I received word earlier today that I won the SBTS ETS Women’s Scholarship. I initially did not enter because I assumed it was just for SBTS students, but then a few weeks ago I received a direct message from them on Twitter encouraging me to apply. Well, I’m very glad that happened! And I’m very honored to have been chosen. Thanks for running this scholarship, SBTS!
A few weeks ago I posted that I’d be going to SBL for sure, but was still unsure about ETS. Well, of course now I’m going! So I need to decide what to skip, because going to the entirety of both SBL and ETS would require skipping Tuesday classes twice, which I think would be a bad idea. But I will include it in the poll for kicks. The main decision I’m trying to make is whether to miss the first day of ETS or the last day of SBL. I’d especially like input from those who have attended both meetings. Please do also comment if you have good reasons for your choice of what I should do. Thanks! And see ya’ll in Atlanta 🙂
jenniferguo.wordpress.com 
Todd Scacewater
/ May 29, 2015SBL is longer. You’ll probably be bored by the last day anyway (or the second day…) 😉
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Jennifer Guo
/ May 29, 2015Um…..a Bible nerd at her first SBL….I doubt I will have a single moment of boredom 😀
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Vincent S Artale Jr
/ May 29, 2015Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging and commented:
Congrats and God bless you Jennifer!
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Jennifer Guo
/ May 29, 2015Thanks, Vincent.
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Vincent S Artale Jr
/ May 29, 2015You’re welcome Jennifer 🙂
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Clifford Kvidahl
/ May 29, 2015Oh no, Todd is right! You start to get bored come Monday.
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Jennifer Guo
/ May 29, 2015what!? how can that be??
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Clifford Kvidahl
/ May 29, 2015It gets really old living out of a suitcase after awhile.
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RGB Rao
/ May 29, 2015Skip classes. Its not the end of the world. Get the notes from others.
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Jennifer Guo
/ May 30, 2015I’m not paying 30k to study under world-renowned scholars to skip classes and get the notes. I’ve already read class notes and transcripts for every MDiv level Bible and theology class.
Tell me, what self-respecting Bible/theology nerd would be happy about skipping a class with the likes of Carson & KJV?
In undergrad I never went to class except to take exams, turn in assignments, etc. During my masters program I fared better – I probably went to around 25% of classes. It’s a different game now because I actually care about the subject matter, and because I’m paying more for this degree than the other 2 combined.
So, yes, I’d like to minimize class-skipping in seminary. But obviously for a good enough reason I’ll do it. And academic conferences are a darn good reason. I just think skipping one set of classes twice in a row is a bit much.
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jacobcerone
/ May 30, 2015Don’t miss the first day of either conference. If you must, miss the last day of SBL. Trust us all on this. Even if you weren’t tired by that time, it’s only a half day (as I recall). Really though, just miss both classes and get the notes. I understand the impetus behind not and also understand the cost, but you would miss a class and exchange it for 3-5 sessions or the opportunity to meet new people and engage in theological discussions with old and new friends alike.
That’s just my two cents.
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Jennifer Guo
/ May 30, 2015Jacob, thank you SO much for putting in your two cents. Your reasoning is very convincing. Btw, are you going to either? If you are, you must post a tentative SBL schedule the way everyone else is doing 😀 I’m working on mine as we speak.
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jacobcerone
/ May 30, 2015Yes. I will be in attendance at both conferences, which will be a first for me. I usually attend one or the other, and most of the time that means I go to SBL.
I haven’t had the chance to look through the schedule yet, but I will definitely post some of the sessions I plan to attend. Be assured that I will likely hang out at the IOSCS (International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies) for a number of sessions if anything is up my alley!
I look forward to bumping into you while there if the opportunity arises.
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Jennifer Guo
/ May 30, 2015I will most likely be found at sessions on Paul, John, early Christianity, and historical Jesus. so I guess we’ll only bump into each other at receptions 😀
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