I’m new to this site, so be nice 
I’m a junior in high school with an average GPA of 3.8 something.
I would like to get into the CS department in UW through direct admission, but I doubt that my GPA is good enough.
I asked a kid at my school who got into UW through direct admission (CS department), and his GPA was a 4.0 (unweighted).
My GPA of 3.8 is no math against these behemoths.
Please help!
If I do not get admitted, what are some of my options? I feel very depressed about it lately and just feel like bursting into tears! I’m very stressed, this makes it hard for me to focus on my schoolwork, which might lower my GPA even more… 
Tips to improve my GPA? What to do if I don’t get admitted? What else I can do to increase my chances for direct admission?
Thanks!
(Also, open admission is not an option for me. Why? I just don’t want to. So please don’t suggest it, as I’ve already considered it and didn’t like the idea)
In the above, I meant “no match”, not “no math.”
The best thing you can do for yourself is to start considering other options that you like. I am assuming you are from state of washington. Washington State has a decent program in computer science.
By all means apply to Univ. of Washington, but be ready with other options that you are likely to get accepted to.
I meant, what is the average gpa?
I heard that the average gpa is 3.8 and above, but I was wondering about direct admission specifically.
They haven’t published those numbers- but I can give you general habits and decisions of those who are direct admits.
Instead of worrying about a perfect GPA, look at the courses you have taken. Are they hard, rigorous courses? Are you going to take science and math through your senior year? Are you going to be taking calculus? If your school provides them, are you taking computer courses? These are what they care about academically.
Other aspects to look at- UW only direct admits in state students, and only about 250 of them. They also look for well-rounded students who challenge themselves. If you haven’t, get involved with sports or clubs or the arts to make yourself appear more well rounded.
If you don’t make it in as a direct admit, you can still go to UW and go into the program later. About 50% of all CS students are admitted this way. 30% are direct transfers, and 15-20 are transfer students. Don’t get mad if UW doesn’t direct admit, too. Only 5% of incoming freshman get in through the direct admit. You still have a chance to make it into the program.
I have not seen stats for 2018, but last year, the CS website stated:
“For 2017, over 5,000 freshmen applicants indicated Computer Science or Computer Engineering as their first choice major. Of these applicants, around 150 students were offered direct admission. These admits have an average unweighted gpa of 3.97 and are mostly Washington state residents. Average test scores are: ACT 34, SAT math 764, SAT verbal 758.”
Adding to the information in #4, Washington offers a few direct admissions to OOS students (several of whom have posted in the “applicant thread”).
From the CS website:
“Computer Science DA is designed primarily for Washington State resident students. Although a small number of non-Washington residents may receive offers, there is a very strong preference for Washington students.”
“For 2018, fewer than 5% of UW freshman applicants who listed Computer Science as their first-choice major were offered Direct Admission. These students had incredibly high grades, took the most rigorous curricula offered in their schools, showed meaningful extracurricular experiences, and submitted strong personal statements. There were many highly qualified students to whom we were unable to offer Direct Admission. (We make a small number of DA offers to out-of-state students, but the vast majority of DA offers go to Washington residents.)”
It’s not listed as an official requirement, but all the direct admits in my circle of knowledge had calculus in high school as well.
If you are looking at other in-state places to study computer science try:
WSU
WWU
Bellevue (even though it’s a community college it offers a bachelor of science in CS)
UW Bothell
WSU Vancouver
There are also options within WUE
To AroundHere:
I would rather drop out from high school than go to community college.
(how embarrassing)
@headbang_thrasher there’s nothing wrong with cc, just you having the wrong opinion on it all. It’s cheap, the same stuff ya learn at uni, and gets the job done. If you did it during high school from running start, those “embarrassing” cc classes might actually get you the direct admit, bc your attitude surely ain’t helping.
It was an option provided by another person, don’t gotta be arrogant and uptight about it man.
I agree with @Psoriasis your attitude about CC classes will not help whatsoever. College is college no matter where you go. Nothing wrong with a community college, in fact as a transfer it helps your chances of getting into school’s you wouldn’t have in HS. How embarrassing for you it would be if you didn’t get into your first choice Uni and ended up going to CC to help your chances.
If it’s “direct admit to UW Seattle CS or bust” – that’s fine, but be prepared to live with “bust.”
Starbucks is always hiring and they pay for online classes from ASU for their employees. No one will see you on a community college campus.
@julietjuju3 .
I didn’t mean to overreact to these suggestions, but I have straight-A’s (mix of AP and IB) except for IB US History, which I have a C in. I’m fairly sure that I’ll get up to at least a 3.9 by the end of the year.
(I’m sorry, but I have to say that I hate disappointing myself… CC is a disappointment…)
My main problem is that the overall atmosphere in community college will prevent me from succeeding academically… because community college is filled with students who don’t really care about their grades (the majority).
I can say this from personal experience, but I got mistreated and picked on a lot by these kinds of people since grade school… so I have a mild phobia of them. I do not wish to encounter that sort again.
I had around a 3.5 GPA when I was in the “regular” classes with these sort of people.
When I replaced the “regular” classes with AP and IB, my grades significantly improved as well as my attitude towards school. In my freshman year I remember having a 4.0.
I would have still had that 4.0 if it weren’t for US History… >:-(
@AroundHere
No, UW Bothell.
Or Seattle University.
Your stereotype is definitely not true of Seattle-area community colleges. Especially on the pre-STEM tracks, students very serious about getting the grades they need to transfer to UWS. There are also a number of kids with ‘grit’ working their tails off to get a better life as first-generation college students. They have serious work ethic in spades, not an ounce of entitlement or attitude.
@headbang_thrasher So I went to Bellevue College, and I am now at UW’s Seattle campus studying computer engineering, and I can assure you, that your impression of CCs could not be farther from the truth. I am actually going to be taking another Math course at BC in the fall because I prefer the education i got there in “low level” math. The environment is preferable for me, and some of my math professors at BC teach at UW as well. The difference being I don’t have them in a lecture hall with 200 other people, its me them, and 15-20 other students. And they don’t write exams to get an even spread on a competitive curve, they write them to test your knowledge.
I think I should mention that around 70% of the transfer admits from the last admissions cycle came from Bellevue College, so the admission rate coming from that school in particular is quite high in certain cycles.
@uwcse2020
Oh okay… thanks…
But my question was what’s the average gpa?
@headbang_thrasher read the post from UWfromCA that question was answered like 10 posts ago
@Psoriasis
Thanks! I’ll look into that.
My son is a CS DA this year. He does have a 4.0 unweighted gpa, including 11 AP classes. In his school, only another girl got into CS, and according to son, she has at least as good stats as himself. At the DA reception, he met some of his friends from other high schools, and he know they all have 4.0 or near 4.0 gpa plus impressive ACT /SAT scores. A girl was struggling to decide between MIT or UW CS. Another boy considering Cornell or UW. I don’t know the average gpa, but it should be darn close to 4.0.
@bogeyorpar
Does a 3.9 count?
What is your opinion: if I get 3.8 GPAs throughout my sophomore and junior year, but on the second semester of junior year I get a 3.9 and on the 1st semester senior year also a 3.9, do you think I would be fine?
(I take a mix of AP and IB)