The UW Transition School is committed to supporting students and families from all different backgrounds.
We are excited to continue welcoming:
- Multilingual families,
- Students who may or may not have previous experience in highly capable programs,
- Families with no background in higher education or have international college experience,
- Students and families with disabilities,
- Families without documentation,
- Families with uneven socioeconomic access including uneven access to technology and costs associated with attending information sessions or events (e.g., parking), and
- Families with other unique needs.
Application Materials & Info
The application process for the 2024-25 school year opens November 15, 2023. Interested 8th grade students will need to create an online profile through the RC website. The following steps need to be completed in order to have a finalized application.
| APPLICATION ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| TS Application | Complete the application. |
| 6th & 7th Grade Report Cards | Report cards from 6th and 7th grades. |
| 8th Grade Progress Indicators | All quarter or trimester grades available to date. |
| Math or Science Teacher Letter of Recommendation | One letter from a math or science teacher. |
| Language Arts or History Teacher Letter of Recommendation | One letter from a language arts or history teacher. |
| Choice Letter of Recommendation | A letter from a person of your choice. |
| ACT Score Report | Scores near the 85th percentile or higher show potential readiness. However, we review applications with a holistic lens, so students with scores below the 85th percentile are still encouraged to submit all materials. |
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If your ACT scores are in the 85th percentile or higher, you do not need to submit any further additional documents. These will not be considered. |
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| ADDITIONAL ITEMS: These are only to be submitted if your ACT scores are lower than the 85th percentile OR if you did not take the ACT. | |
| For those with ACT test scores below the 85th percentile:
Choose Two Additional Items
For those without ACT test scores: Choose Three Additional Items
|
- Smarter Balanced Assessment scores from 7th grade in the 90th percentile.
-A nationally standardized intelligence or achievement test.
-Participation in an accelerated program: Grade or content area accelerated by at least two years. -Provide evidence of exceptional accomplishment, i.e., received a distinguished award or scholarship. -Successfully completed advanced level high school courses through Robinson Center Summer Stretch or other programming. -Exemplary Work: Examples include writing pieces, software or website projects, composed music, etc. This could be shown by creating an essay, poster, recorded presentation, math or science project, art project or other representative work.
-Competition Winner: Won state, regional, national, or international status in an academic or arts competition (e.g., chess, science, mathematics, arts, leadership, forensics, engineering). |
Please click below for a full, step-by-step video walkthrough of the Transition School application.
Application Dates
November 15, 2023 – Applications Open! Applications for all interested 8th grade students open online through the Robinson Center website.
February 16, 2024 – All Applications Due Complete online applications are due to the Robinson Center by 5pm
Mid-March through Early May – Interviews for selected applicants
By or before May 31, 2024 – Admission Decision Notifications All Transition School applicants will be notified of final admission decisions.
ACT Test
Some Transition School applicants may choose to submit ACT scores. Results from the ACT exam provide insight regarding an applicant's readiness for college-level work. We do not expect applicants to prep extensively for the ACT; at most, read through the practice test and familiarize yourself with the format of the test.
ACT Reading, Math, and Science scores in the 85th percentile or higher show potential readiness for college-level work. However, we review applications with a holistic lens, so students applying with ACT scores below the 85th percentile are still encouraged to submit all materials. The Writing portion of the ACT is not required.
Code: When asked for a school code for the Transition School, enter either 481174 (if asked for a 6-digit code) or 9899 (if asked for a 4-digit code). The Transition School test code is different from the UW Seattle code.
ACT Test Dates for 2023-24 application cycle
- October 28, 2023
- December 9, 2023
- February 10, 2024*
*February 10, 2024 is the final ACT date to meet the Transition School application deadline. Scores from the February 10, 2024 ACT will not be available to include in the application by the February 16, 2024 deadline; however, an applicant testing on February 10, 2024 may upload proof of testing registration and submit scores as soon as they become available, typically within 2-3 weeks, at which time their complete application will be reviewed.
