Frequently Asked Questions

On this page:
Course Fee
Course Credit
EFS and Advising & Registration
Student ID
U-PASS Bus Pass
Parking on Campus
Intramural Activities (IMA) Membership
Financial Aid
Student Health Insurance
New International Students
English Language Proficiency
Housing
Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation

Course Fee

How much does an Early Fall Start course cost?
With the exception of the Exploration Seminars, the fee for an Early Fall Start course is $995.00 for all students, regardless of whether you are classified as a resident or non-resident student for tuition purposes. The $995.00 fee includes a non-refundable $100 enrollment fee. The fee for Exploration Seminars varies from course to course--consult the Program Description page of the Exploration Seminar website for specific fee information. Early Fall Start is considered part of autumn quarter for credit purposes. This means that your Early Fall Start course will appear on your autumn quarter schedule along with the rest of your autumn quarter courses. The fee ($995) is in addition to your regular autumn quarter tuition. Payment for this fee will be due when you register for your Early Fall Start course. If you register and pay for a course but then do not attend autumn quarter, you will receive credit for the course if you complete it successfully.

Course Credit

When do I get credit for this course?
The Early Fall Start program allows you to take a course before regular classes begin. Since this course is considered part of autumn quarter, it will appear on your autumn schedule and you will receive credit for the course at the end of autumn quarter.

How many credits can I take between Early Fall Start and autumn quarter?
Because you have paid an additional fee for your Early Fall Start course, you may take a 5-credit Early Fall Start course and enroll in up to 18 credits during autumn quarter without having to pay additional tuition for your autumn quarter credits. If you want to get off to a fast start you can take a 5-credit Early Fall Start course and 18 autumn quarter credits and end up with 23 credits at the end of autumn quarter. If you would like to take things easy for autumn quarter, you could take a 5-credit Early Fall Start course and 10 credits during autumn quarter and still end up with 15 credits for the quarter.

EFS and Advising & Orientation

Can I do Advising and Orientation and Early Fall Start at the same time?
As a general rule the answer is no. Missing either one or the other is not an option. You should plan to register for an A&O session that meets before EFS begins. There are many sessions throughout the summer including one that meets August 21-22 right before EFS begins on August 25. If this is really not an option for you then you should register for an EFS class that does not meet on Friday (most classes do not meet on Friday) and register for a Thursday-Friday A&O session. A&O sessions begin around 12:30 on Thursday and end around 4:00 on Friday. All EFS classes meet in the morning. This option would allow you to attend your EFS class on Thursday morning and then attend the first A&O session on Thursday afternoon and continue on with the Friday session without missing either your class or your A&O session.

If you are an international student it is not required that you register for the international A&O session on September 15. You may register for any of the options mentioned above.

Student ID

How can I get my student ID?
Go to the Husky Card Account & ID Center located on the ground floor of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library next to the By George Café. It is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In order to obtain your ID card, you will need to have your student ID number and a state or federal issued photo identification (such as a driver's license or passport, but not high school ID) with you.

U-PASS Bus Pass

Will U-PASS bus passes be available to Early Fall Start students?
New freshmen enrolled in Early Fall Start can purchase a discounted U-Pass bus pass for $1.00 good from the day you receive it through the end of September. This special Early Fall Start U-Pass is for transit and merchant discounts only. It cannot be used to receive discounted carpool parking on campus. Your autumn quarter U-Pass will be mailed to you in mid-September and will have all the U-Pass features. To purchase your EFS U-Pass go to the Husky Card Account & ID Center next to By George on the ground floor of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. U-Passes will go on sale beginning Thursday, August 21. You will need to present your student ID to obtain your U-Pass. For details about the U-Pass program, please visit the U-Pass website.

Parking on Campus

Will parking be available on campus for Early Fall Start students?
Parking will be available for EFS students.
    Parking information for students living in Lander Hall
  • EFS move-in parking on Sunday, August 24 is free. Students bringing a vehicle and planning to leave it on campus should be aware that citations will be issued beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 25. In order to avoid citation, a valid parking permit must be displayed when parking on campus. Commuter Services is located at 3901 University Way NE and is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5 Monday through Friday. (Please note: The Permit Office will request that enforcement not ticket vehicles in west side lots prior to 12 p.m. on August 25 as a courtesy to EFS students.)
  • EFS students in Lander Hall may purchase a single occupancy vehicle short term parking permit for lots nearby Lander Hall at a cost of $4.75 per day. Students need to know a beginning date and ending date for the permit and are charged for every day within the time frame excluding weekends and holidays. Students will need to fill out an application when they come to the office or can print an application to bring in when making the purchase.
  • Payment methods include cash, check, or MC/Visa.

