Yale Divinity School’s E-News Update

Welcome to November's E-news update!

Earlier this month Yale Divinity School hosted its Fall Open House for prospective students.  Many of you were able to join us for this event and my colleagues and I hope you enjoyed your time on Sterling Divinity Quadrangle.  It occurred to me that those of you who could not join us for this special invite might like a peak into life at Yale Divinity School.

A Day in the Life of a YDS Student:

An ordinary school day at Yale Divinity School can begin as early as 7:30 a.m. with morning prayer hosted by our friends at Berkeley Divinity School at the Berkeley Center just a short walk from the Quad.  

One’s class day may begin with Biblical Hebrew or Biblical Greek at 8:30 a.m. or maybe with New Testament or Old Testament Interpretation at 9:30 a.m.  

Come 10:30 a.m., classes are suspended for an hour, and the bells of Marquand Chapel ring as our community gathers for worship.  The services vary day by day—sung morning prayer, a service of the word and song, community Eucharist; the theme of the service depends on the day, week, liturgical calendar, but one thing always remains the same: the Spirit is alive and well in Marquand Chapel and the music is spectacular.  After chapel our community meanders into the Common Room for “coffee hour.”  Faculty, staff, students, and administrators alike can be found sharing a mid-morning cup of java and lively conversation.

Some students shuffle off to Systematic Theology at 11:30, while others linger over another cup of coffee. 

Fellowship is very important to the YDS community, so once again at 12:30 p.m. classes stop and our community breaks for lunch.  All students pay a small board fee each semester that can be used in our Refectory (as well as a handful of other dining halls around campus). 

After lunch, an afternoon of seminars and lectures lay before the typical YDS student, but the offerings are varied and exciting—one may find him or herself learning about The Messiah with Prof. John Collins or deconstructing Dante with Prof. Peter Hawkins; or practicing Prophetic Preaching with Prof. Nora Tubbs Tisdale or Metaphors of Evil with Dean Emilie Townes.  

Classes typically wrap up in the late afternoon, and then our students may head to a work-study job, hit Payne-Whitney Gymnasium for some exercise, or participate in a denominational worship service offered throughout the week by various student groups.   

Days at YDS are varied, but full; exciting and fun.  Want to see for yourself?  Come visit!  Yale Divinity School strongly encourages prospective students to visit campus, especially when classes are in session so you can get a sense of the many gifts our community has to offer.  Please click on the Visit YDS  page for more information or you may use our Online Scheduler  to book your visit.  Fall 2009 semester classes end on December 8, 2009 and the Spring 2010 semester begins on January 11, 2010.

Divinity Farm

Yale Divinity School has its own farm --it is a collaboration between Urban Resource Initiative and YDS.  The organic farm began in June 2009 and is located on our campus adjacent to the YDS student apartments.  Want to learn more?? Check out their blog: Divinity Farm Blog 

Apply Online Now

Many of you are diligently working on the YDS application.  If you haven’t yet started an application, there is still plenty of time to do so.  Our secure and user friendly application is available at the following web site:

https://apply.divinity.yale.edu/apply.

Please call me or e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns about the application; I am happy to assist you!

The Yale Divinity School application is inclusive of Berkeley Divinity School. 

For a list of important dates please see the chart below. 

To learn more about YDS please visit us on the web www.yale.edu/divinity or click the link to access the application instructions. 

Yale Divinity School Bulletin is our course catalogue and can be accessed online! 

**Please Note: The application for the Ph.D program in Religious Studies is available through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences web site.  Yale Divinity School does not facilitate the Ph.D program.**

To learn more about YDS please visit us on the web www.yale.edu/divinity or click the link to access the application instructions. 

Yale Divinity School Bulletin

*All admissions applications submitted after the priority filing deadline will be subject to a $100 application fee.

Please note: the application for the Ph.D in religious studies can be accessed through Yale's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Attention International Applicants

Please note you are required to submit scores from the IELTS (www.ielts.org) in order to be considered for admission.  Yale Divinity School DOES NOT accept scores from the TOEFL.  Please be certain to schedule your test well in advance to meet appropriate application deadlines.  The IELTS may be waived if the applicant received a degree from a U.S. institution of higher learning or an international institution where English is the primary language of instruction. For more information on this requirement please read the application instructions carefully.

***Application Note: If your letter writers will be sending their letters of recommendation via U.S. Mail, please make certain the recommendation form accompanies the letter.  The form can be downloaded through the application.  Letters are not considered complete without this form. Thank you!*** 

Frequently Asked Questions

Recently I noticed several of you have similar questions, so I thought I would post a few answers to some of the most frequently asked ones.

Q1. I’ve mailed my transcripts and letters into the Admissions Office, but I don’t see them posted to my application.

A1. Transcripts, letters, and any materials that are not automatically uploaded to your account will not be posted until your online application has been submitted and processed.  Please allow at least a couple of processing days at this stage and perhaps up to five processing days in January.

Q2. I submitted my application this week, but the system charged me $100 and not $75.

A2. If you selected the standard deadline when opening your application the system will default to charging you $100.  If you notice this before you pay by credit card call me and I will adjust the fee to read $75 and then you can go back into your account and make the payment.

Q3. What format should I use for my writing sample and personal statement?

A3. It is always best if these documents are uploaded in a legible font and double spaced.

Q4. I want to apply to both YDS and the ISM.  Can you waive the second application fee?

A4. You may apply to both programs separately.  YDS cannot waive the fee, so we suggest you apply to our program first and pay the fee.  Then begin the application to the ISM and inform Jenna-Claire Kemper (the ISM’s admissions coordinator) and she will waive their fee on your behalf.

Q5.  I’ve already submitted my application and started the waiting game.  When will I know my admissions decision?

A5. Admissions decisions will be released online on March 15, 2010; you will be able to access your decision through your online application account.  Our office will also mail letters on March 15.

Have more questions? Call or e-mail me—I’m happy to answer them.

Joint Degrees

Joint degrees are offered with several other schools at the University, including Law, the School of Management, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Forestry & Environmental Studies. Joint degree programs have also been set up with several other universities in Connecticut and New York for the study of social work.

Want to learn more: click here

Happy Thanksgiving!

Want more news and information from YDS?  Explore our web site: www.yale.edu/divinity!

As always please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me if you have questions or concerns!  See you in August!

Melissa Pucci, Associate Dir. of Admissions