Professor X, What are my chances of admission in different Yale Divinity School programs?

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm a senior at Oberlin College and am applying to three YDS programs: the concentrated MAR in Religion and the Arts, the concentrated MAR in Philosophical Theology, and the MDiv.</p>

<p>I'm curious how competitive each of these programs are. I'm a religion and creative writing double major, maintaining an overall GPA of 3.58, with a major GPA of 3.75. I've had three internships with nonprofits, am a Writing Associate for the college, and am a member of Oberlin's Interfaith Student Council.</p>

<p>I feel like I have a convincing case for the MAR in Religion and the Arts, in particular, since I am a religion and creative writing double major, and have indicated so in my personal statement for the program. I'm struggling, however, to make a convincing case for myself in my personal statements for both the MAR in Philosophical Theology and the MDiv program. </p>

<p>I'm interested in pursuing the MAR in Philosophical Theology because of my interest in Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Specifically, I'm interested in the transmission of his work within the Carthusian Order, and would love to study mystical works like these under Denys Turner. I think I have the least convincing case for admissions to the MDiv program, as all I've indicated is that I find volunteer work fulfilling, and would like to (possibly) pursue lay chaplaincy or secondary school education.</p>

<p>Is it enough to simply indicate that I'm interested in pursuing a program because I would find it intellectually or personally fulfilling? Or do I also need to demonstrate that I am, in particular, the right candidate because of XYZ, as I did in my personal statement for the MAR in Religion and the Arts?</p>

<p>Any information regarding how competitive these programs are compared to one another would be immensely helpful. As far as why I'm interested in Yale, it's because of the relationship between the Institute of Sacred Music and the Divinity School, as well as the opportunity to study with faculty like Denys Turner and Peter Hawkins.</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>Those YDS programs have about a 50% acceptance rate. You might want to emphasize Creative Writing over your Religion major since many academic divinity schools aren’t crazy about religion majors. They want their classes filled with students from many different disciplines and backgrounds. You will want to rethink applying to 3 different programs within the same school; that will not serve your interests at all. In your statement you probably want to say what you will do with the degree, not just that it is for fulfillment. You might want to look at the MTS program at Harvard as well. Some on CC dismiss programs like the MAR and MTS as “cash cows” for their universities, but they definitely serve a good purpose for the right student. Either degree could work well for certain kinds of lay ministry or secondary ed. Be aware that funding is much harder to get than from the classic doctoral path. Best wishes.</p>