Admissions

Becoming a Student at Wake Forest University School of Divinity

Preparation for Divinity School

The application process helps the admissions committee determine who will be the most suitable additions to our community of learners. It also helps prospective students reflect on their vocation and preparation for graduate studies in theology and ministry. The requirements for admission include a bachelor’s degree from a member institution of the Association of Universities and Colleges or an institution accredited by a United States agency recognized by the Council of Higher Education
Accreditation. If you are still pursuing your undergraduate degree, we suggest that you choose courses that provide a well-rounded Liberal Arts education. Prior coursework in religious studies is not required for admission to WFUSD, but it is recommended that you have at least one course in religious studies or theology before enrolling. It is also strongly recommended that you have a leadership role in church, campus, and community organizations.

Criteria for Acceptance

Deciding where to enroll for theological education is an important and exciting process. The admissions committee looks for students whose previous academic work demonstrates strong potential for graduate-level work, whose experience and letters of reference indicate exceptional promise for ministry, who clearly articulate a commitment to Christian vocation and scholarship, and who give evidence they will not only benefit from but also enhance theological education at WFUSD. Applicants should show evidence of personal integrity, spiritual and emotional maturity, leadership ability, strong oral and written communication skills, creativity, and personal initiative. As a part of Wake Forest University, the School of Divinity seeks to attract student who will engage the diversity of the University and be open to learning from persons of other religious and ethnic traditions and from people with different values and commitments.

Student Categories

Most students at the School of Divinity are full-time students enrolled in a degree program. Some students, for various reasons, are exploratory students who take a limited number of courses. Visiting students are enrolled in other graduate programs but take a few courses at Wake Forest, which will be transferred to their school. The School of Divinity also allows people to audit courses without enrolling as a student. Auditors do not have to complete this application process. These categories are explained in more detail in the Bulletin.

Applying for Admission

There are several steps in the application process. First you should complete and sign the application form. Mail it the School of Divinity along with the $50 application fee. Applications for the fall term should be may be submitted until April 15, but we strongly encourage you to apply before February 15 if you desire financial assistance. Students interested in receiving scholarships and other financial aid must complete the FAFSA form and submit the results to the Financial Aid Office of the University. Since scholarship funds are limited, it is best to apply early. There is no financial aid for limited enrollment students. If you have any questions about the application form contact the Office of Admissions (336-758-3748).

In addition to the application form, you will also need to submit four (4) letters of reference, two (2) personal essays, and academic transcripts from all of your previous post-secondary schools. These items are explained in more detail below.

Official Transcripts

You must send official transcripts (with seal) from all post-secondary schools you have attended to the Office of Admissions. This includes colleges, universities, graduate, and professional schools, even if you did not receive a degree. Unofficial copies or unsealed copies of academic records are not acceptable. If the transcript is not in English, the school must provide an English translation of the transcript. Your grade point average (GPA) for your previous academic work should be above 2.8. If it is below 2.8 you may be admitted under probation. If you believe that your GPA does not reflect accurately on your academic ability, you may submit a written explanation with your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants for degree programs are required to submit four (4) letters of recommendation in support of your application. Forms for recommendations are provided in the application packet. You will need to complete the top portion of the form and sign the waiver. Completed forms should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions in a sealed envelop. References should address your character, vocational commitments, intellectual abilities, and promise for ministry. Two of the references should be from teachers who are knowledgeable of your ability to do graduate-level theological work. If you graduated
more than five years ago and have difficulty securing academic references, contact the Office of Admissions for guidance. Visiting students will not need to submit letters of recommendation.

The Essays

All applicants for degree programs are required to submit two essays, which should be typed and double spaced. Please include your name on the essay.

The Personal Essay is a significant part of the application and should be approximately 1200 words in length. In it you should reflect on your life experiences and the mission of the School of Divinity. You are encouraged to discuss specific people and events that have influenced your choice of vocation and expectations of ministry. You are also required to discuss the relationship between the mission statement of the School of Divinity and your own understanding of theological studies.

The Academic Essay should be about 500 words in length. In it youshould discuss two academic books (books that might be used in college or divinity school courses) that have helped inform your understanding of God , yourself, and the world. These should be more substantive than devotional books. Your essay should include a description of the content of the books, what you found most helpful in them, and what questions they raise for you. It is important that the essay be clear and well-organized. The Director of Admissions can help you decide on what books to write about.

