Yale Divinity School - Concentrated MAR

[Liora]

Wish I had found this forum months ago. Oh well.

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys could estimate my odds for getting into Yale's MAR program. Also, any information/thoughts regarding YDS is appreciated. I've read everything on here and it's starting to worry me how competitive their comprehensive MAR is.

I honestly didn't stress out too much over my writing sample/SoP. Again, now I'm worried that I should have given them more attention.

Okay so here's how I look on paper: (hope this doesn't sound braggy?)

4.0/4.0 GPA at a respectable liberal arts university

Summer Fellowship at the Hong Kierkegaard Library

Six conference presentations - two on Kierkegaard (central research interest, could you guess?)

Member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa

Participated in an archaeological dig in Bethsaida, Israel

Co Founder of Students for Middle East Peace

President of Art of Living Yoga and Meditation Club

Volunteer art teacher at a local elementary school (do they care about stuff like this?)

and a winning smile?

Ugh, so stressful. I'm also applying to Duke's MTS and Claremont's MA in Philosophy of Religion

Speaking of Claremont, does anyone know anything about their University Scholars Award Program? I'm interviewing there next week. Ray of hope in this season of waiting...

[Dillskyplayer]

Wish I had found this forum months ago. Oh well.

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys could estimate my odds for getting into Yale's MAR program. Also, any information/thoughts regarding YDS is appreciated. I've read everything on here and it's starting to worry me how competitive their comprehensive MAR is.

I honestly didn't stress out too much over my writing sample/SoP. Again, now I'm worried that I should have given them more attention.

Okay so here's how I look on paper: (hope this doesn't sound braggy?)

4.0/4.0 GPA at a respectable liberal arts university

Summer Fellowship at the Hong Kierkegaard Library

Six conference presentations - two on Kierkegaard (central research interest, could you guess?)

Member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa

Participated in an archaeological dig in Bethsaida, Israel

Co Founder of Students for Middle East Peace

President of Art of Living Yoga and Meditation Club

Volunteer art teacher at a local elementary school (do they care about stuff like this?)

and a winning smile?

Ugh, so stressful. I'm also applying to Duke's MTS and Claremont's MA in Philosophy of Religion

Speaking of Claremont, does anyone know anything about their University Scholars Award Program? I'm interviewing there next week. Ray of hope in this season of waiting...

Shalom, shalom!

Foremost, just take a moment to breathe. Things will work out the way that they are supposed to work out! With respect to M.Div and MAR/MA programs and such -- you're "stats" so-to-speak, sound competitive. Understand this too, most of these programs, because they are masters programs versus doctoral programs, aren't going to be furiously selective. Even the "top tier" schools, which, unfortunately, are usually only considered "top tier" because they have a decent undergraduate school or a name/legacy (Harvard/Yale) aren't going to be furiously selective when they pick people for these programs. For doctoral work? Yes. For masters? Well, can you make the 150 student or so cut? It sounds like you've got some competitive stats, so, I think so. And here's something else to consider. You're fresh out of undergrad? Yes? These programs WILL change the way that you write when you become a masters student. They know how college students write. Heck, I teach a lot of first year M.Div and MAR students and I know how THEY write. So I wouldn't sweat the SOP too much. The SOP is an important component, because it is YOUR voice in the admissions process, but if you're worried about writing style or anything, don't be too scurred!

What makes a strong candidate?

Strong undergrad liberal arts background from a four year program with good grades (anything 3.5+ UG)

Well rounded service record

Recommendations from someone reputable

No criminal background/can pass a background check

What makes you a stronger candidate?

Better grades

Actual relevant recommendations, as in, someone who is directly connected to the school of your choice

Relevant memberships, clubs, associations

GRE scores

Languages

Field experience

What is not expected of you as an INCOMING masters student?

Publications

Presentations

Teaching assistantships

Tutoring

Publication experience (working for a journal)

Fellowships

Recommendation from a leader in your discipline

Internships

Edited February 17, 2011 by Dillskyplayer

[Liora]

Shalom, shalom!

