Choosing a Ph.D. Program

[myfishpajamas]

Hi all,

I am new to the forums, but I used the results list extensively when I was applying for admission for Fall 2011. After being rejected from every other school, I was accepted to Duke's M.A. program. It is a terminal M.A., so I will have to reapply for a Ph.D. program. I have my list down to 14 schools, but that is still way too many. Most places charge at least $50 for the application fee, usually more, and then I have to consider transcript fees and extra GRE score reports. However, it seems that it is nigh impossible to find any sort of rankings on religion programs - the schools themselves, of course, and rankings based on other programs, but not rankings or other such judgments based on religion. I knew this when I applied the first time and ended up only applying to schools that the head of my undergrad department recommended. Since I have more time to contemplate the matter this time, I want to make a more informed decision.

I know that deciding to include a school in your list, largely depends on compatibility with the institution. I study American religion but, more specifically, I am interested in Christianity-based New Religious Movements and also the intersection between American Christianity and gender/sexuality. My independent study in undergrad was on Quiverfull, an evangelical Christian movement that returns women to a time before the 19th amendment and beyond. At Duke, I am considering a study of the current political and social issue of LGBT rights in relation to American Christianity, but I have not completely expanded my thoughts on that topic or settled on a specific thesis related to it.

Hopefully that gives you all some idea of what I'm looking for in a program. I also am trying to get into some really good programs. Duke is ranked 9th nationally, so I hope that if I kick butt here that I can then move on to an Ivy League. Finally, my boyfriend would like to start his Master's in Sports Management when I start my Ph.D., so I knocked a few schools off of my list because they didn't have that program or weren't near a school that did. Harvard does not and is not near a school that does, but my boyfriend has no problem with me going there if I get in.

Anyway, if you can think of reasons to knock some of these schools off the list or even if you just want to praise a school that is already on the list or one that's not, please do so! Please also note that I wanted to apply to some backup schools too, which is why you see Florida State and such on the list (plus, bf's parents live in FL). I'd like to get the list down to a more manageable 10.

• Harvard
• Princeton
• Yale
• Columbia
• U of Pennsylvania
• Duke
• Northwestern
• Brown
• UNC-Chapel Hill
• UC-Santa Barbara
• UT-Austin
• Syracuse
• Indiana
• Florida State

[Mathētēs]

With many funded PhD programs only accepting 1 or 2 applicants per adviser, I don't think any program can be considered a backup.

[myfishpajamas]

With many funded PhD programs only accepting 1 or 2 applicants per adviser, I don't think any program can be considered a backup.

Well, I meant "backup" as compared to Harvard. Regardless of how selective PhD programs are these days, I certainly have a better chance of getting into Florida State over Harvard, for example. "Backup" in this sense did not mean the same that it does when high-school seniors are applying to undergraduate programs.

[Mathētēs]

I certainly have a better chance of getting into Florida State over Harvard, for example. "Backup" in this sense did not mean the same that it does when high-school seniors are applying to undergraduate programs.

This may be true when considering more objective criteria, such as GPA or reputation of one's current institution. However, the PhD application process is different from applying to undergraduate programs in that overall fit of an applicant is weighed much more heavily. This takes into consideration factors such as how appealing an applicant's topic is to a potential adviser. Perhaps your topic would be of greater interest to a professor at a more competitive institution, and thereby the possibility of your acceptance there be greater. The opposite is also true of institutions perceived as less competitive: if one's topic is not of interest to a professor, then the probability of acceptance is much less.

[Mathētēs]

In answer to your question concerning to which schools you should apply, a good approach would be to read the interests of the respective faculty. Some very good institutions may have professors who would be or would not be interested in your topic. There isn't any point in applying to work with a professor who isn't interested in your topic; that would be a waste of time and money. Therefore, do the leg work and focus in on those universities and professors who have similar interests as yours. Then write concise emails to the professors you selected, briefly introducing yourself and your interests, and asking a few informed questions to help discern each professor's interests and approach. The closer the match, the better the fit, and thus the greater likelihood of your acceptance and happiness.

Edited July 7, 2011 by Mathētēs

[AbrasaxEos]

New here, but I'll echo what Mathetes has here, and add a bit. Ranking is hard to come by with many PhD programs not only because there are not a ton of them, but also because some of the factors that differentiate one from another are difficult to put into any kind of rubric or system. As Mathetes mentions, fit should perhaps be one of your more important aspects in this process. I often hear and see folks complain that they were rejected for admission, reeling off a voluminous list of languages they know, publications, and conference papers as proof that the committee was 'way off' in this rejection. Often times a rejection is based more heavily on the person having a crappy statement of purpose, having a good statement of purpose that does not apply to any faculty in the program, or having a good statement of purpose tailored to a faculty member who simply is not taking on new advisees. Hence, the question you should ask is not solely which program is most highly ranked, but which program has a faculty member(s) that you could study under. Look into some of this info, send a few inquiry emails to folks who might be a good fit (to make sure that their interests are still such, and that they didn't simply write one article about your favorite topic in 1982 and never plan to pick it up again!)

Now, on the flip side, you have to be a bit practical. I would try the first process, and narrow your list a bit, as I am sure many of those schools would have suitable faculty and programs. After doing so, then consider practicality. Look at whether the programs fully fund, as paying for a PhD in the Humanities and especially Religious Studies is one of the silliest moves you could make. Look at the relative prestige of the program, as this might be a helpful nudge when you try to get a job in the future. Finally, look at their placement record, as a school may be well-regarded, but their graduates may have poor placement for one reason or another (too long to finish dissertations, not enough teaching emphasis, etc.).

Then, apply!

[11Q13]

I'll save you a few hundred bucks, don't bother trying to get into Harvard.