[How am I looking for Boston College STM?]

I'm not sure what you mean by SOP.

Beyond that, thanks to both of you for your responses. I've been feeling really optimistic about my chances, but I wanted to get some outside opinions because it's possible I'm quite delusional. Anyway, yes, I'm applying for the MTS because I'm not sure I need all the pastoral courses, although I could see them being helpful. My career goal is basically, in an ideal world, to be a research professor, but absent that, I'm going to try to teach at the high school or parish catechetical level. I could always do a pastoral certificate later if necessary, but my focus is non-terminal, doctoral track academic theology.

But hey, if I don't get in, I'm already accepted at Seton Hall, so woo.

[How am I looking for Boston College STM?]

Hey there.

I'm applying to a few different Theology master's programs. I applied and was accepted at Seton Hall, but I had to defer for financial reasons, so I'm taking the opportunity to apply elsewhere. I have an application pending at Fordham, but my first choice is Boston College.

Here's my deal. I was not a stellar student my first couple years of undergrad, and I ended up on academic suspension for a year; mostly, I stopped going to class. I was a dumb kid. I spent the next three dragging my GPA out of the muck, and graduated with a 2.7. My major GPA is a 3.4. On the GRE, I nabbed a 170/170 Verbal, 151/170 Quantitative, and 5.5 written. My letters of recommendation are blindingly glowing.

Additionally, after graduation, I did a year at seminary before leaving, where I nabbed a 4.0.

I've struck up a decent rapport with the associate admissions director at BC, and I'm planning on visiting next month so I can establish a personal connection.

Do I have a shot?

[MA in Theology -- high GRE, low GPA, what's a guy to do?]

I'm applying for my MA in Theology at a few schools, primarily Seton Hall and Fordham. I took the GRE a few weeks ago, and scored a 151 Q (48th %ile), 170 V (99th %ile), and 5.5 Writing. I have stellar letters of recommendation from my professors who taught me when I was at seminary. I scored a 4.0 GPA in seminary before I left. My MAT score is 450.

But my undergrad career is spotted as all get out. I gave not one crap for the first two years of college, and ended up getting an academic suspension. I skipped class all the time and my GPA went into the tubes. When I came back after a year, I got my act together, and dragged my GPA from a .8 to a 2.7, with a major GPA of 3.2. But my transcripts do show a bunch of F's early on, some of which I got replaced, but some of which are still there.

Further, I left seminary for personal reasons in the middle of my second semester, so my transcripts there will show a bunch of W's.

I'm super worried about my prospects. My interview at Seton Hall went very well -- and I explained all of this to the dean -- and she seemed optimistic, but Seton is my fallback school. Fordham is the ideal. So what's the deal?

Thanks,

seatbeltblue