Virtual Event: So, you're thinking about applying to HDS...

We are here.

Hi everyone, we just wanted and I apologize for the delay. Would you mind just chatting in the chat box to let us know if you can hear us?

Wonderful thanks so much.

Hello thank you for your patience. Welcome to this HDS Office of admissions weapon are hosted by the graduate assistance.

We're so glad you could join us today.

During the course of this web and are we will answer common questions related to HDS is different degree programs and the application process as well as what life looks like, at HDS. The Office of admissions will host another web and our next Thursday. December 12th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Eastern Standard Time, which will directly address questions related to the application process, including application. Tips and best practices. If you have specific questions about the application. We encourage you to tune into that web and R.

After our presentation today, we will have time for questions and answers.

Also, we encourage you to reach out to the ask students email run by the graduate assistants who will connect you to current students. The email is ask underscore students.

At hds.harvard.edu.

Please note that this web and arm is being recorded.

And if the quality is good enough. We will share the recording with you. All we would also like to note that closed captioning is available during this webinar. If you are interested. Please click on the CC icon in the Top right corner of the page.

As great graduate assistant students. We know that each individual's journey to Divinity School is different and we would like to offer an opportunity to answer any questions regarding what being a student at HDS is like first we would love to introduce ourselves.

Hello again, everyone my name is Julia Ryman. My pronouns are she, her hers and I'm a first year master of Divinity student. I'm originally from Minnesota and most recently worked at a non-profit in Minneapolis, which offered educational programming to immigrant and refugee communities here at HDSI am pursuing both chaplaincy as well as interreligious engagement work. Hi everyone, my name is Kate hoping I use, she, her pronouns, an iama first year Masters of theological.

Studies candidate setting gender and sexuality, I am from the Great State of Minnesota where I recently got my BA in religion from Carleton College. Here at HDS. I'm continuing my research on how non religious people use religious ritual to craft their own identities. I also do work in reproductive rights. So HTS is focused on social justice is important to me as well.

Good afternoon my name is Tessa, an I am a second year master of theological studies student. I recently changed my concentration from religions of the Americas to religion ethics and politics before HDS. I was working in education, most recently teaching 8th and 9th graders. English and history. My focus at the Divinity School is how religion is taught in schools, so I have taken classes at the Graduate School of Education. The History Department and Kennedy School. So I'm happy to answer any questions about that process.

As well.

Today we hope to offer you a look at the different Masters programs offered at HDS as well as what life looks like as an HDS student. We also will provide you with a brief introduction to the application itself and will conclude with a question and answer session to address any lingering questions.

First, why HDS because each of our journeys to HDS looked different. We thought we might begin by sharing briefly why each of us applied HDS and ultimately chose to attend HDS as I said, I was teaching, 8th grade American history in 9th grade English before I came through this process. I began to become interested in how American religious history is taught to high school and middle schoolers when choosing HTS to pursue this interest. I was particularly drawn to.

To the ability to take classes at the other Harvard schools for example, this semester. I'm taking 2 classes of Divinity School, including my master of Theological Studies Research Seminar one at the Kennedy School, an one in the history Department in the faculty of Arts and Sciences. This flexibility has been integral for my program.

For me one of HTS is most attractive attributes is that it does not separate academic work from spiritual work as a non religious person who's planning to do doctoral research I feel that learning from faith leaders is essential to making my work holistic and nuance I love that in almost any given class it will include students from both the Masters of theological studies program and the Masters of divinity programs and often master of theology PhD and special students as well.

Integrating diverse approaches to the study of religion is something that HTS Prioritizes, an it's exactly what I've needed in my studies.

After studying religion and music in undergrad. I knew I was interested in potentially pursuing Graduate School someday, but did not know for sure. In the 3 years in between undergrad and starting at HDSI took time to explore some interests in different positions, both in the USA and Malaysia. These experiences confirm for me that I wanted to pursue a master of Divinity, an HDS's interpretation of ministry as broadly defined really spoke to me because I'm interested in pursuing.

Lindsey and potentially more nonprofit work I was drawn to the flexibility of HDS program in that I have the opportunity to take classes at the education school and the Kennedy School as well as at other schools within the Boston Theological. Interreligious consortium or the BT with this flexibility. Students can curate their path through Divinity School, which really appealed to me. HDS is field education sites really excited me as well. I plan on completing at least 1 unit of Field Education.

