Fall 2023 PhD Religion

[steadygaze108]

I can't believe nobody has created this yet!

I am applying for a PhD in the Philosophy of Religion at Yale, Fordham, and UVA.

Currently pursuing a MTS at Harvard Divinity School.

Applications are all sent.

What about you?!

Edited December 24, 2022 by steadygaze108
Forgot a word

[sktlab]

Hi friend, thanks for doing this - I was surprised too! Best of luck to you. Did you have any research experience?

 

I am applying to PhD's at Notre Dame, Princeton Theological, and GTU in Berkeley. 
 

I completed my m.div from Vanderbilt divinity in December 2022. 

[steadygaze108]

??, sktlab,

 

I have written lots of research papers, but the MTS at HDS requires no thesis.

They use to have a MTS Research Seminar, but they did it away with it this year too! ?

[Shrimply Pibbles]

Thanks for making this! Congrats on finishing apps.

I'm entering my final semester of an MTS at Candler. Submitted religion apps in two different concentrations to 5 total schools (theology apps to Emory, Yale, and PTS, and AmRelHist apps to Princeton U and Northwestern).

I do have some research experience, but no thesis required for the MTS. Doing a portfolio instead.

Posted this in a different forum but I have an interview on the calendar at Emory. I'm a little nervous since I don't know what to expect.

Good luck to you all!

[runit]

Hey friends! Best of luck to all of you!

My background: BTh in Europe, MTS at a school in TN, and ThM at Princeton Seminary. I had to write a thesis in my undergrad, so maybe that counts as research. Although it was optional for the ThM program, I also chose to write a thesis at Princeton. 

My focus is on the New Testament, and I applied to Yale, Duke, Emory, Boston, and Baylor. And I'm about to apply to UChicago.

Regardless of whether I'll get in or not, gosh it feels amazing to be (almost) done with the applications! I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way haha

[Shrimply Pibbles]

5 minutes ago, runit said:

Hey friends! Best of luck to all of you!

My background: BTh in Europe, MTS at a school in TN, and ThM at Princeton Seminary. I had to write a thesis in my undergrad, so maybe that counts as research. Although it was optional for the ThM program, I also chose to write a thesis at Princeton. 

My focus is on the New Testament, and I applied to Yale, Duke, Emory, Boston, and Baylor. And I'm about to apply to UChicago.

Regardless of whether I'll get in or not, gosh it feels amazing to be (almost) done with the applications! I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way haha

Totally agree! Congrats on finishing up! I should have mentioned above, this is my second round of PhD apps. I completed an MA in historical theology in 2020 and took a year off to do my first round of PhD apps. I didn't get in anywhere (applied to UChicago, Vandy, Yale, and Emory), but started the MTS at Candler in fall 2021. I did most of the legwork for this round of PhD apps over the summer, but it's still taxing to finish those up alongside term papers! That said, we all deserve several pats on the back!

[runit]

2 hours ago, Shrimply Pibbles said:

Totally agree! Congrats on finishing up! I should have mentioned above, this is my second round of PhD apps. I completed an MA in historical theology in 2020 and took a year off to do my first round of PhD apps. I didn't get in anywhere (applied to UChicago, Vandy, Yale, and Emory), but started the MTS at Candler in fall 2021. I did most of the legwork for this round of PhD apps over the summer, but it's still taxing to finish those up alongside term papers! That said, we all deserve several pats on the back!

Agree! The application process is quite painful. And congrats on doing this a second time. I respect that!

I’m all in now. If I get in, fine. If not, this’ll be the end of the road for me. Especially because there aren’t a lot of jobs out there. I asked one of my professors (@ Princeton) what advice he has for me, as an aspiring doctoral student. His answer? “RUN! Run away.” As in, don’t do it. And then he went on to explain how bad the job prospect is. 
One reason I still applied is because it might be easier to go through (the upcoming) financial crisis while a PhD student (in that we receive some $, and it’s guaranteed for the duration of the program). Just my guess, but we shall see. 

[Shrimply Pibbles]

1 minute ago, runit said:

I’m all in now. If I get in, fine. If not, this’ll be the end of the road for me.

I'm in the same boat. I've worked outside of academia and it's not that great out there either. If I can get in now, 5-6 year "job security," a salary, insurance, and time doing what I love doesn't sound half bad, even if the pay isn't great. Best of luck to you!

[runit]

57 minutes ago, Shrimply Pibbles said:

I'm in the same boat. I've worked outside of academia and it's not that great out there either. If I can get in now, 5-6 year "job security," a salary, insurance, and time doing what I love doesn't sound half bad, even if the pay isn't great. Best of luck to you!

