Are GRE scores important for Divinity applications?

What is the GRE?

As most readers know, GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination. It is a standardized test, not used exclusively in the United States, but applies to graduate school admissions in about 160 countries. Learning institutions’ admission departments set the requirement for applicants seeking a master’s program. Prospective students specializing in business (MBA) and law (J.D.) have a greater chance of encountering the test.

The exam is a computer-based format administered by ETS or Educational Testing Service. The first step is to create an account at ETS before registering for the exam. Conveniently, the General Test is available year-round at Prometric test locations. You may also take the test once every 21 days up to five times a year during a rolling 12-month period. Your score is acceptable for five years.

Validity

There are different opinions on the validity of the GRE as a predictor of future academic success in a graduate program. A paper published on the ETS site, conducted in 2001 for Psychological Bulletin, affirms that the GRE is a valid measure of grade point average and other criteria. Individuals interested in further research regarding the GRE’s validity should check out the Wiley Online Library lengthy report.

Divinity Programs

Choosing a school for a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) involves the consideration of several criteria. Some of these are:

The online or on-campus learning format
Tuition and fees
Full-time or part-time study for employed students
Courses and areas of specialization
School’s history and reputation
GRE requirement

The above list is a sample of some of the factors that may influence your choice of a graduate school in divinity. The last item on the list might be essential for individuals who do not perform well on standardized tests in a controlled setting. Another influence is the vast range of tuition. As with most college programs, the cost to attend differs considerably. The Ivy League schools, such as Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, and Cornell, will be more expensive.

There are M.Div. programs that do not require the GRE as part of the application process. In Durham, North Carolina, Duke Divinity School requires applicants to submit their undergraduate transcripts, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and a Statement of Purpose Letter. However, the Duke Divinity School makes no mention of a GRE.

Another school that omits the GRE requirement is Fuller University, with campuses in Pasadena, Houston, and Phoenix. The emphasis for prospective students to their Master of Divinity is on written statements, not test scores. Applicants must submit a Religious Autobiography, Statement of Purpose, and Statement of Calling. All of which is a testament to one’s mission to serve God.

Fuller offers the M.Div. online or on-campus. The former may take 4-5 years to complete. In comparison, you may achieve the former in 3-4 years or as few as two and a half years.

Trinity University, located in Deerfield, Illinois, has a way to avoid the GRE. One of the admission requirements to their Evangelical Divinity School is a minimum GPA of 2.5. Students with a GPA below this grade need to take the GRE or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Like the GRE, the MAT is a standardized test used by graduate schools for the past fifty years to measure analytical thinking.

What is more important than the GRE?

As mentioned above, M.Div. programs stress an autographical essay, which could be 1,250 to 1500 words, as it is for Mercer University‘s admission requirements. Their McAfee School of Theology wants to read about your commitment to the Christian ministry and your goals. St. Joseph’s College of Maine asks for a 300-600 word essay about what has prompted your call to the ministry. You will see different titles used for the paper by various colleges and universities.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), for example, requires a Spiritual Autobiography to accompany transcripts, an academic paper, and Placement Tests (Advanced M. Div. only). The essay consists of three-one thousand word sections:

Evidence of your comprehension of the gospel
Explain your spiritual growth
Provide the reasons for applying to SBTS and why you’re pursuing the ministry

Conclusion

From our review of Master of Divinity programs, there is a common thread among schools needing to know what drives you to seek a vocation in the Christian ministry. Admission departments underline the necessity for applicants to express what and why they are compelled to spread the word of God. How you define this personal mission may decide your acceptance. Your autobiography will be more important than the GRE at most divinity schools.