2013-2014 M.A./M.T.S/M.Div Application chitchat

[Therewillbeluke]

Congrats therewillbeluke! I'm totally jealous about Chicago. You can potentially take courses with Jean-Luc Marion

 

Danke! The temptation is great, but unfortunately I'll probably have to turn it down, the cost of going to either of the other two schools I've been accepted to is significantly less.

[Neem217]

Danke! The temptation is great, but unfortunately I'll probably have to turn it down, the cost of going to either of the other two schools I've been accepted to is significantly less.

 

TherewillbeLuke, I just wanted you to know that UChicago usually either gives no funding or 50% to its masters students. I applied two years ago, and that was the case. It is very rare that they give out full funding for tuition, it may be a few students a year or none. After going to admitted students day at UChicago, and talking to a professor about my work, he vouched for me, and my funding got bumped to 75%. It's still not great considering that their tuition is definitely higher than a lot of other schools, say BC's. Their tuition is so high b/c it used to be linked to the Phd and basically was a feeder program into the PhD, basically. So, it's tuition rate was the same as the PhD's (or what they would charge the PhD's). That has changed. Anyways, basically, 50% is the best UChicago gives - and it's more of a reflection on their lack of funding as an institution than anything else. 

 

In contrast, HDS gives either 50% funding or 100% with stipend to its students. Most of the schools you applied to have pretty good funding too, though I can't speak for Fordham at the masters level. Best of luck. 

[Therewillbeluke]

TherewillbeLuke, I just wanted you to know that UChicago usually either gives no funding or 50% to its masters students. I applied two years ago, and that was the case. It is very rare that they give out full funding for tuition, it may be a few students a year or none. After going to admitted students day at UChicago, and talking to a professor about my work, he vouched for me, and my funding got bumped to 75%. It's still not great considering that their tuition is definitely higher than a lot of other schools, say BC's. Their tuition is so high b/c it used to be linked to the Phd and basically was a feeder program into the PhD, basically. So, it's tuition rate was the same as the PhD's (or what they would charge the PhD's). That has changed. Anyways, basically, 50% is the best UChicago gives - and it's more of a reflection on their lack of funding as an institution than anything else. 

 

In contrast, HDS gives either 50% funding or 100% with stipend to its students. Most of the schools you applied to have pretty good funding too, though I can't speak for Fordham at the masters level. Best of luck. 

 

Thank you for the info. Yeah, it would literally be 1/7 the cost to go to PTS, so thats sorta where I'm at now unless I hear something better from one of my top schools.

[JillUMASS]

I'm interested in the art and archaeology of Religion, mostly of the medieval period of Christianity and also also anything else before that.Basically I study religious material culture. I wish there was a major out there with the title of "art and archaeology of religion" but sadly no. Luckily, melding those studies together gives me a bit of flexibility with my choice of programs. I've applied to:

 

Tufts University (Art History MA)

Boston University (Art History MA)

Harvard Divinity

Duke University

Wake Forest University - already accepted feb 12th with a $28,844 scholarship and the request that they get to counter offer if I receive a better offer from someone else.

 

It's driving me crazy that WFU replied so quickly and everyone else is taking their sweet time!

 

I was accepted to the University of South Florida last year but deferred their admission to give a second go at other schools, its paid off with only WFU since USF's department is just a mess! And they didn't offer me any financial support.

Edited February 23, 2013 by JillUMASS

[Therewillbeluke]

I'm interested in the art and archaeology of Religion, mostly of the medieval period of Christianity and also also anything else before that.Basically I study religious material culture. I wish there was a major out there with the title of "art and archaeology of religion" but sadly no. Luckily, melding those studies together gives me a bit of flexibility with my choice of programs. I've applied to:

 

Tufts University (Art History MA)

Boston University (Art History MA)

Harvard Divinity

Duke University

Wake Forest University - already accepted feb 12th with a $28,844 scholarship and the request that they get to counter offer if I receive a better offer from someone else.

 

It's driving me crazy that WFU replied so quickly and everyone else is taking their sweet time!

 

I was accepted to the University of South Florida last year but deferred their admission to give a second go at other schools, its paid off with only WFU since USF's department is just a mess! And they didn't offer me any financial support.

 

Wow, thats a stellar deal from Wake Forest!

[JillUMASS]

Wow, thats a stellar deal from Wake Forest!

 It adds up to 85%. Each year I'd have to pay $2,700ish per semester, which isn't bad but it's not ideal of course. Interestingly HDS is only about $28,000 a year while WFU is about $34,000. I was shocked that HDS wasn't the most expensive on my list, though with the cost of living in Boston you could easily max at $40,000 a year when you add tuition and cost of living and in Winston-Salem where WFU is, I'm finding entire 2 bedroom houses for only $450! 

