[PhD in Islamic History]

Heyyy, I'm from Lansing. Go State!

[What's your plan b?]

If I wasn't married, I would be very tempted to do that, too. Good on ya, RedDoor. 

[What's your plan b?]

I'm in a program, but if a teaching job doesn't materialize at the end, my wife and I will figure something out, move to a new city, start an adventure, make the best, etc. Not really worried about it. 

[so, which are the "most competitive" programs?]

Isn't this a little too anecdotal? Sure, I can understand it providing the tiniest sliver of hope and yes that's meaningful, but how far does that deviate from the norm to the point that it's an extreme outlier?

How can an anecdote be too anecdotal? All I said was it's possible. Which it is. And then I gave evidence that it is possible. Take it or leave it, man. I really don't care.

[so, which are the "most competitive" programs?]

It's possible. A friend of mine came from a tiny bible college, then a similarly tiny seminary, and landed at Johns Hopkins (HB/ANE) after JH and UChicago got in a bidding war over him.

[so, which are the "most competitive" programs?]

Now I've upvoted you and you have no idea where I'm coming at you from.

[so, which are the "most competitive" programs?]

The 5 pilgrims who voted down my post sure want their school on the list. 

 

I downvoted you and I don't care that DU-Iliff will never make it onto "the list."

[so, which are the "most competitive" programs?]

No one's trying to get their school on "the list."

[GRE score cutoffs?]

Because of all of the awesome posts in this thread, this just happened to me: 

 

I love you, GradCafe Religion. Don't ever change.

[GRE score cutoffs?]

Yeah, but he only likes the very top, most competitive turtles.

[GRE score cutoffs?]

UVa?  LOL.  I said very top, most competitive programs.  

 

[Graduate Programs in Christian Apologetics / Philosophy of Religion]

Then a job outside of conservative evangelicalism is clearly not what you're after (and that's cool) and your app fees will be wasted entirely at a non-evangelical POR department. Skip it.

[GRE score cutoffs?]

This thread has more drama than Downton Abbey 

 

And about the most boring things ever. For fuck's sake, you guys, you're arguing about the GRE and undergrads. 

[GRE score cutoffs?]

Isn't it a little early in the application season for this sort of pressure-induced and pointless bickering? 

It's fun to read, though -- so, by all means, carry on.

[Graduate Programs in Christian Apologetics / Philosophy of Religion]

Haha -- everyone else kind of pussyfooted around it, but Kuriakos just said what we were all thinking.

[Graduate Programs in Christian Apologetics / Philosophy of Religion]

Also bear in mind that funding is an issue at smaller, Evangelical schools. You would not get much, if any, financial assistance at those schools.

[GRE score cutoffs?]

Y'all should be studying for the GRE.

[Would This Count as Padding the CV?]

I say do it, man.

[Programs/Departments in contemporary Islam, ethics]

You will definitely need to get some Arabic under your belt. 

[How do you find out who is on an admissions committee?]

I think those are trade secrets, my friend.

You can guess that the department head will read your app, as will any faculty you mention in your SOP as someone you'd like to study under. But it's mostly clandestine.

[is doing an STM/ThM a good idea?]

I don't think any lacunae in our applications are ever really "solved." You're always going to be better than some and not as good as others. I think that nine years is a long time---but I also think a ThM/MTS is a great way to get back in the game. If you flourish, that will show that you've still got the chops. If you really are dreaming of doing a PhD, don't let that time off stop you. Go for the ThM/MTS and see where it gets you!

[PHD Admits Without Contacting POI, Interview or Visit]

Admitted to University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology with zero contact with anyone. 

[How Many Schools is Enough? MDiv Applicant]

I'm not sure what the admission rate is at Iliff, but I'm fairly certain it is quite high (FWIW).

I'd say 5 is plenty.

[is doing an STM/ThM a good idea?]

S/he could do an STM or ThM and then apply for the PhD a full year later, in fall 2014. That way the referees would have had at least a full, if not two, semester(s) with her/him. 

Funding is an issue, but then again, so is nine years "outside" of academia (not doubting you've maintained an interest, it's just different when you're not in school). If the PhD in NT/EC is a real dream, I would lean in the direction of doing an advanced masters degree as a kind of "down payment" on (hopefully) getting a fully-funded offer at a PhD program later.

[PhD applications for 2014 chit chat...]

The folks at DU-Iliff were great when it came time to put together a funding package for me. At first, I was given partial funding. But my POI worked really hard on my behalf and was able to up the offer to full-tuition. It is a smaller, no doubt second-tier program, but I was very pleasantly surprised by what they were able to do for me. I definitely recommend tossing an app this way (to anyone), provided the program sounds like it will meet your needs and support your interests.