In one of the hospitals in the Boston area and another at a nonprofit these immersive experiences will allow me to allow me the space to develop my own form of Ministry.

Like each of us at this stage, you may be wondering which program should I apply to which program is the best fit for me. Here's a little more information about each degree program to assist you as you make this decision.

So before we dive into the requirements for each degree. We thought it might be helpful to offer a brief introduction to the 2 main Masters degrees offered at HDS. The Master Theological studies MTS is essentially in MA in religious studies. Traditionally, this degree has been seen as the natural stuff before pursuing doctoral work in the study of religion in a similar way, the Master of Divinity has traditionally been seen as the path to pursue formal ordained ministry in a particular tradition an chaplaincy.

The lines dividing these programs are definitely fuzzier now for some of you, it might be very clear, which program is the best fit for others. Both programs could fit your interests and goals. The crux of the difference between these programs lies in what you want your focus to be in your course of study if you're interested in having conversations about your own personal ministry broadly defined. the Masters of Divinity might be the degree for you if you're having a difficult time, determining which program might work best for you.

We suggest that you begin to write 2 different statements of purpose is one for each program to help you determine which would best help you meet your goals. The Master of theological studies MTS is a 2 year degree, which leads people to a diverse number of careers, including education and teaching nonprofit work public health work law and many other careers MTS students select an area of focus from a list of 18 different possible concentrations.

Throughout the degree MPs students must take at least 6 courses within that area of focus and at least 3 courses outside of it and he S students are also required to reach intermediate reading level in a language of their choice by the time they graduate friend. He asked students. The only required courses theories and methods, which they take alongside all the M Devs from their incoming cohort is also important to note that N TS students have the option to complete a unit of Field Education.

Android's thesis if you are interested in incorporating these elements into your time at HDS is absolutely possible to fit them within the MTS.

The Master of Divinity or the M Dev is a 3 year professional degree program designed for folks preparing for ordained or lay ministry and leadership in congregations. Another religious communities ministries and social service, hospital and prison Chaplaincy Interfaith Ministry on college campuses, nonprofit leadership teaching and scholarship and more active students are required to take theories and methods in the study of religion.

Ben an introduction to ministry studies the first semester of the program. And if students are also required to reach intermediate reading level of proficiency in a language of their choice by the time they graduate. Additionally, they are required to complete 2 units of field education and a thesis in the 3rd year of study.

While completing the first unit of field education and digs are required to complete a course called meaning making as we previously mentioned the MTS&M Div degree programs are the 2 main Masters degrees at HDS. They will be the programs that most of you will be applying to In addition to the MTS&M Dave degrees. There's also the Master of theology. THM program that Hmm, the em. TS sound very similar and name.

Which can be confusing? Please make sure that you applied to the correct program the master of theology THM program provides an opportunity for students have already received the Master of Divinity degree to pursue advanced theological studies for one year. The THM is a very small program. There were only 3 taejun students in this current class. Please note that there is no financial aid available for students enrolled in the THM program and that THM students pay the same tuition's.

And if and MTS students if you are interested in the THM and would like more information, please. Feel free to reach out to our office.

In addition to these 3 Masters degree programs at HDS. There is also a non degree program called the special student program. The special student program afford students to participate in part time or full time. Non degree study for academic credit at Harvard Divinity school like the THM special students pay regular tuition. An are not eligible for institutional financial aid. This option is a great way to be introduced to the divinity school if your resources allow.

If you're interested in want more information, please. Feel free to reach out to our office.

Finally, the PhD in Religious Studies is a program jointly offered by HDS and the Committee on the study of religion through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or G sass.

Well PhD candidates in religion will study with HDS professors and take HD S class is the application process is administered through Jesus. If you have questions about deadlines in the application, please. Feel free to contact the Committee on the study of religion at G sass. Our office cannot answer any questions about the application, but are happy to talk with you about life at HDS.

So we now like to offer you a brief look at what it is like to be in HTS student so HTS offers a plethora of courses in different religious traditions using diverse methods in the study of religion. One of my favorite things about HTS courses is that they are generally small and discussion base. I end up learning not only for my professors, but from my peers as well. We encourage you to explore the course catalog via the link on the slide. This is a great way to learn about the different course.

Offerings at HDS and at other Harvard graduate schools.

