What Is the Pre-application Assessment at Graduate Theological Foundation?

Updated

The Pre-application Assessment at Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF) is a review offered to prospective students who want their credentials, experience, and previously completed coursework evaluated before they formally apply. It is designed to answer two practical questions: whether you are likely eligible for a degree program, and whether any of your prior coursework might qualify for transfer credit. You can request it through the GTF website before submitting a formal application.

Who the Pre-application Assessment Is For

This step is most useful if you are unsure how your background maps onto GTF's program requirements. According to the GTF homepage, the assessment is for prospective students who want their credentials, experience, and previously completed coursework assessed for:

  • Degree program eligibility — whether your academic and professional background meets the baseline for the program you are considering.
  • Possible transfer credit — whether coursework you have already completed could count toward a GTF degree.

If your credentials clearly match a program's stated requirements, or if you have no prior coursework you want considered for transfer, the assessment may add little. If your background is nontraditional, international, or interdisciplinary, it can clarify your position before you invest time in a full application.

What the Assessment Reviews

The homepage describes the assessment as covering three inputs:

Input What it means in practice
Credentials Your degrees, diplomas, and formal academic records
Experience Professional or ministry-related work that may be relevant to program eligibility
Previously completed coursework Courses you have taken that might transfer into a GTF program

The assessment is an eligibility and transfer-credit review, not an admission decision. A favorable assessment does not guarantee acceptance, and the homepage does not state that it replaces the formal application.

How to Request It

  1. Go to the GTF website and locate the Pre-application Assessment section, listed under the site's main program headings.
  2. Use the Request Information form to indicate your interest. The form asks for your name, email, address, and the degree category of interest — options include Professional Undergraduate Degree, Roman Catholic Deacons Program, Graduate Certificate Programs, Oxford and Rome Summer Programs, P.R.I.M.E. (Partnering Resources In Ministry Education) Program, Professional Graduate Degrees, Academic Graduate Degrees, and the Ph.D. All But Dissertation Completion Program.
  3. Submit the request. The form supports Save and Resume Later, which stores a copy of your entry on the server and generates a unique link, valid for 30 days, that you can use to continue later. Sensitive information such as credit card details and file uploads must be re-entered when you resume.

Expected result: GTF reviews your submitted information and responds regarding your eligibility and any potential transfer credit. The homepage does not specify a response timeframe.

Practical Points to Keep in Mind

  • Choose the right degree category. The form's degree-category list is long and includes professional, academic, certificate, and special programs. Selecting the category that matches your goal helps route your request correctly.
  • Prepare your records. Because the assessment weighs credentials and completed coursework, having transcripts and course descriptions ready will make the review more meaningful.
  • It is a pre-step, not a substitute. The assessment is explicitly positioned as something done before formally applying, so plan to complete the formal application afterward if you decide to proceed.
  • Contact options exist. The homepage lists a phone number, +1 405-653-9410, alongside the request form if you need help.

A Quick Decision Guide

  • Request the assessment if: your background is nontraditional, you hold credits from other institutions you hope to transfer, or you are unsure which degree category fits you.
  • Skip it and apply directly if: your credentials plainly satisfy the program's published requirements and you have no transfer credit to evaluate.
  • Ask GTF directly if: you need a response timeline, a cost for the assessment, or confirmation of what documents to submit — the homepage does not state these details.