    Parking information for students commuting to campus each day

  • All vehicles parking on campus must display a UW permit. The main campus gatehouse is located at 45th Ave NE and 17th. Parking on main campus costs $12 before 4 p.m. and $6 after 4 p.m. Parking is issued as space is available.
  • A less expensive daily parking option for commuting students is the E1 lot located on Montlake Ave NE. The cost is $6.00 cash upon entry.
  • EFS commuting students also have the option to purchase a single occupancy vehicle short term parking permit for centrally located student lots at a cost of $4.75 per day. Students need to know a beginning date and ending date for the permit and are charged for every day within that time frame excluding weekends and holidays. Students will need to fill out an application when they come to the office or can print an application to bring in when making the purchase.
  • Payment methods include cash, check, or MC/Visa.

Intramural Activities (IMA) Pass

Will I be able to use the IMA?
Early Fall Start participants can purchase a multi-use pass for the IMA for $52.27 that allows unlimited use of the facility during the Early Fall Start period. You may also purchase a daily use pass for $4.36 a visit. You will need to present your student ID when you purchase your pass. Be sure to tell them you are an Early Fall Start student. Once you receive your autumn quarter registration sticker (mailed mid-September) which you affix to your student ID card, you can use the IMA without an additional charge.

Financial Aid

Will financial aid cover the added expenses of Early Fall Start?
If you have applied for, and been awarded financial aid for the coming academic year, you may file a revision request with the Financial Aid Office showing the increased costs arising from your participation in Early Fall Start. The form is available from the Financial Aid Office, 105 Schmitz Hall or on the web. If you are interested in an Early Fall Start Exploration seminar, please visit the Exploration Seminar financial aid information page for details. When the Financial Aid Office receives your form they will determine if they can add additional money (most likely student or parent loans) to your financial aid award.

Student Health Insurance

Will the student health insurance I have purchased for autumn quarter cover any medical expenses I might incur during Early Fall Start?
If you are a new freshman and have purchased student health insurance when you registered for your autumn quarter classes, your health insurance does not take effect until September 22nd. This means that you will NOT be covered by student health insurance during Early Fall Start. You may, of course, be covered under a family policy, or you may purchase short-term health insurance from a company selling such policies. If you are a current student and have purchased annual health insurance, you will have health coverage for Early Fall Start.

Health insurance information for international students.
All international students are required to have health insurance while they are in the US and must purchase the University of Washington's Accident and Sickness Plan. You need to be aware that coverage under this plan does not begin until September 22. If you are participating in Early Fall Start you will need to purchase short-term health insurance from a company selling such policies that will cover you from the time you arrive in the U.S. until your student health insurance takes effect on September 22.

New International Students for Autumn Quarter

How do regulations that apply to international students affect my ability to register for an Early Fall Start course?
International students should register for an Early Fall Start class in the regular way through UW Educational Outreach. While you can register and pay for your course now, thus guaranteeing you a space in the course, it will not appear on your official UW autumn quarter schedule until after you arrive in the U.S. and meet with an adviser in the Office of International Students and Scholars, 459 Schmitz Hall.

University offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday so if you are unable to check in with the ISS office before your first class meeting, attend your class on the first day and then check in after your class. There will be a special check-in for EFS international students on Monday, August 25, at 3:00 p.m. in 459 Schmitz Hall. Please check the ISS website for other scheduled check-in times. After you check in you should send an email message to uweoreg@extn.washington.edu to let us know that you have been cleared for registration so you can be added to the official class list.

If you choose to participate in an Early Fall Start program and you will be entering the U.S. for the first time, please be aware that U.S. immigration policy will not allow you to enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date listed on your immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019). The start date for ALL new international students is September 11, which means you will not be able to enter the U.S. before August 12. This is well before the beginning of Early Fall Start on August 25. Please make your travel plans accordingly and note that Early Fall Start students cannot move into a residence hall until Sunday, August 24.

Health insurance information for international students.
All international students are required to have health insurance while they are in the US and must purchase the University of Washington's Accident and Sickness Plan. You need to be aware that coverage under this plan does not begin until September 22. If you are participating in Early Fall Start you will need to purchase short-term health insurance from a company selling such policies that will cover you from the time you arrive in the U.S. until your student health insurance takes effect on September 22.