For those of you who are still deciding which area of focus to pursue for the MTS program browsing the offerings and filtering by area of focus in the course catalog can be helpful. In addition to the many courses offered at HDSHDS. Students are also able to take classes at other Harvard graduate. Schools as well as through the Boston Theological. Interreligious consortium or the BT. I would use a consortium of schools and Seminaries in the Boston area. HDS students are welcome to take up to half their classes outside of.

HD S itself, which ensures that our students who do interdisciplinary work are able to learn in multiple fields. Sometimes the number of possible classes can be overwhelming at Harvard. The 1st week of the semester is known as shopping period where you get to go to all the classes that sound interesting and try them on to see which ones you like the best this is a great way to figure out which courses you ultimately would like to take.

There are many ways to engage in community life that HDS outside of class as well hosted by a different organization. Each Tuesday at 4:00 PM community is a great opportunity to enjoy delicious food with classmates outside of the classroom every week. T is something I personally look forward to each week. In addition, noon service on Wednesdays at 12:00 PM is hosted each week by a different religious or student organization at HDS and allows all in our community to be an learn with our companions.

Across the boundaries of our many respective traditions.

In addition to these weekly events there are many student organizations within HDS offering opportunities to engage more with classmates outside of the classroom.

A number of these organizations are listed on the HTS website. We will send you this link in the comments.

If you are interested in starting a new group students can feel free to start their own organization. As long as you have a friend who is also interested in participating in such a group. There are also opportunities to be involved in student government with HDS Student Association. Additionally, students are often found at the multitude of lectures trainings and other events taking place, both within the divinity school and within the broader Harvard Boston area as well.

In fact, I also have a difficult time, deciding which events to attend because there are so many different things happening each night.

Though this may not be on your radar yet. We want to give you a brief look at housing options in the Cambridge area. It is important to note that the office of student life will be sending out many resources to all incoming students regarding housing in late spring. Early summer, so you do not need to begin actively searching for housing at this point, many students do not find housing until the summer before they begin school. However, it is helpful to begin thinking about some things related to housing now for example, your budget and other needs.

Well, you have pets with you will, you want to have roommates the two options for housing are on campus and off campus housing while most HDS students live off campus. Harvard does offer graduate student housing options near campus. However, it is not subsidized an application is required. Many students live in Cambridge or Somerville for off campus housing or another neighborhood such as Dorchester Medford. Watertown or Jamaica Plain if they're looking for more affordable options with a longer commute.

These apartments can be found on various Facebook groups Craigslist and other websites again. This is not something that you should necessarily spend a lot of time, considering now but feel free to browse some current listings to get a sense of the housing options available and the costs after acceptance the HDS. We will provide you with much more substantial resources for housing assistance.

Next we would like to share a little bit more about what the application process. Looks like we would also like to remind you that the office of admissions will be hosting another web and our next Thursday to talk specifically about the application. An application best practices. Today we will give you a brief overview of the application itself as you may know there are multiple components to the application online application form can be found at the address on your screen.

There is an application fee of $25, which must be submitted at the time you submit your application. You can apply for a fee waiver if necessary. Please note that in order to access the fee waiver request form you must must initiate an on line application. The application also requires a resume or curriculum vitae, including all previous educational and work experiences next complete academic history with transcripts for all coursework taken for credit.

To complete your application to HDS you will be required to submit unofficial transcripts from each post secondary institution. You attended, including any school at Harvard University showing all undergraduate and graduate work, you will be prompted to upload transcript for each post secondary institution. You list in the academic history section of the application. If you are currently a student in your fall semester grades will not be available by the application deadline.

You may submit a transcript with grades through the preceding term.

Some applicants are required to submit official tofel or I'll scores when their native language is not English and when their Baccalaureate. Degree is from an institution where English is not the sole language of instruction. If you're not sure if you are required to take the Toefl or eilts review at the application instructions in the application, then reach out to our office for further guidance if necessary, this year, the GRE is an optional applicant.

Application component if you feel like it would be beneficial to your application please. Feel free to include it a week score will not hurt an otherwise strong application well admissions decisions are based primarily on grades. The statement of purpose. The writing sample and recommendations. The Admissions committee option finds Tre scores helpful for applicants whose grades do not reflect their true abilities who are making a midcareer change from another field who are returning.

