MsBOOM

I also applied to UVA, NYU, Temple, Yale, and Duke, so if you guys have further questions about that, do let me know (I can at least navigate through the application process with you guys, haha).

If anyone is applying to HDS and has any questions or anything of the like, do not hesitate to PM me!

To answer your question and not get off topic, I'm going to just say that apply to Emory. You won't get thrown off the table immediately because of GRE scores. And I know this for a fact.

Georgetown Yale

Good idea. Funny thing is, this hasn't been the first time I've been told this! Haha

Well, looks like everyone has beat me to the response I was going to give you! Do it!

Actually, great point. In retrospect, the GRE scores are pretty darn good for an international applicant.

Hi Saad, First question I have to ask is how long it's been since you graduated. Did you just recently graduate, or has it been a few years? I guess I ask because it seems like you can manage to put some "space" between how you were as an undergrad and how you are now. This is where your SOP to the schools you are applying for becomes important - you really, really have to make the case that you are a better student and researcher than your undergraduate grades reflect. I would suggest attempting to do the best you absolutely can on the GRE in order to better reflect this fact. I would also suggest that you really play up your lived-experiences as a Pakistani Muslim and the field-work that you have done (e.g. working as a research assistant, other work you may have done in interfaith dialogue, Islamic Studies, the thesis, etc.). Because of the low GPA, you will have to make sure that you absolutely excel in the SOP, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores. Also, are you looking into Masters or PhD programs? I think with Masters, you will have a way better chance of being accepted. As for schools, I would even venture and say that it wouldn't hurt to add Harvard Divinity School to the list. As for second-tier/third-tier schools, the only one that really comes to mind is Temple University. When I was studying at George Mason University as an undergrad, a Masters for Islamic Studies was in the works, but I'm not sure if it was instituted or not. Many MA students there were able to do an independent studies MA there, in which Islamic Studies was the concentration. I'll look into it and email my former adviser who teaches there and get back to you. Mason is a school that I consider a "diamond in the rough" - it is a great place to study religion and conflict, as some PhD students are doing. However, due to the fact that it is second-tier, it isn't taken seriously. ***EDIT: Well, well, well, would you look at that... go George Mason!: http://islamicstudiescenter.gmu.edu/***

Anybody already having anxiety over being accepted/rejected? I just can't seem to shake the anxiety!

I am meeting with a prospective PhD adviser tomorrow at Georgetown, and I think I'm going to ask him how much it matters. I guess what he says is going to determine whether I'm going to take it again or not. Thank you for the advice though!

My undergrad adviser said that it helps greatly (and she specifically told me about schools where she knew people). However, she didn't know anyone at HDS, and I still got in... so, I'm not too sure?

Exactly what I was thinking.

I'm going through this right now... I have terrible, terrible GRE scores (where it's straight out terrible, this is a fact, not an opinion of humility or modesty), and I am banking so hard on the rest of my application. There's no reason for me to retake the GRE, because I'll do even worse this go around. I have no hope when it comes to it.

I contacted a professor at Georgetown (the one and only school I'll be applying to for PhD), and I had a meeting set up within hours! I lucked out hardcore! But if you would like a copy of the email that I sent him for reference, do PM me

Applying to one and only one. Georgetown with a focus in Religious Pluralism.

I wish they would actually release real stats!!! And yes, see you soon

That forum is also from 2009. I was told for the 2012 and 2013 years, the acceptance rate for MDivs fell in the 40's. This was coming from students who were on the admissions committee. MTS I have no clue about, even though I'm an MTSer myself.

HDS loves a good sob and phoenix in the ashes story - go for it! Explain things in SOP about what happened, how it changed you spiritually and how it's motivating you to do studies in religion because of it (you get the jist). Your previous adviser should be a good person to talk to about how to write a SOP. I'm a huge banner waver for HDS, but that's because I go here. Unless, of course, you are conservative socially (as others have noted) - you might be better off in a conservative seminary/div school if you are. Our acceptance rate for MDivs is in the 40's - the MTS is a little lower than that, I believe (definitely went down for the 2013 year).

Well, that explains everything. I do all of those! As for advice: take the GRE (prep, prep, PREP!), write a stellar statement of purpose, and as for letters of recommendation, just hit up one of the professors of a class that you did exceptionally well in - preferably one that remembers you. Even if you weren't that close, they should be willing to write you one.

Taking an Arabic class to give me a leg up in Arabic in the fall and continuing my internship with The Pluralism Project... and probably going back to being an optician (temporarily).

Don't even worry about it!

Weird - I doubled in English and Religious Studies as well, haha. As everyone has already stated: LANGUAAAAAAGES!!!! For some reason, I did six - yes SIX - semesters of American Sign Language (only to give up on it and forget most of it). If I could, I would go back and take Arabic, I would do it in a heartbeat, because learning Arabic at the Harvard pace and having work from my remaining classes is absolutely killing me (I am also ridiculous because I work as a faculty assistant and also intern at The Pluralism Project - no wonder I have no life). Anyway, languages, yes! If there is a course on theories and methods, TAKE IT... taking that class before applying for an M* probably saved me the hassle of sounding like a tool (for those who have taken T&M, I'm sure you'll understand).

I always explain it to people that don't understand it in this way: this shiz is like Hollywood... only some make it big. Since it's my passion, it's worth the risk. And if not, well... at least I followed my dreams. Soooo cliche for me to say, no? Anyway, to make myself (and others) feel better in a VERY cynical way, I tell myself that we are at the prime time to be the next generation of whatever field of study in religion we are in. First generation interfaith/inter-relations scholars, second generation feminist theologians, 1st/second generation pluralism scholars... etc. etc. etc. The first generation is dying off, man! They need us to replace them, so there will be more jobs in a few years! Maybe I'm just being delusional, but damn, they're getting old, lmao.

Congrats! I PMed you about getting in - their PhD program is my dream program

Does he still count as an Italian if he is the son of Italian immigrants TO Argentina? HAHA