If Not Admitted
Visit an Information Session! Dates are posted online.
Upper-Division admission deadline is 1st of February for spring quarter admission and 1st of July for Fall admission.
Before applying to the CSE department, it may make sense to have other degree options in mind. UW offers many other excellent computing-related majors that are far more than back-up plans. Choose a major you enjoy that will help further your personal, academic, and professional goals.
Students who are denied admission to CSE on their first application may apply again. Applying more than once does not automatically improve your chance of admission. You must resolve whatever issues kept you from being competitive the first time. Here are some things to consider as you try to improve your application:
- If your grades in key areas show trends that you need to correct, try taking more math, science, or English courses to show improvement in these subjects. If stability across multiple quarters is an issue, evaluate the options you have to create stability and work hard at maintaining strong grades. If you tend to pay attention only to the courses that interest you at the expense of everything else, focus on taking a more balanced approach to your coursework.
- Continue to take challenging courses in math, physics or computer science. Keep in mind that although it may help your overall record to take a non-major CSE course, you may still be required to take the majors' version of the course if you are later accepted.
- If you feel like you are running out of courses to take, start looking at other requirements needed to graduate instead of just those needed to apply, i.e., finish the math and physics courses, or work towards a minor or another major.
- Ask for feedback on your personal statement. In particular, see if other reviewers feel that it captures who you are as a person, or if they feel the focus is too narrow. Be open to making changes, as it’s not in your best interest to submit the same exact essay the next time you apply. Also, address what has changed since your last application. Spend time proof-reading your writing to make sure it is solid. As always, remember that it is more important for us to hear what you are doing presently and hope to accomplish in the future than details about the first time you sat in front of a computer or played your first video game.
- If you have trouble taking tests or organizing your time, look into a workshop run by the Student Counseling Center on test-anxiety, test-taking tips, or time management.
- If you would like to speak to an advisor, there are two pre-major advising centers available to you: the Gateway Center in Mary Gates Hall and pre-engineering in Loew 301. You may also attend drop-in advising hours for the CSE department.

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