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 those 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.

On this page: Plan ahead, Live with peers, Scholarships, ALVA work and study, Direct Admission

Planning Ahead

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 to turn ideas for new inventions into reality.
• Develop your written and verbal communication skills. Contrary to popular belief, engineers do not work in isolation in front of a computer all day long. Engineers work in teams, and often must collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and expertise.
• Practice good study habits and get comfortable with self-discipline. Many students 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 much 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 sophmore 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, you must submit your Housing Application by May 15. On your application, select "Engineering Community" in the Special Interest Community Preference area.

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.

ALVA (Alliances for Learning and Vision for Underrepresented Americans)

Incoming freshmen accepted into the ALVA program are assigned to paid, high tech or research jobs that improve their college financing and give them an early taste of a professional career. ALVA is a partnership between industry, research labs and the university. Learn more about the MSEP/ALVA program.

To find out more about the ALVA program, contact Scott Pinkham.

Direct Freshman Admission to Engineering

Several engineering departments admit a small number of incoming freshman directly in to the department. Students who indicate Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, or Materials Science & Engineering as their intended area of study on their UW application are considered for direct admission to these programs.

Bridge Week for Incoming Students

Bridge is a one-week residential experience for incoming first year engineering students planning to major in engineering. 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.