SATS or Free State

I just heard from the University of the Free State that they will accept me as a student in their Master Program.

SATS has already accepted me.

So now I face the age old question of choosing between the two.

Any thoughts or suggestions on one or the other?

Thanks,
clint

 

Free State is a university that's extremely well known in southern Africa and recognized throughout the world.

SATS is a small private institution that's essentially unknown among the lay public even in South Africa -- actually even in Gauteng.

But I know nothing about their reputations in the evangelical Christian community.

 

Clint were I you I'd opt for Free State IF you already are well couched in your evangelical beliefs and connections which I understand you are.

 

Well, all things considered, I would agree with you guys - and may still do so.

I am waiting to hear about money matters from Free State.

SATS has basically cut my tuition in half after accepting my American MA courses as meeting some requirements.

Free State makes the same academic offer, but I am waiting for the financial info.

I still might go with them, but I would like all the cards on the table to be sure.

Thanks,
clint

 

Well, oxpecker hasn't said it yet so I may as well say it,
VRYSTAAAT ! ! !
BTW, that's also my answer to your question. The good news is that either way, you really can't make a bad choice.
Jack

 

That is my prayer, Jack, that I cannot really go wrong either way.

Living in Estonia has given me a renewed appreciation for good customer service (and trust me, we see it so rarely here that we can spot it a mile away). The attention and help given by SATS is not going unnoticed by me.

I know that UFS has a superior reputation and all, but unless they dazzle me with something, I will probably go with SATS.

Even the simple things are nice, such as being able to enroll online and pay that way, as well. Those things are possible at SATS, while I must print out, mail, fax etc different things to UFS. Not a big deal, but SATS is definitely easier in that regard.

Well, we shall see. I appreciate the comments and suggestions.

clint

 

Okay... so, let's say that a U.S. resident got the SATS MTh.

Would s/he then get it assessed by a NACES member agency to get it declared RA-equivalent (and, if so, which NACES member agency would everyone around here recommend)? Or, if not, what, then, would be the procedure if s/he wanted to make sure that the hard-earned MTh is universally regarded as RA-equivalent so that s/he wouldn't have to keep explaining and assuring for the rest of his/her life?

Or is the SATS MTh even RA-equivalent in the first place?

 

This is an interesting question. I'd not only like to get opinions on this, I'd really like to understand the reasoning behind the opinions.
Jack

 

I am also interested in opinions on this topic.

However, there is another consideration. If I (or anyone else) were to continue on with the MTh and then enter and complete the Dth with SATS (assuming they are approved in their application this year), would this also need to be evaluated?

clint

 

So... then... why hasn't anyone who knows (and there are many around here) chimed in?

 

I've noted that forum participation slows during weekends. This is confusing to me as it suggests that people actually have lives outside of this board, something that is indisputably impossible .

I would also be interested in hearing how people manage the "credits problem," that is, that transcripts for these sorts of research-based Masters degree or Doctoral degree programs do not show "courses," but rather show something like,
Theology 900 - Masters Dissertation
This doesn't help with teaching jobs that require a certain number of credits in a particular subject area. Any feedback on this?
Jack

 

Well, the verdict is in, pending congregational approval.

SATS basically cut my tuition in half (as stated earlier). Today I received an email from UFS that states that the Masters degree is a package deal and the price remains the same no matter what.

Since I am not the one paying for it...it looks like SATS knows how to convince the churches - make it less expensive.

Once I get the go ahead from my church in the States, I will send my enrollment fee off to SATS.

clint

 

my SATS experience

One thing I like about my SATS experience was their fast response time.... and yet in the thesis supervision, I find the quality of corrections and the discussion of opinions (on whether to scrap out or create a chapter) very remarkable with reasonable response time (taking into consideration that your supervisor has other works to do)...
Drafts are submitted via e-mail.... the 2-3 sets of preliminary draft had to be in hard copies... but to save courier and mail expenses, SATS allowd me to send them the pdf file, and they print for you for a very reasonable cost.
As to the compiled copy for the examiners, when I finished my thesis my real big problem here (in Cambodia) is I could not find a place for binding the thesis (you know the standard black with gold thing).... in fact our school printing press here once got an order for that kind of work and they had to outsource the binding in Thailand.
But SATS could do that for you - making you save the time, the money (courier fee here, like DHL, is 2x that of Thailand) and the effort.
my 2 cents worth, hope it helps!

 

[sigh]

I guess we're never going to get our question(s) answered... at least not here, it appears.

 

Nope, it appears that we will not.

Well, if I end up going through the process of having the degree evaluated, then I will post the results.

Thats the best I can do...

clint

 

Clint:

Congratulations on your acceptance! It is the continuation (I won't say beginning) of a fascinating and worthwhile journey.

marilynd

 

SATS v. Free State v. UNISA

From a purely theological perspective, are there any differences in the orientation and/or curriculum between the institutions? Both UNISA and Free State are SA government-supported institutions while SATS is an independent, non-profit with government recognition. The only thing I know about religion in South Africa is that historically it was greatly influenced by the Dutch Reformed Church but I'm not sure to what extent that influence is felt today.

I would like to point out that I'm looking at this from an American point of view, where theology is taught at either an independent theological institution or in a Theology Department that is part of a larger religious-affiliated college/university. In these cases, I suspect, the institutional affiliation has a significant bearing on the types of programs offered.

Please excuse any incorrect statements I may have made in framing my question. I (obviously) have very little background in this area but nonetheless find it quite interesting.

 

Go SATS....

The almost absolute necessity of having good service while pursuing academic study at such distance really gives the nod to SATS. Yes, Free State is an excellent institution and probably carries a lot more academic wieght in most places in the world. However, is that necessarily whats most important to someone pursuing an MTh from Estonia? What is important that you can handle everything over the Internet and get prompt responses from your instructors. Since that seems to be the case with SATS and they are both accredited, go with the best service. Of course, Oxpecker may come on here and scream Vrystaad and call me a heathenous blasphemer for saying such a thing...

Take it from someone who cannot pay his fees to an SA school over the Internet that it is a pain to do it the more traditional ways.....

 

Thanks for the replies.

BTW, I do live in Estonia, but I am an American. I won't live here forever.

But SATS will work out fine for me, I believe.

clint

 

Just a clarification...

I wasn't dissing Estonia. It was mentioned only as a place very far away from SA and that makes it crucial to have good service. The same applies in the USA.

I want to visit Estonia one of these days..