2020 Religion Application Thread

[pax et caritas]

1 hour ago, Barquentine said:

I'm in something of the same boat for an Oxford MSt. It's definitely at the top of my list, but unless I get really lucky with the funding I don't think it's going to happen. Does anyone know if the funding decisions usually do take 8-10 weeks after the initial offer and what I should realistically expect?

Yeah, I'm supposed to let them know my decision by April 17th... really hoping word on funding comes before that, haha. Did you list a preferred college on your app? I put Blackfriars. I'm wondering if funding through the college would be my best bet. 

[xypathos]

Funding at Oxford and UK schools in general is bad for US students. They do have some competitive offers but I think they tend to prefer DPhil students for them.

That said, make sure you take a hard look at funding with other schools. Often Oxford is marginally more expensive, sometimes cheaper, so it's something to consider. I turned down an offer to Oxford in exchange for staying stateside at Vandy and I think, all things considered, it'd have been cheaper and more culturally awesome had I gone to Oxford. Nashville is astronomically expensive for grad students and most of us were living 30-45 minutes away from Nashville.

[soror]

15 hours ago, JF2F said:

Harvard has sent all offers and waitlists for Phd only, or for MTS/Mdiv too?

PhD only. 

[pax et caritas]

1 hour ago, xypathos said:

Funding at Oxford and UK schools in general is bad for US students. They do have some competitive offers but I think they tend to prefer DPhil students for them.

That said, make sure you take a hard look at funding with other schools. Often Oxford is marginally more expensive, sometimes cheaper, so it's something to consider. I turned down an offer to Oxford in exchange for staying stateside at Vandy and I think, all things considered, it'd have been cheaper and more culturally awesome had I gone to Oxford. Nashville is astronomically expensive for grad students and most of us were living 30-45 minutes away from Nashville.

That's helpful to keep in mind. I'd certainly consider going even if I only got a small amount of funding. Maybe I can find some external scholarships.

[tinybee]

Does anyone have any insight/inside info into when UChicago will release MA/MDiv decisions?

[soitgoes]

5 minutes ago, tinybee said:

Does anyone have any insight/inside info into when UChicago will release MA/MDiv decisions?

And PhD decisions!

[Fiat]

1 hour ago, tinybee said:

Does anyone have any insight/inside info into when UChicago will release MA/MDiv decisions?

I am hoping maybe tomorrow. They have been releasing decisions on Tuesdays in February.

[Fiat]

Does anyone know anything about MA in Church History at Catholic University? How is their funding and acceptance rate? I submitted my application on Jan 31 so should I expect to hear back soon?

[SAH08]

Friends, 

 

I wish you all the best. May you remember that your value is not determined by any acceptance or rejection. I accepted my admission into BC this morning. This forum has been a place of solidarity during this grueling process. See you all around the guild. 

[batyah]

23 hours ago, Absurd'sTheWord said:

Rejected from Syracuse. Had one Skype interview, two phone interviews with my professor of interest (both of which exceeded an hour of positive conversation), and woke up to a rejection letter. Beyond devastated, feeling like I've been strung along for the last two weeks.  

So sorry! This process can be so very confusing - an emotional roller coaster!

[LFRT]

21 hours ago, soitgoes said:

And PhD decisions!

I’m also wondering about this..it seems like an answer should come this week since it’s pretty late now.

Have you seen the news from last semester that the university admin is cutting down the number of PhD students at the Div school (along with some departments)? I wonder if determining the number of students they can even admit is contributing to the delay.

[foucaultsturtleneck]

1 hour ago, LFRT said:

I’m also wondering about this..it seems like an answer should come this week since it’s pretty late now.

Have you seen the news from last semester that the university admin is cutting down the number of PhD students at the Div school (along with some departments)? I wonder if determining the number of students they can even admit is contributing to the delay.

I haven't seen this news! Where did you see it?

[thesepeoplearerude]

who on this waitlist wave w/ me

[lwr]

I'm also on a waitlist now. It's my first time applying so I wanted to ask about whether it's better to do something about being on the waitlist (like emailing profrssors, expressing/reaffirming interest in the program) or just sitting tight and waiting? I guess it doesn't help that I don't know how or if the waitlist is ranked or where I might rank on it. Is it okay to email and ask about these things?

[LFRT]

12 hours ago, foucaultsturtleneck said:

I haven't seen this news! Where did you see it?

There are articles out there from the fall when it initially happened, but I’m also linking two recent relevant analyses from an interesting series about this admin by the student paper you could check out. The first is about the professor response to the cuts, and the second touches on how certain master’s programs (like MAPSS) are being used to increase funding while PhD numbers decrease.

I wonder what you guys think this could mean practically for PhD students (beyond making it more difficult to get an offer). On the one hand, there is a guaranteed amount of funding regardless of teaching duties. On the other hand, I wonder if having so much conflict between the faculty and administration about PhD students could be a red flag as a study/work environment.

Edited February 26, 2020 by LFRT

[LFRT]

2 hours ago, lwr said:

I'm also on a waitlist now. It's my first time applying so I wanted to ask about whether it's better to do something about being on the waitlist (like emailing profrssors, expressing/reaffirming interest in the program) or just sitting tight and waiting? I guess it doesn't help that I don't know how or if the waitlist is ranked or where I might rank on it. Is it okay to email and ask about these things?

