Tips on Applying to Ph.D. Programs

I hope it isn’t too presumptuous for me to write a blog about what to do when applying to Ph.D. programs in religion, theology, religious/Christian ethics or biblical studies, but I figure that as someone who has just successfully completed the process my insights may be helpful. I know I found similar insights from others extremely helpful in my process.

I guess I should begin by laying my cards out on the table. I applied to seven programs and was accepted at four, rejected at two and waitlisted at one. I feel blessed to have had five options on the table since many people do not get any. My results ended up like this:

Emory University, Ph.D. in Ethics and Society – Accepted, 100% tuition waver and living stipend. (This is the offer I eventually accepted.)

Vanderbilt University, Ph.D. in Ethics and Society – Not accepted

Duke University Divinity School, Th.D. – Not accepted

Claremont Graduate University, Ph.D. in Theology, Ethics and Culture – Accepted, told I would have received a 100% tuition waver but declined the offer before a financial aid offer was given so that they could make the offer to someone else since I had already made my decision to go to Emory. (I felt obligated to help them out since that is where I did my masters and I knew the profs very well.)

Graduate Theological Union, Ph.D. in Ethics and Social Theory – Accepted, 40% tuition waver

University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology, Ph.D. in Religion and Social Change – Accepted, 75% tuition waver

Fuller Theological Seminary, Ph.D. in Christian Ethics – Waitlisted, told I’d be accepted if I agreed to complete some prerequisites I didn’t have because I did an M.A. instead of an M.Div., no financial aid package.

This time was an extremely tense and nerve-wracking time. My wife has said she has never seen me so nervous before. I can’t adequately explain the emotions I was feeling during this entire process, but before you make the decision to apply I’d recommend getting ready for a full range of emotions.

In the spirit of getting ready to apply I highly recommend these three articles:

25 Random Things You Should Know Before Applying to a Ph.D. Program in Religion, Bible, or Theology… on the Fund for Theological Education blog.

Thinking About a Ph.D? by John Stackhouse. I think his questions 1-4 are ones everyone should ask themselves before applying. I know I was able to answer many of them in the affirmative and it gave me much confidence in applying.

Advice About Duke Th.D. and Ph.D. Programs in Theology by Andy Rowell (specifically his answer to the question, “Do you have any advice for me on applying to the Th.D./Ph.D. program?”).

Something to consider when applying to doctoral programs in religious studies is that they are extremely difficult to get in to. Many qualified people do not get accepted into a program. Also, to some extent it is a “crap-shoot.” A lot depends on where you apply, what year you apply and who else applies where you apply the year you apply. One year you might be the best candidate a school gets an app from and the next you might not crack the top-20 depending on what they are looking for that year, which professors can, and are willing to, take on another doctoral student to advise, and which professor’s plate is too full to take on any more students. I say all of this not to discourage you, but to give you a heads up that you shouldn’t let it crush your self-esteem when you get rejected somewhere. I know of very few people who got accepted to everywhere they applied (and the ones I do know of applied to 1-3 programs only). In fact, I know of several who applied to between 12 and 16 programs who were only accepted into one. I know of one person who was rejected at over ten schools but was accepted at Harvard. There is no hard science to this, but there are some things that I think are helpful to know when applying. I’ll try and lay those out below.

1. It is all about “fit.” Do your research interests match those of one or more of the faculty at the school? I think this might be one of the most important pieces to getting accepted. I was once told by a professor that they received an application from someone with perfect GRE scores, a summa cum laude masters degree from an Ivy-league school, and stellar references, but who wanted to study something no one on staff at the school was interested in. This person did not get in to the program. If you do not fit at a school do not apply. It is a waste of your time and money. Almost everyone who applies to Ph.D. programs are “qualified” to some extent. One of the things that will set you apart is the uniqueness and “fit” of your research proposal.

2. Do your research. Research every school you are considering applying to thoroughly. Try and be able to answer all of these questions at each school you apply to: Is there anyone on the faculty I know I want to work with? Is there more than one faculty member with interests similar to mine? How many students do they accept every year? What type of financial aid do they offer? Can I see myself (and my family) living there for 3-7 years? What is the general ethos of the school? What are the averages of test scores, GPA, schools from which people are accepted at this school? What is the reputation of the faculty as researchers? as advisors? (They may be dramatically different!) What is the general reputation of the school? What is their graduation rate? What is the placement rate of the school?

3. GRE scores and GPA matter…but not as much as you might think. They don’t make your application, but they may break it. Generally speaking you should shoot for 90th percentile on the verbal (mid-600’s generally) and analytical (5.5 or above) portions of the GRE test. Some schools average higher than this and some lower. Most schools use the GRE as a cutoff for people not being accepted, but not as a tool for deciding who gets accepted. Some schools, however, use it as a guide for financial aid. I got a 640 verbal (91st percentile) and a 6.0 analytical (97th percentile). I averaged between 620-720 verbal on practice tests. If you can get in the mid-600’s you should be alright at most top programs. A lot of schools say you should get at least a 600 verbal and 5.0 analytical, but remember that is the lowest possible score they will consider. You should shoot for a higher score. You should have an “A” graduate GPA (3.7 or above) to be considered. I’m sitting at a 3.98 right now, and plan to have a 3.99 at graduation. As long as you don’t have below a 3.0 undergrad GPA that shouldn’t matter too much. If so you can make up for it with your grad GPA and test scores. Remember, these things are usually a cut-off point. If you can make it past the cut-off you should be OK. Oh, and most schools disregard the qualitative (math) score on the GRE since it doesn’t matter much for religious studies (though some still do, I’ve heard Princeton still considers this score).

