Aug 24, 2008

seminary shmeminary

I've spent about a jillion hours on the computer comparing Talbot and Fuller seminaries. I'd like to get started on my Masters Degree in the Spring of '09, so I'm trying to get registered this month!

Right now I'm leaning towards Fuller, but the biggest obstacle is that its about an hour drive each way. They have an Irvine extension campus, but it's in a boring office building, and they primarily use adjunct faculty from other universities and churches nearby. I'm sure they're great teachers, but I'm worried about getting a second-rate experience being away from the main campus. Talbot, on the other hand, is right down the street from me (on the Biola campus). Hmm.

My lead pastor is on "the board" at Talbot (not sure which board that is), so that makes Talbot a bit more appealing. Oh and like ten of our pastors have their Masters or Mdiv from Talbot too, so they're always wearing their t-shirts and trying to convince me. Both schools have some pretty impressive alumni to brag about. Rob Bell and Rick Warren went to Fuller, which is a pretty well-rounded pair when it comes to philosophy and doctrinal stuff.

I think this might be a win-win decision either way I go, despite what criticisms and opinions the zealous alumni on both sides have to say about the other school. If Fuller can offer me a top-notch experience (without forcing me to drive two hours once a week for three years) then... I'll probably land there.

What would YOU do if you were ME?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your talking about things of the spirt, so you go with your heart. Though that's not always what's popular. But you already knew that;)
mom

Anonymous said...

Fuller's professors are great even at their extensions. You will like them. I have taken classes at Colorado Springs, Phoenix, and Sacramento. Not trying to persuade you either way just letting you know that you won't be disappointed.

Christopher. said...

Which one will give you more opportunities time wise? If they're both good, is one worth the gas? I guess you could always do bus or something if you really wanted to save money and go there. What about time?

I don't think the alumni planned on being who they became when they got out, they just followed what God set in their hearts. But, I don't know much of the lives of Bell or Warren.

So, consider the time value spent. To me it's one of those "you have $86,000 given you to everyday, and only for that day" scenarios that pop up in my head, where you really have to think about time value.

If worse comes to worse you find the exact point between the schools, throw a stone in the air, and find out which school it lands closer to like they did in Acts :)

- Teenager that should be in bed because it's almost midnight on a school night

Anonymous said...

I am taking classes at Fuller right now and I have to say that I have really enjoyed them. The teaching is solid. Check out to see if Camary-Hoggatt is teaching The Gospels class. He is from SoCal, and he is a great prof. Don't know much about the other option, but I love Fuller.

Anonymous said...

I am taking classes at Fuller right now and I have to say that I have really enjoyed them. The teaching is solid. Check out to see if Camary-Hoggatt is teaching The Gospels class. He is from SoCal, and he is a great prof. Don't know much about the other option, but I love Fuller.

Mastering Divinity said...

I'm going to Talbot right now and we could totally carpool!

But seriously, I don't envy your choice because I made it too, and it honestly came down to gas for me. Talbot was closer and that's what tipped the scales.