My Chances (M.Div.)

[Thanks4Downvoting]

Greetings,

I am currently a sophomore attending a state, flagship university.

GPA: 4.0 (Maybe a 3.97 after this semester)

Major: Religious Studies

Minor: Latin - (3 years of it by the end)

Honors : Chancellor's Honors Program (Honor's College)

Summa Cum Laude each semester

Extracurriculars: Founded a chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity,

Served as the Founding Gamma (Secretary) for a year now.

Coordinator for Greek-Week (University's premier intra-Greek event)

Graduate of Greek Leadership Initiative (a program designed to enable Greeks to be better trained to get campus positions)

(Most likely President of the chapter next semester)\

2 years part-time ministry

Oddities: I am only spending 3 years at UG, which means I skipped a year in study by taking courses during summer and increased regular course load.

References: Most likely good to very good.

So, the question I have is: What are my chances at elite programs such as HDS, YDS, Duke, and Emory for M.Div. I'm seeking ordination if that makes a difference. Any help would of course be appreciated. HDS and YDS are my top choices...I'd much rather go to HDS.

[ddsdevil]

I don't think that you will have any problem with any of those schools. If you keep your GPA around a 3.8 and get some ministry experience, chances are that you could get some good funding as well.

For example, I graduated with a 3.33 UG GPA and I got into Duke with about $12,000 a year funding. However, I've been active in churches for about 6 years so I'm pretty sure that helped.

[Thanks4Downvoting]

Really appreciated. I'd love to hear about your Duke experience later on!

[emmyphil]

Hi,

I read your post. I am going to YDS for the MDiv in the fall. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Although it seems that you already have some excellent input. My only suggestion would be to consider denominational differences. It will influence funding. As you probably are already aware Duke and Emory are Methodist. Yale is Episcopalian. Harvard is Unitarian. I was accepted and funded at Duke, Emory and Yale. However, the Methodist institutions offered me less than the Episcopalian one. I think that being an Episcopalian helped me with funding at Yale. In both cases, Duke and Emory offer more funding options for Methodist students. It is more of a challenge finding money at an institution where you do not fit the denomination. It is not impossible. Just a challenge. The other thing worth noting is interviews. I think that they make a difference. But these are my own humble ramblings... good luck to you...

[Thanks4Downvoting]

Thanks for the input. Emory and Duke both have a relationship with the CBF, and are even recommended from time to time (especially Duke b/c of their Baptist Studies option), but I appreciate the alert on funding! Good luck at YDS, and just so you know, I'm not a very good Baptist (hence the choices of seminaries).

[Jufarius87]

With a 3.9+ gpa and relevent language(s) I think you are competitive everywhere, at least one of YDS or HDS will take you (probably both) assuming you have decent ECs and a good personal statement.

I had a final 3.74 (3.82 at time of applying) with no real language work. Got into YDS and Duke for M.Div, waitlisted at Harvard, and my harvard app was late.

What denomination will you be getting ordained in? I'll list what is prima facie the best choice based on denomination

HDS- Unitarian, Liberal Protestant

YDS- Episcopal (or any other flavor of Anglican), Lutheran, UCC and other congregationalist groups

Duke- Duke is THE training ground for Methodist pastors, especially for United Methodists.

I Honestly wouldnt recommend Emory over any of the other three, not that it isnt a great school, but I just think you will get into at least one of those three.

[Jufarius87]

If you are a theologically conservative Baptist, I say Duke, If you are a liberal Baptist (or a conservative Baptist who wants some healthy debate) I say YDS.

But if you dont mind my asking, what on earth are you gonna do with Latin as a Baptist?

Dominus vobiscum. :wink:

[Thanks4Downvoting]

If you are a theologically conservative Baptist, I say Duke, If you are a liberal Baptist (or a conservative Baptist who wants some healthy debate) I say YDS.

But if you dont mind my asking, what on earth are you gonna do with Latin as a Baptist?

Dominus vobiscum. :wink:

Well, Latin is just for kicks. I love the language and I love the writing, especially Medieval latin. That, and I'm a big fan of Roman Catholicism somewhere deep down in my soul, I think lol. I'm a theologically liberal Baptist, and like I said before I'm a pretty terrible one!

[PoliSci12]

If you're a progressive Baptist, you should consider Wake Forest, too. They hosted the New Baptist Covenant recently and seem to be fairly active in that arena.

[Thanks4Downvoting]

If you're a progressive Baptist, you should consider Wake Forest, too. They hosted the New Baptist Covenant recently and seem to be fairly active in that arena.

I am looking at Wake Forest. They seem to be in line with most of my theology, and it'd be interesting to be able to be with like-minded Baptists, an experience I haven't had very often in my life. :wink:

[Thanks4Downvoting]

So, I'm just wondering what the expectations for HDS, YDS, Duke, and Chandler as far as research/presentation of papers at conference etc... I'll be writing an honors thesis in Senior Year, but that won't make it to any of those schools for consideration. I'm curious as to how this will impact my chances. However, one of my references will be an author, senior faculty member, and YDS graduate. Hopefully I'll make it.

Thanks,