4. The most important pieces of your application are your statement of purpose/personal statement, writing sample and reference letters. I was told that these three things broke my application in my favor at a couple of schools. I was told this especially about my statement of purpose. This is where you are able to set yourself apart from other candidates. Spend most of your time on your statement, and craft it individually to each school you apply to. This is where you are able to demonstrate why the school wants you to come to their institution. It is where you show how well you will fit there and your potential contribution to the field.

I included personal history, intellectual development, practical implementation of past studies and a somewhat detailed research proposal/idea in my statement. My writing sample was a paper that I presented at a conference that was received well. Before using it I asked a trusted professor if he thought it would be a good statement and he gave me some good tips before I submitted it. My references were all from professors who knew me well. I also had at least one from each of the schools I attended. And I picked writers who knew me in different ways: one was my thesis advisor and was familiar with my research capabilities, one I had several seminary classes with who suggested I try and publish one of my papers and encouraged me in pursuing Ph.D. studies at the school I did my masters at (Claremont), and one was an undergraduate professor who has invited me back to be a guest lecturer in his classes and could speak to my ability as a teacher and practitioner. These three different professors could paint a more complete picture of me than three who had had similar encounters with me would have. I also provided each of them with drafts of my statement of purpose and my C.V. They each told me that was helpful in getting them to know the programs I was applying to better and to have a better picture of me (especially in areas they weren’t familiar with like professionally, biographically and spiritually). They each told me these helped them craft better letters of reference.

5. Make contact with the professors you want to study with. They will most likely be part of the admissions process and it is good if they recognize your name right away when it comes up. I had more than one say they explicitly remembered our conversations. It is one simple way of becoming more than just another application. Each school I was accepted at I had spoken with a professor in person or over the phone. The two schools I was rejected at I was only able to make e-mail contact or no contact at all. I’d recommend doing your research over the summer before you apply and making contact in the fall. I tried to make contact over the summer at many places and it was very hit or miss. I talked with others who were able to make contact at schools in the fall that I wasn’t able to in the summer. This will also allow you to get a better feel of the professors whose work you may love, but who may be a bad advisor or flat out jerk.

6. It’s about who you know. The academy is a club and professors know one another. If your letter writers are known it will help you out immensely. If they are not their letters will mean much less. People trust people they know more than people they don’t. It’s human nature. So, if you think you may want to pursue a Ph.D. as an undergrad I’d suggest pursuing your masters degree at as well-known a school as you can. If you made the decision after enrolling in your small, denominational seminary getting accepted at a top school is doable but you need to work extra hard on your statement and writing sample. I accepted my offer from Emory the same year my masters adviser is moving there. I was told by her, and by the faculty at Emory, that I did not get in because of my connection with her but because of the strength of my application (and because I was accepted at other places I believe that), but it is hard to think that it didn’t help me some. I was also pretty much guaranteed acceptance at CGU before the application process officially started because I had such a good relationship with the professors there from my masters work. They knew what they were getting and didn’t have to guess from my application what I was really like. I’ve heard some schools readily accept graduates from their masters programs, and some show no preference for their masters grads, but I can’t help but think that it makes it harder to reject someone you know as more than a piece of paper.

7. Apply to several schools, and to schools across the spectrum. Don’t limit yourself to one or two schools, and don’t apply only to “top tier” schools. I’d suggest applying to 2-3 top schools, 2-3 second tier/middle of the road schools and 1-2 third tier schools. Don’t apply to schools you wouldn’t be happy accepting an offer from, but don’t limit yourself. Don’t think too highly or lowly of yourself. Give yourself a shot at the schools that are extremely selective and only accept a few applicants a year, but don’t set yourself up for failure by only applying at those schools. Likewise, don’t sell yourself short either. You never know how the applications are going to shake out so give yourself the best shot to succeed.

8. If you get an invite go to the interview weekend. I know of someone who almost didn’t go to one and was told if she hadn’t she would no longer have been considered. When you go, however, don’t be nervous. If they’ve paid all the money to bring you out they are pretty much sold on you, but want you to be sold on them. They are simply looking to verify what they think of you from your application. If you haven’t painted an extremely false picture of yourself you should have nothing to worry about. When I was invited to Emory’s interview weekend the interview itself was more of a conversation. It was actually a great conversation as I got to talk about things I was passionate about with great minds. I can’t tell you what to expect (I was asked about a paper I referenced writing in my statement of purpose but didn’t actually submit, and another person was asked about a footnote in her writing sample), except to be ready to talk about the things you are ready to devote your life to. It was a great time!

I hope this has been helpful. After you’ve gone through all of this I’d recommend hanging out at the Grad Cafe Religion Forums. I discovered them way late into my application process, but they seem to have provided some comfort to others going through the process. Check out what people have gone through this year and last year when applying to Ph.D. programs in Religion for inspiration, or consolation, whichever applies.

Good luck!