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The First-Year Checklist outlines to-do items related to topics here, such as:

  • Create a plan to build your college study skills
  • Know the tutoring spaces on campus
  • Check the course reserves for textbooks
  • Read the UW-IT Quick-Start Guide
  • Learn about UW Libraries resources
  • Review the Office of Undergraduate Research resources
  • Transfer your Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504
  • Review the UW Equivalency Guide Review credits for exams (AP, IB, A-Level)
  • Check your degree audit
  • Visit the Student Technology Loan Program

Finding academic support

Academic success includes reaching out for support early in your first year. Below are common support areas most UW students connect with early on. academicsupport.uw.edu

Academic Coaching

Meet with peer academic success coaches who provide support to develop study strategies and work with you to create a personalized plan for your academic goals.

Tutoring

The Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE) provides drop-in tutoring and exam reviews for specific subjects facilitated by peer tutors. Connect with peers in these programs and ask questions in a supportive environment.

Writing Centers

Receive individual support at any stage of the writing process, including technical and career writing. Peer writing tutors are available at the Odegaard Writing & Research Center.

Study Centers

Informal study spaces for specific subject areas. These spaces can include support from teaching assistants, departmental advisers, and peers. Explore all the study centers on campus: fyp.uw.edu/hgcenters

Maintaining academic integrity

COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND STUDENT CONDUCT

  • Take pride in doing your own work. You worked hard to be here, and we believe in you and your capabilities to be academically successful.
  • Make a plan that allows ample time for all your assignments, studying and exams. This helps ensure that the pressure of deadlines does not lead you to engage in cheating.
  • Check your syllabus for specifics on what your instructor expects of you. There may be expectations that one class has and another does not.
  • Learn how to be a successful Husky and make a positive impact at the UW by reviewing the Student Conduct Code. fyp.uw.edu/hgcodeofconduct

Artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, can offer opportunities for learning. Also, its use could be misconduct. Check with your professor about appropriate AI use.

Connect with academic advising

As you prepare to meet advisers and register for classes at your Advising & Orientation session, consider the following: 

Freshman

  • Learn about General Education and why it is important. fyp.uw.edu/hggened
  • Ask yourself: How can I be intentional and flexible about my course choices?
  • Ask yourself: How can I use my first quarter courses to explore my interests both inside and outside the classroom?
  • Practice using course registration and planning tools such as MyUW, Register.UW, and DARS.
  • Learn how to identify prerequisite coursework for majors. fyp.uw.edu/hgchooseamajor
  • Review student evaluations in the course evaluation catalog. uw.edu/cec
  • Be strategic about planning your course schedule; discover interesting courses and majors. dawgpath.uw.edu 
  • Looking for more guidance? Check out the first-year advising guide for tips on how to navigate your first year. advising.uw.edu/guides/first-year

Transfer

  • Learn the requirements for your intended major(s) and understand the department application/declaration process.
  • Check to see if all your credits have transferred from your previous institution.
  • To understand how the credits from your previous institution apply toward your UW degree, run a degree audit (DARS). uw.edu/students/reg/dars
  • Ask your academic adviser how the Satisfactory Progress Policy will impact your timeline.fyp.uw.edu/hgsatprog
  • Plan for first quarter registration and ensure you have a balanced schedule and are registering for the courses you need.
  • Looking for more guidance? Check out the transfer student advising guide for tips on how to navigate your first year. advising.uw.edu/guides/transfer

Accessing your student records

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS & PRIVACY ACT

FERPA is a federal law that governs the use of student educational records. Students have full access to their academic records by logging into their MyUW account, but access is limited or restricted to others, including parents and family members. registrar.washington.edu/students/ferpa

The following offices have individual processes to authorize users to view student information:

Disability resources

Disability Resources for Students (DRS): Helps students find disability-related accommodations. Mary Gates Hall 011 | fyp.uw.edu/hgdrs

Disability and D/deaf Cultural Center (D Center): A space where students can foster community at the UW and beyond. HUB 327 | fyp.uw.edu/hgdcenter

Bringing credit into the UW

Generally, college-level credit brought into the UW will contribute to the 180 credits required for graduation. The following tools and information will help you understand how your credit will count toward your degree.

A student’s class standing is determined by the total number of transfer credits awarded by the UW, not by the number of years of college study or by the completion of an associate degree.