That’s exactly how I feel about this.

Best wishes to you too! 
 

[steadygaze108]

Thanks, everyone for sharing your stories!

I am especially grateful for the folks who are on their second, third, or nth round of apps.

It's my first round and it was so stressful taking 5 classes while working more than 20 hours a week PLUS submitting PhD apps!

I almost had a nervous breakdown!

Of course, if I don't get in, I'll apply again after I graduate next year. But after that, if I don't get in, I think I am done! So, kudos to those who keep trying!

Maybe I should keep trying too!

I just want to say congratulations to those who have submitted their apps. Now stop torturing yourself with how much better your grades should be, how much better your SOP should be, and how much better your writing sample should be! It's out of our control now! (I am telling myself the same thing too!)

Fingers crossed!

 

[קהלת]

Current PhD student at a top-ten institution—just curious to know who is applying for Hebrew Bible or New Testament. Happy to chat about interviews when the time comes. 

[Philoxenus]

I’m applying for Hebrew Bible. What field are you in?

[קהלת]

1 hour ago, Philoxenus said:

I’m applying for Hebrew Bible. What field are you in?

I am in Hebrew Bible as well—several years in and enjoying the course of study. Where are you applying to? (if you feel comfortable sharing, you can also PM too)

[runit]

On 1/2/2023 at 7:27 AM, קהלת said:

Current PhD student at a top-ten institution—just curious to know who is applying for Hebrew Bible or New Testament. Happy to chat about interviews when the time comes. 

New Testament ? How are you enjoying the program? Is it what you were hoping for?

[קהלת]

Nice! I am really enjoying it - being on the other side of applying, let me say that having a great and supportive advisor makes life a lot easier. So weight that into your decision! (Though perhaps it is not the most important factor).

Edited January 4, 2023 by קהלת

[runit]

That's great! I'm happy to know that you're enjoying your program. It would've been a nightmare to put in so much work (both leading up to and during the Ph.D. program) and not enjoy your time there. And good advice about the advisor! A prof. made a similar observation, so that's definitely something good to keep in mind.  

Any advice for the interview? I received an email today from one of the schools saying they want to meet (via Zoom) and "further discuss your credentials." What are some common things that come up during the interview? What should I leave out/ say as I interact with them? Any input is welcome! 

[Almaqah Thwn]

2 hours ago, runit said:

Any advice for the interview? I received an email today from one of the schools saying they want to meet (via Zoom) and "further discuss your credentials." What are some common things that come up during the interview? What should I leave out/ say as I interact with them? Any input is welcome! 

I'll throw a few tidbits out that may or may not be helpful.

• Don't stress yourself over the small stuff. Pre-Zoom backgrounds, I took a Skype call for an interview to a place where I got accepted. Yet, the only private room for the call that I had was my childhood bedroom. My Skype test camera did not show my bed and dresser, yet I made sure my bed was neat and my dresser was clean beforehand. Lo and behold, the Skype camera expanded and included a larger view that I had not seen before. However, since it was neat, it ended up not being an issue and I just rolled with it. 
• If you had a good advisor look over your application, I wouldn't fret about having an ace in your sleeve or anything. You've probably already emphasized most of your best points already and I would think they're probably just looking for a further chance to discuss them (although, I could be wrong). 
• I'd recommend refamiliarizing yourself with the program (yet again). Go back over the website and their other public documents and make sure you're not confusing them with anyone. Also, this might remind you of some aspects of the program that are interesting but which you may have forgotten about because it wasn't directly relevant to your application. Additionally, if you do get in the program, it's great to know the student handbook when you get accepted because it might help you in a pinch (for instance, I was able to forego one class after noting it wasn't actually a requirement for my coursework).
• And most importantly, just don't make any personal faux paus. Part of the interview process is seeing how well an individual meshes with the program. If you come off as not a good fit or seem to have a bad personality, then that ends up hurting you. 

Edited January 5, 2023 by Almaqah Thwn

[runit]

18 hours ago, Almaqah Thwn said:

I'll throw a few tidbits out that may or may not be helpful.

