How to Apply: Writing Sample

11 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Applying

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Post by: Kate Hoeting, MTS ‘21, Graduate Assistant in the HDS Office of Admissions

This article is part of our “How to Apply” series, which answers common questions about the application process and includes these articles:

Since the writing sample is a new component of the application this year, I’m adding this article to the series to walk you through guidelines and best practices. We know that the writing sample can be an intimidating part of the application process, but remember that the requirements are open-ended on purpose, and always feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have.

What does the admissions committee look for in a writing sample?

The writing sample serves to demonstrate your academic writing ability. You may choose to submit:

An excerpt of an academic paper in any subject area within the humanities or social sciences
An adapted piece of professional writing
An original work that is based upon a topic that you are interested in studying here at HDS

The writing sample should be 1,000-1,500 words long and give the admissions committee a sense of your strengths in writing, research, and/or critical analysis.

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How to Apply: Test Scores

11 Wednesday Dec 2019

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Applying, GRE, How to Apply, Test Scores, TOEFL/IELTS

Post by: Kate Hoeting, MTS ‘21, Graduate Assistant in the Office of Admissions

This article is part of our “How to Apply” series, which answers common questions about the application process and includes these articles:

In this article, we walk through the requirements and best practices for the TOEFL/IELTS and the GRE. Please note that the GRE is optional for all applicants!

I. TOEFL/IELTS

Is the TOEFL or the IELTS required for me?

All international applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS, unless you attended an undergraduate institution where English was the sole language of instruction (e.g. a school in the U.S. or the American University of Paris). Even if your major or all the classes you took were taught solely in English, this policy is based upon the entire institution’s medium of instruction.

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How to Apply Series

11 Wednesday Dec 2019

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Advice, GRE, Reapplication, Recommendation Letters, Statement of Purpose, Test Scores, TOEFL/IELTS, writing sample

Post by: Kate Hoeting, MTS ‘21, Graduate Assistant in the HDS Office of Admissions

Hi everyone! If you’re planning to apply for the 2020-2021 school year, we hope this blog has been helpful in getting you ready for the January 8, 2020 deadline. Last year, our Graduate Assistants created a wonderful blog post series called “How to Apply” that will walk you through each aspect of the application process. This year, we went back and updated the old articles to reflect this year’s requirements. Here are the articles in our “How to Apply” series:

Remember that during this busy period for those of you applying in this cycle, the Admissions Office is happy to help! Email us at admissions@hds.harvard.edu or ask_students@hds.harvard.edu.

The Himalayas Brought the Answer

22 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Considering HDS

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Aspirations, Discernment

Post by: Fernando Benetti, MTS ‘21

Editor’s Note: In this post, Master’s of Theological Studies (MTS) student Fernando Benetti walks us through his complicated path to Harvard Divinity School (HDS). As Fernando’s story shows, our students come from diverse backgrounds and unique experiences—no prospective student’s journey through the application process will be identical to the next. As you read please keep in mind that Fernando’s journey shouldn’t be read as specific advice or requirements for all applicants. In addition, remember that if you’re applying to HDS after already completing another master’s degree like Fernando, your Statement of Purpose should clearly articulate why you need another master’s degree to reach your career or vocational goals. As always, if you have any questions about application best practices, you can email us at admissions.hds.harvard.edu.

Hello everyone! I’m Fernando, and this is my first post on the blog. I’m excited to be with you all. I’m here to tell you how I decided to apply to Harvard University. I am originally from Southern Brazil and have completed my BA in Cultural History in 2014 in my hometown of Florianópolis. After finishing college, I started traveling the world and visited around thirty countries in Europe, Latin America, North Africa, and the Middle East. In 2016, I settled in India and started an MA in Buddhist Studies, Philosophy, and Comparative Religion at Nalanda University, in Rajgir, Bihar. Rajgir is a small village in a rural area. The pervasive peace of the place allowed me to spend long periods studying and practicing meditation without the distractions of big cities.

*My classmates and professors at Nalanda University*
*Photo courtesy of FERNANDO BENETTI.*

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Reflecting on Theological Education Day

15 Friday Nov 2019

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Center for the Study of World Religions, Classes, GRE, Open House, Theological Education Day, Thesis, Tours

Post by: Kate Hoeting, MTS ‘21 and Graduate Assistant in the Office of Admissions

I can’t believe that Theological Education Day (TED), our annual open house for prospective students, has come and gone! I had so much fun getting to meet you all that it was sad to see you all go. If you couldn’t make it to TED this year, let me offer you a brief overview.

*Graduate Assistant Julia Reimann welcomes visitors on the morning of TED*
*Photo Courtesy of KATE HOETING*

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Why was HDS the right fit for you?

