Deadlines & Requirements
Undergraduate Applicants
Application Deadlines
Early action is a good choice if you know early on in the admissions process that DRBU is the right fit for you. You will receive your admissions decision sooner, starting in mid-December. Early action is non-binding, meaning you may still apply to other schools and will not be required to attend DRBU if accepted.
You will receive your admissions decision starting in mid-February.
After the regular decision deadline, we continue to accept applications until the incoming cohort is full. If your application is received after the cohort is full, your application will be considered for the following year’s admissions cycle. You will receive your decision approximately six weeks after your application is received.
Application Requirements
You may complete your application through Common App or through DRBU’s application portal.
At least one letter should be from a current or former teacher. The other can be from another teacher, or someone else who you knows you well. These letters should speak to your motivation and capacity to undertake the program. Letters of recommendation can be submitted through the Common App or our application portal. (If you are having trouble, you can use this form and have the letters sent directly to DRBU.)
Submit all official high school (and college, if applicable) transcripts. Official transcripts must be sealed and mailed to us directly by your previous school(s).
SAT, ACT, and other standardized test scores are not a required part of our application. However, you may choose to include them if you wish and they will be considered alongside other parts of your application. To submit your scores to DRBU, our institution code is 4282.
International students who speak English as a second language are required to submit test scores demonstrating their English language proficiency. Visit our international students page for more information.
Transfer Applicants
The DRBU curriculum is fully integrated and all required. Therefore, all students are admitted as freshmen and expected to complete all four years of the program. We are unable to accept transfer credits. However, college-level course work, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses are strong evidence of academic achievement. These courses are taken into account during the evaluation for admission to DRBU.
DRBU does not have an articulation or transfer agreement with any other college or university.
Non-Traditional Applicants
Homeschooled Applicants
DRBU welcomes and encourages applications from homeschooled students. The application requirements for homeschooled students are the same as those for other students. In addition, please keep in mind the following:
Academic Record
- If applicable, please provide transcripts from any high school and/or college you have attended.
- In addition, please provide a detailed outline of the homeschool curriculum, including subject areas studied, level of instruction, time spent on each discipline, texts read, work produced, and assessment of performance or grade.
- Optional: You may wish to submit a comprehensive list of the books you have read during your high school years outside of the formal homeschool curriculum.
Two Letters of Recommendation
- As stated in the application, two letters of recommendation are required. We require at least one academic reference; if this is not possible, the letters should come from people beyond your household who know you as a student and person, and preferably in a teaching and learning setting.
- An additional letter of reference may be written by a non-family member who knows you in a social or extracurricular context (examples are peers, clergy members, employers, and coaches).
International Applicants
Please refer to our page on international students to learn more about application requirements for international applicants.
Additional Information
We encourage you to apply early as places are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You may apply anytime after you have completed your junior year of high school. International students are strongly recommended to apply by the regular decision deadline in order to allow enough time for the student visa application process.
There are no minimum scores required on the SAT or ACT, GPA, or class rank for consideration or admission. Each student is holistically evaluated for their unique academic achievements, record of service, and commitment to study in relationship to the program.
There is a $30 fee to apply. We offer fee waivers based on financial need.
All application materials may be submitted through Common App or the DRBU Application Portal. Additional materials may be sent to:
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Dharma Realm Buddhist University
1991 Virtue Way, Ukiah, California, 95482
or
admissions@drbu.edu