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2025 Entering Student Questionnaire
1.
What degree program are you in?
Pre-theology
MDiv
MA
MTS
DMin
Non-degree special
Diploma, certificate
Other (please specify)
2.
Are you enrolling full-time or part-time?
Full-time
Part-time
3.
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Prefer not to disclose
Other (please specify)
4.
Are you:
Single (includes widowed/divorced)
Married
5.
What is your race and/or ethnicity? (Check all that apply)
Black, African American, African National
American Indian/Indigenous (including North, Central, and South America), Alaska Native
Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander (including Native Hawaiian)
Hispanic, Latino/a, Latine
White, Caucasian
Prefer not to disclose
Other (please specify)
6.
How would your school or program identify you?
A domestic student
An international student
7.
What is your age?
19 or younger
20 to 25 years
26 to 30 years
31 to 35 years
36 to to 40 years
41 to 45 years
46 to 50 years
51 to 55 years
56 years or older
8.
In what format do you plan to take courses at Wesley?
All courses in-person or on-campus (including hybrid)
All courses virtually or on-line
Some courses on-campus and some courses virtually/online
9.
How often do you plan to be on campus or extension site for most of your courses?
Weekly
Several times a semester or term
Once a semester or term
Once or twice a year
Never
10.
From what type of undergraduate institution did you graduate?
A public university, state college, or community college
A private university or college (not religiously affiliated)
A private, religiously affiliated university or college
11.
What type of undergraduate degree did you earn?
Two-year Associate's degree
Degree from Technical School
Bachelor's degree
12.
What is your highest degree beyond the Bachelor's degree?
None
EdD
JD/LLB
Master's
MBA
MD
MDiv
MSW
PhD
Other Doctorate
Other Professional
Other Degree
13.
How much educational debt did you bring with you to this program?
None
Less than $10,000
$10,000 to $19,999
$20,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 or more
14.
How much other debt did you bring with you (non-educational debt excluding home mortgage, such as credit card or car loan, etc.)?
None
Less than $10,000
$10,000 to $19,999
$20,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 or more
15.
Are you currently responsible for payment on student loans of a family member other than yourself?
Yes
No
16.
How significant was financial aid assistance in your decision to attend Wesley Theological Seminary?
Of no significance
Of some significance
Significant
Of great significance
Did not apply for financial aid
17.
How many hours a week do you plan to work at a paying job this year?
Fewer than 10 hours
10-15 hours
16-20 hours
21-30 hours
31-40 hours
More than 40 hours
18.
How long is your commute to school?
I live in on-campus housing.
I live within walking distance of campus.
Less than 1/2 hour
1/2 hour to 1 hour
1 to 2 hours
2 to 4 hours
More than 4 hours
NA - I take all of my classes online or virtually.
19.
During the past two years, how would you describe your participation in a worshipping community, congregation, or parish?
Very active
Active
Moderately active
Not very active
Inactive
20.
In what type of community was the congregation, worshipping community, or parish located?
Rural area
Small town
Suburban
Urban
21.
About how many regular participants were there in the congregation, worshipping community, or parish in which you were active?
Fewer than 50 participants
50 to 99 participants
100 to 249 participants
250 to 499 participants
500 to 999 participants
1,000 to 1,999 participants
2,000 or more participants
22.
In the past five years, have you held, been elected to, or been appointed to a leadership position in: (Check all that apply)
Your local church or parish
Other church body or religious organization
School or college organization
Civic or fraternal organization
Other leadership position
No recent leadership position
23.
When did you first consider going to theological school?
Before college
During college
One or two years after graduating from college
After graduate work
After two to ten years of work
After ten or more years of work
24.
Do you anticipate pursuing ordination?
Yes
No
Unsure
Already ordained
25.
How did you first learn about Wesley Theological Seminary?
Graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary
Relative
Friend
Pastor
Religious superior
Current student of Wesley Theological Seminary
Theological school recruiter
Know a particular faculty member(s) at theological school
College chaplain, advisor, or other college contact
Online ad
Print ad or mailing
Theological school publications
Conference or church event
School website
Web search
Social media search
Theological school initiated contact with me
26.
After hearing about our school, how did you gain more information about it? (Check all that apply.)
Viewed school website
Requested information via the school website
Social media (Facebook, X/Twitter, etc.)
Communicated with school staff
Communicated with current Wesley student or Wesley graduate
Communicated with school faculty
Wrote to the school
Telephoned the school
Visited the school
27.
