UVA, Union, BUST, YDS?

[rab1989]

Hello all, 

I would love any advice you have to offer. This is my first round of applications for MA's and Mdivs. I want to go on for a PhD afterwards but have yet to narrow my interests enough. Right now my two big areas of interest are NT/Christianity & Judaism in antiquity(with emphasis on the Historical Jesus, and anti-imperial readings of the NT & HB in general) and 19th-20th century theology/social ethics(Kierkegaard, Bonhoeffer, post Shoah Jewish and Christian thought).

So far I've been admitted to UVA's MA in TEC, Union's MA, and BUST Mdiv(religion and the academy tract), and YDS sends out decisions tomorrow. UVA offers no funding to terminal masters(BUT i'm a VA resident - so in state tuition), Union has yet to reveal my financial aid package, and BUST has offered me full tuition(Woo, but also living expenses are INSANE in Boston). 

Despite Yale being Yale, UVA and Union look like my best options as they both seem to have stronger faculty in these general areas than YDS(Plus I don't know if I'll even be accepted at YDS). BUST is a great school, but seems like a school with a bend towards ministry rather than scholarship. I suppose you could say that about Union, but it seems like a more academically rigorous program based on conversations I've had with students. 

Opinions? I like both UVA and Union for different reasons. I'm really unsure of which would be the best option, particularly for someone who wants to do doctoral work in the future.

[Rabbit Run]

First, wait to hear from Yale about admission/funding and from Union about funding. BU giving you full tuition is big though.

One thing to note is that YDS, Union, and BU will ALL have a ministry focus to some degree since they're divinity schools/seminaries. This doesn't necessarily detract from their academic rigor. BU, for instance, is a good school with access to plenty of other top programs through the BTI (i.e. Harvard Divinity, Boston College, etc.). Going there and taking advantage of those resources will set you up well for applications. Further, since your interests are relatively broad, doing a degree in a divinity school/seminary setting might be good to help you narrow. I'm skeptical, for instance, that UVA's Theology, Ethics, and culture track will allow you to do much with your biblical studies/early Christianity interests (although they will be excellent for your 19th/20th religious thought interests). 

If you get into Yale with good funding I'd certainly go there, but you have a lot of good options on the table.

[rejectedndejected]

4 hours ago, rab1989 said:

Hello all, 

I would love any advice you have to offer. This is my first round of applications for MA's and Mdivs. I want to go on for a PhD afterwards but have yet to narrow my interests enough. Right now my two big areas of interest are NT/Christianity & Judaism in antiquity(with emphasis on the Historical Jesus, and anti-imperial readings of the NT & HB in general) and 19th-20th century theology/social ethics(Kierkegaard, Bonhoeffer, post Shoah Jewish and Christian thought).

So far I've been admitted to UVA's MA in TEC, Union's MA, and BUST Mdiv(religion and the academy tract), and YDS sends out decisions tomorrow. UVA offers no funding to terminal masters(BUT i'm a VA resident - so in state tuition), Union has yet to reveal my financial aid package, and BUST has offered me full tuition(Woo, but also living expenses are INSANE in Boston). 

Despite Yale being Yale, UVA and Union look like my best options as they both seem to have stronger faculty in these general areas than YDS(Plus I don't know if I'll even be accepted at YDS). BUST is a great school, but seems like a school with a bend towards ministry rather than scholarship. I suppose you could say that about Union, but it seems like a more academically rigorous program based on conversations I've had with students. 

Opinions? I like both UVA and Union for different reasons. I'm really unsure of which would be the best option, particularly for someone who wants to do doctoral work in the future.

How did you get into UVA?!  Their website says they "regularly turn down perfect GRE scores."  After reading that, I decided to save my fifty dollars.  What magical elixir does one drink to make himself a remotely attractive candidate with respect to such a staggering degree of competition?  Can you disclose your stats? I didn't even bother to apply because I only got a 164 V and only have a 3.9+ grad GPA (from mid tier, regional school).

[Rabbit Run]

14 minutes ago, rejectedndejected said:

How did you get into UVA?!  Their website says they "regularly turn down perfect GRE scores."  

 

I take it this is a way of saying "its fit, not scores, that gets you in. Perfect scores and a bad fit = rejection"

[ChristoWitch87]

Just curious, because I see a mix of MDiv and MA programs on your list... do you have ANY and I mean ANY inclination towards ministry either now or in the future? Because if so, get the M.Div. As someone who got an MAR and now many years later is going back for an M.Div (that may or may not allow some credits to transfer in) I will say spare yourself the potential logistical and financial headache and get the M.Div. Plenty of M.Divs go to great PhD programs, especially if you utilize that extra year right to get strong LORs, study languages, etc.

If not, I would just go with whichever of Union or YDS gives you the best financial aid package as both have excellent placement in PhDs (though, given I am a YDS alum who will be heading to Union this Fall I admit I am a tad biased).

[rejectedndejected]

17 minutes ago, Rabbit Run said:

I take it this is a way of saying "its fit, not scores, that gets you in. Perfect scores and a bad fit = rejection"

I just took it as a way of saying that I better start looking at different programs...

[kaaat]

6 minutes ago, rejectedndejected said:

I just took it as a way of saying that I better start looking at different programs...

I think it's true that fit is a big part of it. I got into HDS, even though I waived the GRE.

[rab1989]

8 hours ago, rejectedndejected said:

I just took it as a way of saying that I better start looking at different programs...

I definitely think UVA is big on fit, my GRE scores were not bad, but average. In my statement I played up my interests that really fit with their program. I also imagine the terminal MA isn't nearly as competitive as the PhD because it's not funded.

 

[rab1989]

8 hours ago, ChristoWitch87 said:

Just curious, because I see a mix of MDiv and MA programs on your list... do you have ANY and I mean ANY inclination towards ministry either now or in the future? Because if so, get the M.Div. As someone who got an MAR and now many years later is going back for an M.Div (that may or may not allow some credits to transfer in) I will say spare yourself the potential logistical and financial headache and get the M.Div. Plenty of M.Divs go to great PhD programs, especially if you utilize that extra year right to get strong LORs, study languages, etc.

If not, I would just go with whichever of Union or YDS gives you the best financial aid package as both have excellent placement in PhDs (though, given I am a YDS alum who will be heading to Union this Fall I admit I am a tad biased).

Honestly, no. I applied Mdiv at BUST because they have a tract designed for budding academics. 

Out of curiosity, why Union over UVA?