Essay Guidelines:
The Application Essay is a vital component of the School of Divinity's application process. It represents an occasion to demonstrate your fit for the Regent University School of Divinity and an example of the level of your writing proficiency. Your essay will be evaluated by several of our faculty members to ensure that your writing acumen is at a level to meet the demands of graduate school academic writing. Most incoming students will be required to take Regent's ENGL 500 Writing Course, but those applicants who excel in writing this Application Essay may be exempt from having to take ENGL 500.

The two proficiency components to be assessed are:

Content: In a single, coherent essay (between 500 – 800 words), be sure to sufficiently respond to each one of the questions below.
- What are your ministry/professional goals for the next 5-10 years and how do you feel that a seminary degree will help you accomplish these goals?
- Describe how your family, friends and church are encouraging and supporting your decision to attend the Regent University School of Divinity.
- What is your view of and commitment to the local church?
- Address your plans for each the following (as they are applicable for your situation):
  - Funding your education
  - Working (or not working) while being a student
  - Relocating to Virginia Beach (for on-campus students)
  - Fulfilling your degree's residential requirement (for online students who are not pursuing our fully-online academic degree)
Organization, Development & Mechanics: While the quality of the content of your essay is important, the technical component is equally so. Be sure to give sufficient attention to the following aspects as you write your essay:
- Structure, organization and flow
- Grammar and syntax
- Spelling, punctuation and vocabulary usage
- Coherence, conciseness and clarity
This must be your own work.
Upon completion of your essay, email it to the School of Divinity as a Microsoft Word document: divinityadmissions@regent.edu

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