To academic life after a long absence or who have limited coursework in the humanities when compared to the rest of the applicant pool. That being said it is completely up to you. Whether or not you choose to take the exam or provide your scores if you do choose to send your scores. The scores must be received by the application deadline of January 8.

If you have specific questions regarding the jirari feel free to reach out to our office. The statement of purpose is your opportunity to share why you think this specific degree program and HDS are a good fit for you, it should be no longer than 1000 words. Every approached the statement of purpose is different. But if students are having a difficult time, starting to write their statement of purpose. I usually suggest students who's the first half to explain how they come to the decision to attend Divinity School.

And any specific research interests. You have this may include academic personal and spiritual elements. The second half is a great space to explain why HDS is the right place for you. Whether that be courses professors or specific programs, etc. There's also helpful to include how this degree can support your future professional aspirations, but again, there are many ways, you can approach the statement of purpose.

The writing sample is a new requirement this year.

This writing sample, which should be 1000 to 1500 words maximum should demonstrate your academic writing ability, you are. Welcome to submit an excerpt of an academic paper in any subject area within the humanities or social Sciences and adapted piece of professional writing or an original work that is based upon a topic that you are interested in studying here at HTS the writing sample provides the Admissions Committee with a sense of.

Each applicant strengths in writing research and critical analysis.

If you choose to give to provide an excerpt of the paper. We recommend writing a brief note at the Top of the paper to share that information with the committee who will read it. Our office has been getting a number of questions pertaining to this element of the application. So we have put together a block post, which will be published soon to address your questions keep an eye out for this next week letters of recommendation are some of the best sources of information are office receives about you.

As they allow the Admissions Committee to hear how your mentors supervisors and professors. View you and your abilities. The letters should address your intellectual abilities, personal qualities and promise for graduate study and religion. We suggest that at least two of these ladders should be solicited from college University or seminary professors who taught you and are well acquainted with your academic qualifications.

Applications to the Master of Divinity program must include a letter that speaks to your ministerial promise and again. It is important to note that HDS defines ministry very broadly so for some this recommender might be a person connected to your tradition an place a practice for others. This recommender might be a person who has seen your work in a different capacity applicants applicants with extensive professional experience may choose to solicit a letter of recommendation.

From a mentor or supervisor in lieu of an academic recommender.

Letters from professional supervisors should have addressed your personal and academic skills and the ways in which your professional experience. It supports your goals for graduate theological study.

Best practice after you select your recommenders. We recommend that you share your statement of purpose with each recommender to allow them to be more able to speak to your specific interests in their letters. Please note that the deadline of January, 8th for you is also the deadline for your recommenders if you have not already added your recommenders to the application. Make sure you do this immediately. There's also a reminder button on the application, so you can send the form to them again.

At any point.

And now for the final question on all of your minds? What is financial aid like at HDS. We have 2 types of financial aid packages need based and merit based awards are lowest possible need based financial aid package if a student receives a package, which they will need if they demonstrate need is 75% of tuition covered. We also offer financial aid packages that cover 100% of tuition and for those with the greatest financial need there.

Are packages that cover 100% of tuition plus a living stipend? In addition, we have a small number of merit scholarships that cover 100% of tuition. Plus, a living stipend as you can see most of our aid comes in the form of need based aid.

We encourage everyone to apply for need based financial aid. You'll receive information about applying for financial aid. After you submit your application for admission all admitted students will be automatically considered for merit aid.

If you are admitted within 24 hours of that decision. The Office of financial aid will send your financial aid package. If you have more specific questions about financial aid. We encourage you to reach out to the office of financial aid.

Bath and Julie are our financial aid team and they are really helpful be in touch with them with any of your questions before we move into the question and answer portion of the weapon. Are we wanted to remind you of some important dates coming up.

We hope many of you will be able to join our office again next Thursday night. December 12th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Eastern Standard Time For more information on the application. We also will be having virtual open office hours on December 16th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM and Tuesday December 17th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM where you'll be able to sign up, and ask any questions to some of our admissions staff and graduate assistants that you may have.

Due to the winter holiday. The Office of admissions will be closed from December 23rd until January, 1st please. Feel free to continue to reach out to our office with questions will respond as soon as we're able. Finally, the deadline for the application. This year is Wednesday. January 8th 2020 at 5:00 PM. Eastern Standard Time. Please note that this year's deadline is slightly earlier than deadlines in the past admissions decisions will be released in mid March.