16 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Why I Chose HDS

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Advice, Atheist, Community Tea, J-Term, journalism, Latinx, Noon Service, Opportunities, queer, Student Life, UU

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Editor’s Note: Here in the Office of Admissions, one of the most common questions we hear is, “How can I write a strong statement of purpose?” One thing strong statements of purpose tend to do is show how HDS is the right place for them to do the work they hope to pursue. Strong statements of purpose also tend to tell us about the applicant’s general background information, how this background has prepared them for graduate study at HDS, and their vocational or career objectives. We also want to emphasize that because our applicants have such diverse goals and interests, and because our programs are so flexible, there is no singular type of applicant who would be the “right fit” for HDS. Rather, we’re looking for applicants to show us how HDS is the right fit for you!

You can learn more about the details of the statement of purpose here. To help you brainstorm for your statment of purpose, we’ve gathered a collection of current HDS students who’ve told us about why they chose HDS.

Mary Perez (MDiv ‘22): I’ve found a space that honors and supports the integration of my intellectual and spiritual life. In the HDS community, I am free to be myself⁠—in the complexity of my identity, in my questions about my faith tradition, and in my wonderings about how to live my vocation.

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Settling in at HDS

08 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Transitioning to HDS

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Adjusting, Orientation

Post by: Julia Reimann, MDiv ‘22, HDS Office of Admissions Graduate Assistant

Editor’s Note: No matter where you might be in the admissions process, a glimpse into a new student’s experience at Orientation can help give you a sense of the kinds of programs and facilities that are available at HDS.

Hi everyone! My name is Julia Reimann and I am one of the new Graduate Assistants in the Office of Admissions here at Harvard Divinity School. As a first-year Master of Divinity student, the last few weeks have been filled with orientation activities, campus renovation, and checking out classes for shopping week. During shopping week, students can visit any classes they might be interested in taking. The course registration deadline happens after we’ve all had a chance to explore.

For those of you who don’t know, HDS’ Andover Hall (soon to be Swartz Hall) is under renovation, which has slightly altered the campus map. Jumping into school after a few years away sometimes feels overwhelming, but it has been comforting to realize that our entire campus and community is in a similar time of transition and new beginnings.

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Introducing Our 2019-2020 Graduate Assistants

27 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Student Life

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Graduate Assistants

Editor’s Note: It’s been a busy first few weeks of the term here at HDS as we lead tours around campus, pack boxes for our traveling HDS representatives, and keep track of the many classes available for prospective students to visit, but we’d like to take some time to introduce you all to the Office of Admissions’ new Graduate Assistants.

Tessa Steinert Evoy (MTS 2020) Hello, great to digitally meet you all. My name is Tessa and I am a second year Graduate Assistant and Masters of Theological Studies candidate. I grew up in the Boston area and London, England before graduating from Boston University in 2015 with BA in History, focusing on the intersections of literary movements and contemporary American history. Before coming to HDS, I taught eighth-grade American History and ninth-grade English as well as worked in secondary school admissions. At HDS I am a second-year MTS candidate focusing on Religion, Ethics, and Politics, and more specifically the ways religion is taught in schools. Along with being a Graduate Assistant, I work as a research assistant for the Religious Literacy Project building curriculum for an upcoming documentary. When I am not in the Admissions Office or class, you can find me at Community Tea on Tuesdays or Rock Café any other time eating some of the delicious food on campus. I look forward to getting to know you all this fall!

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Transforming Andover into Swartz Hall

25 Thursday Jul 2019

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Student Life

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Andover, Community, Community Tea, Noon Service, Renovation

Post by: Mikaela Allen, MTS ’19, HDS Office of Admissions Graduate Assistant

Editor’s Note: As some of you may have heard, Andover Hall, newly named Swartz Hall, is undergoing an extensive and much-needed renovation thanks in large part to a generous gift from the Swartz family and the continued dedication of HDS staff. Read on to learn more about the goals of the renovation and how it will affect the daily life of the HDS community in the interim. While most of our posts feature student voices, this post will introduce you to a few staff members on campus and what they perceive as the long-term benefits of the renovation project. For updates on the process, Ralph DeFlorio, HDS’s Director of Operations, regularly updates this blog dedicated to the progress of the renovation. Click here for an extensive interview with Ralph about the renovation project. Please note that as part of the renovation, the HDS Office of Admissions has moved to the first floor of Divinity Hall.

Andover Hall as of June 2019. Students will not have access to Andover during construction. Andover Harvard Theological Library will remain open during the renovation. Photo by Mikaela Allen.
Braun Room, Andover Hall, 2016. Weekly Community Tea takes place here and will continue in the interim space. Photo by Evgenia Eliseeva.
Sperry Room, Andover Hall. After 2013 renovations. The only traditional lecture hall on HDS’s campus. Photo by Jonathan Beasley.
Andover Chapel. Weekly Noon Service takes place here and will continue in another space during the renovation. Photo by Evgenia Eliseeva.
Winter windows of Andover Hall. Photo by Kristie Welsh.
Andover Harvard Theological Library. Accessible during renovation. Photo by Kristie Welsh.

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