1. How can I arrange a visit to the Emory campus?
We will invite leading applicants to come for campus visits and interviews during the last weekend of February at our expense. We welcome applicants who wish to visit on their own initiative. We ask them to contact faculty members directly to arrange interviews, and we will be happy to provide phone numbers or email addresses for them to do so. If applicants do not have specific faculty members in mind, they should contact the chair of the relevant program to begin planning their visit. (The New Testament Program does not interview outside of the regular February interview period; however, faculty may be contacted by phone or email.)
2. When is the application deadline?
The Graduate Division of Religion application deadline for 2008 admissions is January 3. This is also the deadline for receipt of all supporting documents, including:
- 3 letters of recommendation;
- GRE scores (Institution Code: R5187 / Department Code: 4901);
- 1 official transcript from each institution attended;
- a statement of purpose; and
- a writing sample.
- All international applicants must also submit TOEFL scores by the January 3rd deadline (Institution Code: 5187 / Department Code: 21).
Preference is given to applicants whose files are complete. To insure full consideration of your application, please insure that all supporting documents arrive at our office by the application deadline.
Our mailing address for supporting documents is:
Graduate Division of Religion
Emory University
S214 Callaway Center
Atlanta, GA 30322.
3. What are the institution codes for GRE and TOEFL score reports?
Emory's Institution Code for the GRE is R5187. Please do not use the code for Candler School of Theology (5198) as the score report will be sent to the wrong place. For the Department/Major Field Code, you may use Religion (4901) or Religious Studies (2904). Please do not use the code for Theology (4902) or Ordained Ministry/Rabbinate (4903), as the score report will be sent to Candler School of Theology instead of to the Graduate School.
Emory's Institution Code for the TOEFL is 5187. The Department Code for Religion/Religious Studies is 21.
4. What is the minimum GRE score?
There is no minimum score. Applicants should note that while very high GRE scores do not guarantee admission, very low scores almost always eliminate a candidate from consideration. Other criteria taken into consideration are: (1) strength of the applicant's academic preparation; (2) strength of recommendations; (3) quality of the writing sample; (4) undergraduate and graduate GPA's; (5) clarity of intellectual focus as articulated in the personal statement; and (6) fit between the candidate's interests and the resources available at Emory.
The following are average GRE scores for the students that were admitted the last 8 years:
Verbal - 661
Quantitative - 619
Analytical - 659
Writing - 5.4
5. When will I be notified if I'm accepted?
The admissions process continues until April 15. However, every effort is made to notify applicants of their acceptance as soon as possible. The faculty of the program to which the applicant is applying will contact the applicant during the month of February to let the applicant know of the programs interest and will issue an invitation to visit Emory at that time. Applicants who are still under consideration will be notified as early in the process as possible. Applicants who cannot be accepted will be notified in late February or early March. Please note that admissions are very competitive. In 2007 the Graduate Division of Religion received approximately 332 applications and admitted 24 students.
6. Is there a separate financial aid application?
No. All applicants who are accepted into the program receive full tuition waivers plus an annual stipend, currently at $15,000, renewable for a total of five years. Additional awards such as the Arts and Sciences Fellowship ($19,000 for five years), the Emory Graduate Diversity Fellowship ($19,500 for five years), and the Woodruff Fellowship ($20,000 for five years) are made on a university-wide competitive basis
7. The registrar at my school will not release official transcripts to me. Can these be sent directly to Emory, rather than in the application packet?
Yes. Transcripts may be sent separately if need be. Please be sure that an officail transcripts is sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
8. May I include more than three recommendations?
Yes. Additional recommendations may be written on the recommender's letterhead and mailed directly to the GDR. A pre-printed form is not necessary.
9. Is a writing sample needed?
Yes. The Graduate Division of Religion requests an academic writing sample of approximately 20 pages. The sample should be sent directly to the GDR. Our address is: Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University, S214 Callaway Center, Atlanta, GA 30322.
10. What length should my statement of purpose be?
We recommend approximately 4 pages.
11. I applied last year and was not accepted, but wish to apply again this year. What do I need to do?
We will reactivate the application we have on file for you. You will not need to send another application fee, or resend documents. However, if your application was not complete the first time you applied, you will need to insure that missing documents are sent as part of your reapplication. Additionally, if you have done any academic work since you first applied (or if the last transcript we have in your previous file was not a final transcript), you will need to send transcripts of that work. It is also important that you provide us with current contact information. You may also wish to send new GRE scores, an updated "Statement of Purpose," or submit new letters of recommendation. All new documents should be sent to the GDR.Our address is: Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University, S214 Callaway Center, Atlanta, GA 30322.
If you are interested in re-applying, please notify Pescha Penso (404-727-6333, ppenso@emory.edu) of your intentions so that we can reactivate your application.
12. Is housing available for graduate students?
Yes, check out Emory's Graduate Housing.
13. I have additional questions. Whom should I contact?
If your questions concern the application process itself or pertain to administrative matters, please contact Pescha Penso at 404-727-6333 or ppenso@emory.edu. Questions concerning program content should be addressed to the chair of the program to which you are applying.