Suggestions, Phil Dept important

alh
Mon, 18 Nov 2013 08:12:05 +0000

I think for Hebrew Bible you need to consider adding University of Pennsylvania to the list. I also think Holy Cross is worth considering given his interests. As you have already figured out, the problem you are going to run into is finding the academics he wants in a comfortable social environment. There are many smaller schools that may seem to offer what he wants, when you read the catalog, but the quality of instruction in Hebrew, Greek, Latin can be very uneven. It might be useful to ask these schools if their students go on to graduate schools. They should be able to tell you where their students went to graduate school and if they now hold university teaching positions. You could also ask how often the courses listed are taught and if those professors will actually be on campus, teaching, during your son’s undergraduate years. In his case, some college visits would be very useful. Since resources are limited, I suggest he do this sort of visiting by email. From the catalog and departmental faculty lists, he should be able to pick out the faculty with whom he might want to study and then contact them about his interests. The responses should be useful imho

I would like to very respectfully suggest it may be impossible to become a scholar in these fields without leaving his religious comfort zone while in the academic environment. He probably is going to have to separate his personal beliefs and academic pursuits somewhat. Frequently students like your son do an undergraduate degree, then a masters of divinity, before a PhD. Some of the Catholic schools are a really good choice for what he wants to do, if he wants to do Christianity. I believe Hebrew Bible is generally taught in a Jewish studies department. I find it an interesting puzzle to consider where he might find a protestant “religious” college that will offer the academics he needs to be prepared for competitive graduate schools. For example - Duke, of course, comes to mind though the campus culture is definitely not what he is looking for. Duke, originally Methodist, and has a Divinity School and Religious Studies graduate dept, where he probably could take classes as an undergraduate. Duke produces some Rhodes Scholars. I am trying to decide, from your son’s perspective, how different the campus culture is at Yale from Duke. Chicago also seems to me to have everything he is looking for except the campus culture. Some really excellent academic options are on your “probably not” list. I am going to keep reading to see other suggestions. Good Luck!!!

adding: When you say he wants to major in Philosophy - what exactly is he thinking he wants to study at this point in time?