 

If I get into a Boston area school it will be insanely hard to choose between that and WFU, I'm not thrilled about the possibility of moving but their director has put a lot of time and energy into my future.

[sacklunch]

 It adds up to 85%. Each year I'd have to pay $2,700ish per semester, which isn't bad but it's not ideal of course. Interestingly HDS is only about $28,000 a year while WFU is about $34,000. I was shocked that HDS wasn't the most expensive on my list, though with the cost of living in Boston you could easily max at $40,000 a year when you add tuition and cost of living and in Winston-Salem where WFU is, I'm finding entire 2 bedroom houses for only $450! 

 

If I get into a Boston area school it will be insanely hard to choose between that and WFU, I'm not thrilled about the possibility of moving but their director has put a lot of time and energy into my future.

 

I'm not entirely sure what program you applied for at Duke, but if it helps there are a couple people in my cohort (MA - dept. of Religion) that are studying material culture/art history. So it seems to be a pretty good fit for such studies. Good luck!

[JillUMASS]

I'm not entirely sure what program you applied for at Duke, but if it helps there are a couple people in my cohort (MA - dept. of Religion) that are studying material culture/art history. So it seems to be a pretty good fit for such studies. Good luck!

I applied for the MA at Duke specifically to work with Professor David Morgan, even though he does American religious art. However, Duke wouldn't be my first choice since they also have PhD students and therefore, a larger program than schools that only offer a Masters, so I don't have the highest hopes that they would give me enough funding.

[sacklunch]

I applied for the MA at Duke specifically to work with Professor David Morgan, even though he does American religious art. However, Duke wouldn't be my first choice since they also have PhD students and therefore, a larger program than schools that only offer a Masters, so I don't have the highest hopes that they would give me enough funding.

 

I assumed so much about Morgan; the other students are also working with him. They accept ten or less MA students a year and everyone receives 50% tuition. So it might not be enough for you. Although, if it helps I will say I am incredibly happy with the program. It's strange it doesn't get more applicants, considering the degree only requires ONE CLASS and then the rest is up to you. Not only that, but because the religion dept. is much smaller than most divinity schools you have much better access to top scholars in our dept. I have found those scholars I'm most interested in have been much more likely to offer their support (ind. studies, ect). Whereas when I was at BC, for instance, there was just too many people and the professors naturally were less likely to work with individual students (as any large divinity school). I'm in a completely different field, but my classes (HB/OT) have like 3-8 graduate students in them...compared to many other places with 20+ (some intro courses I have heard can have more than 50 at other div schools).

 

cheers

 

*edit* also, one of my good friends in the cohort is also from UMASS (studying modern atheism, also working some with Morgan).

Edited February 23, 2013 by jdmhotness

[JillUMASS]

Yeah, 50% probably won't do it for me. However, I would definitely apply to them again when I go for my PhD.

[DyingTrades]

Welp, I am sufficiently nervous enough about my doctoral apps to apply to an STM program or two. Just applied to Drew (no app fee, thank goodness). Hopefully this will be a waste of my time and I'll get a great offer of financial aid from LSTC and DU/Iliff (if I even get in there!), but since I've never been great at letting risky bets ride, here goes nothing....

Congrats on your acceptances so far! Would love to know more about the situation at LSTC, as I might consider applying there for a PhD when I'm done with my MDiv.

[DyingTrades]

 

Like the blank quote up there? haha. I messed up! Make it go away!

 

OK, I too heard from Duke on Friday with 75% funding for three years for the MDiv. (Was surprised that they said for three years because as far as I understood, funding was reconsidered every year at Duke.) I also received a full tuition scholarship from Candler. (They gave me two weeks or something to let them know if I was accepting.) HOWEVER I will be turning both down unless I hallucinated the acceptance from Yale, it burns to the ground, or they offer me nothing Nothing NOTHING! This is all to say, hang on folks- two scholarships are being freed up just for you!

[la sarar]

I'm interested in the art and archaeology of Religion, mostly of the medieval period of Christianity and also also anything else before that.Basically I study religious material culture. I wish there was a major out there with the title of "art and archaeology of religion" but sadly no. Luckily, melding those studies together gives me a bit of flexibility with my choice of programs. I've applied to:

 

Tufts University (Art History MA)

Boston University (Art History MA)

Harvard Divinity

Duke University

Wake Forest University - already accepted feb 12th with a $28,844 scholarship and the request that they get to counter offer if I receive a better offer from someone else.

 

It's driving me crazy that WFU replied so quickly and everyone else is taking their sweet time!

 

I was accepted to the University of South Florida last year but deferred their admission to give a second go at other schools, its paid off with only WFU since USF's department is just a mess! And they didn't offer me any financial support.