If you wouldn't mind we're going to turn the video on for Q&A. Hopefully this will work, but we may have to do a little bit of shifting around so.

Here it is everyone so we are going to transition into the question and answer portion of the webinars. So you can just ask any questions that you have into the chat box and this is a time for more general questions that you think that other applicants might be interested in hearing. The answer, too, as well. So just remember that, if you have any really specific questions that are kind of specific to your personal situation. You're totally. Welcome to send us an email and I'll give you that email right now.

It's ask underscore students at.

Hdask.harvard.edu and so you can ask us any specific questions that you have so bring us your questions and just to introduce ourselves with our faces. I'm Tessa I'm Kate.

And I'm Julia and we're coming at you from our graduate assistant office right now, so excuse. A little bit of a mess. But it's mostly cleaned. It looks like we're getting some question my performance.

Yeah, any concerns you have are always good to either address in the statement of purpose or there's also a box available on the application where you can talk about any concerns. You had during your undergrad any academic concerns. You had an example of this would be. I was really sick. My freshman year of college. I had to get surgery and so I wrote that my freshman grades were not as good because of that, so I didn't necessarily right about that in my statement of purpose.

Because I didn't need to take up space for that. But I wrote about in the little box available for that. Yeah, I also keep in mind that we practice? What's called holistic application renewal here at HDS so that means that you know the Admissions Committee isn't going to 0 in really closely on one aspect of your application, but rather that they were looking at everything that you submit letters of recommendation statement of purpose. They're looking at. You know what kinds of classes that you took so if you feel like.

One area is not as strong as it could be a just remember that, you have a lot of control over you know what happens in your statement of purpose and that can be a place where you can really uplift your application.

And just so you guys know if we don't get to your question or it seems like we skipped it. You can always copy it again. We just might not be seeing everything it looks like Tyler has a question about the THM in the class is small. It's a very self, selecting program so the applicant pool is relatively small and that's partially because of that. It's also about your research interests. If there's a professor that can connect with the THM. We really suggest that you reach out to professors that you'd like to work with ahead of time.

Yeah.

This one.

I don't know what is the average age of the student body. It's 27. Yeah, but that is spanning from twenty one to 70 years old. So it's a large span that the average age is 27. I'm 27. So yeah, I would say you know, maybe average exactly 27. But if you are not. The average age. I don't think that you should stress out about it at all, we have plenty of communities.

I mean, honestly like just in day-to-day life at HTS whether you're in the class or you're hanging out with your friends like your age doesn't really matter, yeah, very large span of age for sure.

Tommy asked if it's possible to defer admission in very rare cases admissions will be deferred. But we suggest reaching out earlier rather than later about that. An is it possible to switch between the undivine MTS programs. Yeah, it is more people. I think switch from M TS2M Dev, but it happens, both ways, the biggest things you need to do for that.

Well, you'll need to fill out a form talk to the financial aid office about your package if you are on financially but it's pretty easy to do only in very rare cases, it not accepted in those are usually different circumstances, but it's pretty pretty normal so Taylor asks how financial aid is determined an if your parents financial information is going to be taken into account and the answer for HDS is.

No on the financial aid application will not ask you about your parents financial information. It's just going to ask about your financial information and your spouses financial information. If you have one as well. And that could be different at other graduate schools, so for example, in a lot of medical schools. A lot of law schools, they might take your parents information into account, but HDS does not.

Looks like we have an M dev question so you might ask Julietta come on in here to talk about how HTS mentors. Students who are considering ordination I think probably are and if yeah, absolutely so there are a lot of different resources for medivh students pursuing all different tracks. I think one resource that might be really helpful is that we have a number of denominational counselors on campus who generally work part time.

With our with our school an offer any kind of resources and assisting with ordination processes, especially if it's with a specific denomination. They can help kind of guide you through that process. We also have an office administry studies in the staff. There are incredibly helpful and so any particular questions about the MD of program requirements that they can easily answer. Those very well, but I would say it's for a specific coordination.

Things I've heard that the denominational counselors are very, very helpful.

Hannah denominational counselors are not just for the end, Devs too. I'm an MTS student and I talked to my denominational counselor so they are available for everyone on campus, but especially helpful for those pursuing ordination absolutely.

