Hello College Confidential,
I’m a junior in engineering at a generic large state university. My grades are pretty decent, (I sit at a 3.8 and think it’s reasonable to think I’ll probably graduate in the 3.7-3.8 range.), and though I haven’t taken the GRE yet, my practice test averages put me around 320 with about a 160 in both math and verbal. After years of searching, studying, praying, and debating internally, I’ve joined the Episcopal Church, and I think I have a calling to ministry work. There are two issues here that give me pause. Firstly, I’m a recent convert. I don’t know if there are any particular rules against a recent convert seeking ordination in the episcopal church, but I know other Christian groups (specifically, the Roman Catholic Church) require about 5 years of practice as a lay person before seminary. The second is that I have very little formal experience with theology in a classroom setting (though I’ve done a decent bit of reading in the area (particular the relationship between faith and reason) on my own) and little to no ancient language experience (Greek, Hebrew, Latin) that may be relevant for in depth biblical studies. I realize, the hardest part of this process will likely be convincing an admissions board that divinity school is really what I want to do based on my background. Based on my story here, do you guys think I have any chance of getting accepted to any of the top divinity schools? (Yale, Harvard, Duke, and the like. I specify Yale in particular due to the Berkeley Divinity School associated with Yale, which is an episcopal specific seminary) If not, what would you guys recommend I do to improve my chances? Please, only reply with helpful information. If you’re here to insult my beliefs or talk about how stupid religion is, or otherwise just be mean, then please go elsewhere.
Thanks
jDaniel
I feel I should also mention that I am 21 and a white male, though I don’t know how much either of those things may affect the process.