Westminster Seminary California - thoughts from alumni?

[alexanderbaptist]

Hi, all!

I'm a future seminarian and am currently considering schools. I am a Particular Baptist (think 1689) who loves the Reformed tradition and am looking mainly at WTS, WSCAL, and RTS.

I am very attracted to the academic rigor boasted by WTS. I am also, however, really considering WSCAL. Of course, WTS has 100% tuition coverage. I must say, though, that I am closer in some ways to the faculty at WSCAL (R2K, views on Reformed Scholasticism, etc.).

My dream program is the dual-degree program offered by WSCAL that combines an MDiv with an MA in Historical Theology. Historical Theology and Church History are my main loves and what I see being the focuses of my career (I hope to complete a PhD after seminary, Lord-willing).


These are my main questions:

1. Does anyone here have experience at either seminary - particularly from WSCAL?
2. What would it be like as a Baptist (albeit, in my mind, very reformed) at WSCAL?
3. What kind of scholarship opportunities would be available to me from WSCAL, or other schools I listed, that could make them more competitive with WTS in terms of tuition? (3.9 gpa, graduating from a highly respected liberal arts college with a double-major in Theology and History and a senior thesis on Reformed Scholasticism).

Lord bless you all! Thank you for your time.

 

[Gforce9]

Ethan,
I cannot speak as Alumni, but my son, Daniel, is there and we talk quite often. One of the hallmarks of WSCal is their strong focus on community. They do everything possible, it seems, to get the students to spend time together. My son has found this a very good and unique aspect. There are some fine teachers there and, as a young man cut out for rigorous academics, he has found it both challenging and pastoral; the young men studying there will have their brains and hearts expanded for sure.
What would it be like for a Baptist? I would think one would make some lifelong friends and well as be academically stretched. I would not expect a Baptist to be "on the outside" in any way. Your Baptist convictions may be challenged, but I couldn't imagine it to be a harsh nor demeaning situation. It is a Reformed seminary, so they will be teaching from a historic, Reformed perspective and not a Baptist one.
There are some good scholarships available....talk to the admissions folks there to get a sense of what might be available to you.

May God lead you into wisdom and righteousness.

Greg

 

[Dabbling Scholiast]

I'm a graduate of WTS and I highly recommend it, they certainly will differ in a few points from WTSCal (I think for the better, in my biased opinion). One of the standouts, apart from the heavy emphasis on biblical languages, is the Church History Department, in particular Todd Rester. One thing that had surprised me was how pastoral the history departement was, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it surprised me nonetheless. (It is also an excellent course of study, we were required to take 4 church history courses.)

Whatever you choose, I would encourage you to make the most of learning and using the biblical languages, they really do reap profound benefits in the future.

 

[Pundit]

Hi Brother,

As an aside, is your senior thesis on Reformed Scholasticism available in the public domain?

As a fellow Baptist, is there a particular reason why you're not looking at IRBS, CBTS, or Founders?

Isaac

 

[DNM300]

Will you say more about the 100% Tuition Coverage at WTS? Why and how are they able to offer that? I feel like I heard something about that a while ago, but I’m fuzzy now.

 

[iainduguid]

Will you say more about the 100% Tuition Coverage at WTS? Why and how are they able to offer that? I feel like I heard something about that a while ago, but I’m fuzzy now.

I can answer that. A few years ago, we made the decision to provide full scholarships for all residential MDiv and MAR students because the rising levels of debts our students had were unsustainable for a lifetime of ministry. We raise funding for these so that the students tuition is covered. We also deliberately reduced the number of students admitted residentially to a cohort of 30-35 students a year to maximize the residential student experience. It has become harder to get in, obviously, as we have many more students apply than we can accept, but as a result we have consistently strong students and a great experience for those students.

Meanwhile, our online programs are growing. These are not tuition free at this point, although we are working hard to provide more scholarships for them also. We don't want financial need to be a hindrance to serving the Lord.

 

[dsanch1120]

I am an online student at WTS, feel free to ask any questions. I have greatly enjoyed the program.

 

[darrellmaurina]

A side point here... that would have made the difference in attending Westminster-East rather than Calvin back in the 1980s.

There was no possible way for me to afford Westminster-East due not only to the tuition but the cost of housing in Philadelphia, and Westminster-West, even then, had stratospherically high and regularly increasing costs of living in Southern California.

Grand Rapids, where I grew up, had (at least back then) one of the lowest costs of living in a top-40 metro area. If I remember right, I was paying about $150 per month in rent with utilities, which I was unhappy about because it was higher than the $90 per month I had previously been paying for an apartment I should not have given up. The costs in Philadelphia or SoCal were beyond any possible way to pay the bills.

Good for Westminster for doing this.

I can answer that. A few years ago, we made the decision to provide full scholarships for all residential MDiv and MAR students because the rising levels of debts our students had were unsustainable for a lifetime of ministry. We raise funding for these so that the students tuition is covered. We also deliberately reduced the number of students admitted residentially to a cohort of 30-35 students a year to maximize the residential student experience. It has become harder to get in, obviously, as we have many more students apply than we can accept, but as a result we have consistently strong students and a great experience for those students.

Meanwhile, our online programs are growing. These are not tuition free at this point, although we are working hard to provide more scholarships for them also. We don't want financial need to be a hindrance to serving the Lord.

 

[ShamgarTheJudge]

I can answer that. A few years ago, we made the decision to provide full scholarships for all residential MDiv and MAR students because the rising levels of debts our students had were unsustainable for a lifetime of ministry. We raise funding for these so that the students tuition is covered. We also deliberately reduced the number of students admitted residentially to a cohort of 30-35 students a year to maximize the residential student experience. It has become harder to get in, obviously, as we have many more students apply than we can accept, but as a result we have consistently strong students and a great experience for those students.

Meanwhile, our online programs are growing. These are not tuition free at this point, although we are working hard to provide more scholarships for them also. We don't want financial need to be a hindrance to serving the Lord.

Being a new WTS Online student has been a great experience thus far and, Lord willing, more scholarships will be available. It must be said, though, that the on-campus experience would be most optimal…

So, I would encourage anyone able to move right away to apply and do so!