runningit

It depends entirely on your bishop. If you’re not already active in your parish, get very active very quickly and start the ordination process. The ordination process is long (think 5 years start to finish) and the Anglican-specific academic requirements are frankly one of the smallest parts. But: the entire answer is going to be up to your bishop and her/his staff, and they will likely see it as very presumptuous to ask these formation questions at an early stage of your discernment process. Be careful not to put the cart before the horse, at least publicly to those with power over you.

For what it’s worth, by the way, the language prep isn’t just hoop-jumping. It’s pretty reasonable to expect a beginning NT scholar with general historical-critical interests to be able either a) to read contemporary Greek and Latin literature with some ease or b) to read contemporary Jewish literature (in unpointed Hebrew and Aramaic) with (let’s be honest) not quite as much ease or c) both...depending on your exact interests. The recent YDS MAR grads I know who have gotten into good PhD programs had 3ish years of both Greek and Hebrew and at least a year of either Aramaic or Latin. That’s not to say you won’t be admitted somewhere but it’s best to invest in a lot of Greek and Hebrew up front. Take summer Hebrew this year, regular Hebrew next year, and a couple Greek seminars in Classics downtown and it will go a long way I think. (edited to add: I’m a recent YDS MDiv grad who’s taken both these languages while at Yale; feel free to message me directly)

I have taken classes at HDS (cross-registering) and YDS (an MDiv, with some Religious Studies courses). If you’re in a typically MDiv track, the classes are...rigorous-ish. If you’re going into some kind of Christian pastoral ministry, go for Duke or Yale. Otherwise, depends on your field.

An MDiv and an MTS provide roughly the same opportunities for academic preparation, if you’re already focused; any MDiv fluff is offset with the extra year to take doctoral-level courses. And 100% + $12k is a MUCH better deal than 75%.

If you just want some background knowledge I’d recommend the iTunes U courses by Shaye Cohen (Harvard) on the Hebrew Bible and on Judaism/Christianity, and by Dale Martin on NT (Yale).

To come at it from another angle: I'd make sure that you're very clear about the specific area you want to study (for example, "theology and ethics" are probably two separate concentrated programs in most places), and why you need the 2-3 years of an MAR/MTS rather than doing a one-year STM/ThM/whatever they call it at different places, which is very typical for people who already have an MDiv.

Don’t worry about the thesis part of it. The consensus from (YDS) faculty I have known is that almost every student is better served by taking another semester of a language or doing another seminar with a professor who could write a LOR or where they could perfect a writing sample. Master’s theses tend to be too long to be publishable papers or writing samples but too short to be the equivalent of a dissertation, so most of the faculty discussing it advised against. But of course your own faculty will have their own opinions.

Just for future readers, I wanted to clear up a few things I’ve seen in this thread. (I am a graduating YDS student.) 1) YDS isn’t Christian because of the BDS (or now ANTS) presence. YDS is itself primarily a multidenominational, very progressive Christian seminary. HDS does not have that same Christian identity, nor does it want it. 2) The Bible MAR requires students to concentrate in either HB or NT. Beginning in the next year, it is being split into two programs (MAR in HB and MAR in NT) to make this clearer to applicants, although this creates no meaningful difference in what you would actually do during the degree.

Random thoughts, based on having lived for six years in Cambridge: 1. 85% of Boston/Cambridge-area apartments will have move-in dates that are either June 1 or September 1. You may be able to find August 1, although these are much rarer. You should be looking now. The deadline to let landlords know you won't be renewing a lease is often 3 months ahead of time, sometimes 2, so there should be big increases in listings around May 1 and June 1. 2. $900 for a one-bedroom apartment is not going to happen. $900 for one bedroom in a 3-4 bedroom apartment/house is doable. Maybe that's what you meant. 3. Many HDS students will probably live in Somerville (especially in and around Inman Square, although this is getting more expensive) or possibly Medford, maybe some sections of Arlington. Both have decent bus access into Harvard Square. You should look at places in Allston, which is the neighborhood of Boston that is right across the Charles River from Cambridge. Be careful--there are a lot of sketchy landlords in this area who prey on students, especially international students who are willing to rent an apartment sight unseen. I would also recommend looking in areas of Dorchester that are close to the Red Line. You can easily get from Dorchester to Harvard Square in 30-40 minutes, depending on how far you are from the T (the subway). One other idea: it may be worth looking into intentional communities in the area, for example the Beacon Hill Friends House.

Have you heard anything more from them? Decisions should be coming out today at 12:30 PM EST, either way... Unless the ISM is on a different schedule from the rest of YDS which would surprise me.

Thackston's Introduction to Persian, and his Millenium of Classical Persian Poetry as a reader, are great. New Persian has been pretty static—it's normal to to be able to read back about the last 1000 years or so, maybe a bit more or less. Particularly if you already have Arabic you should be fine. If not, you'll work through the Persian and learn tons of Arabic vocabulary on the way. (This is based on three semesters, so your mileage may vary.)

First: If you're not interested in doing research, why would you get a PhD? It's a serious investment of time and money—even if you pay nothing, you're missing out on a few years of a career. Second: Whoever told you to work for a few years and then get an Economics PhD to go into management has no idea what they're talking about. An MBA, sure, that makes sense. Doesn't it make sense to you to get a master's degree, work for a few years, and get an MBA if you're that interested in the business or management side?