So are many of the students in the program married. There certainly are students in the program married but it varies from year to year but there's definitely a group of married students on campus yet. I think just similarly with the age question like we just have so many applicants who come from really different backgrounds. A lot of people who are in their 2nd or 3rd careers and so because of that there's not.

There's not a lot of homogeneity throughout our classic people have a lot of different life experiences and situations.

Can you speak a little about coming from a non theological background? I am a nurse? I background so I would say a lot of people come from non theological non religious studies backgrounds. I did not I did not come from a theological background. I think it can probably speak to that, too, yeah, I am not religious and I have found myself to be really like holy accepted here and it's not at all weird that I'm not religious.

People's religious backgrounds are still incredibly diverse even yesterday. We had our seasons of light celebration for December, which is a very multi religious kind of celebration of the start of winter and different people were going up and representing their traditions and they were like 25 traditions that were represented. So there's definitely a lot of diversity in terms of the religious backgrounds in the traditions that people are coming from.

Should recommenders focus on academic ability characters service or both? I think this will why the example of using our best practice of sharing your personal statement is especially helpful because they see what you're focusing on and it can create a more full application that highlights the things you want highlighted obviously an academic versus uh.

Administry or a professional.

Recommende will vary in what they're talking about it also depends MTS versus M Divan. TS they are definitely for 2 of them looking for a more academically focused recommenders, but friend if there is more flexibility with that.

Yeah.

You mentioned that MTSM Dev students can take up to half. Their classes, another Harvard. Schools would you say that a lot of students do this?

Yeah, I've done that I do, I do, I do it pretty much every semester. I found it really easy also for MTS students. We can, we have those 6 classes required in our area of focus. But three of those can be from outside of HTS classes, so for example, I'm in a northern side of the civil rights movement. Class this semester, where I'm doing my final research project about religious organisations reactions to the Boston busing crisis.

So I'm using that as one of my religion ethics and politics requirements, so they make it really easy. It's very easy to cross register and I find it pretty typical since you 2 are first semester. I think there are students who do it. But as you go through and we did. You have more of a flexible schedule and it gets easier to do it, but it's definitely very popular here to do that and one of the best parts of HTS. I think we have the most flexibility.

Paris into the other schools in terms of the other Harvard graduate schools in terms of requirements and everything like that to be able to do it, so I would definitely suggest anyone who comes here to do that.

Yeah, and I would if that's something you're interested in you could mention it in the statement of purpose. I don't necessarily I don't know if I would necessarily say that should be your main focus. But I certainly mentioned it in terms of the school of education in terms of my statement of purpose.

Amazed.

So each incoming NTS class has anywhere from 80 to 110. Ish students is varies year to year, but it really varies year to year about acceptance rates.

I can answer the question about learning from your peers, yeah, so I mentioned during the actual web and R. How much I've learned from my peers. One really good example of this is this class that I'm in right now called Scripture stories of women and it's with Elizabeth Schuessler Fiorenza, who is just like Super Awesome. Feminist theologian so in this class? What we actually do is each week. We pick a different reading to do and then we all right.

A short paper and then part of our assignments for that week is actually to read the papers that are appears have written so I have found myself just amazed by how much I've learned from the other people in the class in the class. We have people from HDS. We have people from the Boston Theological Consortium as well. We have people who are you know, Harvard College Undergrads and people from other Harvard graduate schools and so people are approaching scripture from really different ways. and I think that that's a good example of a class that is pedagogically set up so that.

Or learning not only from our super cool professor, but also from my fellow students.

Yeah, how common or uncommon is it for MTS students to enter HDS with the goal of pursuing academia and disciplines besides religion. I think there's definitely a group who pursue pH. DS in history. American studies English. A large group of different humanities type disciplines. I'm not applying to pH D programs right now. But in the future. I've thought about applying to a PhD in education for example, so.

It's definitely there is a group of students who I know a student from last year, multiple who ended up doing American studies programs that's a nice part of being able to take classes in other departments, too because you have access to those professors as well. Not only to take their classes but mentor ship. I have a mentor at the education school and that's been really invaluable experience for me.

Intermediate knowledge I think Julia is the only one of us taking a biblical language Hebrew right now but I would say.

