Applying for School

Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree or its full equivalent from a college or university accredited by a U.S. accreditation association holding membership in the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), in the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, or from an institution which maintains similar academic requirements and standards. We are an interdisciplinary school and welcome applicants from any field of study. We do not have prerequisite degree or coursework requirements. General admission requirements include a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

Applicants with a GPA below 3.0

If your cumulative grade point average is below the 3.0 general admission requirement you may apply for Provisional Admissions by completing the application process for Graduate Admission and  a graduate entrance exam. We understand that a test score cannot evaluate an individual’s character, emotional awareness, or depth of spirit, but considers them—in relationship with other application materials—as a tool for assessing readiness for graduate level study.

Miller Analogies Test (MAT) measures the test takers verbal comprehension, analytical thinking, and the ability to connect ideas through a series of analogies. The median score for the MAT is 400, with a standard deviation of 25. We are looking for MAT scores falling between 375 and 425. Scores must be less than 2 years old. You must request that The Psychological Corporation send your original test scores to The Seattle School at admissions@theseattleschool.edu. The Seattle School’s reporting code for the MAT is 2499. For a testing center in your area, visit MAT online or call 1-800-622-3231.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. The GRE verbal and quantitative sections are each scored on a range from 130 to 170, for a highest total of 340. The essays are scored on a scale of 0–6. We are looking for verbal and quantitative scores ranging from 150-160 respectively and essays scoring 4 or higher. Scores must be less than 2 years old. You must request that The Educational Testing Service send your original test scores to The Seattle School at admissions@theseattleschool.edu. The Seattle School’s reporting code for the GRE is 4895. For a testing center in your area, visit GRE online or call 1-800-GRE-CALL.

If you are granted provisional acceptance, you will be admitted with an academic warning which requires enrollment in one section of the Writing Workshop and a minimum of a 3.0 GPA after the completion of the first semester of study at The Seattle School.

Note: Entrance exams are only required for applicants with a GPA below 3.0

Applicants from Non-Accredited Institutions

If you have a degree from a non-accredited institution, you may be granted provisional acceptance with full admission based on satisfactory work in residence. A copy of the institution’s catalog, providing context about the program of instruction, faculty credentials, and learning resources must be submitted at the time of the application. Additional information and/or pre-requisite coursework or may be required at the discretion of the Admissions Review Committee to establish degree equivalency.

Step 1: Complete the online application

The first step in the application process is completing the online application form. This gives us more context about who you are and what you are hoping to achieve at The Seattle School. We’ll also connect you with a member of our Graduate Admissions Team, who will work closely with you as you move through the process.

The application form requires 20-30 minutes and must be completed in one sitting. You’ll be asked within the form to provide 2-3 references and a photo (we would love to put a face to your name). A $75 application fee is required to submit your application.

A note about references: We encourage you to select individuals who can speak to your maturity and integrity, emotional and social awareness, capacity for self-reflection, theological engagement, and intellectual curiosity.

Start your Application for Graduate Admission

Step 2: Gather supporting documents

The next application step is to submit two types of supporting documents for your application: past transcripts, and a curriculum vitae (CV). These help us get a clearer picture of your background and experience.

Transcripts: Submit requests for official transcript from any post-secondary institutions where you received a degree or completed coursework.

Curriculum Vitae: A CV is similar to a résumé, but with more detail about your background and skills. If you need some help getting started, you can download a CV template here. Please save the final version in a .pdf format with the title “Your Name – CV” and submit by email to admissions@theseattleschool.edu

Step 3: Write two essays

We require two narrative essays—a Statement of Purpose and a Cultural Artifact Engagement. The purpose of the essay requirement is to create an opportunity for us to see you, to learn more about your calling, and to experience your understanding and resonance with the mission and ethos of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.

Essay One: Statement of Purpose

Describe the intersection of who you are, the work you feel called to do, and why you feel compelled to train in your specific program of interest at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.

Essay Two: Cultural Artifact Engagement

Choose a cultural artifact from the options below and in two to three pages respond to where and how you see the categories of text.soul.culture interacting with each other. You may (but are not required to) choose more than one artifact and put them in dialogue with one another.

Film/Television
Moonlight
Arrival
Zootopia
Amy
Transparent, Season 1

Discourse
“The Power of Addiction and The Addiction of Power”, Gabor Mate
“Tell Me I’m Fat”, This American Life
Engage the interplay of Acts 2:1-13 and Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin Di Angelo
The Danger of a Single Story with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Essay Formatting

• Each essay must be typed, double-spaced and 500–1,000 words in length (approximately 2–3 pages).
• If you are applying for the MACP program, please use APA style.
• If you are applying for the MDiv or MATC program, please use Chicago style.
• Explore our Writing Resources for APA and Chicago citation guides and sample papers.
• Once complete, please ensure that your name is in the header of each document, save as .pdf files with the title “<Your Name> – Essay #” and submit electronically to admissions@theseattleschool.edu

Admissions essays are used for assessment and placement. Students may be admitted on academic probation and/or required to attend a The Seattle School Writing Workshop if application essays are deemed unsatisfactory.

Step 4: Participate in a group interview

Note: Group interviews for fall 2018 enrollment are scheduled on an as needed basis throughout the summer. Dates for fall 2019 admission will be announced later this summer. 

We place a high value on gaining a holistic experience of our applicants and are intentional about creating an opportunity for each applicant to be seen and known. Our interviews are conducted in small groups (5-7 applicants each) and focus on dialogue and group dynamics. This is not a competitive job interview; we are about creating a context to experience you, how you interact, and what you bring to a group and a conversation.

Each group has a faculty or instructional staff member that serves as a facilitator. Through the interview process we are able to gain greater insight into who you are and what you bring, while also providing you with a taste for the relational learning culture at The Seattle School. Following the group interview, applicants gather in a large group to debrief and share their experiences with one another.

Sample Schedule

8:30 – Registration and Light Refreshments
9:00 – Group Interview
10:00 – Large Group Debrief
10:45 – Building Tour
11:15 – Optional Lunch Outings with Current Students

Registration for a group interview is included in the application form. Your application and supporting documents must be complete to participate in a group interview. Approval for an individual or distance interview on an alternate date may be made at the discretion of the Director of Enrollment Management in extenuating circumstances.

The group interview concludes at noon, but you are welcome to spend the day with us! We encourage you to stay for lunch outings hosted by our current students and sit in on a class or two. Take a look at our Course Schedule and let your Admissions Counselor know what you would like to sit in on.

Admissions Review Policy

Candidates are selected based on their aptitude for rigorous academic work, vocational direction, life experience, emotional and relational intelligence, and resonance with our mission and ethos. Decisions are made in community by the Admissions Review Committee.

Start your Application for Graduate Admission