highlanders Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I've just accepted Yale's offer. It'll mean 40K in loans, but I don't know what else to do. If you don't have any undergraduate loans, 40k is not that bad. Your announcement seems a little defeatist...are you sure you really want to go to Yale and/or go to grad school right now at this moment?
Phenomenologist Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I've just accepted Yale's offer. It'll mean 40K in loans, but I don't know what else to do. Don't worry about it too much -- if you get into a good PhD program, it'll have a full tuition waver and a big enough stipend for annual living costs. So this'll likely be the last school loan debt you'll ever see . If it's any consolation, even with my mega scholarship at Yale, I will have to pull out $22k in loans. I have three children, so my wife can't work full-time to cover our costs of living while I study. When I finish at Yale (and hope to get into a fully paid PhD), I will have a total of about $65k in student loan debt. It's a lot, but all that debt is covering my bachelor's degree, my wife's bachelor's degree, my wife's master's degree, and my master's degree. So, I think in the grand scheme of life, those degrees will pay for themselves in the higher annual salary they'll pull in the future.
new mexico Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 Don't worry about it too much -- if you get into a good PhD program, it'll have a full tuition waver and a big enough stipend for annual living costs. So this'll likely be the last school loan debt you'll ever see . If it's any consolation, even with my mega scholarship at Yale, I will have to pull out $22k in loans. I have three children, so my wife can't work full-time to cover our costs of living while I study. When I finish at Yale (and hope to get into a fully paid PhD), I will have a total of about $65k in student loan debt. It's a lot, but all that debt is covering my bachelor's degree, my wife's bachelor's degree, my wife's master's degree, and my master's degree. So, I think in the grand scheme of life, those degrees will pay for themselves in the higher annual salary they'll pull in the future. I'm in the same boat. I got a full ride + stipend from Boston U. STH, but i'm still gonna have to take out loans for the three years as the $6k/yr stipend won't cover all of my bills for the year. It's a down-payment for the future
Phenomenologist Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I've just mailed my admissions confirmation form to Boston University School of Theology for the M.Div. I'm in the same boat. I got a full ride + stipend from Boston U. STH, but i'm still gonna have to take out loans for the three years as the $6k/yr stipend won't cover all of my bills for the year. It's a down-payment for the future You got it! Congrats on your choice of what sounds like an excellent program!
Sky Pilot Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 Hi Sky Pilot, as a current M.Div. candidate at Andover Newton graduating this May, and as someone who was facing a similar decision between Andover Newton and Harvard three years ago as you are now (was accepted both places), let me throw a few thoughts into the kettle... Wow, thank you so much for your thorough response! I haven’t seen a lot of talk about Andover Newton on this board, so your input is very helpful. I’ll try to touch briefly on the topics you covered, if only so I can bounce my ideas around a little. 1. I do appreciate ANTS commitment to interreligious programs, so that isn’t a huge concern. 2. I know many UUs who have gone to ANTS and enjoyed the experience, and frankly, putting myself in a position where I am reframing and restating my own religious beliefs could be an amazing asset. I like the idea of being the fish out of water. 3. Glad to hear that ANTS can keep up; I think my interest isn’t just with the rigor, but with the cerebral nature of an academically rigorous school. Which brings me to… 4 & 5. I do know that ANTS is more of a pastoral, ministerial program and Harvard more of an intellectual program, and I’m still working through my own discernment. I think I want to work in chaplaincy or community ministry, with youth or in nonprofit programs. Since it’s not necessarily traditional parish ministry, but isn’t purely academic, I think I fall squarely in the middle. I honestly don’t know if I should value the Harvard name more with what I’m hoping to do. I’m still waiting on my financial aid package from Andover Newton, and I think that might be the deciding factor. As you said, going into significantly more debt for a first choice… I don’t think I can do it. And I know for a fact that I will shape my own education, no matter where I go. It’s just really, REALLY hard to turn down Harvard.
Trin Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Wow, thank you so much for your thorough response! I haven’t seen a lot of talk about Andover Newton on this board, so your input is very helpful. I’ll try to touch briefly on the topics you covered, if only so I can bounce my ideas around a little. Hey, Sky Pilot -- I've just realized you have the same user icon here as someone I know on Twitter. Coincidence? :-)
Phenomenologist Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Hey, Sky Pilot -- I've just realized you have the same user icon here as someone I know on Twitter. Coincidence? :-) Oh snap!
