Funding Frustration

[periphron]

So I was hoping someone could share some sage advice. I am wait-listed for Yale University phD program but not particularly hopeful (I am #6). Otherwise my situation is as follows

I have been accepted to:

Virginia Tech for Philosophy MA (within commuter distance of current location, might be able to remian part-time at my current job, wait-listed for funding at present)

Georgia State for Philosophy MA (with $5000 stipend and full tuition remission)

Harvard Divinity School for MTS (half tuition scholarship +loans)

Yale Divinity School for MARc in Philosophy of Religion (half tuition scholarship +loans)

Was rejected at: Vanderbilt (phD), Marquette (phD)

My husband is currently in school full-time doing a Library Science degree. (We both work full time as well, and are both paying on school loans from undergrad). We are expecting a baby in June. So,...our financial situation is currently secure, but cannot take much pressure.

Right now I feel like both HDS and YDS are just too reliant on my being willing to take on loads more debt. Even if I worked part-time and my husband worked full time after childcare we wouldn't be able to pay tuition, to live in these high cost of living places, and pay for childcare out of pocket. Being wait-listed for Yale Uni's program makes me feel like I might be able to get into a phD program next year if I just take a year to work locally on languages and change one of my recommenders (found out one was a bit less helpful than I had hoped after the fact).

One faculty member at YDS has been very encouraging,... but I don't know how much of this is typical and how much might turn into real mentorship.

Where would you go? Do you think it is worth going into debt to secure phD admission?

Would you even consider the MAs in philosophy at Georgia or Virginia if I want to do a phD in philosophy of religion in a religion department?

[coffeekid]

You're clearly a responsible adult with many substantial family and financial obligations. I would echo the wisdom you already understand: avoid getting into debt for something that is effectively a lottery ticket to Ph.D. programs.

That said, my experience has been that people transition from religion masters to philosophy Ph.D.'s, but not vice versa. This could be because people in philosophy tend to hate religion and div students tend to be more open to philosophy, but on the whole I see religion departments picking almost exclusively from religion/div masters students; I can think of only one exception.

If your goal is clear on the phil of rel in a religion department, and you are intentional about working substantial theology/religion coursework into your phil masters, then I don't see why you couldn't make the Georgia option work. I would ask about what resources they have for this route. You were given a good financial package... chances are you have some clout now in making the most of that curriculum!

As always, just keep things in perspective financially.

[Sparky]

Do not go into debt for a PhD in the humanities. If you are so lucky/blessed as to get a teaching job, the salary will almost certainly not be enough to pay it off without major sacrifices. (This loan repayment calculator is depressing but handy).

My experience is different from coffeekid's--at the school where I did my MA (in theology), quite a few of the PhD students came in with an MA in philosophy. I think, as long as you've had at least *some* exposure to religion as an academic field, a philo degree counts quite nicely.

As far as going to Georgia State versus just taking a year off to do language...you are the only one who can judge whether it will be worth the move/LDR with a newborn. But keep in mind that if you're in school, you can defer loan payments. That might be helpful. Also, admissions committees tend to be *very* skeptical of independent language learning. If you do decide to try that on your own, be sure you do it through a university class or find some way to prove that you really do know the language (SAT II subject test, Toronto's Latin exam, LOR writer's attestation, etc).

Also, if you want your PhD from a religion/theology department, an M* degree of some sort is almost essential. (I know what the websites say, but if you call the schools, you usually get a different story). It's by no means a guarantee of admission--even an MTS from Harvard does is no guarantee--but it's pretty important. It is not unusual, I think, for people to come in to PhD programs with *multiple* master's, albeit in different subjects or subfields.

And congratulations to you and your husband!