Instructions for applying with the Common App

All applicants

You must complete your Common App Profile and add the UW to your list of colleges before you can start the UW questions.

Use the College Search to find and add the UW.

Then select the UW to begin the UW questions.

You will only be able to complete one section at a time. Completion of the sections will be indicated with green check marks. Once you have completed all sections within the Common App profile as well as the UW questions, submit your application, pay the application fee and you’re done! We will contact you if we have any questions or are missing any information.

Once you have completed the Education section of the Common App Profile, you will be able to start entering high school courses in the Courses & Grades section.

Report your courses and grades listed on your high school transcript by selecting the appropriate grade level.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT report courses for grade 12 if you are currently enrolled for grade 12. Instead, report your coursework in the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile under the Education tab.

 Select the School Name, School Year, appropriate Grading Scale, appropriate Schedule for each course.

•       Choose Semesters if your school has two terms per academic year.
•       Choose Trimester if your school has three terms per academic year.
•       Choose Quarter if your school has four terms per academic year.
•       If your grading scale is not listed in the drop-down menu, please select Other.

Select the appropriate Subject, Course Name, and Course Level

•       If your Subject is not listed in the drop-down menu select subject title with other as an option, for example Math (Other).
•       Report the Course Name exactly as it is listed on your transcript.
•       Select the appropriate Course Level.

Report your final Grades exactly how they are listed on your high school transcript. Do not convert your original grades. If you did not receive a final grade, select N/A.

Enter Credits exactly how they are listed on your high school transcript. Do not convert your credits. If you did not receive a final credit, you can click the checkbox “N/A.” If you school does not provide credits, please enter 1 for an entire academic year of study or enter .5 for a half-year of study.

Review the self-reported information that you have provided.

You should apply to the UW with the first-year application when you are currently enrolled in high school and college-level courses. As long as you have not taken any college-level courses after graduating from high school, you are a first-year applicant. Running Start, UW in the High School, College in the High School or other dual enrollment classes should be entered in the Education section. Be sure you have completed the Current or Most Recent Year Courses and the Courses & Grade sections, and indicate all dual enrollment courses.

Note:

• Changes to your senior year schedule
  • If you anticipate your senior year schedule might change or you haven’t met with an adviser to make your plans, please let us know in the Additional information writing section.
• Transcripts
  • Transcripts are not required. Do not mail transcripts at this time. However, uploading an unofficial copy to your application is recommended. Also, having an unofficial copy in hand may help you complete the application.

Step 1: Reporting current courses

If you have not yet graduated high school, you will need to report your courses for the current academic year typically this is your senior or grade 12 academic year. Complete the Current or Most Recent Courses section of the Common App Profile. 

Step 2: Add high school & college information

Before you begin entering your coursework, you will need to add your high school information to the Common App Education section by selecting Find School.

If you took any classes that allowed you to earn college credit, you will also need to add your college information by selecting Colleges & Universities and Find college.

When you add the college or university, you will need to complete all other fields.

Step 2: Self-reporting courses

Once you have completed the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School and added your high school and college information to the Common App Profile, you will be able to start entering high school courses in the Courses & Grades section. 

Navigate to Courses & Grades section and select the grades you wish to report. 

When you click on a grade level to report, a pop-up window will open. Select the School Name, School Year, appropriate Grading Scale, appropriate Schedule for each course. Use your high school transcript to self-report your high school courses. You may also need to reference your college transcript for any college-level courses completed.

• Choose Semesters if your school has two terms per academic year.
• Choose Trimester if your school has three terms per academic year.
• Choose Quarter if your school has four terms per academic year.
• If your grading scale is not listed in the drop-down menu, please select Other.

Select the appropriate Subject, Course Name, and Course Level

• If your Subject is not listed in the drop-down menu select subject title with other as an option, for example Math (Other).
• Report the Course Name exactly as it is listed on your transcript.
• Select the appropriate Course Level.

For any class that was part of Running Start or other dual enrollment program. Select “Dual Enrollment” in the Course Level drop-down menu.

Pre-9th grade courses

Grade 7 and/or grade 8 are only needed when they are included on your high school transcript. Most applicants have not completed high school courses in grades 7 and 8.

Step 1: Add high school information

Before you begin entering your courses, you will need to add your high school information to the Common App Education section by selecting Find School. You do not need to list the name of the school at which you took pre-9th grade courses. Instead, use the name of the high school where you received the credit.

Step 2: Self-reporting courses

Start entering high school courses in the Courses & Grades section. Select the Other Courses selection, then indicate you have other courses on your transcript by selecting Yes.

Select the School Name where you received credit then the School Year where you took this course. For example, students applying for autumn 2026 who took coursework in 8th grade would select the School Year of 2021-22. Finally, enter the rest of the course information.

International applicants

Once you have completed the General, Academics and Contacts section, you will answer the Residency questions. This will determine your application type.

International curriculum 

Applicants studying foreign/national compulsory curriculum will self-report their yearly coursework for grades 9 -12.

Step 1: Reporting current courses

If you have not yet graduated high school, you will need to report your courses for the current academic year. Complete the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile then you will be able to start entering high school coursework in the Courses & Grades section.

Step 2: Self-reporting high school courses

Once you have completed the Education section of the Common App Profile, you will be able to start entering high school coursework in the Courses & Grades section.

