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Claremont Graduate University’s “Religion in North America” PhD program vs. GTU Berkeley’s “History of Christianity” joint PhD program (with UC Berkeley)

If a friend or relative was interested in the study of religion in North America (from the Jacksonian era to the turn of the 20th century), and they were undecided between these two programs... which would you recommend? Why?

There are so many factors to consider beyond any emphasis of specialty or uniqueness of the institution.

1. The one most likely to be graduated from with the least degree of aggravation and pound of flesh.
2. Best available parking and most livable surroundings.
3. Best off campus Thai, Indian and Cajun restaurants.
4. Coeds
5. Nearness to Juliann Reynolds. I would consider this a plus, but to each their own.

Best wishes on your friend's future educational success. Is he interested in Mormon Studies?

The one most likely to be graduated from with the least degree of aggravation and pound of flesh.

I wish there were better ways to find out things like this. Schools should have to post their graduation rates. In the case of medical schools, they should have to post how many hours of free clinic labor you'll be required to provide, etc. I know in most programs, not just medical, graduate students are basically indentured servants, paying people to go to work and do a job to make even more money for them. Any learning or teaching going on is usually completely done by the student or perhaps help from other students. It's certainly not the professor. He's made it and his position is secure. He doesn't have to do anything and usually doesn't. My staff doctor couldn't even write legibly. And yes he expected me to read his charts.

In socialist public school everything is the paid (albeit poorly) teachers fault. Kids basically have not responsibility or accountability. Once you get to the tuition paying university level and especially the graduate level, the only person who has any responsibility is the student.

I asked a colleague what he thought of his undergrad at BYU. He said it prepared him well for our medical program we were in. The low tuition and emphasis on research resulted in very poor teaching in a very academically competitive environment. Our grad program was a repeat of that with the addition of paying to work long hours performing the leg work for paying patients. What graduate schools get away with making students do to make the school money has to be one of the biggest social injustices in our modern feudalistic system today.

I am the grad student who was accepted by these schools.

Tough tough choice that I need to make in the next couple of days. So far Claremont has out bid Berkeley for scholarship money. Berkeley is now trying to find a little more to win me over.

If Berkeley can offer a financial package that is comparable to what Claremont has offered, I will probably choose Berkeley.

Down side of Berkeley is that they will require me to be proficient in two Modern languages. Also... the program isn't as narrowly focused as I'd want it to be. Fortunately, though, having talked with my adviser, the program seems flexible enough to allow me to focus a large portion of my studies on the Jacksonian era to the turn of the 20th century. My adviser would also consider Freemasonry and Folk-magic/religion under the umbrella of Christianity.

One of the coolest things about Berkeley is that a Swedenborgian school is part of their consortium. They have one of the four Swedenborgian libraries that exist worldwide.

I'd love to do a dissertation on Swedenborgianism and Mormonism or Swedenborgianism and Freemasonry (the Swedenborgian Rite).

It seems that Berkeley would also have better work opportunities for me while doing my grad studies. I also like that it is a joint program with UC Berkeley. It will be nice to take coursework at the UC.

Made my decision today. Chose GTU/UC Berkeley.

Congratulations, Mike! That's exciting.

Congratulations Mike! I'm really excited for you! It's a great school. I wish you well in all your studies.

Congrats, Mike. I wish you all the best. It is hard to go wrong with Berkeley if you are looking to be a prized candidate for employment upon graduation.

Congratulations!!!! I know you will do AWESOME!!!

Berkley is only an underwater subway ride away from San Francisco - the nation's favorite city.

Swedenborgianism and Mormonism sounds like the basis of another book, although if you shorten it to just initials then sales will skyrocket.