What's needed to transfer from Bellevue College to the University of Washington?

I'm a current student at Bellevue College and planning to transfer to the University of Washington. What are the general application requirements or advice for students like me? Any insider tips would be really appreciated!

In order to transfer from Bellevue College to the University of Washington (UW), there are several steps and requirements you would need to take into consideration.

Firstly, you need to understand the application deadline, which varies depending on your intended major. Most departments at UW have their application deadlines for Autumn quarter usually around February.

You should ideally have completed 90 transferrable quarter credits from Bellevue by the time you attend UW. The minimum cumulative GPA varies by major and it's highly competitive, so aim for a high GPA. For some popular majors, like Engineering or Computer Science, achieving a high GPA, particularly in prerequisite courses, is very important.

You should also review the specific course prerequisites for your intended major. Different majors have different course prerequisites and it is your responsibility to ensure that you’ve completed the necessary courses at Bellevue College. Use the UW’s 'Transfer Planning Guide' by Major and Bellevue’s 'Transfer Guides' to help plan your schedule.

Furthermore, UW is a selective university and the admissions office looks for evidence of your readiness to handle rigorous academic work. Thus, students typically should have completed a solid foundation of college level coursework with strong grades, particularly in English Composition and Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning courses.

For the application itself, UW uses its own application, and not the Common Application. There will also be an application fee.

The application will also ask you for a personal statement and an additional comments essay. The personal statement should talk about your personal, educational, and professional background, while the additional comments section gives you the opportunity to explain anything unusual or unique about your educational history.

Remember, transferring is not just about meeting the minimum requirements, but also about showing that you are a good fit for the major and the university. Don't forget to include any extracurricular activities or volunteer work that you are involved in, and explain how these experiences have shaped you as a student.

Finally, it's a good idea to meet with an academic advisor from Bellevue College and potentially with one from the UW as well. They can provide you with more personalized guidance based on your specific situation. They could help ensure that you’re on track with your courses, understand all the requirements, and can answer any questions you may have about the transfer process.

Good luck with your transfer process!