Taking the GRE is a requirement of the Master's level application process, unless you have been awarded a degree at the Doctoral level (PhD, JD, EdD, etc). If you have a doctoral level degree you are exempt from this requirement.   Having earned a Master's level degree does NOT exempt you from taking the exam. Occasionally, the Admissions committee will waive the requirement for the GRE for an applicant who has earned a Master's Level degree in theology, divinity, or a closely related discipline and who has an exemplary academic record.  If you have earned a previous theological degree and wish to request a waiver, you may do so by addressing your request in a brief letter to the admissions committee in which you outline your rationale for requesting the waiver.  The committee will give a decision about waiving the requirement once they have reviewed your transcripts of work completed for the first theological degree.

The GRE has been reviesd and a new version will be offered beginning in August 2011.  Those applying for admission in 2012will take the revised version of the test. If you have taken the GRE in the last 5 years, scores from the former version of the test will still be reportable.

Our Institution Code for the GRE and TOEFL is 5542. 

We look forward to hosting all Master's level applicants for a visit to the VTS campus at least once in the application process to experience the rhythms of life in this community, to worship, attend classes and meet students, faculty and staff.  If complete application packets have been received 3-4 weeks in advance of the visit, we can also plan for your admissions interview at this time. 

Below you'll see a list of dates during the 2012-2013 academic year on which we cannot host prospective student visitors to campus or on which there are some limitations in the schedule.  Please keep these dates in mind as you consider when you may be able to visit VTS:

September 25 - Quiet Day, no classes are held and the community observes silence during the day.

October 2-3 - Convocation

October 8 - Columbus day (seminarry is closed)

October 19 (reading day) and October 22 (mid term exam day) - classes are not in session, however, limited visits can be arranged if no other visiting dates are possible for the prospective student.

October 23-28 - fall break. Classes are not held, the refectory is closed, and other limitations to the schedule are in effect.

NOVEMBER 14 - The FALL MINISTRY CONFERENCE for prospective students who live within same-day driving distance from campus is held.  Anyone wishing to visit on November 14 will be included in the planning for this open house visiting day. Interviews will not be scheduled for November 14.

November 21-23 - Thanksgiving holiday

December 4 - Quite day

December 14, 17-20 - reading and final exam days. While some visits to campus are possible, we are not observing our regular class schedule, and students are preparing to depart for the Christmas holiday.

December 21-Janaury 2 - Christmas Holiday. The seminary is closed

January 3-31 - January term.  The usual class, chapel and lunch schedules are not in effect.  While it may be possible to hold some interviews  by special arrangement, particularly for applicants who live in the area, typically we do not host out of town visitors or hold interviews during the January term.

February 13 - Ash Wednesday Quiet Day

February 15-17 - Conference on Ministry Welcome Weekend for prospective students. All visitors will be participants in this prospective student event.  Registration to attend the Conference will be open in November and will take place through the VTS website.

February 18 - President's day.  The seminary is closed

March 20, 21 and 22 - Spring mid-term reading day and exams. Classes are not held and the refectory is not open for meals.

March 25-29 - Spring Break and Good Friday.  Classes are not in session, worship is not held, and students are away from campus.  Offices are closed on Good Friday.

April 1 - Easter Monday - the seminary is closed

May 14-20: Spring semester reading day and final exams.  No classes are held.

May 22-24: Board of Trustees visit campus and Commencement is held (May 23). 

May 27 - Memorial day. The seminary is closed

May 29, 20 and 31:  Faculty/Staff development Day and final faculty meetings. 

We strive to have all campus visits and interviews completed by the first week of June. 

Open House Visiting events for prospective students: 

November 14, 2012:  The "Fall Ministry Conference" is a one day prospective student open house event open to those who can drive to and from campus on the day of the event.  Information about our programs and community life are presented. Registration will open in early October 2012.

February 15-17, 2013:  The "Conference on Ministry" Welcome Weekend for prospective students. This event attracts participants from around the US, and is the premier event for all prospective students.  Registration materials and information will be available in November of 2011 and will be posted on the VTS website.

Individual visits to campus.  Informational visits prior to submitting an application, and interview visits scheduled once all application materials have been received at VTS can be arranged for any day of the work week. Although we do hold some interviews in the fall, the largest number are held during the spring semester between March and Mid-May.  For those who can travel in mid-week, we particularly encourage you to be on campus on Wednesdays, the day on which the entire community gathers for a community Eucharist over the noon hour.  Services of Morning Prayer, Holy Eucharist and Evening Prayer are held daily.   Interviews are not held on weekends.  We do not schedule an interview appointment until we have received, reviewed and processed your application.  Occasionally it is possible to forgo a second trip to campus for a face-to-face admissions interview if the applicant has already experienced a substantive visit which was planned under the auspices of the admissions office at some earlier point during the academic year in which the application is received. Such visits would include conversations with faculty members on the admissions committee, visiting class, meeting the Financial Aid and Housing Director, attending worship and enjoying lunch on campus . In these circumstances, a tele-conferenced interview may be scheduled instead.

For those who have not previously visited VTS, a personal interview is required. Usually, the interview can take place  three to four weeks from the time we receive your application packet, providing the packet is complete and all credentials are in order.  If you know of particular dates on which you can travel to VTS, please include those dates in the application packet, on a separate piece of paper, on top of the application materials so the sheet is visible immediately upon opening the envelope. 

In addition to arranging for your admissions interview, we are happy to plan activities and appointments that will introduce you to the communal and academic life at VTS as well as provide overnight accommodations in our guesthouse (based on availability) and meals in the refectory.

A $50.00 application fee is now part  of the application.  Be sure to include the words "Admissions Office" on the address line of your envelope or mailing label. This will assure that your packet finds its way to the appropriate office.

We will be scanning all application materials, so please follow these guidelines for assembling your application. 
*Please DO NOT staple pages together.
*Please DO NOT put your application materials in binders, folders, plastic page covers, etc. While this does make a beautiful initial presentation of the materials, we must then remove all of the documents from thier holders in order to scan them and set up your file. 
*Please also send documents copied on one side of the page only.  This also aids us in processing the materials.

DO NOT use United States Postal Service Express delivery mailers, USPS certified mail or return receipt mail to mail your application packet. Although you would think that using these means would guarantee prompt delivery of the packet, that is not the case. Because of the procedures at our local post office, using one of these methods will actually cause a delay in your application packet being delivered. If you wish to use a means to send your packet that can be tracked, use United Postal Service (UPS), FedEx, or another courier company of that type.

Regular Deadline for Master's level applicants is May 1.  Applicants to the MA summer term must apply by March 1.  Those applying for the King Mitchell Merit Scholarship should plan to complete the admissions process, including the admissions interview by April 1. 

Applications are received, admissions interviews held and offers of admission are made throughout the academic year. Because the number of spaces for new students is limited, prospective students are urged to apply as early as possible. Applicants to the M.Div. program or other programs who are in the ordination process may apply and interview before postulancy is granted, however, any offer of admission made is contingent upon the applicant being named a postulant.

Dormitory space is limited and assigned on a “first come-first served” basis. Those who desire to live in a dorm should plan to complete the admissions process by April 1 to increase the likelihood that a room will be available for them. Students who pay their deposits after all on-campus housing is filled must make their own housing arrangements off campus.