All of the panel participants spoke about the general admissions process for doctoral programs, emphasizing that students should take the time to really consider if a PhD is what they want to do. Since PhD programs are, on average, a seven-year commitment, students interested in doing a PhD should think long and hard about whether or not this is really what they want to do. The panel participants all also gave GTU students some great tips about how to best put together their applications, like asking a professor in advance if they would be able to write a good letter of recommendation for you, remembering to rewrite your writing sample to incorporate the comments of your professor, and trying not to worry about the aspects of your application that are not under your control and focusing on the ones that are (like the personal statement and writing sample). Another important suggestion, reiterated by all the participants, was to ask professors about what programs would be best for your interests and to not be afraid to contact the departments and the faculty at these schools directly.
The DSPT Academic Group was formed in the fall of 2006 by a group of students who are all interested in pursuing PhD work after finishing at DSPT. Although the group is currently in a fluid form, the students who attended the PhD Admissions Panel will all be asked about their preferences about how such a group could best support them both during their M.A. and through the PhD application process. The Academic Group hopes to become a permanent presence at the GTU, run by students at DSPT since more of the lay DSPT students seem to be interested in academics in comparison to the large percentages of ministry-focused students at the other GTU schools.
-- Elissa McCormack
