Need advice on Duke Divinity and Candler school of Theology (wait list)

[diaduit90]

I was accepted into Emory's (Candler School of Theology) Mdiv. program for this fall. Orientation starts some time near the 18th of August and I'm already in the area (crashing at a friend's house until I can figure out housing). I found out yesterday by the admissions department at Duke that I am the top candidate on their wait list for their Divinity school (same program). The program starts around the same time. Duke is really dragging out the process and I haven't received any type of acceptance package or anything. I really want to go to Duke but I'm going to need to start signing school loans and a lease pretty soon. Does anyone have any advice or tips? 

[boywholived]

Stay at Candler. It's my understanding that the MDiv and MTS programs at Duke are not well funded, and the chances of getting a good package this late in the game are slim to none.

 

Not only is Candler a fantastic place (PM me for specifics), there is something to be said for the first person to ask you to the dance. Plus, you're already there, and Atlanta/Decatur is a great (and affordable) place to live.

[sacklunch]

Ideally what do you want to do after the MDiv? Did Candler offer you any funding? Did Duke say anything about (possible) funding? If funding package are not that different I see no reason to not head to Duke. This is three years of your life. Notwithstanding huge financial woes, you should go where you want if given the option.

[Macrina]

I was accepted into Emory's (Candler School of Theology) Mdiv. program for this fall. Orientation starts some time near the 18th of August and I'm already in the area (crashing at a friend's house until I can figure out housing). I found out yesterday by the admissions department at Duke that I am the top candidate on their wait list for their Divinity school (same program). The program starts around the same time. Duke is really dragging out the process and I haven't received any type of acceptance package or anything. I really want to go to Duke but I'm going to need to start signing school loans and a lease pretty soon. Does anyone have any advice or tips?

Classes start in less than a month and you don't have an offer from Duke? Unless you get a firm commitment from Duke, stay where you are. By now they know who's coming and who isn't and the odds of someone canceling in the next couple of weeks are slim.

I think at this point, you could ask Duke point blank for a yes or a no, but don't let go of what you have for a definite maybe, even if the maybe is highly likely.

Also, if you do get a yes from duke, go! It's a great school in a fun place. Just don't throw away your current place until you are certain.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Macrina

[diaduit90]

So the results are in- Duke has offered me acceptance for their program. As far as funding goes I'm being offered roughly the same price for tuition (Loans will cover that for both schools. Duke is offering a mix of sub and unsub, Emory is only offering unsub loans) and Emory is giving me a yearly $9,500 grant while Duke is giving me a $5,500. Duke does have paid internships (usually done during the summer and generally between 6-8 grand). Emory requires unpaid internships. It would seem that the first year at Duke would be rough and I'd have to work a job (I'm also planning on doing a little fundraising) but the summer internships would give me some padding. So now I'm trying to decide if the reputation of Duke is worth the extra effort/money: I do plan on continuing my education afterwards. What do you all think?

[diaduit90]

Actually turns out I could get subsidized loans for the first year to cover the cost difference. 

[Macrina]

So the results are in- Duke has offered me acceptance for their program. As far as funding goes I'm being offered roughly the same price for tuition (Loans will cover that for both schools. Duke is offering a mix of sub and unsub, Emory is only offering unsub loans) and Emory is giving me a yearly $9,500 grant while Duke is giving me a $5,500. Duke does have paid internships (usually done during the summer and generally between 6-8 grand). Emory requires unpaid internships. It would seem that the first year at Duke would be rough and I'd have to work a job (I'm also planning on doing a little fundraising) but the summer internships would give me some padding. So now I'm trying to decide if the reputation of Duke is worth the extra effort/money: I do plan on continuing my education afterwards. What do you all think?

Congrats on the offer. I would choose the place with the better reputation, especially with your update re loans. Plus, Durham's a pretty cool place to be. I'm a little bit envious of people who get to live in Durham

[sacklunch]

It really depends on what you want to do after you're done. You say you want to 'continue on' but I'm not sure if you mean in a related career or attempt PhD applications. If it's the latter it really depends on your subfield. Overall, yes, Duke has the better reputation. On the purely 'academic' side of things Duke (RS) is often ranked very well (for example tied at no.1 on http://chronicle.com/article/nrc-religion/124664/ as 'according to scholars').

 

Durham is nice, too. Though I hear great things about Atlanta, eh?

[diaduit90]

I do want to continue onto a PhD program although I'm not completely settled yet on what I'd like to study later on. I'm really attracted to the center for reconciliation at Duke and I would love to live in a college town. I'm thinking Duke is going to be a good bet so now it's going to really boil down to housing and access. Atlanta is a great city although for Emory I'd be commuting at least an hour each way on public transit. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.