Contents
General Questions about the CSE Undergraduate Program
Questions about CSE's Direct Admission for Freshmen
General Questions
How many undergraduates do you admit to the major?
About 500 students per year are accepted into the Allen School for our Computer Science and Computer Engineering degrees. We review all applicants together, so both majors are equally competitive. The vast majority of our students now enter as Freshman directly into Computer Science or Computer Engineering. We reserve some space in our program for transfer students coming predominantly from WA state community colleges, and current UW students who have recently decided to apply to CS or CE after enrolling at UW.
Because we have multiple application cycles, many people apply more than once, and applicant numbers vary each quarter, it's very difficult to say what percent of people gets in. Although we tend to have more applicants in the autumn, the percentage of students accepted is roughly the same for both autumn and spring quarter.
When are applications due for Current UW students?
Current UW students may apply after completing all prereqs. We admit students through this process twice per year. The application deadlines are July 1 for the autumn quarter and January 15th for the spring quarter. The Allen School accepts transfer students for admission during the autumn and spring quarters. All transfer applicants applying for admission to the Allen School will need to submit an application to the UW Office of Admissions for transfer as well as a supplemental departmental application by the deadlines listed on our website.
Is there a minimum GPA for an application to be considered?
No. There is no minimum GPA to apply, and no automatic admission or denial based on GPA. We do not rank applicants by their grades, nor do we automatically disqualify an applicant with lower grades. Every student who has met the application requirements is considered.
Higher grades, and a strong academic record overall, generally improve a student's probability of admission. However, since we receive a large number of qualified applicants for a fixed number of spaces, we are often not able to offer admission to everyone who is qualified.
What weights are attached to grades, work experience, essay, and other application details?
We don't assign specific points to each of these things. We look at each application as a whole and attempt to assess the individual qualities of each applicant. In response to the questions we receive about how admissions decisions are made, we provide an application review process page that gives details on the factors considered in admissions decisions. This page also provides suggestions for the personal statement.
How will my credits transfer from X university or community college?
Students attending a Washington State community college can access UW Admission's equivalency guide online to determine how their courses will transfer. Students transferring from a four-year university or any school outside of Washington will have their courses evaluated by the Admissions Office after being admitted to the UW. If you are applying to the major before your transfer credits have been evaluated, you may be asked to include supplemental material with your departmental application, so we have a better understanding of your preparation for our program.
If I am not admitted the first time I apply, can I apply again?
Yes. Students may apply more than once before they are admitted to the major. However, we encourage all students to explore other majors to determine a "back-up plan" in case they are not admitted to the Allen School. Please also speak with aan Allen School adviser before reapplying, if you have questions about admissions.
Does the Allen School have any special admission programs for minority or female students?
No. All applicants are reviewed and admitted on the same standards. It is illegal to consider race or gender in any admissions or hiring decisions for any program at any public school in Washington. There is no preferance given to anyone based on race or gender.
The Allen School offers targeted recruiting and support opportunities for certain groups of students, to help ensure students from all backgrounds are aware of our program and feel welcome. We strongly believe in the educational value of bringing together capable students from a variety of backgrounds, so we make special effort to encourage underrepresented students, such as those from minority backgrounds and women, to become aware of what we offer and what each of them, as individuals, can offer the field of computer science.
What if I already have a bachelor's degree in another discipline?
Postbaccalaureate admission to the UW is limited, because the University's primary commitment is to undergraduates completing their first bachelor's degree. However, the Allen School does cnot onsider postbac applicants. Prospective postbac students should contact an Allen School adviser to discuss their options.
Can an applicant who has been offered admission defer admission?
Due to the high demand for the Allen School programs, admission is offered only for the quarter for which the student applied. Students may not defer their admission, or save a space in the department while not taking CSE courses.
Can a student attend part-time?
We offer a full-time, daytime program. Students admitted to the program should plan on pursuing the degree on a full-time basis. Some exceptions may be considered for extenuating circumstances.
What is the difference between Computer Science and Computer Engineering?
In our department, the difference between these majors is really just which courses are required. CS is a major within the UW's College of Arts and Sciences, so it has broader liberal-arts general education requirements and more flexible upper-division requirements. Computer Engineering is a major within the UW's College of Engineering, so it's requirements are more focused and some hardware courses. A computer engineering degree teaches you to design within constraints and from the inside of the computer up through the software.
