Let's do it again: Ph.D. in Religion/Theology - 2010

[coffeeandtoast]

I'm only applying to ND (PhD Moral), since my husband goes there already.

UGPA: 4.0 (Engineering)

GGPA: 3.9 (Theology)

GRE: 610V/670Q/4.5

Edited January 22, 2010 by coffeeandtoast

[thisistheyear]

Late poster but following these threads for a while, and reapplying after last year's round of disappointments.

1. Where are you definitely applying / not applying?

Drew, Temple, Union, Garrett, Vanderbilt, Princeton Sem, UC-Berkeley, Duke Div

2. What discipline(s)? (Religion, Theology, PR)

Practical Theology and Religion/Society

3. What did you learn from the last round?

Needed a clearer, more concise SOP.

Best of luck! I think we're approaching the home stretch...

[Leagus]

Well, I guess it is about time to jump back into this

1.

Fordham, Boston College, Notre Dame, Graduate Theological Union

2.

PhD Systematic Theology

I'm current finishing up Fordham's MA program and would be happy to sing the school's praises to anyone who's interested.

[JMR0408]

I'm really just a forum lurker by nature. I guess, though, these things are only valuable if one participates. So... I have PhD apps in at Vanderbilt, Indiana U-Bloomington, and Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian U. My field is NT/Early Christianity.

[Mathētēs]

I'm really just a forum lurker by nature. I guess, though, these things are only valuable if one participates. So... I have PhD apps in at Vanderbilt, Indiana U-Bloomington, and Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian U. My field is NT/Early Christianity.

JMR0408, welcome to the forum and thanks for posting!

[philonic]

I recently received a letter of acceptance for the doctoral program in New Testament at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). A faculty representative sent me a flattering follow up email, which temporarily inflated my ego. I have yet to hear word from Notre Dame, University of Toronto, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Brite Divinity School.

My "stats":

UGPA: 2.9 B.A., Religion and Classics

GGPA: 3.8 M.T.S. and ThM, New Testament

GRE: 610V/640Q/5.0W

[Church Mouse]

2) You have to be Catholic to get into ND's Systematics program.

What?! Why?! Please, tell me about how you learned this. That is not what UND's website says.

[johndiligent]

I figured I'd throw this in the catch-all thread, but what do you do about ambiguous promises of funding? I've had a few schools tell me that they don't know what their funding situation is right now but figure they'll know sometime this summer... Then they give an amount that they estimate they'll be able to provide. I'm reluctant to turn down offers which might potentially work out to be higher than what I currently have, but I also just don't know how to evaluate them. I don't trust their "projections based on past years" since there's been a whole lot of economic downturn since.

Do you just make a decision on the highest amount specified in an official letter of offer? Or is there room for a bit of faith?

[lovethequestions]

I figured I'd throw this in the catch-all thread, but what do you do about ambiguous promises of funding? I've had a few schools tell me that they don't know what their funding situation is right now but figure they'll know sometime this summer... Then they give an amount that they estimate they'll be able to provide. I'm reluctant to turn down offers which might potentially work out to be higher than what I currently have, but I also just don't know how to evaluate them. I don't trust their "projections based on past years" since there's been a whole lot of economic downturn since.

Do you just make a decision on the highest amount specified in an official letter of offer? Or is there room for a bit of faith?

Personally, I would be inclined to say, "if they're not guaranteeing it, I'm just going to assume it's not going to happen," and make decisions based only on what formal offers have been made.

[peppermint.beatnik]

Personally, I would be inclined to say, "if they're not guaranteeing it, I'm just going to assume it's not going to happen," and make decisions based only on what formal offers have been made.

That's a really difficult situation, but I think the above advice is good.

I went to one of the schools in your list, for my MA. I had more than enough to live on. Unless the cost of living has risen dramatically since then, it could be similar. Even if your not considering that school, it might give you a rough idea of what's doable. I didn't need any loans/outside money to get by. I realize the costs vary by city/province.

I can PM you if you'd like more details.

[johndiligent]

That's a really difficult situation, but I think the above advice is good.

I went to one of the schools in your list, for my MA. I had more than enough to live on. Unless the cost of living has risen dramatically since then, it could be similar. Even if your not considering that school, it might give you a rough idea of what's doable. I didn't need any loans/outside money to get by. I realize the costs vary by city/province.

I can PM you if you'd like more details.

I'll PM you.