Washington’s top students guaranteed a spot at WSU

PULLMAN — Washington State University is offering guaranteed admission to in-state students who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class or who have at least a 3.5 grade point average at the time of application.

The policy begins immediately and covers WSU campuses in Pullman, Vancouver and the Tri-Cities. At the same time, the school said it remains committed to admitting good students who do not reach the top 10 percent or 3.5 GPA.

“Our new policy reflects WSU’s concentration on heightening both quality and accessibility,” said John Fraire, vice president for enrollment management.

Since the grade point average for incoming freshmen last year averaged 3.42, the new policy is designed to eliminate the anxious wait for the inevitable.

“One way to make top-performing students feel more appreciated and welcomed at WSU is to remove the pressure associated with waiting for that acceptance letter,” Fraire said.

“We are eager to recognize very early in the process those students with excellent potential to reach their academic goals and to help this university attain ours,” he added.

Washington State had about 3,200 freshmen on the Pullman campus last year, and like many schools, it is constantly seeking to increase the quality of its admissions. Across the state, the University of Washington had an average GPA of about 3.7 for incoming freshmen.

WSU officials said the new policy does not conflict with their goal of increasing diversity on the rural campus. The assured admission program will not interfere with the traditional application process, Fraire said.

To qualify for assured admission, students must apply on time to WSU, pay their application fee, and take the SAT or ACT test.

The change means that a student’s grades and course selection in high school will take priority over standardized test scores, Fraire said, adding that students who make good grades also tend to perform well on standardized tests.