I was reading an article about the life (so far) of Richard Hays (Duke prof of NT). After leaving Perkins School of Theology without a degree (due to his discouragement at the spiritual torpor in mainstream methodism at that time), Hays moved to Massachusetts where he taught high school English and built a close-knit spiritual community that became a successful house church. Feeling called again to seminary, he applied to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He was turned down because at that time they had a strict residency requirement. Hays went, instead, to Yale Divinity School.
Well, I am sad that my alma mater, Gordon-Conwell, cannot claim Hays, but I guess his time at Yale was so formative that I am happy he took the path he did!