Online Application Checklist
Please use the instructions below to guide you through applying to Candler School of Theology online.
- Prepare your email to receive your online application user ID and password by adding candleradmissions@emory.edu to your address book or “safe email list”.
If you wish, you may test your email prior to beginning the online application process.
- Create an Account to begin your online application. Be sure your web browser is set to accept cookies. If you are using a Mac, please note that there are known issues with Safari and our online system, so please use another browser.
- Check your email to find your user ID and password for the Online Application. If you forget your password or lose the email, you may Look-up your User Name and Password.
- Log on to the Online Application to complete all other required and optional information.
- The Biographical Information section contains the demographic, address, and citizenship information which you entered to create an account. Unless you need to make any corrections, you do not need to enter any additional information in this section.
- In the Program Information section indicate the program and semester for which you wish to apply. Note: Only Special/Non-Degree applicants can apply to begin studies in Spring or Summer 2010. Applicants for all degree programs should select Fall 2010 as the term. Also, select your vocational intent, ministerial status (if applicable), and Annual Conference (if you are United Methodist).
- In the Education section enter information for each college, university, graduate school, and seminary you have attended (regardless of whether or not a degree was granted) . If your graduate school or seminary is affiliated with a university, select the university under "Schools Information". For each school at which you completed a degree, please also add degree and major information. For schools at which you did not complete a degree, please do not use the "Degree/Majors section".
- Submit official transcripts from all schools you have attended (regardless of whether or not a degree was granted) as entered on your online
application. Transcripts must be sent directly to Candler from the institution or delivered
in a sealed, signed envelope.
- In the Recommendations section enter information regarding your recommenders. Recommenders who are listed on the online application will be emailed instructions for submitting a secure online recommendation at the time of submission of the completed application or when you click the "Notify" button on the Recommendations page of the online application. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to include a recommendation from a professor who taught you at your previous seminary. Recommenders cannot utilize the online recommendation if they are added after you submit your application. They should use the downloadable form
[PDF 86K].
- Enter your local church information (including the pastor’s name) in the Recommendations section. Select “Local Church” as the Type of Recommendation. Be sure to enter your church's full name in the Company Field. Even if your local church pastor is your pastoral recommender, please enter this information again as the information may be used to help Candler solicit scholarship support for you. If your church or pastor does not have an email address, you may type “None” in the email field. Contact will only be made with your local church after you have indicated that you will attend Candler by submitting your $100 Admissions Deposit. If you do not have local church affiliation, you may choose not to enter a Local Church type in the recommendation section.
- Answer questions in the Additional Information section.
- You may choose to enter information into the nonrequired sections of the Online
Application. The Parents section allows those who wish to give parent contact information a chance to do so and to indicate if a parent is an alum or employee of Emory. The Test Scores section allows self-reporting of test scores. Please only use this section if you wish to report GRE or TOEFL scores. Candler does not require the GRE (with the exception of the ThD program), but scores will be added to the application file and considered should they be submitted. Extracurricular Activites should be used for any activities which do not appear on your resume. Church or campus ministry activities can be listed as Religious Organization activities. There is also a Community Service label which may be used to apply to any kind of service work in which you have participated. For a full list of acceptable values for the Extracurricular Activities field, click the magnifying glass (look-up) icon next to the field. When the search screen pops up, leave the search criteria fields blank and click search. The search will return all options available.
- Attach a resume. Submit a well-organized resume that provides a brief account or summary of your educational background, job experience, vocational aspirations, leadership goals and accomplishment, professional affiliations, honors and awards, extracurricular activities, skills, personal qualities, and interests or hobbies.
- Attach your autobiographical statement in PDF form.
- Attach an academic writing sample. The academic writing sample should be a four-to-seven-page sample of recent academic writing that provides evidence of writing skills, the ability to engage texts, and the ability to form clear arguments or theses. This may be an excerpt from a larger work or a short paper written for a class assignment. If the nature of the paper or the larger context for it is not evident, it is helpful to provide a cover page that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of the sample you are submitting. Applicants who have been out of college for more than five years and/or cannot provide a recent academic writing sample are required to complete an alternative writing assignment provided by the Admissions Committee. Click the link above for further instructions.
- Attach a proposed Plan of Study statement (MTS and ThM applicants).
a) MTS applicants should submit a two-to-three-page statement detailing their proposed discipline of study, topic of research, and special interests that they plan to pursue and develop at Candler..
b) ThM applicants should submit a two-to-three page statement explaining how the proposed topic of research in the area of Bible, Preaching and Worship, Pastoral Care, Theology, Ethics, or Religious Education is best suited to Candler’s offerings in one of those required areas. - ThD applicants only: Attach a copy of your CPE assessment (usually not less than four consecutive units) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Note: No other programs require the GRE.
- TOEFL Scores: Those for whom English is a second language should enter TOEFL information in the Test Scores section and request official scores to be sent from ETS to Candler (Institution Code 5455, Department 01). Candler requires a minimum TOEFL score of 95 (Internet Based Test) with sub-area minimum scores of 21 OR 250 on the Computer Based Test OR 600 on the Paper Based Test. The TOEFL score must be less than five years old. Waiver requests for those with extensive English-based study and experience must be made in writing and will not be reviewed until the admissions application and all other supporting documents have been received.
- Transfer students will be asked to submit a hard-copy letter of good standing from the institution from which they hope to transfer. In most cases, transfer students can be admitted provisionally pending receipt of this letter. Letters of good standing cannot be submitted through online recommendation. Please also note that transfer students are strongly encouraged to include a recommendation from a professor who taught you at your previous seminary.
- International applicants only: Proof of Finances and the Emory University Financial Certificate [PDF 124K] must be furnished by international students prior to beginning the visa process, but are not required to be submitted prior to admission. For
more information, please see www.candler.emory.edu/ADMISSIONS/international.cfm.
Note: The 2010-2011 Financial Certificate will be available in April 2010.
- Submit your application. After you have submitted your application you will be able to view it, but you will not be able to make any changes.
- Pay your $50 application fee by submitting a check or money order payable to Emory University to:
Emory University
Candler School of Theology
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
1531 Dickey Drive, Suite 301
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
NOTE: You may submit hard copies of any of the attachment documents if you have difficulty with the online attachment process. Converting your documents into one master PDF file will expedite the processing of your application. Regardless of how your attachments are delivered, be sure to label each page with your name. Detailed instructions for attaching documents as well as a link to a free PDF converter are found in the Attach Essays, Resume, etc. section of the online application.
If you need additional information or assistance, you may contact our staff by email at candleradmissions@emory.edu or by telephone at 404.727.6326. Thank you for your interest in Candler School of Theology. We look forward to receiving your application!
Admissions Questions? Email us!
Financial Aid Questions? Email us!