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Originally Posted by shayinme  I am still pretty early in the process, I have been talking to the admissions folks and have my interview scheduled in a couple of weeks.
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Fortunately or unfortunately, interviews aren't required at any of the schools I'm looking at. However, one recommends prospective students meet with the assistant director of admissions in a group session, which I attempted to treat like I would a group interview because it was listed under the FAQ "Is an interview required for admissions" question.
That did not go well.
I was 15 minutes late because of getting lost followed by parking woes, despite having given myself an extra 45 minutes on top of the driving time. I had to park very far and walk, and I got all sweaty because I chose to wear a suit and then I ended up having to run (in heals no less) due to being so late.
I was the only prospective student there, and found that this meant I was put on the spot right away...which could have/should have been an asset, but it meant I didn't have time to settle in to the talking.
I had no idea what to expect, since I didn't know whether it was more of an interview or a chance for me to ask questions-- and if so, what type of questions I should ask-- so I was a little scattered. I also made the mistake of asking the assistant director if she'd look over my transcripts and advise me about something in regard to the application process, and she had to tell me that she was not allowed to advise folks on making a better application
. I hadn't really thought that was what I was asking her, but I can see now what she meant.
Oh, and I forgot to mail the thank you note I wrote afterward.
<sigh>
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| BTS is ecumenical but with ties to the UCC and I actually am a member of a UCC church, our assistant minister went to BTS as well as one of my board members so I have some pretty good references. |
That's great!
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| One of the reasons I stopped looking at schools in MA despite the fact that several of them spoke to me more than BTS is because I hear funding is quite generous. |
Yes, I had heard that too, although I know that currently HDS is funding pretty well. I heard a year or two ago that HDS was increasing their offers for funding, which was one of the motivators for me to go for this right now (not that I am trying to increase my competition in the application pool
lol).
I hadn't considered BTS probably for poor reasons, but basically I heard from an HDS alumn I respect that he had ruled out BTS when he was applying because he had heard from a trusted minister he knew that they had a poor reputation. A few months after that I went to a meeting where a BTS student sat openly texting on her cell phone throughout the meeting, which was truly disrespectful in the setting. It might have been wrong of me, but because I believe true
presence to be essential for good ministry, I felt that if she was behaving like that she hadn't been receiving proper training in ministry. It also reminded me that I really hope to study with other serious students. Of course, I have no way of knowing if this student would do the same thing in a class, but it soured me.
Still, I am
sure I am being unfair, and if I was to do it all over again, I might give BTS a visit at least.
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| As someone who already has a boatload of student loan debt from grad school already and a son who is a HS senior, I really cannot take on too much more debt. |
Yes, I am there with you. I have to get funded well or this whole option of M.Div. is out for me.
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| What school in Chicago are you looking at? I am from Chicago and my father went to seminary in Chicago (name escapes me but it was in Hyde Park). |
Meadville Lombard. It's one of only two UU schools, and I am UU.
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| I mus admit if I were younger and not so loaded with debt that HDS would be my first pick. |
The hardest thing for me about HDS, assuming they do in fact make some good funding offers, is that they require full time attendance which means working may be off the table. I am currently the primary "breadwinner" in my family, so that's tough.
. I already have a masters degree but for two years have felt lead to apply to seminary. So I am applying for Fall 10 to BTS where I would get my M.Div. I also lookes at HDS but its more of a commute than I want from Southern Maine.
Finished my Ph.D at a divinity school last year (I did the MA rather than the MDiv, but am familiar with both programs.)