By no means an expert here, but it seems to me reaching out to your POI (or whomever you have had the most contact with) would be a good idea to reaffirm your interest. My guess is that in the event their offer is turned down by one student, they probably want to avoid having another offer turned down. The professor might also be able to shed some light on the length of the waitlist/the odds you’ll get off of it. I think this is a reasonable thing to ask about—especially if you have an offer elsewhere that you’re considering, though I wouldn’t necessarily say you have another offer..In my case, I didn’t have to ask about an indication of the length/if they think someone might not accept an offer because my POI kindly sent me an email explaining the situation, so I took the opportunity in my reply to reiterate that I would like to stay on the waitlist because I thought their department was a strong fit for me. Hope this helps!

[NTNerd]

we all read into everything in this PhD app process, right? ?

in response to my post-interview thank-you's, most emails back were neutral (e.g., it was nice to meet you too, all the best). I am waaaaay reading into one that says "best wishes for your onward study," thinking that this prof doesn't want me because it sounds like it's assuming i won't be at that institution....and that if they wanted me it might say something like "best wishes for your onward study, whether here or elsewhere"...am i reading into it? is it common perhaps to reply to everyone in that way because they don't want to give any hints about what they are thinking before the departments and committees meet? The reply was sent during the weekend and before any admissions meetings had happened yet. 

[Averroes MD]

8 hours ago, LFRT said:

By no means an expert here, but it seems to me reaching out to your POI (or whomever you have had the most contact with) would be a good idea to reaffirm your interest. My guess is that in the event their offer is turned down by one student, they probably want to avoid having another offer turned down. The professor might also be able to shed some light on the length of the waitlist/the odds you’ll get off of it. I think this is a reasonable thing to ask about—especially if you have an offer elsewhere that you’re considering, though I wouldn’t necessarily say you have another offer..In my case, I didn’t have to ask about an indication of the length/if they think someone might not accept an offer because my POI kindly sent me an email explaining the situation, so I took the opportunity in my reply to reiterate that I would like to stay on the waitlist because I thought their department was a strong fit for me. Hope this helps!

I would absolutely mention that you have another offer in hand.

Getting into PhD programs is like dating. You want to appear desirable. 

in response to my post-interview thank-you's, most emails back were neutral (e.g., it was nice to meet you too, all the best). I am waaaaay reading into one that says "best wishes for your onward study," thinking that this prof doesn't want me because it sounds like it's assuming i won't be at that institution....and that if they wanted me it might say something like "best wishes for your onward study, whether here or elsewhere"...am i reading into it? is it common perhaps to reply to everyone in that way because they don't want to give any hints about what they are thinking before the departments and committees meet? The reply was sent during the weekend and before any admissions meetings had happened yet.

Haha this is some good detective work. I think you might be right about the wording... But who knows? It could just mean that he/she cannot guarantee you a position... I wouldn't jump to gloom and doom.

[lwr]

@LFRT Thanks a ton for the advice! I figured that they would know that I'd probably take their offer in a heartbeat since I'm applying straight out of undergrad and honestly didn't expect to get any interviews for PhD programs, much less a waitlist spot, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to let them know how interested I am in the program and that I am grateful for a spot on the waitlist while asking a few questions.

[thiscalltoarms]

Lots of people waitlisted by Fordham this year. Seems a little odd?

[foucaultsturtleneck]

14 hours ago, LFRT said:

There are articles out there from the fall when it initially happened, but I’m also linking two recent relevant analyses from an interesting series about this admin by the student paper you could check out. The first is about the professor response to the cuts, and the second touches on how certain master’s programs (like MAPSS) are being used to increase funding while PhD numbers decrease.

I wonder what you guys think this could mean practically for PhD students (beyond making it more difficult to get an offer). On the one hand, there is a guaranteed amount of funding regardless of teaching duties. On the other hand, I wonder if having so much conflict between the faculty and administration about PhD students could be a red flag as a study/work environment.

IMO there are a lot of red flags about Chicago these days. It's obviously a world-class institution, and many of the faculty are obviously at the top of their fields, but it seems like the University is more concerned with inflating cash cows like MAPSS/other MA programs, and the faculty are overwhelmed by the influx of (usually under qualified) students. All while actual PhD programs are being gutted. Chicago has made it clear that it wants to make money to build fancy buildings, even if it's at the expense of the humanities...

[waitingonrejection]

9 minutes ago, thiscalltoarms said:

Lots of people waitlisted by Fordham this year. Seems a little odd?

Darn. Assuming that means i'm out. ah well

[thiscalltoarms]

32 minutes ago, waitingonrejection said:

Darn. Assuming that means i'm out. ah well

 

Are you waitlisted or still waiting on any info?

[waitingonrejection]

52 minutes ago, thiscalltoarms said:

 

Are you waitlisted or still waiting on any info?

Still waiting on any info. Nothing in the portal either. But that's okay

[pax et caritas]

Received a call a minute ago that I was accepted to Duke Divinity School! The lady said I'll receive an official email later today and that I'd hear more about financial aid next week.