Admissions

Operations Manual

ADMISSIONS

Sabrina Taylor-Encarnacion, Associate Vice President, Admissions

Elizabeth de la Cruz, Director of Admissions

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION POLICY

Woodbury University welcomes and encourages candidates for admission who are focused on studying in an environment emphasizing professional careers. The admissions committee carefully considers each applicant as a unique individual with special talents, strengths, and areas of challenge. Primary emphasis is placed on the applicant’s prior academic record. Writing samples, evidence of artistic and creative talents, standardized test scores, recommendations, a record of extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal interviews may also be considered in admission decisions.

Upon enrollment, Woodbury requires each student to have graduated from a regionally accredited secondary school. In the case of states that do not require regional accreditation for public schools, state authorization is sufficient. High school equivalency certificates or GEDs may be considered on individual bases. When reviewing high school transcripts for admissions purposes, total GPA (weighted, grades 9–12) is considered.

Applications for admission are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants with or without prior college experience may apply online for admission to fall or spring semesters by visiting woodbury.edu. After the priority application deadline, enrollment terms are not guaranteed.

HOMESCHOOL APPLICANTS

Graduation from an accredited secondary school or an approved equivalent is required to enroll in any undergraduate program. For students attending homeschool programs that do not result in a state or regionally-recognized or equivalent high school diploma, equivalence may be established by completing the General Education Development (GED) examination or a comparable regional test such as the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) or HiSET. Students who are not able to take the GED, CHSPE, or HiSET may submit SAT or ACT scores. Students who have attended another high school or college, in addition to being homeschooled, must submit official transcripts from these schools. Homeschool students may send official interim homeschool transcripts during the admissions process but must arrange for final transcripts to be sent upon graduation.

ADMISSION OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS

The admission policies and requirements for persons who are permanent residents of the United States are the same as those for U.S. citizens.

ADMISSION OF NON-MATRICULATED STUDENTS

Students who wish to enroll in a course or courses without seeking a Woodbury University degree are considered non-matriculated applicants. A non-matriculated applicant is required to show proof that pre-requisite coursework and other academic requirements have been fulfilled.

ADMISSION TO BBA-MBA 3+1 PROGRAM

Woodbury’s 3+1 program combines both a BBA in Management and an Master’s in Business Administration, enabling students to earn both their undergraduate degree and an MBA in just four years. (Or less for transfer students.) A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to be admitted into this intensive program.

Academic Fresh Start Policy

What is Academic Fresh Start?

Your old grades don't have to count against you. If you apply for admission to Woodbury University as an undergraduate, you may be able to begin a new course of study with a clear academic record.

If you have credits for college courses taken 10 or more years prior to the planned enrollment date, those credits and grades can be waived under the "Academic Fresh Start" policy if you invoke it at the time of application. Note that we will still require the transcript to complete your file.

Please remember, this is an all-or-nothing option. You cannot pick and choose which courses to ignore and which courses to count. If you choose the "Academic Fresh Start" option, you will not receive any credit for any courses you took over 10 years ago. This means that courses taken previously:

Cannot be used to fulfill new pre-requisite requirements
Cannot be counted toward your new degree
Will not be counted in any future GPA calculations or merit scholarship consideration

How does this affect your financial aid?

Academic Fresh Start clears only your academic record, not the number of semesters you have been in higher education. The maximum number of semesters for receiving federal Pell Grants is 12, which must include all of the time you have spent taking dual credit courses and community college courses, including those from over 10 years ago.

GRADUATE ADMISSION POLICY

Our graduate programs are designed for scholars looking for advancement in their professional careers and growth within their disciplines. Applicants seeking admission into a graduate program are expected to have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to matriculating.

DEFERMENT OF APPLICATION

Students may defer their applications for admission for up to one year from the original term for which they applied. Students must submit requests for deferment in writing, along with notification requesting admission for the new semester in which the student is interested and the reason for the deferment. During the deferment period, the Office of Admissions will retain all documents and fees submitted to date. If the applicant has not enrolled at Woodbury University within one year after submitting an original application, then all documentation and fees for that applicant will become invalid. The applicant will be required to submit new documentation and fees in order to be considered for future terms.

If admission requirements change during a deferral period, deferred applications will be re-evaluated for admission.

If additional coursework is completed during deferment period, the file will be reviewed for any changes in GPA or transfer credit. If GPA changes, file will be re-evaluated for scholarship awarding.

READMISSION AFTER ABSENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY

Students who are absent from degree studies remain in active status for three semesters (excluding summer sessions). If not enrolled by the fourth semester of absence, students must reapply for admission to the University to re-establish degree status. Official transcripts of all college or university work must be submitted for evaluation upon reapplying. Applicants who have not earned an Associate’s degree or higher will be required to submit an official high school transcript with proof of graduation. Transcripts will be assessed based on catalog pre-requisites and degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission and matriculation.

Readmission After Five Years

Admitted students who were enrolled, but have been continuously absent for more than five years, must complete a readmission application. In addition, applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.

Readmission After Formal Withdrawal

Admitted students who were enrolled, but have formally withdrawn from the University, must complete a readmission application (regardless of the length of their absence). Upon submission, a University representative will contact re-applying students with further details on needed documentation.

* International applicants may need to submit further documentation for I-20 processing.