 

I believe you are still waiting for HDS. I think they offer grants and stipends to admitted students. Most of the people I know here do not need to pay much tuition and we get around $900/month as stipend+insurance, which is rather rare for master programs. But I also know of students who don't receive stipends. It might be need-based, according to what you indicate on the separate financial aid application.

Also Tufts history department has near-full-scholarship positions for masters.  

Edited February 24, 2013 by la sarar

[indefiniteintegral]

Like the blank quote up there? haha. I messed up! Make it go away!

 

OK, I too heard from Duke on Friday with 75% funding for three years for the MDiv. (Was surprised that they said for three years because as far as I understood, funding was reconsidered every year at Duke.) I also received a full tuition scholarship from Candler. (They gave me two weeks or something to let them know if I was accepting.) HOWEVER I will be turning both down unless I hallucinated the acceptance from Yale, it burns to the ground, or they offer me nothing Nothing NOTHING! This is all to say, hang on folks- two scholarships are being freed up just for you!

Thank you--hope one is coming to me!

Did they inform you of the funding at the same time as acceptance?

[ForTheGreaterGloryOfDog]

I did get the call of acceptance on Friday for Duke's MDiv program as well - very exciting! I did not hear anything about financial offers. Is that traditionally done at the time of acceptance (like Yale and ND)? They didn't say.

[DyingTrades]

Thank you--hope one is coming to me!

Did they inform you of the funding at the same time as acceptance?

 

 

I did get the call of acceptance on Friday for Duke's MDiv program as well - very exciting! I did not hear anything about financial offers. Is that traditionally done at the time of acceptance (like Yale and ND)? They didn't say.

 

Yes, they informed me of funding at the same time as acceptance. YDS simply said something to the effect of, "we know funding is important to your final decision and are committed to offering funding," but no specifics. I'm curious as to how it will work out but not too worried as those who have discussed YDS here have indicated that indeed they are able to offer generous financial aid. Anyway, I'm so thrilled to be going to YDS that everything else is small potatoes. 

[indefiniteintegral]

Yes, they informed me of funding at the same time as acceptance. YDS simply said something to the effect of, "we know funding is important to your final decision and are committed to offering funding," but no specifics. I'm curious as to how it will work out but not too worried as those who have discussed YDS here have indicated that indeed they are able to offer generous financial aid. Anyway, I'm so thrilled to be going to YDS that everything else is small potatoes. 

Heard from Duke on Fri--in. Hope to hear from YDS this coming week.

[kacei]

Yes, they informed me of funding at the same time as acceptance. YDS simply said something to the effect of, "we know funding is important to your final decision and are committed to offering funding," but no specifics. I'm curious as to how it will work out but not too worried as those who have discussed YDS here have indicated that indeed they are able to offer generous financial aid. Anyway, I'm so thrilled to be going to YDS that everything else is small potatoes. 

 

From what I understand, as long as your information is submitted by Mar. 1, We should be receiving financial aid offers by March 15th (or postmarked by that date), along with notification of nonpriority prospective applicants.  

[taycross]

Anyone else feeling like this might be the week for a lot of the MA//MAR/MTS programs?

[Seatbelt Blue]

We can only hope. I'm starting to wonder if there may be a new Pope before there may be any responses.

[Elk]

Accepted to UChicago MDiv with 100% tuition+stipend (ahhhhh).  It's going to be darn hard for any of my other prospects to top that!

 

I know I'm accepted to YDS and am waiting for aid info like everyone else.  I recently received a phonecall from their Institute for Sacred Music encouraging me to apply there as well.  Has that happened to anyone else?  I don't recall indicating any special interest in music in my application.  Does anyone know more about the ISM and why the admissions committee thinks I should apply there - aside from the fact that they offer their students intense funding?

[Josh J.]

I've been wondering but not holding my breath. It's frustrating to see lots of people with acceptances but to not have heard anything one way or the other yourself.

[kacei]

Anyone else feeling like this might be the week for a lot of the MA//MAR/MTS programs?

 

Except for those who are applying to Mar 1 deadlines. But I am praying for all of you for good news!

[kacei]

Accepted to UChicago MDiv with 100% tuition+stipend (ahhhhh).  It's going to be darn hard for any of my other prospects to top that!

 

I know I'm accepted to YDS and am waiting for aid info like everyone else.  I recently received a phonecall from their Institute for Sacred Music encouraging me to apply there as well.  Has that happened to anyone else?  I don't recall indicating any special interest in music in my application.  Does anyone know more about the ISM and why the admissions committee thinks I should apply there - aside from the fact that they offer their students intense funding?

From what I could gather, I believe they offer a rigorous liberal arts program through the ISM. Not all of the programs are 100% music focused.

[indefiniteintegral]

Anyone else feeling like this might be the week for a lot of the MA//MAR/MTS programs?

Hope so!