Transition School
Note for Prospective TS Students: Application materials for the incoming class of 2013 are available now! See below for scheduled ACT dates.
The Transition School is a one-year academic program that enables students to move from their traditional middle-school setting to the University of Washington with the skills and maturity needed to earn a university education.
A class of sixteen students enters the Transition School (TS) each year. It is recommended that students apply during their 7th and 8th grade year, so that they will have the necessary basic academic skills in place. In order to be considered in the first round of applicants, students must not turn 15 before September 1 of the academic year they will enter TS.
TS students take a set of courses for their first academic year as preparation for entrance into the University of Washington. These courses include: English, History, Physics, Precalculus and Ethics (click to view syllabi). While these classes do not replicate a high school curriculum, they are intended to prepare students to succeed at the University. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of study skills and core subject matter. The unique setting of a one-room schoolhouse within a large university provides frequent opportunities for individual attention from the faculty, developing strong friendships and exploring the resources of the University. Students also meet with faculty weekly in a one-on-one tutorial.
The Transition School’s small, rigorous and challenging classes are taught by an experienced faculty and offer students the chance to stretch their minds and develop more advanced conceptual, verbal, scientific and mathematical skills. The homework load is, on average, five hours a night. Assessment is via narrative progress reports that are sent home to the parents twice during the quarter. There is also an opportunity to look beyond TS during Spring Quarter, when students not only take a University course of their choosing but also participate in community service.
For more information about Transition School, please read our Handbook.
Admissions Timeline
Early Decision application due* – February 10, 2013
General application due** – March 22, 2013
Early Decisions mailed – March 22, 2013
All other decisions mailed – June 14, 2013
*Applicant MUST provide reason for requesting Early Decision; not all such applications are accepted. Financial hardship (non-refundable deposits at other schools to which the applicant has applied, for example) is the most commonly accepted reason for Early Decision.
**Applications are not considered complete unless the following are included:
• Online application
• Non-refundable $75 application fee
• School transcripts for two years
• ACT scores
• Two teacher recommendations (we will send your recommenders our form).
ACT Information
- The applicant may take either the national ACT exam or the I-ACT, offered here on campus. The Writing portion of the test is not required. The ACT and I-ACT are identical; the only difference is that you must sign up for the ACT via the national website (http://www.actstudent.org) and there is a narrow range of dates available, whereas the I-ACT is offered by the University of Washington’s Office of Educational Assessment (206-543-1171).
- If taking the national ACT, please enter the number 481174 for the HIGH SCHOOL code so that we will receive your scores. Dates for ACT include: December 8, 2012 (register by November 2) and February 9, 2013 (register by January 11).
- If taking the I-ACT, please identify yourself as a Transition School applicant when making your appointment.
- I-ACT Testing Dates: February 7, 2013, March 12, 2013, March 21, 2013, and April 18, 2013. There is a $60 testing fee. The I-ACT is only for the purpose of application to TS/UW.
General TS Information
- Student must not be older than 14 as of August 31, 2013 (birthday of 9/1/98 or after).
- Financial aid is available (decisions are made after the entire TS class is chosen).
- Public, private, and homeschooled students are welcome!
- Student (with parents) must reside in the Puget Sound metro area during the Transition School year.