Thanks so much for your wonderful advice! I really, really appreciate it. I just emailed the German department at my school to get a spot in German for reading! My one hitch is if I do German for reading I may have to put that last semester of Latin on hold. Is that worth it?
I think I know what I want to do. I want to do East-West theological interactions in the sixth century, with a focus on the Latin side (cause my Greek is God-awful). Especially on Sicily. Sicily in the sixth century is really, really cool! Also, I have a lot more experience working on both the undergraduate and graduate theological journals at my school, so I’m pretty comfortable with ecclesiastical history.
Considering this, my tutor recommended Princeton, Yale, UChicago, and Notre Dame; while I really like the Catholic University of America and Boston College. I think I want to try to apply for the MSt. in Medieval Studies at Black Friars, Oxford and go after a fellowship (maybe finally finding a use for my volunteer work, which sounds shallow but such is the world in which I live) because I know a girl who did it and said it really improved her Latin, Greek, and French. I just won’t tell my tutor about it.
Final parting question: Is it as bad as I always hear to do your PhD at your undergrad institution? I would consider applying to my college’s cultural history PhD program, but I’ve heard that’s a big no-no.
Again, thanks so much for your advice! I really appreciate it!