Franciscan University Thread

[Slappo]

apologetics is also not a career. it is a field.

[4588686]

Slappo and I aren't trying to be jerks.  But these are the questions and level of specificyt you need to think about

[Deus te Amat]

FP, I want to share something a bit personal, which if you know me at all, you now I rarely do so on PM.

 

When I started college, and for pretty much my entire college career, I thought of it as a stepping stone to the convent. I knew I needed some more experience before entering, and they, and I, agreed that getting my degree was perfect for my preparation to enter. Knowing that I was going to end up there, I naturally thought I'd major in theology or philosophy or perhaps even education or latin -- something to prepare myself for what I thought would be my future life. After all, they were just going to send me back to school for one or more of the above anyway. 

 

But my mother, good old sensible mother, said that if she was going to help pay for my education (I got most of it covered by scholarships, but what remained would have delayed my entrance for several years while I paid off the debt), then I had to major in something worthwhile. Something that would help me get a job if the convent didn't work out, or if I got married and something happened to my husband and I had to support a bunch of kids on my own. So I majored in mathematics, because, in my mind, it was just another branch of the pursuit of truth -- otherwise known as philosophy, which is the handmaid of theology. I thought I would end up teaching math, and so I was happy.

 

But, as you can see, God called me to the convent, but it was not His will for me to stay. It happens to a lot of us. I do not know about you, and I doubt that your path will be like mine, but I am SO THANKFUL that I had my math degree AND liberal arts background to rely on. I somehow got an amazing job with great benefits doing something that interests me and has enough variety so that I don't get bored. Sure, this may not be what I will do for the rest of my life -- I hope not, but if not for my degree, I would probably still be moping around my parent's house, bemoaning my theology degree that meant that I could only get a job working with kids or in the Church, which was the last thing I wanted to do after leaving. I needed time and space to put myself back together.

 

I love the young adult Catholic revolution that is now taking place in the US. it is exciting and it gives me great hope for the future of America. BUT, all the enthusiasm in the world means nothing if we don't make a societal impact, and, I'm sorry, but theology teachers and catholic school teachers do not affect SOCIETY AT LARGE. They impact a very small minority of the people we are told to evangelize. In college, I took enough theology and philosophy courses for a major and minor respectively, but I did not get the degree. I also can read both for my own expansion of knowledge and enjoyment. But college is intended to both teach one to think, and to prepare one for life in SOCIETY AT LARGE. You need technical skills, my friend. If you want to make an impact on the world, you need something with which to reach people, not something that sets you apart.

 

 

 

My 2 cents. Take it or leave it. Pax.

[Lilllabettt]

biology. will qualify you to be premed. or a biology teacher (in most states, at least on an emergency license.)

 

if you double major consider doing something businessy.  Accounting, finance, marketing. Helpful on the job search because it is useful no matter what field you're in or what role you're applying for.  An evangelist who can do theology and read a chart of accounts will be way more attractive to a Catholic non-profit.

[PhuturePriest]

Slappo and I aren't trying to be jerks.  But these are the questions and level of specificyt you need to think about

 

Apologetics as in speaking and possibly writing books (If someone is so bored to read them, let alone pay for them).

 

FP, I want to share something a bit personal, which if you know me at all, you now I rarely do so on PM.

 

When I started college, and for pretty much my entire college career, I thought of it as a stepping stone to the convent. I knew I needed some more experience before entering, and they, and I, agreed that getting my degree was perfect for my preparation to enter. Knowing that I was going to end up there, I naturally thought I'd major in theology or philosophy or perhaps even education or latin -- something to prepare myself for what I thought would be my future life. After all, they were just going to send me back to school for one or more of the above anyway. 

 

But my mother, good old sensible mother, said that if she was going to help pay for my education (I got most of it covered by scholarships, but what remained would have delayed my entrance for several years while I paid off the debt), then I had to major in something worthwhile. Something that would help me get a job if the convent didn't work out, or if I got married and something happened to my husband and I had to support a bunch of kids on my own. So I majored in mathematics, because, in my mind, it was just another branch of the pursuit of truth -- otherwise known as philosophy, which is the handmaid of theology. I thought I would end up teaching math, and so I was happy.

 

But, as you can see, God called me to the convent, but it was not His will for me to stay. It happens to a lot of us. I do not know about you, and I doubt that your path will be like mine, but I am SO THANKFUL that I had my math degree AND liberal arts background to rely on. I somehow got an amazing job with great benefits doing something that interests me and has enough variety so that I don't get bored. Sure, this may not be what I will do for the rest of my life -- I hope not, but if not for my degree, I would probably still be moping around my parent's house, bemoaning my theology degree that meant that I could only get a job working with kids or in the Church, which was the last thing I wanted to do after leaving. I needed time and space to put myself back together.