Report your coursework and grades listed on your high school transcript by selecting the appropriate grade level.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT report courses for grade 12 if you are currently enrolled for grade 12. Instead, report your coursework in the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile under the Education tab.

 Select the School Name, School Year, appropriate Grading Scale, appropriate Schedule for each course.

•       Choose Semesters if your school has two terms per academic year.
•       Choose Trimester if your school has three terms per academic year.
•       Choose Quarter if your school has four terms per academic year.
•       If your grading scale is not listed in the drop-down menu, please select Other.

Select the appropriate Subject, Course Name, and Course Level

•       If your Subject is not listed in the drop-down menu select subject title with other as an option, for example Math (Other).
•       Report the Course Name exactly as it is listed on your transcript.
•       Select the appropriate Course Level.

Report your final Grades exactly how they are listed on your high school transcript. Do not convert your original grades. If you did not receive a final grade, select N/A.

Enter Credits exactly how they are listed on your high school transcript. Do not convert your credits. If you school does not provide credits, please enter 1 for an entire academic year of study or enter .5 for a half-year of study.

Review the self-reported information that you have provided.

(I)GCSE sample below

China sample below

IB samples below

 

Step 3: Upload

You are required to upload unofficial copies of transcripts or exam certificates for grades 9-12 if you attended a school outside the U.S. that follows a local or national compulsory curriculum, even if the year was repeated in the U.S.

You do not need to upload or submit unofficial transcripts if you attended a U.S. high school or an international school that follows a U.S.-style curriculum unless requested by the Office of Admissions.

Do not mail transcripts or exam certificates to the Office of Admissions.

British-Style Curriculum

• If you studied a British-style curriculum, such as, (I)GCSE, SPM, Singapore-Cambridge (O-level) submit your exam certificate in addition to your high school transcripts.

India Curriculum

• Applicants will need to upload their scanned unofficial copies of their 10th year exam certificate and grade 11 transcripts.
• If you have graduated, we will require scanned unofficial copies of your 10th year and 12th year exam certificates to complete your application.
  

China Curriculum

• Submit your transcripts for grades 9 and higher.

Other International Curriculums

• Submit your transcripts for grades 9 and higher.
• If you have completed any leaving exams, upload scanned copies of your exam certificates.
  

I don’t know my senior year schedule. What should I list on my application?

Please meet with your high school counselor or college advisor to finalize a projected full senior year schedule before submitting your application. It is important that you report your intended full senior year schedule when submitting the application

If you anticipate your senior year schedule might change, please let us know in the “Additional information about yourself or your circumstances” writing section.

Where do I put my senior year classes that I’m currently taking?

If you are currently enrolled in grade 12, report your senior year coursework in the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile under the Education tab.

Can I update my self-reported coursework and senior year schedule after submitting my application?

No, unfortunately the UW does not accept updates to courses and grades after an application has been submitted. Your Common App profile will not update once the UW application is submitted.

If UW has any questions or needs more information, we will contact you via email and your MyUW portal will reflect that your application is incomplete.

Where should I report college classes in my application?

Report college courses under your high school in the Courses and Grades section.

I am a Running Start student. Should I list courses and grades as they appear on my high school transcript or college transcript?

For classes completed at a college, please list courses and grades as they appear on your high school transcript. If your high school transcript has generic titles for course subjects, refer to your college transcript for the specific course title.

See below for an example of a specific title provided on the high school transcript.

If your high school has generic courses titles, like the example below. You will need to refer to your college transcript for the specific course title.

I took a college class in the summer in between 11th and 12th grade. Where should I report the class?

Report summer courses as part of the prior academic year, so classes taken during the summer after 11th grade should be reported as part of your 11th grade coursework.

I’m a part time Running Start student taking some classes at my high school and some classes at my college. How do I change the term, grading scale, and credits?

In the Courses and Grades section, use add courses from another transcript. You will have the opportunity to select a different grading scale and term . You can use this option for classes on your college transcript, but you will not be able to select your college name so you must list your high school as the institution.

Should I report middle school coursework?

Please only report middle school coursework if it appears on your high school transcript. Middle school coursework can be reported under the “Other Courses” section.

If I retook a class, do I still have to report the original grade received or only the new one?

If you repeat a class and both attempts are listed on your transcript, please be sure to list both attempts with each grade earned (even if you didn’t receive credit the first time, such as NC).

Should I select No Grade (G) if my transcript shows NC or I?

No, do not select NG if your transcript shows NC or I. Please use the same notation that appears on your transcript. You should manually enter NC or I instead of choosing NG from the drop down menu.

If I took a class but did not earn credit for it, do I still need to report it?

Yes, you should report all classes listed on your transcript, even if you did not earn credit. This includes classes with W, NC, I/INC, and F.

Am I required to submit a transcript when I apply?

You are only required to upload unofficial copies of transcripts or exam certificates for grades 9-12 if you attended a school outside the U.S. that follows a local or national compulsory curriculum, even if the year was repeated in the U.S.

If you attended a U.S. high school or an international school that follows a U.S.-style curriculum, submitting a transcript is highly encouraged but not required unless requested by the Office of Admissions.

Am I considered a first-generation college student?

The UW Office of Admissions considers a student to be first-generation if neither parent or guardian has earned a bachelor’s degree.