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HDS Admissions: Student Blog

Author Archives: Chris Alburger

Putting Down Roots

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in Student Life

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Cambridge, Church, Community, Faith, Friends, LGBT, UU

Photo by Katelynn Carver

Photo by Katelynn Carver

When I started at HDS, some of my fellow incoming classmates wondered aloud if there was any point in trying to make friends if we were only go to be here for 2 or 3 years, before moving on to something somewhere else. I’d say: make friends. You’re going to need friends in grad school, and you might even get to keep some of these friends for life. Like most prospective and admitted students, I didn’t know where I would end up after HDS (and I still don’t) but I’ve found it enormously beneficial to put down some roots—and like a plant that naturally puts down roots as it’s growing taller and fuller, you just can’t help it. So if you’re coming here this fall or thinking about coming here in the future, it might help to start thinking about what’s important to you in settling in. Continue reading →

Stellar & Down to Earth Faculty

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in What's It Like at HDS?

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Christianity, Classes, CSWR, Faculty, Religion & Politics, Religious Pluralism, Theology, UU

The Harvard Divinity School shield. Photo by Chris Alburger

The Harvard Divinity School shield at Harvard COOP. Photo by Chris Alburger

When I visited HDS as a prospective student, I was surprised by what Dr. Emily Click said from the podium. I’d brought some assumptions with me, across the country to Cambridge. I mean, it was Harvard. I figured they’d be snobby. Especially the faculty, with all their accomplishments and accolades. But Emily Click emanated warmth, her words were heartfelt, and she was so down to earth, I thought, wow, this is like my small liberal arts college, but even more so: nurturing, holistic, inspiring. Continue reading →

The MDiv Program

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in Academics

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Aspirations, Christianity, Classes, Faith, Field Ed, Humanist, Interfaith, Jewish, MDiv, Ministry, Muslim, Pagan, Religious Pluralism, Theology

My book shelf. Photo by Chris Alburger

My book shelf. Photo by Chris Alburger

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A Hyper-Stimulating Environment

03 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in Student Life

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Classmates, CSWR, Events, FOMO, HBS, HGSE, HKS, HLS, Interfaith, Libraries, Opportunities, Public Health, Research, Resources, Student Life, Theological Education Day, Tours, Work-Study

A bulletin board in the Rock. Photo by Chris Alburger

A bulletin board in the Rock. Photo by Chris Alburger

It’s hyper-stimulating. That’s what I thought, when I visited Harvard Divinity School for Theological Education Day. With all the panel discussions for prospective students, classes to visit, faculty and denominational counselors to meet, and library and campus tours, in addition to the regular events that take place throughout the year, like Community Tea, Noon Service, and events and lectures, there was far more going on than I could possibly do in my 2-day visit. As a student at Harvard for two years now, that feeling hasn’t gone away. I’ve found there’s far more going on here than I can even keep track of, let alone do, in any given week.

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Start Visioning

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in Waiting to Hear

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Academics, Admissions, Alumni, BTI, Classes, Clubs, CSWR, Field Ed, HBS, HGSE, HKS, Housing, MDiv, MIT, Noon Service, Ph.D., Pluralism Project, Prospective Students, Research, Student Life, Thoreau, UU, Work-Study

Looking at Andover hall from the library. Photo by Chris Alburger

Looking at Andover hall from the library. Photo by Chris Alburger

As I was learning about HDS through the website and preparing my application, I started imagining what it would be like to actually be there. If you’ve applied for the Fall, I bet you’ve wondered that, too. And, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably anxious to hear back from Admissions in mid-March and wondering what to do with yourself until then. The anxiety was nightmarish for me, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming. I mean, if you’re gonna worry about the worst possible outcome, you may as well imagine the best, too, right? So stay positive and start visioning.

Continue reading →

Spiritual Community at HDS

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Chris Alburger in Student Life

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Buddhism, Catholic, Clubs, Community, Community Tea, Evangelical, Faculty, Friends, Hear & Now, Humanist, HUUMS, Interfaith, Jewish, Ministry, Muslim, Noon Service, Retreats, RSL, Spirituality, Staff, UU, WomenCircle

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Walking the Labyrinth during the HDS Fall Retreat. Photo by Chris Alburger

I see Harvard Divinity School as a spiritual community, within which there are many distinct spiritual communities. HDS is full of kind, caring, altruistic people, because that’s who the school attracts. Classmates, faculty, and staff have all ministered to me and supported me through difficult times. I often have conversations with people that inspire or challenge me to be my best self (like a good sermon). The Divinity School, like we say at my church, is “a place where we practice being human.”

Community Tea on Tuesday afternoons is like “Coffee Hour” at church to me. It’s when Continue reading →

Shopping Period

12 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Chris Alburger in Considering HDS

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Classes, Classmates, Fit, Shopping

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Classroom at the Rock. Photo by Chris Alburger

Do you love window shopping and trying on clothes to see how they fit? Or do you get overwhelmed when there are too many choices? Well, at Harvard Divinity School, the first week of the semester is Shopping Period: where you get to go to all the classes that sound interesting and try them on to see which ones you like best—and, yeah, it can be overwhelming. Continue reading →

Categories

  • Academics (23)
  • Applying (24)
  • Considering HDS (15)
  • Experiential Learning (16)
  • Graduating (6)
  • HDS Interviews (10)
  • Student Life (40)
  • Summers (9)
  • Transitioning to HDS (18)
  • Waiting to Hear (7)
  • What's It Like at HDS? (25)
  • Why I Chose HDS (16)

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