2010 Religion/Theology MA/MTS/MDiv Results

[thekidisalright]

Thanks to the debbie downers for hijacking what was an exciting forum. We all know about the "state of the humanities", and for many of us, there are not a lot of options out there. No trustfunds + mediocre GREs = minimal funding and school debt. Trying to get a job right now is not easy, maybe not possible; what else are we suppose to do when this career is indeed what we love and have set our minds to doing?

It's pretty simple: re-apply. If you are worried about your job prospects now, take a year and work with one of the many excellent service organizations out there--the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Episcopal Service Corps, Americorps, etc. Spend your free time learning a new language and improving those mediocre scores. Read some books. Email professors. Attend conferences.

No one is saying not to go to grad school, just not to go to an unfunded master's level program. I hardly think that advice qualifies any of us as being debbie downers (nor should it invite sarcasm and/or hostility), since there are MANY funded programs.

I don't think anyone on the forum would argue not to be a professor because of the state of the humanities - we are all in this together and all in it because we love it.

[johndiligent]

I just meant that it's uncommon at the MA level (at least in Canada!)

I'm surprised by that statement, though I know you have more experience with it than I do. I'd always been told that Canadian MA's are considerably better-funded (relative to tuition fees) than American MA's (which was my reason for choosing to do my MA in Canada). I've been expecting offers of tuition + meager but survivable money for living expenses from any school that really wanted me to attend. I have two of those now so I guess I've been luckier than I realised?

Thankfully, no school has seemed shocked by my inquiries into the funding situation, so that's a good sign I guess.

[LateAntique]

It's pretty simple: re-apply. If you are worried about your job prospects now, take a year and work with one of the many excellent service organizations out there--the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Episcopal Service Corps, Americorps, etc. Spend your free time learning a new language and improving those mediocre scores. Read some books. Email professors. Attend conferences.

No one is saying not to go to grad school, just not to go to an unfunded master's level program. I hardly think that advice qualifies any of us as being debbie downers (nor should it invite sarcasm and/or hostility), since there are MANY funded programs.

I don't think anyone on the forum would argue not to be a professor because of the state of the humanities - we are all in this together and all in it because we love it.

I agree with your advice concerning an un(der)funded MA in the humanities. Unfortunately, as things are, few, if any, of us will ever have the earning potential to pay back the huge amounts of loans it would take to do an MA at a place like Chicago with no funding.

[LisaTO]

I'm surprised by that statement, though I know you have more experience with it than I do. I'd always been told that Canadian MA's are considerably better-funded (relative to tuition fees) than American MA's (which was my reason for choosing to do my MA in Canada). I've been expecting offers of tuition + meager but survivable money for living expenses from any school that really wanted me to attend. I have two of those now so I guess I've been luckier than I realised?

Thankfully, no school has seemed shocked by my inquiries into the funding situation, so that's a good sign I guess.

It seems to depend on the school here? Laurier has a minimum guaranteed amount of funding for all MA students, while UofT, as you probably know, makes no promises about anything.

I'm not quite sure I could live off of Laurier's offer-- so maybe you are lucky

[peppermint.beatnik]

I'm surprised by that statement, though I know you have more experience with it than I do. I'd always been told that Canadian MA's are considerably better-funded (relative to tuition fees) than American MA's (which was my reason for choosing to do my MA in Canada). I've been expecting offers of tuition + meager but survivable money for living expenses from any school that really wanted me to attend. I have two of those now so I guess I've been luckier than I realised?

Thankfully, no school has seemed shocked by my inquiries into the funding situation, so that's a good sign I guess.

I meant to get more money for an MA, upon asking. Definitely Canada funds more than US, for MAs. Sorry for the mix-up

Edited March 16, 2010 by peppermint.beatnik

[divinity888]

I've heard great things about Harvard's Asian Religions program. I have a friend who studied Asian Religions there and loved it! I would say go for Harvard.

Yes! And don't forget that Harvard is very encouraging of Div students to take classes from the other Harvard schools. Harvard has one of the top Japanese programs in the country and is home to the Harvard/Yenching institute. I did a lot of my undergraduate thesis research at the Yenching library at Harvard and it was amazing.

[johndiligent]

I meant to get more money for an MA, upon asking. Definitely Canada funds more than US, for MAs. Sorry for the mix-up

Mea culpa! I was just suddenly gripped by the fear that I was unknowingly being a total asshole to departments by asking for more money. Feeling of panic evaporated... Thanks!

[johndiligent]

It seems to depend on the school here? Laurier has a minimum guaranteed amount of funding for all MA students, while UofT, as you probably know, makes no promises about anything.

