AmoDman

Did you get any funding? I got offered 60% tuition covered... but it's still a little cost inhibitive for me to attend there. My other main option is an MA in Religion w/an assistantship.

I'm debating between Vandy Divinity school and University of IL's fairly new Religious Studies MA. Basically, Divinity school is what I actually want to do... but Vandy's 60% merit scholarship was my best offer in that regard. Conversely, while I'm technically still waiting to hear back from the U of I with my 'offiicial' Notice of Admission that should include their financial offer to me (informally accepted awhile ago)--I've heard 'through the grape vine' that I should probably expect full tuition coverage and/or an assistantship. And it's a 32 hour MA. So Vandy is what I really want. But it may be worth my while to get an MA from the U of I (good program in and of itself) and then apply to Vandy and elsewhere again afterwards with what should be a much stronger application to snag more funding. So that's my decision. You guys asked . Heh. Sorry, I pretty much just used this for a sounding board of my thoughts.

Yes, it was the MTS! Suppose there's nothing for it.

Whelp, bad news from Notre Dame for me. I guess they accepted 20 out of 187 this year. Sad day. Probably should've applied at more schools... but it looks like I have some decisions to make amongst the offers I did get.

Reading your post made quoting me made me realize I said 'get' the paranoia instead of 'end' the paranoia. I really need to stop making online posts on my iPod >_<. Anyway, I also hope we aren't just being strung along here and missed the whole acceptance boat with the phone calls as well... I feel like my chances were always slim at ND (my top choice), but I would still like an answer. Yet like I said to jdmhotness, feel free to turn down the offer if you get in and we don't .

Well if you get in, feel free to turn it down in favor of those who might not!

Yes, this whole thing is rather confusing. It looks like they've accepted people via e-mail in past years... but so far they've only accepted people by phone. I would love to get a response of some fashion and just get the paranoia already :/.

Emma, Where did you hear that they called some MTS people?

I certainly don't mean to lecture--but based upon my limited experience and job training seminars I've been involved with, it's still all about selling yourself and developing relationships. For instance, if you want a job in a particular area or a particular company, you've got to be willing to invest yourself into the long haul at different locations. That is, send in a 'cover letter' expressing interesting in working for the company to their HR department. If possible, tell them you'll drop off your resume on such and such a date yourself--or include your resume and tell them you'll call in to introduce yourself personally on such and such a date. Once that date rolls around, do so. Make an impression and show them that your interest in their company is serious and you'll have something to talk to the HR director about--the letter you already sent in. Be personable. Get to know them. Sell yourself. And don't give up. Simply inquire about current or upcoming potential positions and express your interest in following up in the future. Then touch back regularly. Stay interested and every couple months (or something reasonable) call in. Stop by. Whatever. If you develop a relationship with that business as strong and reliable candidate who wants a job--you'll be top of the list to interview once something rolls around.

It all depends on how you sell yourself. Short of extremely technical positions (which generally require practical experience as much as education)--any degree wherein you actually applied yourself can get you any job. I tell employers that my philosophy degree is all about reasoning. Understanding viewpoints, theories, data, etc. and understanding how to apply it quickly and well. And I say that my rel studies minor gave me the opportunity to understand people. That academically studying religion is essentially studying the overlap of philosophy, morality, and culture. I say that I'm both open and interested in the perspectives of others and how we can integrate our viewpoints effectively. The rest is my Bus Admin minor and banking/financial experience (currently in Loan Ops). Granted, I do want to move out of these fields myself.

Same with me calling Notre Dame... gah.

Mind you, the new GRE scale has been altered. So the old numbers are not exactly spot on, anymore.

<shakes fist at iPod auto-correct>

Why do you say that it's note likely to be on a Friday? I guess I'm unclear what's so special about that day of the week, specifically.

Congratulations! That is certainly ideal.

Just got into SLU! But they are, unfortunately, 'unable to offer' any funding options for me at this time. So that's a disappointment, but I suppose I expected that such is common there. My own dilemma for only applying to schools within a certain geopgraphical radius to me. In any case, still waiting for Notre Dame! I really don't know if my chances are very good there... but their automatic full funding package for the MTS is very attractive--on top of the school itself, of course.

You don't think it'll be a load off just to get these responses in already, good or bad? I've been starting to get agitated waiting for it. Life is so flipping difficult to manage when stuff is up in the air like this.

I was also accepted into the University of Illinois's Religious Studies MA. It's a newer program/smaller department... But man, does anyone know when Notre Dame or SLU might be making decisions?

Becoming a master of 'nothing' struck as funny... for a Master's degree!

So I just got my first letter. Accepted into Vanderbilt for the MTS--offered 60% merit based scholarship. I'm pretty excited that that's my first acceptance--but not so sure about that 60%. My goal for grad school is to go if and only if I can get funding. I'm not sure if 60% tuition is enough, especially with Vandy prices. That being said, they still have need based aid I can apply for. But I don't know if that includes any grants--or just loans.

Sounds like Ron Paul to me.

Well, I currently am employed by a financial institution as, basically, a file clerk in lending... Yes, it's as depressingly horrible as it sounds (for me). Geh.

The question is, are any of us not? :/

Hah. You gave me some more peace of mind. I applied to Notre Dame MTS as well... no idea my chances. Unfortunately, my name had one two many 'L's in it one one of the name fields of my original application... and I didn't catch it to correct until the beginning of February! Hopefully that didn't screw up anything further. They weren't able to match my GRE documents up to my app until I called in to fix that. Silliness.

I was going to start nearby and move outward with my application interest (due to regional attachments)... but, yes, the notorious lack of funding at Chicago schools is why I didn't initially list any of them on my GRE exam to send scores to. I bet my brother in San Fran would be happy if I applied to GTU, though. Heh. I'm also not yet sold on a PhD path. I really just wanted to dig in at the Master's level and see what I wanted to do from there (informally speaking here online, of course). I'm sort of one foot in and foot out with academia. I'd really like to study systematic theology and church history (as well as the general intersection of philosophy/religion). And as much as I like the idea of teaching, I simply know from research and word of mouth that academia is an extraordinarily difficult 'career' to get into these days. I'm also not actually Catholic (despite the Catholic schools). My other foot is in practically working with my church (MDiv not specifically necessary), though my professional experience is really in banking/loan processing. Exciting stuff, I know.