is in school X years later!" Next! =[]