How to prepare and other frequently asked questions
What can I do in high school to better prepare myself for the Aeronautics and Astronautics program?
The best thing you can do is to take as many AP or IB courses in math and science areas as well as the other offerings to give yourself a head start on your classes. Since you aren’t starting your A&A coursework until after you have completed two years of prerequisites this type of curriculum will also help in gaining admission to the University of Washington. See Undergraduate Admissions Prerequisites
Does the department have scholarships for high school students?
We do not have any scholarships available specifically for high school students entering the UW. We do have a limited amount of scholarships available for students once in the department at both the junior level and the senior level. See Scholarships & Financial Aid for Undergraduates
What is Early Admission?
After your first year at the University of Washington with at least 15 credits taken in residence (that means on campus classes) and only six specific courses, students who are extremely motivated and have made their decision on which area of engineering to study can apply for Early Admission to the department.
What are the advantages of applying for Early Admission?
Students have the opportunity to complete the admission process a year earlier than the majority of other students. Admissions is based on mathematics, science and English composition courses taken during the first year. 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. See Early Admission Eligibility and Prerequisites.
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, we recommend that the student hold off accepting an Early offer from a department they are unsure about and instead, complete the second year of coursework, learn more about the majors, and then apply to the department in which they would be most 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.
Do you have a formal co-op program or requirement for the major?
There is not a formal co-op requirement for the Aeronautics & Astronautics department. Most students will participate in internships over co-ops because of the time commitments required of the co-op program and the additional time required to complete their degree requirement for graduation. See the College of Engineering's Co-Op Program
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.
Undergraduate Program Contact
Marlo Anderson
Manager, Undergraduate Programs
marlo@aa.washington.edu
(206) 616-1115