The University of Washington values all forms of learning. Homeschooled students bring myriad unique qualities to our campus, and we welcome their interest in the UW. The Office of Admissions provides the following guidelines to assist homeschooled applicants in becoming eligible for admission consideration.
Core Subject Requirements
All freshman and transfer applicants are required to meet minimum high school core subject requirements as set by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board and the faculty of the University of Washington. These requirements are explained in detail elsewhere on the Web.
Required Documents
Homeschooled applicants must present a homeschool transcript that includes course titles of each subject studied, duration of study, a short description of content, and grade or assessment of performance. Preferably, courses completed at home would adhere to a nationally recognized homeschooled curriculum.
Homeschool course work must also be validated in the four core subject areas listed below. (No testing is required for social studies or arts.) Homeschooled applicants must submit official test scores for validation:
| Subject | Validation |
|---|---|
| English | Covered by SAT or ACT with Writing |
| Mathematics | Covered by SAT or ACT with Writing |
| Science | Covered by ACT subscore. If using SAT for admission, further validation is required.* Only one exam—in chemistry, biology, or physics—is required. |
| Foreign Language | Further validation required* |
*The following scores provide such validation:
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT subscores
- Advanced Placement exams
- International Baccalaureate exams
All test scores must be received by the January 15 freshman closing date.
Please note:
- The UW cannot provide minimum required scores, as each homeschooled applicant presents a unique case. Each applicant is assessed holistically in the context of a comprehensive record.
- Core subjects completed at a local college or high school do not require further validation; however, official transcripts are required.
Other Admission Criteria
Scores from the ACT or SAT are required of all applicants.
Homeschooled students who take courses such as science or foreign language at a high school will have a transcript. For those who do not provide graded course work completed at a high school, greater weight will be placed on scores from college admission tests and on the Writing Section.
Recommendations from private instructors or tutors are helpful when accompanied by a description of the writer’s professional qualifications. Portfolios are not required.
Dual-Credit Programs
Many homeschooled applicants choose to enroll in dual-credit programs (such as Running Start and college in the high school) as a substitute for Advanced Placement, honors, and other high school programs. For those pursuing this option, the following tips may prove helpful:
- Use the Freshman application.
- Applicants for autumn or summer quarters must apply by the January 15 freshman closing date, regardless of the number of college credits they have or will have taken.
- The UW grants full transfer credit for dual-credit course work if it is college-level, recorded on a college transcript, and satisfies UW transfer credit policies, as specified under Transfer Credit Policies.
Transfer Students
Please note that dates, deadlines, and requirements may differ for transfer students. For complete information, consult information about transfer admission.
Advising and Orientation
First Year Programs coordinates Advising and Orientation, Freshman Interest Groups, Freshman Seminars, and many other opportunities for first-year students, all of which may be especially useful to homeschooled applicants.