Visiting students do not need to write the essays, but you should let us know what courses you wish to take and why you want to study at WFUSD.

Test Scores and TOEFL

The School of Divinity does not require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), but you are welcome to submit the scores if you have taken the test. High scores will improve your application. If you are not a native speaker of English, you should submit the scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). If you took the TOEFL for undergraduate study, you may use those scores. This requirement
may be waived if you have a degree from an English-speaking university and demonstrate during the application process that you are sufficiently fluent for divinity school courses.

Interview and Campus Visit

You will need to arrange to visit the campus of Wake Forest University. All applicants are required to have an interview with the Dean of the School of Divinity and the Director of Admissions. It is possible that another faculty member may act as a surrogate for either the Dean or the Director of Admissions. If travel to Winston-Salem is not possible, a telephone or Skype interview may be a suitable alternative to a campus visit. Interviews and campus visits are arranged through the Office of Admissions. Tuesdays are the normal day for interviews and visits, but it is possible to arrange other days. We recommend that you visit campus during the academic year so that you may attend a class and worship with us in chapel. If you need assistance with overnight lodging, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Applicants to Dual Degree Programs

If you are applying for one of the dual degree programs, you must submit separate applications to the Divinity School and to Graduate School (MA in Counseling) or the Law School (JD). This includes sending a second set of academic transcripts, recommendations, and essays. Please check the requirements for each school on the University website. Students applying for the Law School will have to take the LSAT and have a campus interview.

Applicants for the MA in counseling must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have a personal interview. The Counseling Department will contact you if you are invited to have an interview and will schedule a day for the interview. You will probably want to schedule your Divinity School interview for the same day. The deadline for completed applications for the dual degree programs is January 15. Applicants can expect to receive notification of admission decisions for dual degree programs by the middle of April.

Admission to the School of Divinity

Once your application is complete and you have had your interviews, your file will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. If at any time you want to check on the status of your application, contact the Office of Admissions. Deliberations of the Admissions Committee are strictly confidential.

Files are reviewed regularly throughout the academic year and the first letters of acceptance will be mailed beginning in January for students planning to enroll in the fall. The committee will decide on one of four actions: full admission, probationary admission, wait list, or decline of admission. You will be notified as soon as a decision is made. Applications placed on the Wait List will be reviewed again after April 15. Some applicants who are not admitted as degree students may be encouraged to enroll as Exploratory Students.

If you are admitted to the School of Divinity you will need to respond in writing (email will be fine) letting us know if you intend to enroll. You may choose to wait to make a decision until you hear about your scholarship awards.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The School of Divinity is committed to assisting students in meeting basic educational and living expenses while they are enrolled. Most students receive grants and scholarships to cover at least fifty percent of the cost of tuition. Merit scholarships are granted to candidates who demonstrate in their application high academic achievement and outstanding promise for ministry. These scholarships are awarded only to full-time students enrolled in degree programs. Most are renewable for three years, but there is no automatic increase in amount awarded to compensate for increases in tuition and fees. Merit scholarships only cover tuition and fees, not living expenses. Students should remember that scholarship funds are limited. Need-based financial aid is granted by the Financial Aid Office of Wake Forest University. This includes state and federal loans, grants, and work-study. All students who are U.S. citizens and wish to be considered for scholarships and other financial aid must complete the FAFSA form. For more information, visit the Graduate and Divinity Financial Aid homepage at www.wfu.edu/finaid/grad-div.html. The FAFSA form is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

You are also encouraged to contact your church or denominational headquarters for financial assistance. The Office of Admissions will be able to assist you with applying for non-institutional financial aid, such as the Fund for Theological Education.

Contacting the Office of Admissions

You should send your application, transcripts, essays, letters of reference, and any other written communication to the Office of Admissions, Wake Forest University School of Divinity, P.O. Box 7719, Winston-Salem, NC 27109.

We encourage you to stay in email contact as well: divinity@wfu.edu. For more information and application forms visit www.divinity.wfu.edu.

You may reach us by telephone at 336-758-3748 or toll-free at 800-393-4244. The office is open normal business hours.