Pathways for Inclusive Excellence (PIE) provides specialized curriculum and individualized support for talented students who need additional STEM and college preparation before they begin their engineering or computer science career.
At the College of Engineering and the Allen School, we believe that building a workforce with a range of perspectives promotes engineering excellence and innovation for our common good. Some students have highly sought-after skills such as multilingualism, multicultural perspectives, and unique work and life experience yet have limited access to STEM education.
PIE is for students who might benefit from additional time and resources to ensure a strong STEM foundation.
Admissions
PIE programs will set students up for success by offering holistic programming and support starting the summer after high school and through the first or second year at the UW. Students who list a College of Engineering or Allen School major as their first choice are considered for PIE programs through the University of Washington first-year admissions process. Your admission letter will state that you have been selected for PIE and you will receive further information about next steps.
Note
Any student not wishing to participate in the PIE program can still attend UW as a pre-major in the College of Arts & Sciences. There are a limited number of spaces in the College of Engineering and the Allen School for students who are not admitted directly as first-year students, and we are unable to guarantee that you will be admitted through the capacity-constrained admission process at a later date.
Pathways
PIE is made up of three different pathways: Allen School Scholars Program, Engineering Dean’s Scholars, and STARS.
Allen School Scholars Program
A one-year program aimed at providing students with a strong first-year foundation in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering (Allen School) and the UW. For students who select computer science or computer engineering as their first choice major on their UW first-year application.
Engineering Dean’s Scholars
A one-year program aimed at providing students with a strong first-year foundation in the College of Engineering and the UW. For students who select an engineering major (not including computer engineering) as their first choice on their UW first-year application.
STARS
A two-year program designed to holistically support students to strengthen academic preparation and develop professional skills while they work through their STEM pre-requisite courses. For students who select engineering or computer science as their first choice major on their UW first-year application.
Learn more: Pathways in detail
All of the PIE programs provide students with a supportive environment that is committed to their success, but they differ slightly in the support offered and time commitment expected of each student.
| Allen School Scholars Program | Engineering Dean's Scholars | STARS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohort size | ~60 | ~40 | ~40 |
| Majors | Computer
Engineering, Computer Science | Engineering (not computer engineering) | Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science |
| School* | Allen School | College of Engineering | College of Engineering and Allen School |
| Advising | All programs require quarterly advising appointments with a specialized, holistic adviser dedicated to the program. | ||
| Community building | PIE offers events and programming to create and foster community at both the PIE and individual program level. | ||
| Housing | All PIE students are strongly encouraged to live on campus for the first year. | ||
| Curriculum | All PIE programs have cohort-based curriculum. For the duration of their program, students will take a mix of UW courses selected and required by the program, and other courses from the UW catalog selected by individual students to pursue their own interests and graduation requirements. | ||
| Summer component | All PIE programs have programming in the summer before the start of their first year. All admitted students will be given full details of summer requirements upon receiving their offer into a PIE program. The summer elements include a required, on campus four-week summer bridge program. | ||
| Standard amount of time to graduate** | 4 years | 4 years | 5 years |
* PIE students will be offered admission into either the College of Engineering or the Allen School. After accepting an offer of admission, students are not able to switch between the College of Engineering and the Allen School. While members of the STARS program belong to both the Allen School and the College of Engineering, they are obligated to the same admission rules and are not able to switch schools.
**This number represents the standard amount of time for the average student. However, each student will have a personalized plan based on their individual needs and assessment.
Timeline
Early March
COHORT SELECTION
The UW Office of Admissions makes admission offers to PIE students.
Early March
INFO SESSIONS
Information sessions for admits. A Zoom link will be sent in an email.
Early to Mid March
INTAKE FORM
Deadline for PIE cohort admitted students to complete intake form.
Mid April
MATCHING
Students are matched with one of the two options for their admission type: a) PIE-E admits: Engineering Dean’s Scholars or STARS b) PIE-A admits: Allen School Scholars Program or STARS
May 1
DECISION DAY
Confirm your enrollment by this date and accept a program match.
Additional information
General inquiries: pie-coe@uw.edu
- First-year engineering experience
- Direct to college admission FAQs
- Pathways for Inclusive Excellence
- Running Start students