Decisions

[Gus]

Now that many of the results are out, I suspect that there are others in my position of making tough decisions. Anyone else want to weigh in on your decision dillemmas? Mine is this...

I got into 2 of 8 schools that I applied to. I may not be headed anywhere this year due to my spouse's employment concerns, but if that can be worked out the major decision is this...

PhD at the seminary that I hold my MDiv from. Not a "ranked" school, but in the Chicago consortium. I'd enjoy the school and it's close to family, but I'm worried about job prospects coming out.

ThD from Bost Univ - what's exciting about this is also what's scary. I've never visited the campus but am pretty sure I'd really enjoy the school and the faculty. My interests are primarily in teaching at a small undergrad institution, but I am also interested in making connections with the church. From what I've read a ThD may make it near impossible to teach in an undergrad setting (though Im not sure if it would make it more or less difficult than the PhD mentioned above), but it would open other more practical opportunities within church related fields that I may also enjoy (although these also are hard to come by).

Wait another year, work on my app and apply again. This was my first round of applications and I learned a few things. I could probably improve my GRE score and fine tune my writing samples at the very least. I was waitlisted at Vandy and got the generic "your app was fine but there were too many applicants this year" letter from pretty much everywhere else. Of course, that doesnt mean much since it seems like Vandy's list is quite long and I would imagine there are always "too many applicants".

The other consideration, as I'm sure many of you can relate, is that it feels a little daunting and exhausting to consider doing this all again. But, I don't want to accept a program that won't accomplish my ultimate goals naively either.

Any thoughts or similar experiences would be most appreciated!

[origenes]

Now that many of the results are out, I suspect that there are others in my position of making tough decisions. Anyone else want to weigh in on your decision dillemmas? Mine is this...

I got into 2 of 8 schools that I applied to. I may not be headed anywhere this year due to my spouse's employment concerns, but if that can be worked out the major decision is this...

PhD at the seminary that I hold my MDiv from. Not a "ranked" school, but in the Chicago consortium. I'd enjoy the school and it's close to family, but I'm worried about job prospects coming out.

ThD from Bost Univ - what's exciting about this is also what's scary. I've never visited the campus but am pretty sure I'd really enjoy the school and the faculty. My interests are primarily in teaching at a small undergrad institution, but I am also interested in making connections with the church. From what I've read a ThD may make it near impossible to teach in an undergrad setting (though Im not sure if it would make it more or less difficult than the PhD mentioned above), but it would open other more practical opportunities within church related fields that I may also enjoy (although these also are hard to come by).

Wait another year, work on my app and apply again. This was my first round of applications and I learned a few things. I could probably improve my GRE score and fine tune my writing samples at the very least. I was waitlisted at Vandy and got the generic "your app was fine but there were too many applicants this year" letter from pretty much everywhere else. Of course, that doesnt mean much since it seems like Vandy's list is quite long and I would imagine there are always "too many applicants".

The other consideration, as I'm sure many of you can relate, is that it feels a little daunting and exhausting to consider doing this all again. But, I don't want to accept a program that won't accomplish my ultimate goals naively either.

Any thoughts or similar experiences would be most appreciated!

I honestly know nothing about job placement for ThDs, but I assume Boston has information for you in terms of their own placement history. And I assume you have some idea about the placement history of the school you're currently at. If you think you can notably improve your CV, and you have a spouse with a job, that's not a terrible idea, although I know exactly how you feel in terms of simply not wanting to go through it all again. Of course, you could also apply to fewer schools, even though this has its own obvious disadvantages.

My situation is not entirely different. I also have the option to stay in the program I am in currently and work on a PhD, but they just don't do exactly what I'm interested in, so I would be compromising somewhat. I've been waitlisted for funding at one school, so that may work out, but if it doesn't I have the option to defer and try to improve my CV to get funding next year. What I would do in the mean time is the real problem. Not exactly a soaring job market out there for MAs in Classics and Religion. Good luck.

[Postbib Yeshuist]

I am very much of the "bird in the hand" school of thought when it comes to Ph.D. apps. Though I might stand a better chance next year (I'd have more time to visit profs and I could use some of the tips I've gotten this year), I might also have hit it "just right." The Ph.D. application process can be VERY fickle and I don't want to be sitting here next year with three waitlists, no rejections but no acceptances either. I'm going now. No sense in taking a chance if I don't have to, imo...

[Gus]

Thanks for the thoughts and responses. I've spent some time praying about and reading lots more about the two schools in question. They are both exciting to me in their own ways. Not the least of which are the consortia of which they are each a part. Family concerns also make the seminary option more appealing, although the ThD is still enticing to me. I'm actually not currently in my MDiv program so both would require a move. Right now, I'm feeling confident about accepting either program depending upon my husband's employment situation.

[Gus]

My situation is not entirely different. I also have the option to stay in the program I am in currently and work on a PhD, but they just don't do exactly what I'm interested in, so I would be compromising somewhat. I've been waitlisted for funding at one school, so that may work out, but if it doesn't I have the option to defer and try to improve my CV to get funding next year. What I would do in the mean time is the real problem. Not exactly a soaring job market out there for MAs in Classics and Religion. Good luck.

Origenes -

Just my two cents after taking a day to reflect from the initial disappointment of my last rejection. Don't compromise to the point that your work would be pointless, but if you can network outside the school and work with the faculty and within their course offerings to meet your interests, then I think I'm going to echo the "bird in the hand" opinion. The major question I guess is whether or not you think YOU can pull off the work that you want to accomplish at your current school.

[Postbib Yeshuist]

I reread the original post and realized the Th.D. question was something I didn't address. I've also heard that a Th.D. severely limits your teaching prospects, especially if you're looking at a secular university. I've also heard from more than a few people that the name of the school is not nearly as important as your name, in the sense that if you're been seen/heard in seminars and conferences, or have been published, you can come from a less well-known school and still be quite competitive. Given what it sounds like you wish to do, I think the Ph.D. is the better option. A pre-existing support system can be VERY important in Ph.D. Knowing the people already might better enable you survive the rigors of the program.