Grade Reports
Academic grade reports from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are required and can be uploaded to the online application portal. Sixth and Seventh grade academic reports must include final grades for all courses completed. Eighth grade reports must include all 1st semester grades.
Teacher Recommendations
Applicants will select two educators who can speak to the student’s academic performance and behavior in the classroom. One recommendation must come from a current Math or Science teacher and the second from a current Humanities (Language Arts or History) teacher.
In addition, applicants will select a third person who can speak to the student's other personal attributes and characteristics that may extend beyond the classroom. This recommendation must be from a non-family adult who has supervised the student in an on-going capacity and may include a third teacher or school staff member from 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, a community group or volunteer supervisor, a religious or clergy supervisor, or a private instructor.
Those individuals selected by the applicant to provide a recommendation will not need to write a letter. Applicants should communicate their intentions to apply to Transition School and request permission to include the person’s email address in the Robinson Center online portal as part of the Transition School application. Transition School will send each recipient additional information and a questionnaire about the applicant to submit directly to TS.
While not required, applicants are encouraged to waive their right to review the teacher recommendation forms to allow those providing a recommendation to do so honestly in support of the student's academic pursuits.
Application Review
Once all the application materials are completed and the application fee is paid, applications are reviewed by the TS Admissions Committee. This committee determines whether the applicant will move on to the next stage of the admissions process with an interview. Families of applicants will receive emails through each stage of the process to communicate progress.
Interview
Should the candidate be invited for an interview by the Admissions Committee, the applicant will participate in an interview with the Admissions Committee on campus at the Robinson Center.
Admission Decisions
Applicants and their families will be notified of admission decisions for the 2023-24 applicant cycle (Fall 2024 cohort) by or before May 31, 2024.
Appeals Process
All interviewees are allowed one opportunity to appeal the placement decision made by the Admissions Committee. Applicants that are waitlisted have not been formally denied and cannot appeal their position on the waitlist. Waitlisted students are eligible to appeal if they are denied after the waitlist period has expired. Generally, applicants petition for an appeal if they believe their academic or personal circumstances could not be considered adequately through the standard admission review process or that an error occurred in the application review. All appeals must be received within two weeks of the Transition School’s admission decision.
How do I appeal?
More qualified applicants apply to TS than can be accepted. This means that, given a strong applicant pool, not all qualified applicants may be offered a seat in the class. All students can view the current status of their application to the Transition School by logging into their account on the RC website and clicking “View Applications” on the left column menu. When an application has been officially denied following the interview, the application status will reflect this change and offer applicants a new link which they can follow to appeal the decision. Clicking on the “appeal” link will bring up a page where applicants can describe their appeal and upload up to three documents that contribute to the case they are presenting to the Admissions Committee. We recommend preparing these materials prior to clicking the link.
What do I need to include in my appeal?
All appeals must include a formal appeal letter (no more than 2 typed pages), composed by the student applicant, which presents a clear and concise explanation of the applicant’s reasons for seeking reconsideration. Applicants should keep in mind that the application committee has already reviewed the original application. Appeals must present new information about the applicant or seek to provide additional explanation about aspects of the academic record that are not as strong, including information about circumstances and hardships, such as personal or family illness, factors related to a disability, or familial or cultural barriers that may have affected the applicant’s academic performance and record. Appeal letters should clearly explain why the applicant thinks they are a good candidate for the Transition School and why they are in need of the highly accelerated education offered by the Robinson Center.
Additionally, appeals may include (but do not require) supporting materials like updated transcripts, additional letters of support, or other documentation of the student’s learning experiences.
What is the process for considering appeals?
All appeals are considered by the Robinson Center Admission Committee, which will reconsider each case and make initial decisions based on the information provided. If the RC Admission Committee decides not to support the appeal, it will be taken to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, where it will be considered a second time. Final decisions will originate from Dean’s Office, approximately three weeks after the appeal was received.