PULLMAN – WSU’s Assured Admissions program, through which high school seniors who rank in the top 10 percent of their class or who have earned at least a 3.5 GPA at the time of their application will be granted assured admission, was successful in its first year, according to WSU admissions officials.
Applications from prospective freshmen with high school grade point averages of 3.5 or above were up six percent for fall 2009 when compared to fall 2008. Admissions officials also report positive comments about the program from students, parents and counselors.
“We wanted to take some of the uncertainty out of the admissions process,” said Wendy Jo Peterson, director of admissions for WSU. “Students and guidance counselors are telling us they have really appreciated that, so from our perspective, the Assured Admissions program has been very successful.”
•Complete applications to attend WSU must be submitted by published deadlines. The priority application deadline for fall semester 2010 is Jan. 31.
•To maintain assured admission, students must complete core course and admission requirements as outlined by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, keep their high school grades and standing at the same level during their senior year, and graduate prior to enrollment.
“The media hype about how difficult it is to compete for college seats has been bombarding these students for years,” said Carollynn Hanson, a counselor from Auburn Mountainview High School, one of the Washington high schools that showed a significant increase in high-achieving students applying to WSU. “It is the only reality they know. The opportunity to gain admission so early and so assuredly is a welcome relief for students who can then begin the process of finding scholarships and other funds for school while their other friends are still waiting for their acceptance (or rejection) letters to arrive.”
WSU officials stress that they also continue to be committed to providing access to strong prospective in-state students who do not apply with a 3.5 GPA or top 10 percent ranking, as well as well-prepared out-of-state and international applicants.
To learn more about the Assured Admissions program, interested students can visit the Assured Admission FAQ Web page, contact their regional Admissions Counselor or contact the Office of Admissions at 888-GO-TO-WSU (888-468-6978) or admissions@wsu.edu.
