Applying to Seminary

[omega0509]

Hi,

This is my first post, so I hope I am doing this right.
I have been considering the priesthood for a very long time, but it has really grown on me in the last 3 years or so. I am currently a senior at the University of Michigan, and I will be receiving a B.S. degree in Microbiology soon. My gpa however, is a 2.7. I know I have the intellectual capacity to handle the advanced coursework in theology, philosophy, divinity, etc, required for the priesthood, I just didn’t apply myself as I should have in my undergraduate years. I feel strongly called to be a Priest, but I am concerned the minute the vocations committee sees my gpa, I will get the rubber stamp bearing “rejected”. I was wondering if anyone here has actually applied to the seminary and what if any minimum gpa requirements there are, and any advice you have. I know gpa is just one of many wide ranging considerations taken into account when evaluating a candidate, but I’m concerned it will negate any other qualities I posses.

Thanks.

 

[OKCatholic]

Having just gone through the application process myself, I had the same concerns you have. As it turned out, my archdiocesan vocations board could not legally view my high school or college transcripts. And let me tell you, your GPA is better than mine and in a much more technical field.

Your vocations board will rely more on several other factors. Your psychological evaluation will weigh heavily in your application as well as the recommendation of your priest. Also, you will undergo multiple interviews with priests, lay members of the vocations board and with your local bishop. They won’t be looking for an academic genius. They will be looking for a young man who is bright, active in the faith, willing to serve and possessing a desire to seek God’s plan for him.

After you are accepted as a seminarian for your diocese you will then apply to the actual seminary chosen for you (very few guys ever get the chance to chose the seminary they attend). Now, their admissions office will see your transcripts and your academic performance with be more of a factor in your admission. But, to be honest, I would not be concerned with your grades at all. If you are accepted as a seminarian by your diocese, I have little doubt you won’t be accepted by the seminary.

During my interview with my archbishop, he stressed that having perfect grades but neglecting the spiritual side of seminary life would make it very difficult to succeed as a seminarian. Likewise, he said, spending 20 hours a day in the chapel and ignoring classwork would lead to an early departure. It’s all about balance.

Every person involved with your application knows that you are a human being and that you are far from perfect. But, they aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for a normal guy. It’s very easy to let doubt and fear about the application process overwhelm you. I was convinced that my background check would reveal some long forgotten parking ticket and I would be barred from seminary forever. But, this past Friday I got the call that my application was approved and that everything would be forwarded to the seminary for review.

You’ll be in my prayers and if you have any more question please post them or drop me a line.

Lance

 

[odopa]

[Every person involved with your application knows that you are a human being and that you are far from perfect. But, they aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for a normal guy. It’s very easy to let doubt and fear about the application process overwhelm you. I was convinced that my background check would reveal some long forgotten parking ticket and I would be barred from seminary forever. But, this past Friday I got the call that my application was approved and that everything would be forwarded to the seminary for review.

Congratulations!! Lance.
Omega, I hope you make it too.
Love and Peace
Odopa
[/quote]

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

While the vocations board may not have a right to view your transcripts if they ask for them and you refuse that could cast you in a negative light. Also the seminary does have a right to look at them and they can refuse you entry into the Masters of Divinity program as it is a graduate program and many graduate schools require at least a 3.0 gpa. I do not think most seminaries do though.

You will have a chance to raise that gpa though as you will need 30 credits of undergraduate philosophy and 12 credits of undergraduate theology before you can enter a major seminary.

Talk with your vocations director and I advise you not to try to hide your current gpa.

 

[Allen537]

I don’t think you will have too much of a problem getting into a seminary with your GPA. I have known guys who entered with a far lower GPA, but they were put on academic probation until they proved otherwise in their graduate work. Keep in mind that the minimum GPA for Grad work is 3.0, and a grade of no lower than a B in any course.

As far as diocesan seminaries go, if your diocese has accepted you, then they are most likely going to accept you as well. But once you are in, they will hold you to that 3.0 GPA and “no lower than a B” requirement.

Good luck during your application process!

Also, when I was in the college seminary, the GPA requirement was a 2.5 in order to stay in and graduate. Even though I had over a 3.0, if that was all the college seminary required, then I am sure that is all the major seminaries require as well. Since you have a 2.7, you should be good to go.

 

[OKCatholic]

Since you’ll be entering the pre-theology program, you will be taking philosophy classes almost exclusively for your first two years. No matter what your past academic performance has been, your diocese and your seminary will really only care about how well you apply yourself as a seminarian. Having a degree demonstrates that you have the inclination to be a good student. But, some guys come in just having graduated with honors who simply goof off in seminary and end up having their sponsorships dropped by their diocese. Likewise, there have been many guys who have struggled greatly with the course load but ended up making excellent priests.

My archbishop stressed this to me during my interview. When he was in seminary, everything was in Latin and grades were posted from highest to lowest. The lowest scoring seminarian would have et in front of his name so the running joke among the students was, “Who’s getting the et?” He said there was one guy who ALWAYS got the et. Much like St. John Vianney, this particular seminarian probably should have flunked out academically if it weren’t for the charity of the professors. They knew he was trying, but he just wasn’t a gifted student. My archbishop said that out of their class, which would end up including three bishops and one archbishop, this guy was the best priest by far.