• Don't stress yourself over the small stuff. Pre-Zoom backgrounds, I took a Skype call for an interview to a place where I got accepted. Yet, the only private room for the call that I had was my childhood bedroom. My Skype test camera did not show my bed and dresser, yet I made sure my bed was neat and my dresser was clean beforehand. Lo and behold, the Skype camera expanded and included a larger view that I had not seen before. However, since it was neat, it ended up not being an issue and I just rolled with it. 
• If you had a good advisor look over your application, I wouldn't fret about having an ace in your sleeve or anything. You've probably already emphasized most of your best points already and I would think they're probably just looking for a further chance to discuss them (although, I could be wrong). 
• I'd recommend refamiliarizing yourself with the program (yet again). Go back over the website and their other public documents and make sure you're not confusing them with anyone. Also, this might remind you of some aspects of the program that are interesting but which you may have forgotten about because it wasn't directly relevant to your application. Additionally, if you do get in the program, it's great to know the student handbook when you get accepted because it might help you in a pinch (for instance, I was able to forego one class after noting it wasn't actually a requirement for my coursework).
• And most importantly, just don't make any personal faux paus. Part of the interview process is seeing how well an individual meshes with the program. If you come off as not a good fit or seem to have a bad personality, then that ends up hurting you. 

Yeap, you've basically anticipated some of my concerns and/ or questions. Much appreciated!! 

It was also a bit confusing because, as per the prof.'s email, the faculty was impressed with my application but they "want to further discuss my credentials," which is... interesting. I have no idea whether that's a generic thing, or if they have specific questions in mind. Come what may, it's good to be on the other end of the application hustle. 

[קהלת]

On 1/4/2023 at 9:43 PM, runit said:

That's great! I'm happy to know that you're enjoying your program. It would've been a nightmare to put in so much work (both leading up to and during the Ph.D. program) and not enjoy your time there. And good advice about the advisor! A prof. made a similar observation, so that's definitely something good to keep in mind.  

Any advice for the interview? I received an email today from one of the schools saying they want to meet (via Zoom) and "further discuss your credentials." What are some common things that come up during the interview? What should I leave out/ say as I interact with them? Any input is welcome! 

At the risk of sounding a tad bit generic, I would encourage you to relax and just be yourself in the interview. Many people make errors because they try too hard to be what they think the admission's committee wants them to be or to say what they think the admission's committee wants them to say. Remember, you are interviewing them too, so the power does not rest entirely with them. If you have ever watched the show Shark Tank, you know that once the entrepreneur has made a compelling case for their product the Sharks have to compete for the affection of the individual who came on the show. If you are at the interview stage, they are already interested in your "product" - this is an opportunity for them to buy into you as a person. Also, they have a reason to sell themselves too. If you let them think they did a compelling job at doing that, their perception of you will be higher (basic psychology - we like to be liked, and we like those who like us). 

@Almaqah Thwn is definitely on to something with his advice about brushing up on the details of the department's website, and I would add that it can help to have a few well-formulated questions to ask them about their program that is not immediately available on the website (it helps you sound interested - see the point above). It can also be a nice touch to send a very brief email thanking the professors for interviewing you, but do not make it desperate or forced. 

[Fiat]

On 1/4/2023 at 9:43 PM, runit said:

That's great! I'm happy to know that you're enjoying your program. It would've been a nightmare to put in so much work (both leading up to and during the Ph.D. program) and not enjoy your time there. And good advice about the advisor! A prof. made a similar observation, so that's definitely something good to keep in mind.  

Any advice for the interview? I received an email today from one of the schools saying they want to meet (via Zoom) and "further discuss your credentials." What are some common things that come up during the interview? What should I leave out/ say as I interact with them? Any input is welcome! 

I hope your interview went well! Would you mind sharing which school that was? Thanks!

[emeraldsapphire]

On 12/23/2022 at 11:22 PM, sktlab said:

Hi friend, thanks for doing this - I was surprised too! Best of luck to you. Did you have any research experience?

 

I am applying to PhD's at Notre Dame, Princeton Theological, and GTU in Berkeley. 
 

I completed my m.div from Vanderbilt divinity in December 2022. 

Hi, all. I completed master's degrees at Notre Dame and Yale, and am currently a PhD at UC Berkeley (so am familiar with the GTU) if anyone has questions about any of those places. Best of luck with everyone's apps this season. 

[shaunm5432]

Hi all! Hope everyone is holding up during this stressful time! Was wondering if anyone has any insight into the admissions process at Baylor. I know some interview requests have gone out, but it seems in past years they've done on-campus interviews? Any insight on the process would be appreciated! 

[Almaqah Thwn]

27 minutes ago, shaunm5432 said:

Hi all! Hope everyone is holding up during this stressful time! Was wondering if anyone has any insight into the admissions process at Baylor. I know some interview requests have gone out, but it seems in past years they've done on-campus interviews? Any insight on the process would be appreciated! 