 

I love the young adult Catholic revolution that is now taking place in the US. it is exciting and it gives me great hope for the future of America. BUT, all the enthusiasm in the world means nothing if we don't make a societal impact, and, I'm sorry, but theology teachers and catholic school teachers do not affect SOCIETY AT LARGE. They impact a very small minority of the people we are told to evangelize. In college, I took enough theology and philosophy courses for a major and minor respectively, but I did not get the degree. I also can read both for my own expansion of knowledge and enjoyment. But college is intended to both teach one to think, and to prepare one for life in SOCIETY AT LARGE. You need technical skills, my friend. If you want to make an impact on the world, you need something with which to reach people, not something that sets you apart.

 

 

 

My 2 cents. Take it or leave it. Pax.

 

I'm not going into theology because I want that before I go into the seminary. I wanted to go into theology in case I don't go to seminary.

 

biology. will qualify you to be premed. or a biology teacher (in most states, at least on an emergency license.)

 

if you double major consider doing something businessy.  Accounting, finance, marketing. Helpful on the job search because it is useful no matter what field you're in or what role you're applying for.  An evangelist who can do theology and read a chart of accounts will be way more attractive to a Catholic non-profit.

 

Businessy stuff bores me to death. I would hate life if I had to do accounting, finance, or marketing. I do like science, though, and science majors are very reliable (If you choose the right ones).

Edited February 8, 2014 by FuturePriest387

[PhuturePriest]

biology. will qualify you to be premed. or a biology teacher (in most states, at least on an emergency license.)

 

if you double major consider doing something businessy.  Accounting, finance, marketing. Helpful on the job search because it is useful no matter what field you're in or what role you're applying for.  An evangelist who can do theology and read a chart of accounts will be way more attractive to a Catholic non-profit.

 

Edit: Never mind.

Edited February 8, 2014 by FuturePriest387

[Deus te Amat]

I'm not going into theology because I want that before I go into the seminary. I wanted to go into theology in case I don't go to seminary.

 

 

Um... Did you read what I wrote?

[PhuturePriest]

Um... Did you read what I wrote?

 

I read, like the first few sentences, saw it was super long, and then just assumed what you wrote about and went from there. After I posted I read it, though. Does that earn me any points? :P

[Deus te Amat]

No.

[LittleWaySoul]

Right now it looks like you're taking more than the "normal" workload. Although it depends on what programs you're looking at, you should be okay. Just make sure you're talking to some really good professors (preferably ones in the concentration you want to go into) to give you stellar recommendations and make sure you have a great writing sample. 

 

Oh, and you probably need at least a 700 on the GRE verbal. 

Is that, like, insanely good? On an ACT-esque scale, where might that fall?

[PhuturePriest]

No.

 

:sad:

[Deus te Amat]

I hoped that saying "this is personal. I don't share personal stuff", would make you take me seriously. I was wrong. Sorry for misjudging you.

[Deus te Amat]

Is that, like, insanely good? On an ACT-esque scale, where might that fall?

 

It's about a 32.

[Lilllabettt]

Apologetics as in speaking and possibly writing books (If someone is so bored to read them, let alone pay for them).

 

 

I'm not going into theology because I want that before I go into the seminary. I wanted to go into theology in case I don't go to seminary.

 

 

Businessy stuff bores me to death. I would hate life if I had to do accounting, finance, or marketing. I do like science, though, and science majors are very reliable (If you choose the right ones).

 

Just cuz you have it on your resume and mention it on a job interview doesn't mean you would do it all the time ... or even at all. No matter your role, the knowledge base makes a difference. It could be you're just at a table with a bunch of people, the accounting "guy" does a presentation and everybody nods ... you don't want to be the one who doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

... another thing is ... most small businesses, especially non-profits, especially religious ones - are "smaller" concerns ... which means people wear a lot of hats. They don't have departments, or even "a guy" who works on just marketing or just  grant writing or just accounting compliance. Everybody is involved in doing it all.

 

and if you start your own firm or freelance or consult it will be just you doing it all. 

 

2 cents.

 

in addition to teaching ... if you do biology and get research experience while in school you could get a job as an assistant in a lab.  One of my roommates does that. It doesn't pay too well though and they like to hire future MDs or Phds.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Lilllabettt

[PhuturePriest]

I hoped that saying "this is personal. I don't share personal stuff", would make you take me seriously. I was wrong. Sorry for misjudging you.

 

I actually somehow completely missed the original line.

 

Sorry, I'm just super busy and am doing a million different things right now. I didn't have time to read the full message.