Sky Pilot Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Hey, Sky Pilot -- I've just realized you have the same user icon here as someone I know on Twitter. Coincidence? :-) You found me!! Nope, not a coincidence, that's me. I thought it might be you, with the west-coast & HDS entry!! Small world!
Trin Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 You found me!! Nope, not a coincidence, that's me. I thought it might be you, with the west-coast & HDS entry!! Small world! Yup, small world. :-)
Thanks4Downvoting Posted March 26, 2011 Posted March 26, 2011 Just accepted my offer from HDS! Trin 1
new mexico Posted March 26, 2011 Author Posted March 26, 2011 Just accepted my offer from HDS! Congrats!!!!
Trin Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Just accepted my offer from HDS! Yay! I accepted last week, but I didn't say anything because it wasn't that much of a difficult decision or anything. :-)
Thanks4Downvoting Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Yay! I accepted last week, but I didn't say anything because it wasn't that much of a difficult decision or anything. :-) What're you doing for housing?
Trin Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 What're you doing for housing? Applying for all the on campus options and hoping, then doing another round if I don't get into CSWR or Cronkite (but hopefully the former). I am trying to avoid dealing with furniture.
aselfmadewinter Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I think I'm ready to say that I'll be going to McMaster next year. I'm pretty excited for coursework with Dr. Schuller on the Dead Sea Scrolls! I know there were others here on the board that said that they haven't heard from Mac or haven't been accepted, but are there any others who did and are planning on attending? Edited March 30, 2011 by aselfmadewinter
Phenomenologist Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 Congrats, guys! LibTheologian, see if Yale will give your Marquand Scholarship to Tahuds for the Fall . (Will they reissue it to a funding waitlist, or drop it altogether, I wonder?)
Tahuds Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 Congrats, guys! LibTheologian, see if Yale will give your Marquand Scholarship to Tahuds for the Fall . (Will they reissue it to a funding waitlist, or drop it altogether, I wonder?) I can only dream!
hermeneut Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Hey all, I thought I should post my final results and decision for future reference. I applied to doctoral programs at Baylor, Dayton, Loyola Chicago, Marquette, and Wheaton to study systematic theology. I was interviewed at Wheaton, and was waitlisted at both Baylor (without being invited for an interview) and Loyola Chicago. I received offers of admission at Dayton (4/20) and Marquette (2/24), and accepted Marquette's offer a couple of weeks ago (Tuesday 4/11). Today (4/29) I received a notice that my tuition will be covered for two years of course work and my dissertation. Stats: BA in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministry from a small Christian Churches/Churches of Christ Bible College (regionally and ABHE accredited). GPA: 3.95 M. Div. (with thesis) from a different Christian Churches/Churches of Christ University (regionally and ATS accredited). GPA: 4.0. GRE 730 Verbal 760 Quantitative 5.5. Analytical Writing I am extremely excited to be attending Marquette and I'd love to hear from anyone else who is starting there in the fall. Grace and peace, Joe hermeneut 1
Phenomenologist Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Hi Joe, congrats on Marquette!!! Nice to hear from you . Great GRE stats, sheesh =). I'm really hoping to go to Marquette for my PhD in theology, so we'll have to stay in touch. I'll be applying there in like 12 months after my first year of my Yale MA is done (philosophical theology).
NopeNotnopenope Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 So I could use some advice, ladies and gentlemen. I'm not much of a scholar - and looking to be a pastor, and I'm trying to decide between Wesley Theological Seminary and Candler. Candler just offered me a full ride just a few moments ago, and Wesley is offering me 85%. The dilemma comes in that I really liked Wesley and I've been offered a part time job as a youth director in the area. Candler I visited once a few years ago and didn't really get a feel for, but I understand the reputation, so I'm afraid I'll regret turning them down. Any thoughts? I'm specifically interested in church planting, leadership development, homiletics, and I have a heart for youth ministry. Would I fit at Candler at all? I'd really appreciate any advice. Chris
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