How to prepare and other frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for admission to the A&A department?
During the first two years of college, take the required courses in mathematics, sciences, and other fields. See A&A Undergraduate Admissions Prerequisites.
When should I see an advisor?
You should see an advisor in the department you are intending to major in as soon as you can in your academic career. This will allow you to hear directly from the department what requirements are needed or learn about any changes that might be coming up in the near future. A&A's Undergraduate Advisor is Marlo Anderson.
During New Student Orientation you might have attended a group session for a group of like departments but it does not replace meeting with the specific departmental advisor.
What are the requirements for Early Admission?
Early admission is for freshman completing their first year in college plus specific prerequisites courses. See complete information for Early Admission eligibility and prerequisites.
What are the advantages of applying for Early Admission?
Students get the admission process done quickly and are immediately in the department they want to pursue. During the second year, many new topics are introduced and students feel some of the pressure is taken off by applying for Early Admission before they start taking courses in new areas.
What is the disadvantage of applying for Early Admission?
There is not any real disadvantage of applying for Early Admission. In some cases students will apply for Early Admission to multiple departments and not be offered their first choice. In that case, I recommend that the student hold off in accepting an Early offer from a department that they are unsure about and encourage them to complete the second year coursework and learn more about the majors, and then apply to one that they would be happy studying.
What happens if I apply for Early Admission after my first year and don’t get in, will it have any impact on my Upper Division Admission application the following year?
Early Admission is highly competitive because we only use six courses to determine if you will be successful in completing the program. If you apply for Early Admission and are not offered admission you can reapply the following year without any negative impact.
What if I apply for Upper Division Admissions and I don’t get in, what then?
If you have been meeting with an advisor on a regular basis they will usually be straight forward with you and tell you your general chances of admission based on previous years applicants. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan that doesn’t include a competitive admission process. Good choices for backup plans would be majors that require many of the same courses.
Can I do a double major or degree within the College of Engineering?
The departments in the College of Engineering do not have double majors. The only option is to earn a double degree which requires 225 credits instead of the normal 180 credits.
In the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, we require students to complete all the required course work in sequence as shown on our schedules, and to maintain satisfactory progress. We are a small department and offer our courses only once a year in the quarter shown, so once you start the program you must complete all the required courses each year.
What is the difference between a co-op program and an internship?
A co-op is usually 6 months long and requires you to be registered for 2 credits per quarter (excluding summer) through the Engineering Co-Op office to hold your place at the UW. You are generally required to give a presentation upon your return. Sometimes you will do six months on co-op and then come back to school for a quarter or more and then go back and participate in the co-op program again this time for only about three months. The NASA co-op program requires a number of returns.
An internship usually is only three months long.
How do I find out more about the Co-Op program?
Undergraduate Program Contact
Marlo Anderson
Manager, Undergraduate Programs
marlo@aa.washington.edu
(206) 616-1115