I'm not quite sure I could live off of Laurier's offer-- so maybe you are lucky

Have you decided whether you'll take Toronto's offer? My deadline to reply is Friday. I'm going to be turning it down, I'm pretty sure, but I'm going to sit on it until the deadline just in case I change my mind.

[LisaTO]

Have you decided whether you'll take Toronto's offer? My deadline to reply is Friday. I'm going to be turning it down, I'm pretty sure, but I'm going to sit on it until the deadline just in case I change my mind.

I called them today to ask about that deadline. It seems rather short considering the fact that I only received my official letter yesterday. I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I suppose I might have to decide soon.

[johndiligent]

I still haven't received my official letter and I doubt I will before the deadline so I hope it contains no deviations from what they e-mailed out!

I got Calgary's official letter today and it was extremely weird... The envelope had never been sealed! I guess they wanted to share the news with postal carriers all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the east coast. Creeps me out a bit because I keep thinking that there might have been something in there that didn't make the journey in an open envelope.

Edited March 16, 2010 by johndiligent

[LisaTO]

I still haven't received my official letter and I doubt I will before the deadline so I hope it contains no deviations from what they e-mailed out!

I got Calgary's official letter today and it was extremely weird... The envelope had never been sealed! I guess they wanted to share the news with postal carriers all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the east coast. Creeps me out a bit because I keep thinking that there might have been something in there that didn't make the journey in an open envelope.

That's really weird.

I actually applied to a couple other American schools that I still haven't heard from. Now, I didn't really think I'd get in down there because of my awful GRE scores so I was amazed about Harvard, and I'm still feeling kinda rushed.

[mks114]

Anyone that got into Duke MTS get a financial package in the mail or email yet?

[redreverend]

I declined the offers from Harvard Divinity and Yale Divinity. I hope someone can benefit!

[11Q13]

^I'm in at Duke but no letter yet (I finally got up the courage to call them once I head from Harvard).

Speaking of Harvard, do you guys think it bad form to name the other schools I got into and funding offers (Vandys should basically be a full ride) when asking for more funding? Attending really wont be feasible unless I get more so there is a lot riding on it.

[Thepoetsdaughter]

Harvard ended up offering me full tuition (we did good this year, folks!) so I'm almost positive that I'm going to turn down UChicago's offer. I met with the dean, and tried to haggle a bit, but she said that there's really no money beyond what they've already offered to folks.

Which is fine. Harvard it is!!

[AN74]

Just found out I got into BC's MTS. I'm super excited and leaning heavily towards accepting, but am seriously considering asking for a bit more funding. I'm not sure how well that would go over, though.

[Jack Horner]

Just found out I got into BC's MTS. I'm super excited and leaning heavily towards accepting, but am seriously considering asking for a bit more funding. I'm not sure how well that would go over, though.

Congratulations! I've only heard great things. I'll be attending the STM in the fall. If you don't mind me asking, what was your fuding offer?

[AN74]

Congratulations! I've only heard great things. I'll be attending the STM in the fall. If you don't mind me asking, what was your fuding offer?

PM'd you.

[Giraffe40]

Anyone that got into Duke MTS get a financial package in the mail or email yet?

I haven't heard about funding yet. (*fingers crossed*)

[religiondude]

So is anyone accepting the UofT MA offers tomorrow? I’m still uncertain.

[johndiligent]

So is anyone accepting the UofT MA offers tomorrow? I’m still uncertain.

I'm turning it down tomorrow for sure. I know LisaTO got an extension so if you're still uncertain you could ask for one tomorrow.

[11Q13]

Quick question, who should I email my funding request to? The dean, the financial aid department, both?

I haven't heard about funding yet. (*fingers crossed*)

funding for the MTS as far as I know is 22% unless you get the Petry full ride scholarship of which there are 4 I believe. You can call them and ask if you got that scholarship.

[religiondude]

Decisions, decisions...how should a Religion student decide what school they should attend: flip a coin, ask the gods, consult the stars, etc? Such an important choice to leave up to “eeny meeny miny moe”.

[Jack Horner]

Decisions, decisions...how should a Religion student decide what school they should attend: flip a coin, ask the gods, consult the stars, etc? Such an important choice to leave up to “eeny meeny miny moe”.

You could start by asking the Cafe about their opinions...

[LisaTO]

I'm turning it down tomorrow for sure. I know LisaTO got an extension so if you're still uncertain you could ask for one tomorrow.

haha, yes, I got an extension.