Sorry if this is a dumb question (and that’d be cool if anyone could answer this), but basically since UW is on a quarter system, do we take new classes each quarter? And do most people normally take 3 classes a quarter?
Not a dumb question! Typical load per quarter at the UW is 15 credits (3 classes, 5 credits each). Many first year students take a 2 credit FIG (Freshman Interest Group) their first quarter at the UW. See https://fyp.washington.edu/first-year-interest-groups/ for more information. Your first quarter will likely be either 12 credits or 17 credits with the FIG. I won’t go into the FIG in too much detail because it’s explained pretty well on the UW website, plus students will learn about FIGs at their Advising and Orientation session. Students register for new classes each quarter. They move pretty quickly but it’s totally doable!
@wanative Thank you so much for the info! Would you personally suggest taking 12 credits or 17 credits for the first quarter? What do a majority of the freshmen tend to do? Are 4 classes for the first quarter manageable?
@ferdinand32 Not on me, but look it up in Seattle times. The amount of out of state applicants DRAMATICALLY increased, where as the in state applicants slightly decreased.
When do orientation dates come out?
has anyone set up a waitlist thread yet? if so anyone want to link me?
@ferdinand32 You can’t go wrong taking 12 or 17 credits your first quarter at the UW, as long as you aim for 45 credits overall during your first school year. The 2 credit FIG will not add to your work load, in fact, it can help you meet students to study with during your first quarter. Every student in your FIG will also be enrolled in one or two your other classes. If you select a FIG that is in an area of interest to you (sciences, math, english, econ, etc) you will likely be paired with students with your similar interests. I hope that helps!
Denied. F U C K my life.
@wanative Awesome,thank you!! I think I will go for 17 credits my first quarter 
Won’t have much else going on in my life anyways, not really a social person haha
@wanative If I did 12 credits the first quarter, that means I’d have to take four classes for one of the other quarters in my first year right?
@ferdinand32 Yep, you’d have to take over 15 credits at some point if you take 12 credits your first quarter. A lot of students start college with some AP credits, so that can also make up the difference as well. 17 credits is fine, especially since the 2 credit FIG is a pass/fail seminar class. The FIG is designed to build community and help students learn their way around the UW and Seattle. Another option is to take 2 five credit classes, the 2 credit FIG, and a 3 credit class. There aren’t a ton of them available but you might find one you like. Don’t fret too much about selecting classes quite yet! The A&O sessions are helpful for all of this.
@wanative Thank you!! If I’m taking AP classes this year and I get my scores in the summer, can those count?
@ferdinand32, this will show you the course credit/placement you can receive for various AP classes and the qualifying scores needed:
http://admit.washington.edu/Admission/Freshmen/College/AP
You can definitely get credit for AP exams—I came in with 60 credits thanks to those haha. Make sure you remember to send your official score reports through College Board so that everything gets processed on time!
@Coriander23 @UWfromCA By what date do I have to send my scores?
Right now, I have scores from AP US History and AP Spanish Language that can count for credits. Should I send them now to UW, or should I wait until I receive my senior year AP scores in July?
If the credits do not already appear on your unofficial transcript, you should contact the College Board and ask them to send your scores to the UW Office of Admissions.
@worrybug 2010 SAT.
You can send your scores to UW the same way you sent your SAT scores, the school code is 4854! They’ll process your AP scores all at once and it’ll show up in mid-July after official scores are released.
@ferdinand32 Did you apply to UCB?