Academy for Young Scholars
The UW Academy is the premier early university entrance program for high school students in Washington State. A small cohort of up to thirty-five academically advanced and highly motivated students are admitted to the UW Academy each year. Students apply to the UW Academy during their 10th grade year, and if accepted, withdraw from high school at the end of 10th grade to enroll as freshmen at the University of Washington.
"The UW Academy provides a unique gateway into one of the nation's premier research universities. For Washington's brightest young scholars, it is an opportunity not to be missed."
- Mark Emmert, President, University of Washington
UW Academy students are directly admitted into the UW Honors Program, which offers the personalization of a small liberal arts college in a midst of a major research university. Students in the Honors Program fulfill their UW general education requirements through the Honors core curriculum and complete Departmental Honors. The Honors core curriculum is interdisciplinary, flexible, and incorporates an international perspective in addition to emphasizing critical problem solving, energetic discussion, and demanding reading and writing.
Academy Students' First Year
Students enter the UW Academy through the Bridge Program, which is designed to ease the transition from 10th grade to college. Bridge begins with Academy Camp, an overnight adventure in mid September where students meet one another, UW Academy staff, and the professors for their Bridge Courses. The Bridge Courses are required for incoming Academy students. They are comprised of an Honors seminar designed specially for Academy students and an English composition course that is linked to the seminar. The Bridge Courses are held for a week in late September and continue through Autumn Quarter. In addition to the Bridge Courses, Academy students enroll in general UW courses and Honors Program courses beginning their first quarter at the UW. During Winter Quarter, students have the option of taking a seminar instructed by the Robinson Center's Academic Counselor where they explore majors, meet departmental advisors, and learn about campus resource centers and opportunities, including undergraduate research and foreign study. The UW Academy also offers social programming to encourage community.
Admission
Admission to the UW Academy is competitive. We are looking for students who love to learn, who actively seek out academimic challenges, and who have the personal motivation to succeed at university two years early. Selection for the program is based on ACT scores, high school transcripts, required essays, and teacher recommendations. All applicants must take the ACT exam with Writing. Students planning on applying to the UW Academy should register for the ACT exam the fall of 10th grade. Applications are available in October and due in early March. Offers of admission are made in early April. Applicants must be Washington State residents to be considered for admission to the UW Academy. Apply Now
Fees
Academy students pay regular UW tuition and fees directly to the University. Financial aid is available, but students should complete a FAFSA by mid-February to be eligible for the maximum amount of financial aid.