Yeah, I mean, there are many, many different languages offered UM in terms of what you can take for your language requirements, so they don't have to be a biblical language. So Cameron in French right now for the MTS degree. The bar for after you finish your degree is that you have to be an intermediate language proficiency. And this is for reading only so I'm in this awesome class. Let's basically French for reading religion. So it's very specific and because of that we can go really fast and are actually.

Reading things by important French thinkers in the study of religion right now and so you can use that knowledge specifically for religion and you can do French you can do. Hebrew like it doesn't need to be something that is strictly a secret language. You can you can do a lot of things with your language requirement just because at HTS like we are a flexible we have flexible degrees. An it's about really designing your experience for what your specific goals are.

Yeah, often times at the languages and offered at the Divinity School as well. There's flexibility and taking it up the college because more languages are offered there so there is there's a lot of flexibility. Yeah, one of our graduate assistants last year took Chinese at the college. The only thing to think about and that is usually those may include a speaking element, so and may take more time depending on the content that their teaching so I think for Chinese she had to take 3 semesters, verses for French.

Or MTS we only have to take two semesters, or do the summer language program over the course of one summer.

There isn't methods, yeah, so yeah, you just finish your paper last Saturday. We submitted our spinal Fusion methods paper last night. It was invigorating experience I really like seriously methods because it is with the entire emptive, an MTS Cohort an incoming class and so I found that to be lovely just to see everyone once a week, but basically what it is, is it gives everyone kind of a foundation an shared language.

Or important scholars in the study of religion and like how to approach religion from an academic point of view, and that's important because, like tons of people in the incoming class M. Devore MTS don't come from a background that is academic approaches to the study of religion. So it's been great to kind of get everyone on the same page. Yeah, yeah, we have colleagues who come from an engineering background or were lawyers. Previously, people are coming from all kinds of different places and so it is helpful.

Then I'll be on the same same page going in and the professors, although one professor is the teeth main teacher. The whole faculty makes the syllabus together, so you get all a lot of different viewpoints in the syllabus.

What is your personal workload? How many classes subjects and hours a week of work I think most people are taking 4 classes for classes each semester. Some people choose to take 5. Some people I'm taking 3 1/2. This semester because I'm in one, two credit class at the Kennedy school I would say my typical workload is maybe the amount of time you're in class you have.

Probably maybe twice that that many hours of reading or writing. It varies week to week during midterms during finals. All that sort of thing, but I work 20 hours a week has typically taken for classes and I find it pretty manageable as long as I keep myself to a good schedule. That's me in all things they just have to keep myself so good time management.

Should be very specific about her research interest? Should be very specific about our research interests in the personal statement or can they be generic?

To make sure we can all talk about our personal state, I'd say, you know you don't need to tell HDS definitively what you want to do with the rest of your life so if you are interested in something in general like that is OK, you could definitely should be a specific as you can, but just remember that, like you're not committing yourself to anything so like I came in. In a different area of focus. I've sent switch my area of focus like literally since coming here at 3 months ago my kind of.

Research interests have really brought in an changed and so just know when you're writing your personal statement and the The Admissions Committee knows as well that it really very well could change so don't freak out if you like don't know exactly what you want to do or what you want to study. I talked about that. I'm interested in religion and education broadly and the professor I would be interested in working with on that, but did I know that during my MTS seminar, which is a non required course that you can write a thesis did I know I was.

I end up writing lesson plans for that I could teach about American religious history in my statement of purpose absolutely not. There are some people who do very much know what their big research project is going to be, but that can switch so I think.

You know you don't have to be totally specific about it's not like a PhD application in that way.

Yeah, yeah, I would say similarly to both getting tested that I kind of outlined some questions that I was really interested in pursuing during my time here, but I also then because I'm an M Dave talked a lot about kind of what I hope to do in the future like kind of pursuing these questions and taking these particular classes and how that would benefit.

My car says study.

And.

I will add to an I think this will also help to answer the area of focus question like if you are kind of struggling with articulating what you want to study or trying to figure out what your area of focus is can be super helpful to browse through the faculty and in your statement of purpose. You can uplift a few faculty who you think are doing really interesting work or you can mention certain courses that you're interested in taking and that will kind of help you show through example like what you're sort of attracted to?

Yeah, I I did switch my area of focus an it is very easy to do and it's very, very common for people to switch so you can put some thought into it in your application. But it's not an end all, be all epic question to stress about absolutely you basically just have to tell your advisor. You want to switch the email, the registrar, you email, the registrar your switched.

