Admissions FAQ
Status of Application Materials
Q. I submitted my application on or before the December 15 deadline. Some of my supplemental materials are not listed as having been received even though I mailed them some time ago. Will this affect my application in the eyes of the Admissions Committee?
A. As we receive an enormous amount of mail containing supplemental materials we ask applicants to be patient as we deal with the mail and enter the information into each applicant's online file. If we are missing any materials, you will be contacted well before your file needs to be sent to the Admissions Committee. The Committee will not begin to read files until mid-January. We will notify you in January if we are missing any materials so that you may respond. Our goal is to ensure that your application has full consideration.
Supplemental materials may be received after December 15. Letters of recommendation may still be submitted via online system until mid-January. Files that are not complete as of January 31, 2009 will not be considered. We will maintain files for two years, and you may always re-activate your file next year.
Q. I am not only applying to the Divinity School but also to another division/school at the University. Do I still need to send a second set of supplemental materials or can they be shared across departments?
A. As each professional school and division has its own application process, you must send complete applications with supplemental materials to each school/division.
Standardized Test Scores (GRE and TOEFL)
Q. Can I use the scores for the GRE which I took some years ago?
A. We accept GRE scores that are no more than 5 years old. If you are applying to the Divinity School for the first time, but took the GRE more than a year ago, please make sure that a copy is sent to us by the Educational Testing Center. You can also include a Xerox copy of your scores with your materials, or you may fax them to us at 773-834-4581.
Q. How old can the TOEFL scores be?
A. We accept TOEFL scores that are no more than 2 years old.
Q. When I looked at my application, it appears that you have not received my GRE or TOEFL scores. What should I do?
A. GRE and TOEFL are received electronically from ETS into a University-wide repository. We ask for your patience as we must retrieve scores for all of our applicants from this repository individually. This retrieval is done in batches as we process your application materials. It does help us if you can include a Xerox copy of your scores with your supplemental materials, or you may fax them to us at 737-834-4581. We will contact you if we are missing your scores in sufficient time for you to respond before the Committee on Admissions and Aid finishes its evaluations.
Application Fee
Q. I want to pay the application fee online but I cannot find the link.
A. You must submit your application first and then the link will automatically be displayed.
Degree Program
Q. I accidentally completed and/or submitted an application to the wrong degree program. What should I do?
A. Send an email to Dean of Students Teresa Owens at tdowens@uchicago.edu, and we can change the degree program at our end. DO NOT start another application.
When you have completed the application, remember to hit the SUBMIT button. Failure to do so will mean that we cannot open the application, and your application will not be considered complete.
Please Note: The Divinity School will be closed between December 24 and January 5. Please allow until early January for your application status to be updated online. We will be sure to notify you if any materials are missing in plenty of time for you to respond prior to the Committee on Admissions and Aid's final deliberations.
If you have additional questions, please write to Dean of Students, Teresa Hord Owens at tdowens@uchicago.edu.
