Incoming Students

Welcome to the School of Engineering and Applied Science! You are about to embark on an exciting journey that will prepare you for a career in engineering or computer science.

To prepare students to succeed academically and to support their transition to the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) we have provided some orientation guidelines for internal transfer (from another GW school or college), external transfer (from another academic institution), and first-year students below. The process varies based on how you were admitted to SEAS, but our goal is the same: to create a seamless transition for you. 

Please review the appropriate orientation below based on your situation. All students should consult the New Student FAQs at the bottom of the page for additional information and resources. After reviewing your materials and to-dos, feel free to email [email protected] with any questions.

First-Year Students

All prospective first-time, full-time students interested in attending The George Washington University and the School of Engineering and Applied Science must apply through the GW Undergraduate Admissions First-Year process. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

As part of the New Student Orientation program at GW, all incoming SEAS students who are attending college for the first time and have been admitted to the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) must complete the following steps. You will be reminded of these tasks throughout the summer via your GW email address ([email protected]) and you should click the button below to download a PDF version of the list including deadlines and links:

Things to Do in May/June:

  • Complete the New Student Orientation Module.
  • Sign up for and attend your First-Year Group Advising session.
  • Complete your First-Year Academic Interest Survey.
  • Complete your first attempt at the Math Placement Test.
  • Complete your first attempt at the Chemistry Prep Course.
  • Take a departmental foreign language placement if you wish to continue language study.
  • Complete your First-Year Course Registration Packet to inform your advisor of your intended major and preferred first-semester classes. You will also use it to unofficially submit your AP, IB and college transfer credits to SEAS.
  • Additionally, submit all official AP/IB scores and/or transcripts for college credits to GW Admissions.

Things to Do in July/August:

  • Attend your First-Year Group Advising Session.
  • Continue working on the Math Placement Test until you’ve earned your required score.
  • Continue working on the Chemistry Prep Course until you’ve earned your required score.
  • Officially submit all AP/IB scores and/or transcripts of college credits to GW Admissions.
  • Report any AP, IB or transfer credits received after completing your First-Year Course Registration Packet by submitting them to our online submission box.
  • Review your schedule when it is released and reach out to your advisor with any questions or concerns.

Download the Fall 2021 First-Year Student Checklist (pdf)

Internal Transfer Students

Students are admitted to a home school at the time of their admission to the university. Those who wish to change their home school must submit a Request for Internal Transfer form to the University Registrar. A university-wide graduation requirement is that students must be registered in the college/school in which their primary major is housed. Some schools may require that certain prerequisite courses have been taken and that minimum grades have been earned before the transfer is processed.

As a current GW student, once you are approved for an internal transfer to the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), you will receive an email about the next steps from the SEAS Office of Undergraduate Student Services and Advising. The email will include important information pertaining to major selection, advisor assignment, and registering for your first semester as a SEAS student.

In addition, be sure to work through the steps below and click the button following the list to download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist. Pay attention to these tasks to make sure your first semester in SEAS goes smoothly!

Student To Do List

  • Complete the New Student Orientation Module.
  • Complete the online SEAS New Student Questionnaire.
  • Review the degree requirements for your major in the University Bulletin.
  • Once assigned a faculty advisor you should contact them to discuss course selection, review your transfer credit evaluation from GW, and complete an Undergraduate Advising Form via the portal (blue button) on the SEAS Forms webpage to have your classes approved.
  • If you are planning to register for MATH 1220, MATH 1231, and/or ECON 1011 you must complete the Math Placement Test and receive the required score.
  • If you are planning to register for CHEM 1111 you must complete the Chemistry Prep Course and receive the required score.
  • If you are planning to register for foreign language course you may need to complete a Foreign Language Placement Exam and receive a certain score.
  • Schedule a meeting with your SEAS Ambassador, if you opted for one.

Download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist

External Transfer Students

Students outside of GW interested in transferring to the School of Engineering and Applied Science must apply through the GW Undergraduate Admissions Transfer process.

Once you have received your acceptance from the GW Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have officially paid your deposit, you will begin to receive additional communication from the Office of Student Life and New Student Orientation. In addition, the School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Office of Undergraduate Student Services and Advising will reach out to help you prepare for your first semester at GW. Note, you will have a registration hold on your account until you have completed the questionnaire, met with your faculty advisor, and submitted you Undergraduate Advising Form.

Stay on top of these tasks to ensure a smooth first semester at GW and click the button below the list to download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist for more detailed tasks and deadlines.

Student To Do List

  • Complete the New Student Orientation Module.
  • Complete the online SEAS New Student Questionnaire.
  • Review the degree requirements for your major in the University Bulletin.
  • Review your transfer credit evaluation to make sure your credits are transferring as expected and review your DegreeMAP to see how they apply to your new degree.
  • Once assigned a faculty advisor, you should contact them to discuss course selection, review you transfer credit evaluation from GW, and complete an Undergraduate Advising Form via the portal (blue button) on the SEAS Forms webpage to have your classes approved.
  • If you are planning to register for MATH 1220, MATH 1231, and/or ECON 1011 you must complete the Math Placement Test and receive the required score.
  • If you are planning to register for CHEM 1111 you must complete the Chemistry Prep Course and receive the required score.
  • If you are planning to register for foreign language course you may need to complete a Foreign Language Placement Exam and receive a certain score.
  • External transfer students must make sure all final transcripts from previous colleges or universities have been sent to Undergraduate Admissions.
  • Schedule a meeting with your SEAS Ambassador, if you opted for one.

Download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist (pdf)

Two Frequently Asked Questions:

What do I do with non-articulated transfer credits (1099) on your Transfer Credit Evaluation?
Periodically, courses from other institutions will be transferred as a department 1099 course (e.g., ECE 1099). This means that the course does not currently have a designated course equivalent at GW. However, you are able to have this course reviewed by the department if you believe you have found a potential course equivalent at GW. In order to facilitate this review, you should compile the following information about the course: both course descriptions (external and GW course), a copy of the course syllabus for the external course, a copy of your transcript (including final grades) from the external institution, and a completed Transfer Credit Approval Form. The information will need to be approved by the department in which the course equivalent is taught and authorized by your home school (SEAS) via a Transfer Credit Approval Form.

What if I took writing previously but did not receive UW 1020 credit?
If you are transferring in a writing course that you think would satisfy the university writing requirement but it was not accepted, you can petition to have the course reviewed in order to count. For more information about the transfer policy and exceptions for the University Writing Requirement (UW1020), visit the UW1020 Exemptions page

New Student Resources  

The orientation module and new student tasks detailed above include important information on a number of topics. Much of the information is bound to be unfamiliar, and we don’t expect you to grasp it all in one sitting. We’ve provided a number of frequently asked questions with linked resources for you to review and return to as you work through your transition to SEAS.