<p>Does anyone have any info on Harvard Divinity School (stats, usual majors during undergrad, something specific they look for)?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>I knew one guy who went to HDS and he said the main thing they do is vet their applicants HARDCORE so they are sure that they aren't accepting some prestige whore who wants to attempt an unlikely lateral from divinity school to investment banking. I don't recall his stats but I don't remember him having incredible numbers.</p>
<p>I've had many of my undergrad majors in religion go to HDS. However, a religion major is certainly not a requirement.</p>
<p>High GRE scores in Verbal are desirable, but the personal statement and letters of rec will be paramount. </p>
<p>HDS wants diversity (geographic, racial, denominational, theological, etc.) in each incoming class, so your personal statement must provide them with important information about you and your reasons for wishing to pursue the M.Div. (or other degree).</p>
<p>In the personal statement, if possible, you should outline your preparation in the study of religion (including languages) but much more importantly, you must articulate your experiences with and understanding of whichever "ministry" (conceived broadly) to which you feel called.</p>
<p>If you are not seeking a ministerial credential (M.Div.), and are instead seeking admission to a program in the academic study of religion (Ph.D. track), then a major in religion is extremely desirable.</p>
<p>Professor X's answer dominates mine. I should have referred you to him off the bat since he works in religious studies (if I'm not mistaken).</p>
<p>Thank you so much :)</p>
<p>I actually work closely with the dean of HDS and I know from dealing with students that the M.Div is an extremely rigorous program. Please, please, please show a STRONG desire to contribute towards social justice and community service. </p>
<p>What denomination are you looking to serve? This also could sway your outcome. I know that approx. 50% of Unitarian Universalists (HDS's biggest denominational affiliation) are accepted into the program, though that could be considerably different for denominations.</p>
<p>Check out the Wikipedia article on HDS for more information on denom percentages:</p>
<p>Harvard</a> Divinity School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>(this info is for my boyfriend), he is a second year/second semester standing student at Belmont University in Nashville. He has extensive work experience within the baptist church. Is there any specific major that could perhaps suit him best as an applicant?</p>
<p>I know a student who was accepted last year to HDS for an MTS, not an MDiv. She had a double major in Soc/Anthro and Women's Studies with a minor in Religious Studies. She had done a lot of social justice-type extracurricular activities and community organizing. She did not submit GREs as they were not required for the MTS, only for the PhD. She submitted three or more excellent recommendations. My impression is that HDS is looking for ethnic and geographic diversity. Her GPA was much closer to 3.3 than 4.0, but then she had a double major and a minor.</p>
<p>My sister has yet to hear back from Harvard Divinity, but she has already been accepted at the "other big name religion/theology" places. I would say that what got her into those other schools includes the same thing Harvard is looking for: </p>
<p>1) any type of major can get you accepted. She majored in Global Studies and English. 2) Top grades and GRE scores won't certainly hurt you. She graduated with a 3.91 has has good GRE scores. 3) Whoever mentioned social justice and community organizing was correct. These programs want to see how committed you are to helping out your local/global community. My sister has 3 years experience working in South Africa, working on social justice projects, as well as currently working as a campus organizer for a notable Christian College. </p>
<p>Now let's cross fingers she gets into Harvard. :)</p>
<p>I’m stressing over my application this fall to HDS for the MTS. Specifically, when I do practice tests for the GRE, I get 780-800 on the Verbal, but only 700-740 on the Math. Should I go ahead and test for real, or study my math more? My GPA will be awful – I have a perfect 4.0 for all my work since I returned to college, but a 1.5 from 20 years go, so the cumulative will be about a 2.7. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I expect to have strong recommendations – one of my recommenders is an HDS alum. My biggest concern is that while I am involved in community spiritual matters at the local level, I don’t know if I’m involved <em>enough</em>. <em>stress stress stress</em></p>
<p>TrinSF, HDS doesn’t really care about scores for the MTS program. Your most recent transcripts will be looked at, but your old ones won’t factor into admission.</p>
<p>Involvement counts, but if your statement is strong, you shouldn’t stress over any of this.</p>
<p>Aww, thanks for the response! Well, my current transcripts – everything since I returned to school – have a lovely 4.0, so I have that. As far as my statement, I’ll be working with one of my professors to make sure that’s strong. I think at this point I’m pretty clear on my approach and focus, though I don’t know which of the MTS concentrations will be best for me. </p>
<p>BTW, Professor X, do you have any suggestions for a program similar to HDS in focus? I expect to attend GTU in Berkeley for my PhD, but they do not have a Masters coterminal program – you <em>have</em> to have a Masters to apply and be accepted there. That’s why I need/want a program like the MTS. I’m not a good fit for other programs local to me (Stanford, most particularly), and programs I might be a better fit for locally are not funded and not affordable for me.</p>
<p>It’s impossible to say without knowing more about your focus, both in terms of theology and in terms of academics.</p>
<p>More conservative? Princeton.
