STM Application Checklist
To begin the application process, you must submit your application form online. Within
48 hours of submitting your application form, you should receive a confirmation email
containing your BC Username and Eagle ID. You must have these credentials to log into BC’s
student system (the Agora Portal: https://portal.bc.edu) and check your application status.
If you do not receive these credentials after filing your application form, please contact the
admissions office: stmadm@bc.edu or 617-552-6506.
application requirements
A completed degree application to the STM consists of the following materials. Information
on each requirement is provided below:
☐ Application form ☐ Application fee ☐ Personal statement ☐ Resume or curriculum vitae
☐ Three letters of recommendation
☐ GRE scores
☐ Personal interview
☐ Writing sample
☐ Official transcripts
application form
The application to the STM must be completed online. In addition to demographic and
academic information, applicants must electronically submit their Personal Statement and
Resume at the time they submit their application forms.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible and
before the posted deadlines. Please note: We will communicate your admission decision
using the information you provide in the Email Address 1 and Current Mailing Address fields.
Please make sure these addresses are valid throughout the entire application process.
Application link: https://apply.embark.com/grad/bc/GSTM
application fee
A non-refundable fee of $75 is required for every degree and non-degree application
submitted. Visit the STM Website for details on eligibility for fee waivers.
personal statement
The personal statement must be uploaded as part of the Application. Your statement should
be 3 pages double-spaced and address the following:
• The academic, professional, and personal development that has motivated you to apply to
the STM. Include a sketch of your educational background and interests, any experience
you have in ministry and/or religious education, and any other relevant professional and
volunteer experience;
• Your understanding of theological education and/or ministry in the context of the Church’s
mission;
• How you plan to apply your theological education;
• Given your experience, how you assess your principal strengths for theological education
and/or ministry as well as your areas of needed development.
resume or curriculum vitae
The resume must be uploaded as part of the Application.
letters of recommendation
Degree applicants are required to submit three recommendations using the online application
system. Certificate applicants are required to submit at least one recommendation. Each
recommender should be familiar with the applicant’s academic competence. For applicants
who have been out of school for a significant amount of time, the recommenders should be
familiar with the applicant’s professional competence. For M.Div. and M.A. applicants, one
recommender should be familiar with the applicant’s ministerial potential and experience.
gre scores
Scores need to be received directly from ETS. Our GRE code is 2508.
All applicants applying to the Ph.D. and S.T.D. degree programs must submit GRE scores
-- no exceptions will be made. For master’s applicants, the admissions office may accept
other standardized tests (for example, the Miller Analogies Test). The admissions committee
may also decide to waive this requirement for master’s applicants if they have completed a
previous graduate degree.
personal interview (required of master’s applicants and international applicants)
The admissions office may contact applicants to set up an interview either in person or by
Skype.
writing sample (required of ph.d. and s.t.d. applicants only)
The writing sample must be uploaded as part of the Application. The sample should be an
academic paper, usually no less than 10 pages, not to exceed 25 pages. S.T.D. applicants are
also required to submit a copy of their S.T.L. thesis upon its completion.
official transcripts
One copy of each transcript from all colleges, universities, seminaries, or theological schools
that you have attended. If your college or university will send official transcripts electronically,
they can be emailed to stmadm@bc.edu. Otherwise, transcripts must be mailed and be
contained in a sealed, signed envelope. If the official transcript is not English, a translation
should be provided with the official document.
Please alert us if your transcript will be arriving with a different name than the one you are
using on your application (e.g. your maiden name).
For supporting material sent by mail, please use the following address:
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Processing Center
P.O. Box 67406
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
For applicants using FedEx or UPS, please use this address:
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Simboli Hall
9 Lake Street
Brighton, MA 02135-3841