Foremost, just take a moment to breathe. Things will work out the way that they are supposed to work out! With respect to M.Div and MAR/MA programs and such -- you're "stats" so-to-speak, sound competitive. Understand this too, most of these programs, because they are masters programs versus doctoral programs, aren't going to be furiously selective. Even the "top tier" schools, which, unfortunately, are usually only considered "top tier" because they have a decent undergraduate school or a name/legacy (Harvard/Yale) aren't going to be furiously selective when they pick people for these programs. For doctoral work? Yes. For masters? Well, can you make the 150 student or so cut? It sounds like you've got some competitive stats, so, I think so. And here's something else to consider. You're fresh out of undergrad? Yes? These programs WILL change the way that you write when you become a masters student. They know how college students write. Heck, I teach a lot of first year M.Div and MAR students and I know how THEY write. So I wouldn't sweat the SOP too much. The SOP is an important component, because it is YOUR voice in the admissions process, but if you're worried about writing style or anything, don't be too scurred!

What makes a strong candidate?

Strong undergrad liberal arts background from a four year program with good grades (anything 3.5+ UG)

Well rounded service record

Recommendations from someone reputable

No criminal background/can pass a background check

What makes you a stronger candidate?

Better grades

Actual relevant recommendations, as in, someone who is directly connected to the school of your choice

Relevant memberships, clubs, associations

GRE scores

Languages

Field experience

What is not expected of you as an INCOMING masters student?

Publications

Presentations

Teaching assistantships

Tutoring

Publication experience (working for a journal)

Fellowships

Recommendation from a leader in your discipline

Internships

Thank you! This was quite helpful. Also, I wrote this post way too late in the evening to be fully comprehensible. Sorry for its frenzied nature and grammar mistakes!

I can tell already that I'm going to be addicted to this site...

[sacklunch]

Thank you! This was quite helpful. Also, I wrote this post way too late in the evening to be fully comprehensible. Sorry for its frenzied nature and grammar mistakes!

I can tell already that I'm going to be addicted to this site...

Which concentrate (MAR) are you applying for?

[Phenomenologist]

Which concentrate (MAR) are you applying for?

He said in the OP that it was the comprehensive (non-concentrated) MAR.

[Liora]

He said in the OP that it was the comprehensive (non-concentrated) MAR.

So scattered when I wrote this! I actually am applying for the concentrated MAR. Philosophical Theology/Philosophy of Religion specifically.

[Phenomenologist]

So scattered when I wrote this! I actually am applying for the concentrated MAR. Philosophical Theology/Philosophy of Religion specifically.

Cool! Liora, what was your writing sample on? I'm curious what other applicants did. Was yours in a topic of "philosophical theology"? Mine was an exposition of Derrida's deconstruction, and its application to the Protestant notion of "sola scriptura," with its oppositional binary of "scripture versus tradition."

It looks like we almost applied to the same programs! I decided to apply to Duke's M.Div. rather than MTS, since the MDiv students seemed to get a bit better funding with internship stipends. But I know a guy who applied to the MTS. Cool!

[Liora]

Cool! Liora, what was your writing sample on? I'm curious what other applicants did. Was yours in a topic of "philosophical theology"? Mine was an exposition of Derrida's deconstruction, and its application to the Protestant notion of "sola scriptura," with its oppositional binary of "scripture versus tradition."

I used a snippet from my summer research project: "The Problems of Faith, Pathos and Poetry in Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling." Looking back, I wish I had spent more time on it but oh well. Your project sounds interesting. I read Derrida a LONG time ago in an aesthetics course but that's about it. Best of luck to you over the next two weeks! (Maybe we'll be classmates?)

[Phenomenologist]

I used a snippet from my summer research project: "The Problems of Faith, Pathos and Poetry in Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling." Looking back, I wish I had spent more time on it but oh well. [...]

Best of luck to you over the next two weeks! (Maybe we'll be classmates?)

Kierkegaard -- excellent!! Yeah, I also had to truncate mine a bit, which was disappointing.

Godspeed to you, as well! I'm actually hoping to get a good funding package at Duke Div, that's my top choice. But otherwise, if I get good enough funding at Yale, that'd be my second choice =). So maybe I'll see you there!

Edited February 28, 2011 by Phenomenologist