Undergrad Admissions

What makes an ideal student at DeSales University? Desire, drive, integrity, and a passion to learn and apply new knowledge.

At DeSales, we consider both your past academic success and your potential for future growth to determine your admission. Students who have done well in challenging courses are best suited for academic life at DeSales.

Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. We welcome applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin.

Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended.

Here's an example:

• Four years of English
• Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
• A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
• At least two laboratory science courses

Junior Year of High School

• April: Open house
• May - September: Schedule a visit

Senior Year of High School

• August - September: apply to DeSales University
• October: Open house
• November: Open house
• December: FAFSA opens
• December: Bulldogs Unleashed
• December 1: Priority deadline for scholarship consideration
• December 15: Application deadline for Medical Studies (Physician Assistant), Health Science (Physical Therapy), and Communication Sciences and Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology)
• January/February: Financial Aid packages are mailed to accepted students who have filed the FAFSA
• March: The Bulldog Bash Accepted Students Day
• May 1: National Decision Day
• August: Fall Orientation

No matter where you're from, DeSales University welcomes you! Applying to DeSales University as an international student doesn't have to be a challenge, so below are some helpful guidelines to get you started.

• A completed admissions file must be submitted no later than April 1, and should include:
• A completed online application.
• Official high school transcripts of academic work completed. Transcripts not in English must be translated and notarized.
• TOEFL scores for students from non-English speaking countries (DeSales school code is 2021). Standardized test scores (SAT 1 or ACT) for students from English speaking countries.
• Optional recommendation letters.
• Students who have completed some college or university coursework must also submit transcripts from those institutions.
• International students may not apply as "Undeclared/Exploratory Studies" due to U.S. immigration regulations.

Students must submit

• A $400 deposit prior to May 1, along with a completed deposit form.
• A Statement of Finances that covers the cost of attendance for at least one full year. This can be in the form of bank statements, gift letter from a family member or sponsor (with accompanying bank statements), scholarship letter, etc.

Obtaining a Student Visa

• DeSales University will send each student one sealed copy of the I-20 form to be opened in the presence of a U.S. Embassy official, and a second copy for the student to open. Students will need the reference number on the I-20 form to set up an appointment with the U.S. Embassy in their home country.
• Please Note: this is a time-sensitive process, it may take approximately 1-4 months to schedule an interview with the U.S. Embassy. Please make sure to allow enough time for this process when applying.
• For further information please visit the U.S. Department of State Website 

After Student Visa is Obtained

• DeSales University will send medical forms to be filled out by a Physician.
• Students will receive a student life packet with details about living at DeSales University.

Financial Aid

• International students do not qualify for federal or state financial aid.
• International students can qualify for merit scholarships, please visit our scholarship awards page for details.

Admissions Counselor

• Brian MacDonald, Director of International Learning, can help all international students through the admissions process
  • Brian.MacDonald@desales.edu
  • 610.282.1100, x1510

A special note for international students already studying at another U.S. college or university

• Please send all application materials listed above plus transcripts from your current institution.
• Please send a completed transfer questionnaire from your current institution, this can be obtained from the transfer webpage.
• Once a $400 deposit, along with the deposit form sent, please present your official acceptance letter to DeSales University and a copy of the receipt of the $400 deposit (DeSales will mail upon receiving the deposit) to your current institution, and request that the I-20 is transferred to DeSales University.

A special note for Physician Assistant program applicants

• Students applying to the program directly from high school (i.e. without prior college, work, or medical experience) must submit a completed application by January 15. A student's file will be reviewed for general acceptance to the University, and a competitive, secondary evaluation process is used for acceptance into the program.

A special note for Theatre and Dance applicants

• Students applying to programs in the Performing Arts will be required to complete an audition. A student's file will be reviewed for general acceptance to the University and a departmental audition process is used for acceptance to their respective major.

High school students have many opportunities to accelerate their pace of studies and experience college early. In some cases, these opportunities may result in credits that can be applied toward DeSales University graduation requirements.

To determine if your exam scores and/or college credits are transferable, please have your official score sheet and/or transcript sent directly to DeSales University from the respective organization or postsecondary institution.

Approximately one month prior to your first day of class in the fall, we will inform you via your DeSales e-mail account about any transferable credits and will advise you regarding any needed changes to your first-semester schedule. Students are not able to receive credit for the same course more than once. More information about these processes is provided for incoming freshmen at the DSU Preview event.

Students should consult the undergraduate catalog for a more complete description of pertinent policies and procedures.

Additional Guidelines for Dual Enrollment College Credits

College courses from other institutions will be evaluated on an individual basis. Courses must be at least three-credits, and generally, should be comparable to courses offered at DeSales University. Students must also earn a minimum grade of C-. DeSales University has established agreements with several local community colleges. If you completed a dual enrollment course at one of these institutions, you may wish to view a course comparison list.

Additional Guidelines for International Baccalaureate Exams

International Baccalaureate exam scores are evaluated on an individual basis. DeSales University only grants credit for higher level (HL) exams and generally requires a score of at least 5 on most exams.

Additional Opportunities for Credit

Students interested in the possibility of receiving either credit by examination from an academic department or credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) should first consult the undergraduate catalog for pertinent policies and procedures.

Advanced Placement Credit Policies

Students seeking advanced placement must take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examination(s) in the subject(s) involved. Only the results of the first administration of each Examination can be considered as a basis for granting credit, i.e., students may not retake exams until they achieve a satisfactory score. In addition, all examination results to be considered for advanced placement and/or credit are to be submitted prior to the applicant's matriculation in DeSales University.

In all other subjects, the AP exam in question is evaluated by the pertinent academic department that recommends whether advanced placement and/or credit should be awarded.