Beeroz

Congrats, and a big congrats to Lib too. Full funding to Claremont is tough to come by, so you must have really impressed someone. I got an 80% offer when I was going into M.A., and I was told it was rare to get an offer even that high. Perhaps its different between the tracks. Either way, a very nice offer!

So does this mean they will offer you some sort of spot afterall? Even if not funded, thats got to be some kind of break. Good luck, and let us know. You've got a fucked up issue here, haha.

Final Results I'm happy with what I got, but a little surprised on a few of the rejections. It's either a tough year, or I overestimates my accomplishments. Either way, here they are!! Fellowships offered at U. Texas and Rice Rejected: Princeton, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Indiana Whoever got into Harvard, congratulations! I do Christian origins/Nag Hammadi/Late Antiquity, but will probably be at UT next year. As a result, I'll be moving more into Christian Origins and late antique religion. Congrats to all who know where they will be!

Congratulations! Time for bigger and better things than sitting and waiting! Now the hard part of moving....finding housing....getting a local bank account....filling out oodles of paper work....etc. Well, I guess you'll have a few months for these things, but I will stay stressed until I 1) make a decision, 2) get a house, and 3) MOVE (and I will be moving a minimum of 2300 miles), and 4) unpack!

Yale notifications are up. I was DEEEEEENIED! oh well, haha. Waiting on Harvard, and then accepting my offer to UT or Rice

You're right. They are a "whole 'nother ball game," but the issue of funding is no different. In fact, my own experience indicates that programs tend to take students more seriously when they consider the financial aspects of their education. At my current institution, where I am finishing my M.A., I was required to have a financial meeting with the head of the program during my first quarter. Programs want to know that you understand and respect the financial commitment that graduate education in the humanities represents. So, I will reiterate what I said previously: There is nothing wrong with approaching programs that have already offered you admission to ask whether or not they can offer you a more competitive package. You must do so professionally, and it won't hurt to emphasize that your final consideration will not be made solely on the basis of finances (whether or not that is actually the case for you).

Gonna wiegh in on the OPs question based on what my advisers have told me and what my experience has been thus far. I wouldn't notify programs that you haven't heard from that you have received funding offers. However, AFTER you get accepted to another program, if their funding package is not as nice, you shouldn't be afraid to ask if they can match another schools offer or improve theirs in any way. Of course, you must be professional and courteous, but PhD advisers and admissions programs know that we, as incoming PhDs, are not wealthy. Financing is much more of a consideration for PhDs in the humanities than it is in most of the sciences, and most programs will be sensitive to this fact. Unless you come off as a pompous dick, they worst they are going to do is tell you that they have made you the best offer that they can afford. my 2c.

I thought about it, but my focus is mostly in Nag Hammadi and Coptic studies, so I opted for the big names at the U.

Nope, I'm referring to the PhDs through the Religious Studies program in the Graduate School. Like I said, this is just what I've been told by a friend at Princeton, but one my advisors has also talked to a couple faculty members and been told the same thing. I didn't ask specifically, but I know that my adviser is friends with Elaine Pagels, so it wouldn't surprise me if she was the source of the information. Let me emphasize, though, that I don't know for sure.

U Penn decisions are out. Check your e-mail. I just got my rejection. Wasn't a good fit for me, but maybe one of you guys with other focus are waiting expectantly. Update from here Fellowships offerred from: U. Texas and Rice Rejected: Princeton , Brown, Penn Waiting: Indiana (probably rejected; I think they have notified their candidates), Harvard, Yale I'm having trouble figuring out where I stand. I wasn't the best fit at any of the programs I've been rejected from, so I don't know if the rejections were based on my lack of qualification or simply because I don't fit with what they want. I feel like i fit well at Harvard and Yale, so I guess I'll find out in march. Either way, I am very happy with Rice, and the UT program looks excellent. Will be a hard decision if I don't get into Harvard or Yale, which I would be stupid not accept due to the funding that those two programs have. HEADS UP on Princeton. I've got a few friends there that know the admissions committee. Apparently, they have a new head of admissions, and she is emphasizing Hebrew. Starting this year, even for Early Christian and NT disciplines, they are only admitting students with at least two years of biblical Hebrew. Can anyone that got into Princeton this year confirm their level of Hebrew for this requirement?

If you got a funding offer from Michigan, I think you have a good shot at some of those other programs, but I think Chicago has sent out all their packages for Hebrew Bible/NELC. I have a friend here in Seattle that was also offerred a place there. They made all their offers by phone. That said, perhaps you are on some sort of informal wait list. Good luck! And congrats on the offer that you've received so far!

Thanks very much! Now if Penn, Yale, Indiana, and Harvard would just send out their letters I could start to make some decisions!

If anyone was curious, turns out its a standard package. Tuition remission and a 16k stipend. No teaching required, but some 'light work' is expected over the five years of guaranteed funding. got the letter today hehe

Does anyone have any info on Rice's PhD packages? I was told on the phone (a week ago) that I have been offered their "top package," but I still haven't received anything in the mail. I'm nervous about calling just to ask about money, and I've already had a couple phone interviews about the program so I don't think I could pretend to call about something else, haha. I'm anxious to find out because I got a much higher offer from U. Texas' new program than I was expecting. As a result, I'm considering them a lot more heavily than I had been, but I don't want to spend too much time if the Rice program has enough money to make a similar or better offer. I focus on Nag Hammadi, Manichaeism, etc, so the Rice program is a better fit, but Michael White at UT is heading a dig at Ostia. He promised me a funded spot at the dig for the next few summers, and that is a big enough draw to me that I wouldn't mind moving my focus a bit more into NT studies (which I am already doing anyway). Annnnyway, all this to ask if any of you know what I might expect the offer from Rice to look like. I'd also be interested to hear what you all think of the way Texas' program is shaping up. Why have I only heard from schools in Texas? Whats up new england? WE'RE WAITING!!

Thanks for the update and a big congratulations to you! I didn't think I would get an offer, but I was still holding my breath. I assume they called you? And may I ask which specification?