Every University/Seminary I daydreamed about getting A degree from as an undergrad...

I was combing through my notes when I came across a doc. with a list of 40 "options." Each option was a breakdown of a degree, field of study, and an institution where I planned to enroll (or hoped to get accepted to) at one time or another.

My list boasts the names like Oxford University, Yale University, The University of Chicago, and other top tier school in both the US and UK.

I could barely read when I started my undergrad, mind you. What possessed me to think these Ivy League schools were "options" I may never know. Nevertheless, you couldn't say I didn't set lofty goals... that's for sure.

I remember researching grad. school websites and meticulously reading through the faculty profiles and their respective CVs to find out who I might like to study with. I did this for every single school on this list, by the way. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

After reading through the program pages and faculty profiles, i'd look up pictures of the campus and think about what it might be like to stroll around, a coffee in one hand and a book in the other.. I did this because it was fun, by the way... it was fun. College is a weird time in the life of a 20-something.

That enough self deprecation for now. Without further ado, I present, The List of Options.

(copied from the doc. and pasted in this blog... I'm cringing)

(Option 1)

2024 Ph.D. (Theology) UK (?)

2021 M.A.T. (Theology & the Arts) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.Div. Criswell College

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 2)

2024 Ph.D. (Theology & Culture) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Systematic/Historical Theology) Criswell College

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 3)

2024 Ph.D. (Theology & Culture) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Theology & Arts) Fuller Theological Seminary

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Options 4)

2024 Ph.D. (Theology and Culture) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Systematic Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

[PhD studies: Fuller Theological Seminary (Theology & Culture)//University of Nottingham//University of Aberdeen//Cambridge University//Oxford University]

(Option 5)

2022 Ph.D. (Theology) Oxford University

2019 M.T.S. (Systematic Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

Art as Public Theological Discourse: Toward an Ethic of Public Expressiveness

(Option 6)

2026 Ph.D. (Theology) Fuller Theological Seminary

2021 M.A. (Theology & the Arts) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Old Testament) Criswell College

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 7)

2026 Ph.D. (Theology & Culture) Fuller Theological Seminary ?

2022 M.Div. (Theology & Culture) The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

2019 M.A. (Biblical & Theological Studies) Criswell College

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 8)

2024 Ph.D. (Religion & Culture) Southern Methodist University

2019 M.T.S. (Hebrew Bible/Religion & Culture) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 9)

2023 Ph.D. (Theology & Culture) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.T.S. (Hebrew Bible/Religion & Culture) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 10)

2024 Ph.D. (Theology) B.H. Carroll Theological Institute

2019 M.T.S. (Hebrew BIblie/Theology & Culture/Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 11)

2025 Ph.D. (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Theology/Theology & Arts) B.H. Carrol Theological Institute

2021 M.A. (Theology & Arts) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Theology) B.H. Carroll Theological Institute

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 12)

2025 Ph.D. (Theology & Culture) Fuller Theological Seminary

2021 M.A. (Theology & Arts) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Theology) University of Dallas

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Options 13)

2024 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) Boston College

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology/Theology & Culture) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 14)

2024 Ph.D. (Christian Theology) Yale University

2019 M.T.S. (Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 15)

2024 Ph.D. (Ethics & Practical Theology) University of Edinburgh

2021 MPhil (Ethics & Practical Theology) University of Edinburgh

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Options 16)

2021 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) University of Aberdeen

2018 MTh. (Theological Ethics) University of Aberdeen

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 17)

2022 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) University of Aberdeen

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 18)

2023 Ph.D. (Christian Ethics) Southern Methodist University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 19)

2024 Ph.D. (Religious Ethics) The University of Chicago

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 20)

2022 Ph.D. (Christian Ethics) Southern Methodist University

2018 M.Th. (Theological Ethics) University of Aberdeen

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 21)

2022 D.Phil (Christian Theology) Oxford University, Christ Church

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 22)

2024 Ph.D. (Religious Ethics) Baylor University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 23)

2024 Ph.D. (Christian Ethics) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.A. (Theology) Fuller Theological Seminary

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 24)

2024 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) Baylor University

2020 M.Div (Theological Studies) George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 25)

2024 Ph.D. (Religion: Ethics & Society: Concentration: Religion, Conflict, & Peacebuilding) Emory University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 26)

2025 Ph.D. (Religion: Theological Ethics) Baylor University

2021 M.A. (Theological Ethics) St. Louis University

2019 M.A. (Biblical & Theological Studies) Criswell College

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 27)

2024 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) St. Louis University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Options 28)

2023 Ph.D. (Theology, Ethics, & Culture: Religious Ethics) University of Virginia

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 29)

2024 Ph.D. (Theology/Health Care Ethics) St. Louis University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 30)

2024 Th.D. (Theological Ethics) Duke Divinity School

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 31)

2024 Ph.D. (Christian Theological Studies) Duke University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 32)

2023 Ph.D. (Christian Ethics) Villanova University

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 33)

2023 Ph.D. (Christian Ethics) Villanova University

2019 M.A. (Christian Ethics) Villanova University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Options 34)

2024 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) University of Aberdeen

2021 M.A. (Counseling Psychology) The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 35)

2024 Ph.D. (Theological Ethics) ________

2021 M.Div. (Counseling Psychology) The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 36)

2024 Th.D. (Theological Ethics) Duke Divinity School

2020 M.Div. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 37)

2024 Th.D. (Theological Ethics) Duke Divinity School

2020 M.Div. (Theology) The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 38)

2028 Ph.D (Ethics & Practical Theology) University of Edinburgh

2022 M.A. (Counseling Psychology) The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology

2020 M.Div. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 39)

2022 Ph.D. (Ethics & Practical Theology) University of Edinburgh

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College

(Option 40)

2023 Ph.D. (Christian Ethics) Fuller Theological Seminary

2019 M.T.S. (Moral Theology) Southern Methodist University

2017 B.A. (Biblical Studies) Criswell College