Prerequisites differ slightly, but the application and admissions standards are the same for both majors. Admitted students can switch their major with the department easily. Students in both majors have access to nearly all the same departmental and UW resources.
Does the Allen School offer any scholarships?
Yes, we have a limited number of scholarships available to current majors.
Do undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in research?
Yes. Many undergraduates become involved in faculty research, either to complete honors requirements or for their own personal enrichment. Research experience is strongly recommended for students considering graduate school. The department also encourages students to participate in other activities that will give them experiences not found in the classroom. This includes co-ops and internships, study abroad, part-time employment, etc.
I'm not yet admitted to the Allen School, but I'm done with the prerequisites and I register for courses before admissions decisions are posted. Can I start taking 300-level CSE courses?
You can't register for any 300-level CSE majors requirements until you're admitted to the department. (In special cases, we make exceptions -- see the second paragraph of the next question.) If you've completed all the prereqs and aren't yet in the major, you should register for a full schedule of non-CSE classes. After students are admitted, we'll help new majors get into major's classes. Some non-CSE courses to consider:
- Math 208
- Physics 122 (or another approved class for your remaining CS or CE science courses)
- Stat/Math 390 (or Stat 394, then 395 a later quarter)
- For CS, foreign language or additional credits of VLPA and I&S (if you still need them).
- For CE, ENGR 231, another 10 credits of approved science beyond the Physics 121 and 122, and EE 215.
- Courses toward a another major (your back-up plan!), or a double major or a minor (if you're pursuing one).
Also remember you can contact an Allen School adviser to discuss your specific plan.
How can I take a CSE class if I am not a major?
We offer a number of non-majors courses open to all UW students outside the Allen School majors. Students not enrolled in a degree program at the UW are non-matriculated, or non-degree, students. Generally, non-majors courses have space for non-matriculated students, but matriculated UW students have priority over non-matriculated students. Information on taking courses as a non-matriculated student can be found on the UW Non-degree Enrollment web page and at the bottom of our non-majors page.
We also allow students to petition to take a major's course, but as this page explains, this option is very limited. We only allow students to take a major's course if there's a clear reason to take the course (such as a specific recommendation by the admissions committee) and they've shown strong enough academic preparation to ensure they'll do well in the course (grades in related courses should be comparable to grades of students admitted to CSE). Please speak with an Allen School adviser before petitioning.
Does the Allen School offer a program in Computer Animation?
We offer some coursework in computer animation. These are generally open to UW students only, and are usually made up of computer science or computer engineering, art, music and architecture majors who are admitted by application. For information about programs in Animation outside the UW, try searching larger web sites such as the Collegeboard.
Direct Admission Program
What is the Direct Admission (DA) program?
We enroll the majority of our computer science and computer engineering incoming class directly out of high school. Freshmen applicants to the University of Washington listing computer science and computer engineering as their intended major will be considered automatically. Competitive applicants will have taken or be taking calculus. Physics is the preferred high school laboratory science course.
What do I do to apply for Direct Admission?
File an Application for Freshman Admissions with the UW Office of Admissions and indicate your intended major as CS or CE. There is no further application for DA.
Is there a minimum grade point average for an application to be considered?
Competitive applicants generally have a high school GPA of 3.8 or above.
Do you expect students to have computing experience in high school?
We do not expect high school applicants to have any computing experience. Computer science and engineering is an intellectual challenge first and foremost, and so we look for those students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership. In particular, we look for students who excel in math and the sciences (especially physics), and also in English and other writing/communications courses.
What happens if I am not offered admission through the Direct Admission Program?
If you are not offered Direct Admission, it is not an indication of your ability to excel in this discipline. Instead, it is an indication of the small number of students to whom we are able to offer direct admission.
How does the department feel about students who want to pursue a second major?
One of the great advantages of a large research institution like the UW is that there is an enormous amount of collaboration among departments and an incredibly wide range of subjects offered. It is very important to us that our students are able to explore subjects outside of the department. Many of our undergraduates pursue more than one major or degree program or seek minors in other disciplines.
What if I am offered DA admission, but then get to the UW and find I prefer a different major?
At no time are you “locked in” to this degree program. Once DA students arrive at the UW, we realize that they may find their interests are in a different area. Offering students the flexibility to follow their true educational paths is a priority to us. We anticipate that DA students, like all students at the University, will spend their first year or two exploring all that the university has to offer.