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DETAILS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL POSTBACCALAUREATE ADMISSION

The front steps of Suzzallo Library at night.

Postbaccalaureate is a matriculated status (degree-seeking), reserved for students who are working toward a second bachelor’s degree or preparing for entrance to graduate or professional school. Only a small number of applicants are admitted each year as postbaccalaureate because the University’s primary commitment is to undergraduates who are completing their first degree. In general, fewer than 10 international postbaccalaureate students are admitted for summer and autumn each year. Students who have completed or will complete an equivalent four-year bachelor’s degree, must apply as a postbaccalaureate applicant and will not be considered transfer students.

Postbaccalaureate admission is highly competitive and is based on several factors: the overall academic record from the first bachelor’s degree, the personal statement, and the admission recommendation by the specific department requested. The Office of Admissions uses all grades earned at accredited institutions before the completion of the first bachelor’s degree. Grades from community college course work, graduate study, or any course work taken after the first bachelor’s degree will not be included in the overall grade point average when the Office of Admissions calculates the GPA for admissions consideration.

Postbaccalaureates are strongly urged to directly contact the program(s) they are interested in well before applying to the University. Each major has its own requirements and prerequisites, so it is very important that applicants discuss their qualifications and academic goals with an academic adviser from the appropriate department. Generally, students who are not accepted to their major of choice will not be admitted to the University.

To be eligible for admission consideration, postbaccalaureates must meet the same admission criteria as freshman and transfer students, with three exceptions:
  • You are not required to submit secondary school transcripts.
  • Those who earned their first bachelor’s degree in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
  • Postbaccalaureates may also submit letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty who can attest to academic performance and future potential in the applicant’s intended field of study.

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