Admission Pathways

Physics has two admissions pathways: Standard and Early. Most students join the major through the Standard Admission pathway, having completed a full year of college-level physics and calculus and continuing with 200-level courses. Early Admission is appropriate for transfer applicants who are completing their physics series at the time of application to UW, or who have completed the introductory series but have no 200-level physics courses available at their institution, and wish to apply for direct admission to the physics major. It is also available to currently enrolled students with strong records who are certain they want to major in physics after completion of just the first two quarters of the introductory sequence. Since Early Admission applications contain less information on prerequisite coursework, academics are generally held to a higher standard for this pathway. Students admitted under Early Admission must register for a 200-level physics course in their first enrolled quarter as a major to maintain Satisfactory Progress in the major. Students whose admission is denied under Early Admission are encouraged to apply again under Standard Admission after they successfully complete additional physics and math courses.

Standard Admission Requirements

1. Completion of PHYS 121 (or PHYS 141), PHYS 122 (or PHYS 142), PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143); and MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136).
2. Enrollment in minimum one physics lecture course with course number higher than 220 during the application quarter. Completion of minimum one physics lecture course (any course number, either at UW or elsewhere) within the two quarters prior to application.
3. Standard Admission is twice a year. Application deadlines: April 5 for autumn quarter and October 5 for winter quarter.
   

   Winter application window: Between January 1 and January 20, students who have completed both 105 credits and 5 post-high-school college quarters, or who are newly arrived transfer students, may apply for spring quarter admission.

4. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission is capacity constrained, based on holistic review of a student's record as follows:
   1. Personal Statement. The statement should discuss reasons for choosing a physics major and strategies for success in the major, including a discussion of lessons learned from previous successes and difficulties and plans for accessing support in the major. The statement should also address how the chosen degree option (applied, comprehensive, biophysics, teaching) and submitted graduation plan (see 4.c) are suited to life and career goals.
   2. Academic performance. This is measured by: GPA; grades in courses required for admission; difficulty of other courses completed; frequency of incompletes, repeated courses, and withdrawals; relevant work and life experience.
   3. Graduation plan. This should be completed in MyPlan and printed to a pdf file, submitted with the application. Preapproval of graduation plan by Physics Student Services is recommended; incoming majors must have their Graduation Plan approved no later than six weeks after acceptance into the major to avoid having a hold placed on registration.

See department website for a description of degree requirements for the four physics degree options, sample graduation plans, and suggestions of topics to include in a personal statement. Successful applicants typically have over a minimum 2.60 cumulative GPA in physics and math courses, especially those taken recently.

Early Admission Requirements

1. Completion of PHYS 121 (or PHYS 141), PHYS 122 (or PHYS 142); and MATH 124, MATH 125 (or MATH 134, MATH 135). Transfer applicants should have completed the first two quarters or first semester of a year-long introductory series in both physics and calculus.
2. Current enrollment in PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143); and MATH 126 (or MATH 136). Transfer applicants should be enrolled in the final quarter or semester of a year-long introductory series in both physics and calculus. If the applicant has completed one year of introductory physics and/or calculus, they should be enrolled in a 200-level math course. (Applicants currently enrolled in a 200-level physics course should apply under the Standard pathway.)
3. Early Admission is open twice each year. Application deadlines: April 5 for autumn quarter and October 5 for winter quarter.
4. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission is capacity constrained, based on holistic review of a student’s record as follows:
   1. Personal Statement. The statement should discuss reasons for choosing a physics major and strategies for success in the major, including a discussion of lessons learned from previous successes and difficulties and plans for accessing support in the major. The statement should also address how the chosen degree option (applied, comprehensive, biophysics, teaching) and submitted graduation plan (see 4.c) are suited to life and career goals.
   2. Academic performance. This is measured by: GPA; grades in courses required for admission; difficulty of other courses completed; frequency of incompletes, repeated courses, and withdrawals; relevant work and life experience.
   3. Graduation plan. This should be completed in MyPlan and printed to a pdf file that is submitted with the application. Students who are not currently enrolled (i.e., transfer applicants) may alternatively include the same information on the form found on the department website. Preapproval of graduation plan by Physics Student Services is recommended; incoming majors must have their Graduation Plan approved no later than six weeks after acceptance into the major to avoid having a hold placed on their ability to register for classes. Note that graduation plans are expected to change over time; this requirement is primarily for advising and planning purposes.

See department website for a description of the degree requirements for the four physics degree options, sample graduation plans, and suggestions of topics to include in a personal statement. Successful Early Admission applicants typically have over a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA in physics and math courses, especially in those taken recently.

Contact department for requirements.

Contact department for requirements.