Preparing for College

Students who aspire to enroll at a public two- or four-year college or university in Washington should begin preparing for college in middle school by taking challenging, college-preparatory courses and developing advanced study skills.

The Washington Student Achievement Council provides information to help students succeed as they make the transition to postsecondary education. For younger students, GEAR UP and the College Bound Scholarship programs provide incentives and support in preparing them for college.

College Admission & Transfer

Information for students about admission standards at Washington colleges and universities, and how to ensure that credits earned at two-year community and technical colleges will eventually transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

GEAR UP  
Encourages low-income middle and high school students to stay in school, work hard, and embrace college as a goal in their lives.

College Bound Scholarship Program    
Promises financial help to low-income students who enroll in the program by the end of the 8th grade, study hard, stay out of trouble and successfully gain admission to a higher education institution.

College Credit in High School
Dual credit programs make it possible for students to start working on college degrees or certificates while still in high school.  Several dual credit programs are available to Washington students. The Launch Year Act, passed in 2011, requires all public high schools in Washington to work toward increasing the number of dual credit courses offered to high school students.

College Credit for Life Experience
In some cases, students may receive college credit for learning acquired through experiences other than traditional college coursework, including on-the-job and military training.  Colleges and universities in Washington use Prior Learning Assessments to evaluate previous life experience for academic credit.