First, on the interview itself: Pre-Covid, Baylor had two open spots per subfield. I don't think they did on online interviews (at least I don't recall getting one) but only a big on-campus interview. They would invite four people in, pay for their travel, and lodge them during the interview with current students in the program in which the students are interested (sometimes multiple students in the same house, so you get to share a room with one of your competitors). I came a day early and booked a hotel on my own expense, just so that I would be fresh the day of and not groggy from travel. My interview began in the afternoon with everyone, potential students and current students of all fields of the department, meeting in a big room in a meet-and-greet and just talking to each other. Following that at some point was a free roam period where all the perspective students run around the department trying to find the offices of your professors-of-interest and then meeting with them briefly, all the while accidentally barging in on other students who are meeting with the professors on accident. There's just enough time to meet all the professors in your subfield and potential students end up visiting the offices of professors in other fields as well as they wait for their professor of interest to open up (I had a decent length conversation with one of the professors in New Testament. So, it might help to know generally what professors outside of your specific field research in case you find yourself in their office). During my time, students also did an informal bar meet and greet afterwards. I can't remember if this was all the students in every field, but primarily it is with students in your field at least, or at least they try to put you near those students. I don't recall much about that night, just that the beer I got was nasty and overpriced and then a cat bit me afterwards. Anyway, I forget the activities of the early second day, but there's a big lunch with professors included, after which all the professors then meet up to make decisions. Within the week following the interview, they send out acceptances to two of the four candidates in each field. That being said, this was all pre-Covid and things might have changed after the pandemic. 

Second, the timeframe for interview invites: When I applied to Baylor, the first thing I saw was that someone else got an interview invite. I flipped out because I assumed that meant all the interview invites had gone out and I was not invited. That being said, I got an invite around a week later. So, apparently they don't send out their invites all at once. So, if you see someone get invited, don't lose all hope yet. I'd give it probably another week and a half before writing it off as a rejection. 

Anyway, if you can score and interview, it's pretty great and was formative to my direction in graduate school on whole, even though I did not end up attending there. Baylor was at the bottom of my list going in and rose up to the middle afterwards (In retrospect, if the decision for me personally had been between Baylor, Duke, or Vanderbilt, I would probably prefer Baylor if funding ended up being equal). They have a high placement record, tend to graduate students on time, and are excellent at encouraging comradery among cohorts. So, it can be a fun and informative time if you can score an interview. 

[shaunm5432]

On 1/11/2023 at 9:48 PM, Almaqah Thwn said:

First, on the interview itself: Pre-Covid, Baylor had two open spots per subfield. I don't think they did on online interviews (at least I don't recall getting one) but only a big on-campus interview. They would invite four people in, pay for their travel, and lodge them during the interview with current students in the program in which the students are interested (sometimes multiple students in the same house, so you get to share a room with one of your competitors). I came a day early and booked a hotel on my own expense, just so that I would be fresh the day of and not groggy from travel. My interview began in the afternoon with everyone, potential students and current students of all fields of the department, meeting in a big room in a meet-and-greet and just talking to each other. Following that at some point was a free roam period where all the perspective students run around the department trying to find the offices of your professors-of-interest and then meeting with them briefly, all the while accidentally barging in on other students who are meeting with the professors on accident. There's just enough time to meet all the professors in your subfield and potential students end up visiting the offices of professors in other fields as well as they wait for their professor of interest to open up (I had a decent length conversation with one of the professors in New Testament. So, it might help to know generally what professors outside of your specific field research in case you find yourself in their office). During my time, students also did an informal bar meet and greet afterwards. I can't remember if this was all the students in every field, but primarily it is with students in your field at least, or at least they try to put you near those students. I don't recall much about that night, just that the beer I got was nasty and overpriced and then a cat bit me afterwards. Anyway, I forget the activities of the early second day, but there's a big lunch with professors included, after which all the professors then meet up to make decisions. Within the week following the interview, they send out acceptances to two of the four candidates in each field. That being said, this was all pre-Covid and things might have changed after the pandemic. 

Second, the timeframe for interview invites: When I applied to Baylor, the first thing I saw was that someone else got an interview invite. I flipped out because I assumed that meant all the interview invites had gone out and I was not invited. That being said, I got an invite around a week later. So, apparently they don't send out their invites all at once. So, if you see someone get invited, don't lose all hope yet. I'd give it probably another week and a half before writing it off as a rejection. 

Anyway, if you can score and interview, it's pretty great and was formative to my direction in graduate school on whole, even though I did not end up attending there. Baylor was at the bottom of my list going in and rose up to the middle afterwards (In retrospect, if the decision for me personally had been between Baylor, Duke, or Vanderbilt, I would probably prefer Baylor if funding ended up being equal). They have a high placement record, tend to graduate students on time, and are excellent at encouraging comradery among cohorts. So, it can be a fun and informative time if you can score an interview. 

This is super helpful! Thank you! 

[Chicago Guy]

Have any other interview invites gone out?