Transition School and Early Entrance Program

The Transition School and Early Entrance Program (TS/EEP) is an early college entrance program located on the University of Washington campus at the Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars. The program was begun in 1977 by the late Halbert Robinson, who recognized the need for extremely gifted students to have an accelerated academic program. The Transition School, founded in 1980, gives a small group (usually 16-18) of talented middle school age students the chance to enter the University of Washington while also developing the skills, knowledge, and support needed to succeed in college. The Center is now under the direction of Dr. Nancy B. Hertzog, and the associate director of TS/EEP and Transition School Principal is Dr. Maren Halvorsen. The physicist Ernest M. Henley is a former physics instructor.

The Early Entrance program starts with a one-year Transition School. Enrolled students are generally called TSers. Between 15 and 18 students (no older than 15, usually 14, but there have been students as young as 12) are enrolled each year. They are initially provided with a curriculum comprising five courses, English, History, Pre-Calculus, and Biology during fall and winter quarters. In the spring quarter, the Biology class ends, and the students each enroll in an entry-level University class of their choice. The curriculum changed Fall 2015, replacing Physics with Biology. This provides a taste of what actual University work is like before making a full transition to university classes in the following fall. During Winter Quarter they take a course called U-Ready where they learn about registration and other things necessary before they take their Science course in Spring. In Spring Quarter, students all take part in service learning through their history class.

Following the Transition School, the students become full-time freshmen at the University, and many also enter the University's Honors Program. Students usually stay at University of Washington for four years, culminating their Early Entrance Program years with a bachelor's degree.

In 2001, another option was added alongside the Early Transition Program and the Transition School: The UW Academy for Young Scholars, or "The Academy". This provides a more fast-paced and quicker transition into university classes and university life than the Early Entrance Program, with a two-day, one night orientation that provides students with necessary university survival skills known as Academy Camp, and two Academy courses on composition and honors seminar.[1]

The Transition School and Early Entrance Program, as well as the UW Academy for Young Scholars is a non-residential program open only to residents of Seattle, Washington and the surrounding area. Prospective students from other areas are welcome to apply if they are willing to move to the Seattle area upon acceptance.