If you visited Wesley Theological Seminary as an individual or as part of a program, how important was that visit to your decision to attend Wesley?
Of no importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
NA - Did not visit Wesley before enrolling
28.
Did you or will you relocate in order to attend Wesley?
Yes
No
Maybe
29.
How important was the availability of student housing to your decision to attend Wesley?
Of no importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
30.
How important were the following in your decision to pursue theological education? (Please select answer that most closely matches the importance of each factor.)
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Influence of a family member or spouse/partner
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Influence of friend(s)
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Encouragement of pastor/minister
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Experience of counseling/spiritual direction
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Experienced a call from God
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Experience in campus Christian organization
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Experience of the community life of a local church or worshipping community
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Intellectual interest in religious/theological questions
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Opportunity for study and growth
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Promise of spiritual fulfillment
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Search for meaning in life
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
To discern God's will
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Desire to serve others
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Desire to administer the sacraments
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Desire to contribute to the cause of social justice
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Desire to preserve traditions of the church
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Desire to make a difference in the life of the church
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Desire to make a difference in the world
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
To increase my potential to get a job
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
31.
How important were the following in your decision to attend this institution?
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Quality of the faculty
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Curriculum
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Academic reputation of the school
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Quality of the admissions staff
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Availability of distance learning
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Flexible class schedule
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Access to other theological schools/cross-registration
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Extension site of main campus
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Denominational affiliation
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
University/college affiliation
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Comfort with the school's doctrinal positions/theological perspective
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Encouragement of my pastor
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Sent by religious superior
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Recommended by a graduate/current student
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Encouragement of a faculty member/mentor from my college
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Participation in a vocational discernment program (high school or college)
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Family reasons
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Good financial aid assistance
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Wanted a school close to home/work
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Diverse/multicultural community
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Sense of community at the school
Of no importance
Of little importance
Somewhat important
Important
Very important
Other (please specify)
32.
Are you currently engaged in ministerial work?
Yes
No
33.
If you are currently engaged in ministerial work, is that work...
Full-time paid
Part-time paid
Full-time volunteer
Part-time volunteer
Not currently engaged in ministerial work
34.
If you are currently engaged in ministerial work, do you intend to continue working in the same position while pursuing your degree?
Yes
No
Unsure
NA - Not currently engaged in ministerial work
35.
When you graduate from Wesley, do you anticipate working in a paid position full-time or part-time?
Full-time
Part-time
I do not intend to work in a paid position.
36.
Do you anticipate holding multiple positions?
Yes
Yes, and at least one position will be ministerial work
Unsure, but at least one position will be ministerial work
Unsure
No
37.
When you graduate from Wesley, what types of paid positions do you anticipate having? (Check all that apply.)
Congregational/parish ministry
Teaching or educational setting
Health care chaplain or counselor
Military chaplain
Faith-based nonprofit
Other (please explain)
38.
If Congregational/Parish ministry, what position to you anticipate having?
Pastor, priest, or minister of a congregation/parish
Associate or assistant pastor, priest, or minister of a congregation/parish
Minister or director of Christian/religious education
Children/youth work or ministry
Musician or liturgist
Spiritual director
New church development/church planting/evangelism
Other position within a congregation/parish context
Unsure what position within a congregation/parish context
39.
If NOT Congregational/Parish ministry, what position do you anticipate having?
Retreat or spiritual director (not in a congregation/parish)
Campus ministry or youth worker (not in a congregation/parish)
Hospital/hospice/healthcare chaplaincy
Military chaplaincy
Prison ministry
Missionary service (foreign)
Denominational administrator or staff
Teaching in primary or secondary education
Teaching or administration in higher education (including theological school)
Other religious or parachurch agency/organization
Social work/social services; community development
Social justice ministry or community organizing
Pastoral counselor (not in a congregation/parish), licensed counselor, or psychologist
Executive/administrator in a nonprofit agency
Executive/administrator in a for-profit business
Further graduate or professional studies
Undecided
Other (please specify)
40.
Do you anticipate holding a volunteer/unpaid ministerial position after graduation?
Yes
No
Unsure
41.
If you expect to hold a volunteer/unpaid ministerial position, what type of ministerial position?
Pastor, priest, or minister of a congregation/parish
Associate or assistant pastor, priest, or minister
Minister or director of Christian/religious education
Children/youth work or ministry
Musician or liturgist
Spiritual director
New church development/church planting/evangelism
Other position within a congregation/parish context
Unsure
42.
Will that volunteer position be:
Full-time
Part-time
Unsure