And then how do the more interdisciplinary areas like gender and sexuality studies differ from the more traditional ones. I think perhaps like the biggest way that they differ and we definitely suggest going into the course catalog and filtering by area focus. You can do that and sort of explore? What classes and that's more why I switched because the classes. I ended up being interested in were more in the religion ethics and politics area of focus. I think it can be easier if.

It's really important to you today classes at the other schools if you have a broader area of focus. Of course, it might not necessarily be the case that that's true. But if you're interested in New Testament early Christianity. There's probably fewer classes at the Kennedy school that you can fit into that versus if you have a broader gender and sexuality. Religion ethics and politics. It's a bit easier to fit into other classes but otherwise I would say they have.

They try to have equal numbers of classes in all of them and to like I want to emphasize that like if you choose an area of focus. It's not like putting you down a path of certain classes that you have to take the only requirement for the MTS regarding area focus is that you have to take 6 classes inside your area of focus and 3 classes outside so very broad, yeah, very broad.

I've heard that many graduate programs at prestigious universities have a really competitive atmosphere is that the case of HTS or is it a more collegial environment. I can only speak from my experience, but I have found my classmates to be really clean collegial. Yeah, everyone. I think is really collaborative in their nature. I've really found it very fruitful to have em. TS an empty classroom together as well as THM and PhD students.

We want to get all kinds of different perspectives. I have not felt the competitive atmosphere in that classroom myself. So I think professors really try to foster that by making sure assessment other than perhaps in a language course or something like that. Most assessments, you can really work on what you want to work on for it an what is going to best serve your program so maybe a 15 page paper but it may be that you can write about something that is closer to your focus then.

Necessarily is in the question so people are doing a lot of different things. So I think that also.

Keeps any competition that there would be a way.

How do you get an advisor it sounds like you got 1 right from the beginning that's right? Yeah, that's true. So if you are accepted and decide to come you will get a form. You list your advisors that you would like or an area focus and they'll definitely puts you with someone within your area of focus you made.

It's not necessarily get the person just depending on if they're not here that semester or their advising load is already full but they try to do it as well as possible and then obviously there are a lot of mentor opportunities outside of your advisor to.

I think will probably only be able to take maybe one more question and then we will sign off and if we didn't get to your question like to say, said please. Feel free to shoot us. An email after this, and then we'd be happy to answer them, another time.

So Peter Johns had don't worry about his but I'm happy if you emailed us. I can talk about. I'm happy to have a Phone call where happy to have a Phone call with any of you in the next few weeks or in January. But Angela's question what separated HTS from some of the other programs that you looked at which I think is a great question to end with and maybe will answer it and then say goodbye.

Yeah, so I think I mentioned this already, but I really love the flexibility of the program, especially because I see myself pursuing ministry and kind of a broad interpretation of that and so being able to take courses in many different schools. But I think also the multifaith environment of this program. Specifically, I was really drawn to and I so appreciate being in a classroom talking about what is ministry studies when you're?

Working with peers and learning from here is from all different particular backgrounds or no feed background so that has been a really beneficial. Part of this program for me, yeah, I think I echo many of the similar things to Julia. But as I've said it has been really great for me to be able to take classes at other schools. That's been really important for me and was one of the major reasons why I chose this program, but then also the community, I think has been.

Really wonderful and the pluralistic environment was partly why chosen as well, and what separated it from in my mind also from the Boston area just to be honest, so that was also part of the thing that separated it for me too.

Yeah, I love that HTS in any given class you're going have MTS students and ended students learning right alongside of each other and I think that that's because HTS doesn't draw like a harsh line between the academic study of religion and you know, people who are studying for her faith perspective and people who are doing social justice work so for pretty much everyone. Those lines are really blurred. An I think that that is kind of the most robust honest way to do the study of religion.

That is definitely the biggest thing that attracted me to HDS in I found it to be fully true in my experience so far.

So thank you all again for joining us today. Please feel free to shoot us. An email again like, we said. If we did not get to your questions or if you think of things after this broadcast, but we wish you all the best of luck. If you decide to apply and let us know how we can be helpful to you in the future.

Still, here.

And thanks Julia Julia did a lot of work. Thank you for being here.