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Highline Public Schools
15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW Burien, WA 98166

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Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Highline Public Schools
15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW Burien, WA 98166

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Four Year College/University

Four-year colleges and universities can be public or private institutions that offer programs leading to a bachelor’s degree and often graduate degrees as well. These schools provide a wide range of academic majors and career pathways.

What to Expect:

  • Students typically enroll as undergraduates working toward a bachelor’s degree in a specific field of study.
  • Most programs take four to five years to complete, depending on your course load and major.
  • Admission requirements vary by school. Some are highly selective, while others have more flexible criteria. Be sure to check each college’s website for details.

Examples of Popular Majors

  • Pre-Med and Health Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Law/Business
  • Education
  • Computer Science
  • Social Sciences and Humanities

Applying & Getting In

If you plan to attend a four-year college or university in Washington, or anywhere else, you’ll need to complete an online application for admission. Most schools review applications holistically, meaning they consider your academic record along with personal experiences and achievements.

Key Factors Colleges May Consider:

  • Application deadlines (these vary by school. Check each college’s website)
  • Application fee (typically $50–$75; fee waivers are often available)
  • High school coursework (completion of College Academic Distribution Requirements, or CADRs)
  • High school GPA (or college GPA if you’ve taken Running Start or dual enrollment)
  • Essays or personal statements
  • Extracurricular activities and leadership
  • Letters of recommendation (required by some private schools)
  • SAT or ACT scores (Washington public universities are test-optional and do not require scores for admission, but some private schools or scholarships may)

How to Apply

through the Common Application (Common App):

A single application used by over 1,000 colleges, including many in Washington (e.g., University of Washington, Washington State University, Gonzaga, Seattle University). Common App is convenient if you’re applying to multiple schools because you only enter your information once. Learn more at commonapp.org

Directly on the college’s website:

Some colleges and universities use their own application systems instead of the Common App. If a school accepts both the Common App and its institutional application, there is no advantage to choosing one over the other. Simply use the option that is most convenient for you.

Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program

wagap

The Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP) supports a college-going culture and guaranteed admission to:

 

The program lets students learn if they are admitted to these six universities before applying. If these simple criteria are met, students are guaranteed admissions:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Completed or on track to complete all the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) by the fall term immediately following high school graduation.
  • School has an agreement with the participating universities to be part of the program.