More liberal? Union Theological Seminary in NYC.</p>
<p>Strongly affiliated with a particular denomination? Consider a denominational seminary.</p>
<p>Much more into academics than ministry? Chicago.</p>
<p>You may also wish to look at terminal MA programs in Religion. These are at secular institutions, but many of them are terrific launching pads for various PhD programs.</p>
<p>No, I meant, similar to HDS. About that liberal or more so, not affiliated with a denomination, about half academics and half ministry. I haven’t found a terminal MA programs I’m particularly happy with, largely because almost every terminal MA is unfunded. As for my own approaches, I’m largely concerned with dialogical and feminist approaches to comparative religious studies. My focus is on facilitating cross-cultural engagement and understanding. Oh, and I can’t stand sociological approaches. 
</p>
<p>I did actually consider Chicago, and while I have some compatibility there, my focus on the individual’s experience made me less than a great fit. It’s also my son’s likely grad school; he and I agree that having both of us there would be awkward.</p>
<p>Definitely apply to HDS, and definitely Union in NY. Yale is a possibility too (despite the hype, they’re not all postliberal theologians there).</p>
<p>Professor X: Thank you for confirming my thought about Yale as a possible option. I’m sort of an odd duck for divinity schools: I have a background in medieval Catholic thought and theology from an academic perspective, and a fondness for liberal elements in the Anglican communion, but I’m the volunteer coordinator for a large Pagan event and I tend to represent and voice the concerns of pagans and other modern polytheists in academic and religious contexts. </p>
<p>When I was younger and a Religion major, there was a lot of who I was that I couldn’t acknowledge or embody in my educational setting. The department at the big southern university I was at was pretty much all about being either Old Testament or New Testament. One of the things I love about my current department is that I am able to be myself in the classroom; I can be honest about being a sexual minority, being quirky, representing “ecumenical pagans”, so to speak. My voice and my experiences are valued by my professors and classmates. </p>
<p>Having had that experience, I’m not willing to go back to pretending, to trying to pass as just a liberal protestant, or just someone with an academic interest in religious experience. So, I guess my biggest “do I fit here?” question about grad schools has to do with how comfortable I’d be that way. I know I’d be fine with GTU, and with Harvard.</p>
<p>TrinSF, I have the perfect person for you to talk with. I have sent you a PM with his contact information.</p>
<p>I’m popping back into this thread to update on how my grad school app process is going. I got my GRE scores back two days ago: 710 CR 660 M 6.0 writing! Woot! I was really happy that I aced the writing – I didn’t expect it, but I’ve since realized that it’s because I “write like an adult.” That is, I don’t write like someone learning to do academic writing; I write like someone who has been doing it for years. </p>
<p>I also went to a prospective student group thing with Yale Div, Harvard Div, and Candler @ Emory. The Yale rep actually said to me, “Save your $75 – you don’t belong at Yale! Spend that money once you get to Harvard.” After we talked about my interests, she really felt strongly that I was not a good fit, that I would be unhappy at Yale, but that I was <em>exactly</em> right for HDS. I hope she’s right! Oh, and the Candler guy – well, I knew I was a bad match there. After all, they have a <em>range</em> of students – “Methodists, but even some Baptists!” – as he put it. </p>
<p>This coming week I’m going to the AAR meeting and then up to Boston for HDS’s Theological Education day, their open house for prospective students. I’m <em>very</em> excited. :-)</p>
<p>BTW, I got accepted to HDS and will be attending this fall. :-)</p>
<p>Duke has what is considered the best graduate program in religion as well as the top Div school in the country. Harvard falls incredibly short. Princeton, Emory and Yale are strong as well. </p>