FRESHMAN = 0-44 CREDITS
SOPHOMORE = 45-89 CREDITS
JUNIOR = 90-134 CREDITS
SENIOR = 135+ CREDITS

Interpreting course equivalencies

Specific equivalency 

Many transfer courses are listed with a specific UW course equivalency and are found at the top of your unofficial UW transcript.

Example: BIO A 201 (5)

The community college course is offered for five credits and is designated as equivalent to a specific UW course, BIO A 201, which is also offered for five credits. The course meets the Natural Sciences (NSc) component of UW graduation requirements.

Not a specific equivalency

A 1XX or 2XX instead of a course number indicates that the course credit transfers but is not equivalent to a specific course at the UW. 1XX indicates transfer courses offered at the 100 level; 2XX indicates courses offered at the 200 level. 

UW 1XX OR 2XX: Means that the course does not correspond directly to a department at the UW but may be used toward general graduation requirements. 

DEPARTMENTAL 1XX OR 2XX: Indicates content is not equivalent to a specific UW course but corresponds to a specific UW program.

Example: UW 1XX

The course is considered an interdepartmental course, as the UW does not have an equivalent department. The course is assigned the generic UW 1XX equivalency and may be used toward general graduation requirements as appropriate. 

Example: BIOL 2XX

Content is not equivalent to a specific UW course but does generally correspond to a specific UW program. In this case, the biology program accepts the course for credit.

Courses taken as part of a sequence 

In some cases, you must complete an entire sequence of courses at your transfer institution to be awarded specific UW course equivalencies. If only one or two courses are completed, then the credit is usually awarded as departmental 1XX or 2XX.

Example: CHEM 152,162 (5,6) if both courses taken; otherwise, CHEM 1XX 

In this example, both chemistry courses must be completed to earn the UW equivalencies; if only one or two courses are completed, then the credit is usually awarded as departmental 1XX or 2XX.

Are you missing credits?

If you have college credit that you don’t see on your unofficial transcript in your MyUW portal please review the following steps:

Did you have your official documents sent to UW Admissions?

Yes

Wait for UW admissions to evaluate your credits.

Still missing credits? You may need an override to register for the next course in the sequence. Speak to your academic adviser during your Advising & Orientation session.

No

Send your official documents to UW admissions ASAP! 

University of Washington
Office of Admissions
Box 355852
Seattle, WA 98195-5852

Academic technology

ESSENTIAL SITES

my.uw.edu
MyUW is the front portal of University of Washington for anybody with a UW NetID. Access the web resources you need to fulfill your goals at the university.

register.uw
Register.UW helps you create an academic plan for next quarter, next year, or all the way to graduation; audit your progress; discover which courses you may need to complete your degree; and share plans with your adviser.

dawgpath.uw.edu
DawgPath is a web application that can help you manage your course load, discover interesting courses and majors, and connect with your adviser. Additionally, the tool helps you determine how competitive you are for a capacity-constrained major and helps you better navigate your path to a degree once you declare a major.

mobile.uw.edu
Mobile UW brings the mobile apps for a wide range of UW services to your fingertips.

washington.edu/calendar
The UW Event Calendar shows listings for events, performances, lectures, exhibits and more on all three campuses.

notify.uw.edu
Notify.UW sends notifications about course availability. Subscribe to courses you are interested in and choose to be notified via email and/or SMS text message when a seat opens up.

LEARNING TOOLS

canvas.uw.edu
Canvas is the official learning-management system of the UW, used in many UW courses.

uw.hosted.panopto.com
Panopto is the UW-IT-supported lecture-capture solution, allowing for easy recording and viewing of videos from courses, lectures and presentations.

polleverywhere.com
Poll Everywhere brings interactive learning to UW classes, and is the official audience-response system of the UW.

stlp.uw.edu
The Student Technology Loan Program allows you to borrow laptops, tablets, audiovisual tools and accessories for free.

GET CONNECTED

fyp.uw.edu/hggetconnected
Wireless internet access is available throughout most buildings on campus and some outdoor areas around campus. Wired internet access is available in all residence rooms, and Husky OnNet provides a secure temporary connection to the UW network from off campus.

itconnect.uw.edu/uware
Download essential software from UW-IT’s software catalog and discover online productivity tools available to empower your academic career.

itconnect.uw.edu/email
You have two basic options for email: Forward UW email to a personal email inbox, or use an email service offered through the UW, either UW Gmail or UW Exchange Online.

scout.uw.edu
Scout helps students at the University of Washington find campus study spaces, places to eat on campus, and tech items that meet specific criteria.


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