English Language Proficiency

Can I take an Early Fall Start course if I have an English language proficiency requirement?
Yes, you can take an Early Fall Start course if you also have an English language proficiency requirement to fulfill. At the UW, English language courses are part of the Academic English Program and are known as AEP courses.

You should register for an Early Fall Start class in the regular way through UW Educational Outreach. While you can register and pay for your course now, thus guaranteeing you a space in the course, we cannot add your Early Fall Start course to your official UW autumn quarter schedule until after you register for an AEP course. To facilitate your registration in your Early Fall Start course, you should register for an AEP class before Early Fall Start begins. Using web registration and the on-line TimeSchedule you should register for ENGL 100. Your AEP course will meet during the regular autumn quarter beginning September 24th. AEP courses are not offered during Early Fall Start.

Before you come to campus for Early Fall Start, you can contact the Office of Educational Assessment (206.543.1170) to make arrangements for a test of your English language proficiency (AEP Diagnostic Examination). Students can pre-register to take the test any time after they are accepted by the UW. If the test shows you do not need an AEP course, then you will be dropped from your ENGL 100 course. If the test shows you need to be placed in a different AEP class, you will be moved to the appropriate AEP class.

By registering for an AEP course, you are also eligible to take the optional AEP Preliminary Examination for that course on September 24. This examination is a second chance to test your knowledge of the course material. If you score high enough on the AEP Preliminary Examination you will be moved to the next course in the series. If you have questions you may contact the Academic English Program at 206.543.6242.

Housing

Will housing in the residence halls be available?
Housing for new freshmen enrolled in Early Fall Start will be available in Lander Hall for students with confirmed housing in the residence halls for autumn quarter. Housing is not available in the residence halls for the Early Fall Start period only. In order to be eligible for Early Fall Start housing you must also register for an Early Fall Start course. Students will be assigned to double or triple rooms, and may request a specific roommate.
The rates for Early Fall Start 2008 are:
Room Type Room Dining Husky Card Account Total
Double $500 $350 $35 $885
Triple $400 $350 $35 $785

Housing and Food Services (HFS) expects to have space available for all students who apply for Early Fall Start housing. To ensure that HFS can provide you a space for Early Fall Start, please submit the application by July 1, 2008.

If you apply for housing by July 1 for both Early Fall Start and 2008-09 Academic Year:

  • You will be assigned to the same room in Lander Hall for both periods.
  • In mid-July, you will have an opportunity to participate in an online room selection process, during which time you may choose a different room for 2008-09 Academic Year. If you are eligible for and would like to live in one of the Special Interest Communities or in a different hall, this will be your opportunity to select that area.
  • If during the online room selection process you choose to select a different room for the 2008-09 Academic Year, you will be required to move from your Early Fall Start room to your academic year room on Sunday, September 14. Please note that this move will take place during the Early Fall Start term.

If you apply after July 1, you will likely be assigned to a triple room for Early Fall Start.

  • Your 2008-09 Academic Year room assignment will be made following the online room selection process.
  • You may be assigned to a different room for the academic year.
  • We will attempt to honor your Special Interest Community, hall and mutual roommate requests for the academic year.

If for any reason you are assigned to a different room for Early Fall Start than for the academic year, you will be required to move from your Early Fall Start room to your academic year room on Sunday, September 14, 2008. Please note that this is the Sunday of the week before Early Fall Start ends.

HFS will begin sending Early Fall Start assignment information in late July.

Throughout the year, HFS will be sending correspondence to residents via their UW email account. Please check your UW email account regularly.

The earliest you may move into your Early Fall Start room is Sunday, August 24th. To apply for Early Fall Start housing, visit the Housing and Food Services webpage. The Early Fall Start and 2008-09 Academic Year housing applications will be available beginning at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 31.

If you have questions, or need additional information about housing for Early Fall Start, please contact Housing and Food Services directly at 206-543-4059 or hfsinfo@u.washington.edu.

Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation

The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.

The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation please contact the Disability Resources for Students Office (Seattle Campus) at 206-543-8924 (voice), 206-543-8925 (TTY), 206-616-8379 (fax), or e-mail at uwdss@u.washington.edu.

More Questions? Email us at efs@u.washington.edu.