Open House if I’m 90% Sure I’m Not Going?

[Sky Pilot]

Should I torture myself by attending the HDS open house if I’m pretty sure I’m not going there this fall?

I applied to two programs (Harvard Divinity School and Andover Newton Theological School, both for the MDiv), and while I received some financial aid, I will have to take out loans in order to attend this fall (which my husband and I are prepared to do). However, I would have to take out significantly LESS in loans if I go to Andover Newton; the difference is $10k per year, $30k for the entire program.

While Harvard is a great program and I’ve been fantasizing about it for years, I’ve realized it is much more academic than pastoral. As much as that was initially a draw for me, I’m realizing that I want my career to be much more ministry-focused, and not as academically-focused; I want to be a minister, not a professor. A few more things tip the scale in favor of Andover Newton: ANTS has much greater flexibility (and purposefully so; it's a program meant for second-career ministers). I can take up to one third of my classes online, and the classes that do meet in person meet only once a week. I could theoretically have classes only one or two days a week, and be able to work a part-time job (which is encouraged at Andover Newton). To top it off, both schools are part of the BTI (Boston Theological Institute), which means I could take classes at Harvard whenever I feel like it, without paying the premium price tag.

When I was first accepted to Harvard, I eagerly signed up for the open house scheduled for next week. However, now that I’ve thought about it more (and discussed the price tag with my wonderfully supportive husband), I’m wondering if I should go to the open house at all. It seems like it would be just teasing me with this great program and prestigious university, when logically and financially, I’m much more inclined to go to school elsewhere.

Do I cancel the visit to Harvard and instead focus on Andover Newton? Or just go to see what my options are? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[KreacherKeeper]

I did exactly the same thing (signed up but now not sure). Here was my thinking at the time:

1. Give it one last shot to make sure you do not want to make the investment

2. Have a chance to see if it might be worth trying again later (for another degree, more money).

Ultimately, what happened was that I realized that HDS was not really right for me financially and that it probably was not that good of an idea to go up there (why tempt yourself, when you know you can't have it). So for me, I had to draw a firm money line and just say no.

If you really think it may be an option (or can combine it with an ANTS visit to make it worth it, then why not?) If it is a financial burden and you are not sure then maybe visiting ANTS and taking one last look at Harvard (even if it is not Open House day) may be a better option.

But my real word of wisdom is you are not alone in the Harvard dream school/if I were rich struggle!

Should I torture myself by attending the HDS open house if I’m pretty sure I’m not going there this fall?

I applied to two programs (Harvard Divinity School and Andover Newton Theological School, both for the MDiv), and while I received some financial aid, I will have to take out loans in order to attend this fall (which my husband and I are prepared to do). However, I would have to take out significantly LESS in loans if I go to Andover Newton; the difference is $10k per year, $30k for the entire program.

While Harvard is a great program and I’ve been fantasizing about it for years, I’ve realized it is much more academic than pastoral. As much as that was initially a draw for me, I’m realizing that I want my career to be much more ministry-focused, and not as academically-focused; I want to be a minister, not a professor. A few more things tip the scale in favor of Andover Newton: ANTS has much greater flexibility (and purposefully so; it's a program meant for second-career ministers). I can take up to one third of my classes online, and the classes that do meet in person meet only once a week. I could theoretically have classes only one or two days a week, and be able to work a part-time job (which is encouraged at Andover Newton). To top it off, both schools are part of the BTI (Boston Theological Institute), which means I could take classes at Harvard whenever I feel like it, without paying the premium price tag.

When I was first accepted to Harvard, I eagerly signed up for the open house scheduled for next week. However, now that I’ve thought about it more (and discussed the price tag with my wonderfully supportive husband), I’m wondering if I should go to the open house at all. It seems like it would be just teasing me with this great program and prestigious university, when logically and financially, I’m much more inclined to go to school elsewhere.

Do I cancel the visit to Harvard and instead focus on Andover Newton? Or just go to see what my options are? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Sky Pilot]

I did exactly the same thing (signed up but now not sure). Here was my thinking at the time:

1. Give it one last shot to make sure you do not want to make the investment

2. Have a chance to see if it might be worth trying again later (for another degree, more money).

Ultimately, what happened was that I realized that HDS was not really right for me financially and that it probably was not that good of an idea to go up there (why tempt yourself, when you know you can't have it). So for me, I had to draw a firm money line and just say no.

If you really think it may be an option (or can combine it with an ANTS visit to make it worth it, then why not?) If it is a financial burden and you are not sure then maybe visiting ANTS and taking one last look at Harvard (even if it is not Open House day) may be a better option.

But my real word of wisdom is you are not alone in the Harvard dream school/if I were rich struggle!

I actually live in the Boston area, so financially it's not difficult to visit. If I intend to get a PhD later in life, I'd be able to visit then; I've also already been to the traditional fall HDS Open House for all interested applicants, so I've been to campus before. It's more my emotional stability-- if I visit, am I just torturing myself over the program I wish I could go to? Or is there any real reason why I should visit??

Basically, is there any reason why I should go to campus now? Would I miss anything (the financial aid office saying "oh, silly us, here's more money")? I really can't say, hence asking for advice.