Getting a second Masters

[shatterpoint11]

Hello everyone, I go am a grad student at the UChicago Divinity School. I am trying to get into the field of Biblical Studies specifically New Testament. My first year came out not bad but not greatt. I maintained a B+ average. I finished my first year of Greek. I had a chance to do summer intensive Greek for a second year, but I could not do it for the reason that I had a family emergency to take care of back home. I am worried that I am not a competitive applicant for a PhD so I was wondering if it's a bad idea to do a second masters like a MTS/MDIV/MPhil/MSC? I asked my advisor and they said it is not a crazy idea and that many more people are doing it. The reason I want to do a second masters is to get more language training (I have a full year of Greek down and will have another by the end of the 2nd year, but I also have not even done Hebrew, also I could work on my writing skills, my professor have expressed that I have learned a lot but that my writing skills could use some work, also I guess since I am in the MA, I would like to learn some theology while also learning about the field of biblical studies so I would not mind pursuing an MDiv or MTS. Thanks if anybody has advice. I am sorry if it is a stupid question to ask this on a forum. 

[Averroes MD]

This is a difficult decision. You are right that it's not unusual to get two masters degrees.

However, you also need to have the difficult conversation with yourself about whether or not you are "cut out" for this path. B+ average is really not a good sign, especially given how generous grade inflation is. 

I am giving tough love here since I don't want to see you waste two more years and all that tuition. 

On the flip side, I have seen people make up for average grades with extensive language skills.... but this might require several years for you.

[shatterpoint11]

Hello. 

Yes I have thought about it. I have thought about my other options. In which I am a high school history teacher or a religious t studies teacher at a private school. I have also thought about just going to another field I am passionate about. However anytime I think about that I get this regret of failure if I do not pursue this. I know I am not I just feel it though. I mean I'm proud of my accomplishments of getting into UChicago. Thank you for the advice. I'm just trying to look at my options of if I should continue or that if it is unheard of to get a second masters. Thank you. I appreciate it. 

[sacklunch]

Unless it's a free masters, run away; even it's free, you should probably run away. I followed a similar path (two terminal M* degrees, another on the way to my PhD), though I had a higher average. After I got into and finished a top-ranked PhD. I understand the feeling of failure if you do not continue. I remember that feeling well; it kept me going for years. And now I'm transitioning out of academia because there are no permanent, tenure-track jobs. Well, there are a few, but with hundreds of people applying to one job, the odds are stacked against you. Nearly all the people I know who finished a PhD at a top program in the last few years are making the same transition. For whatever reason, no one at the top M*/PhD programs really discusses the reality post-PhD (I'm a postdoc at an R1 now - I am still in the loop). And no one on this forum does because most are applicants/hopefuls. I suggest you make that inevitable transition now, rather than ten+ years down the road. Good luck