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Prospective Freshmen

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Incoming Freshmen apply to the University of Washington and spend their first one to three years as pre-engineering majors. Students who indicate an interest in engineering on their UW application are placed into the College of Engineering and automatically assigned pre-engineering status. During the pre-engineering quarters, students take a series of prerequisite courses preparing them for application to majors.

While some students may already know what engineering major they want to pursue, most will spend a bit more time making the decision. We have several resources available to help you to explore and to make choices that will get you where you want to go. Check out Explore Engineering for more information.

Plan ahead Live with peers Scholarships Direct admission Bridge new students week

Planning Ahead

High school students: Try to attend the high school information sessions. Autumn sessions cover engineering admissions, plus majors, research and employment in engineering. Spring sessions prepare prospective engineering students who have been accepted to the UW. Learn more at Information Sessions »

Before you get here, you can start to prepare for what will certainly be one of the most exciting, rewarding, and challenging experiences of your life. Here are a few tips:

  • Take all the advanced math and science classes you can. Math and science are the fundamental tools that allow engineers to innovate and turn ideas for new inventions into reality.
  • Develop your written and verbal communication skills. Engineers work in teams, collaborating with colleagues with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
  • Practice good study habits and get comfortable with self-discipline. Students can mistake their strong grades in high school as evidence that they are organized and know how to study. While you may (or may not) have worked hard to get those grades, can you be confident that you worked "smart" in high school? Forming study groups, spending extra time with your instructors to ask deeper questions, and working through practice problems (even the ones that weren't assigned) are all things that will be expected of you when you come to the UW. If those habits are already a part of your routine when you arrive, your transition to college will be smoother.

Consider Living in the “Engineering Community”

A great way to get to know your peers is to live in the “Engineering Community,” several floors of McCarty Hall reserved for freshman and sophomore engineering students. Residents can go to classes and study together, buy books from each other, commiserate over tough courses, and find time to play games or work out at the IMA.

Resident Advisers, who are also engineering students, plan social activities such as trivia and movie nights, gallery or museum visits, pumpkin carving, outdoor trips, and community service opportunities. Programs sponsored by the College of Engineering expose residents to advising resources, career fair preparation, faculty lunches and dinners, and informal meetings with local business people.

Also in McCarty Hall:

  • Ian's Domain, an Internet cafe with a big-screen TV
  • Large residence hall rooms, complete with movable furniture
  • Ethernet access in the rooms
  • A lounge with ping-pong and pool table

To request to live in Engineering Community, submit your Housing Application by May 15. On your application, select "Engineering Community" in the Special Interest Community Preference area.

See also

Engineering Scholarships

In addition to the general student scholarships and financial aid offered by the University of Washington, students intending to major in engineering are invited to apply for College of Engineering scholarships. See Engineering Scholarships for the common application form and additional details.

Direct Freshman Admission to Engineering

All engineering departments admit a small number of incoming freshman directly into the department. Students who indicate an engineering program as their intended area of study on their UW application are considered for direct admission.

STEM Bridge for Incoming Students

STEM Bridge is a four-week residential experience for incoming freshmen planning to major in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Usually held in the first part of August on the UW Seattle campus, students live in a UW residence hall. Learn more about the Bridge program.

Come visit!

students welcome visitors to Engineering Discovery Days

Spring is a great time to visit campus—you can attend Engineering Discovery Days, UW Preview Days, and Purple & Gold days. Learn more »

Engineers Making a Difference

UW Engineering students, faculty and researchers tackle new problems and innovation every day. See how on the Engineers Making a Difference video gallery.

collage of Making a Difference video page collage of Making a Difference video page collage of Making a Difference video page collage of Making a Difference video page

More K-12 Resources

UW K-12 Resource Guide Online, searchable database of K-12 programs affiliated with the UW.

Washington State GEAR UP College planning for middle school and high school students likely be the first in their family to go to college

KnowHow2GO College planning, encouragement, and strategy for middle school and high school students and families.

College Board: You Can Go! College planning, encouragement, and strategy.

Free College Prep for High-schoolers w/ Disabilities

WA state high school 10th- and 11th-graders with disabilities and interest in college, you are invited to apply to the DO-IT Scholars program, which includes:

  • Stays in residence halls
  • Academic lectures and labs
  • Skill building for success and independence in college
  • Loaned laptops and adaptive technology

Learn more »

Applying to the University of Washington

Please visit UW Admissions to learn more about the freshman application process, and to apply online.