Formerly known as the Early Fall Start program, College Edge has been helping new UW students begin college with confidence for over two decades. This early-start experience allows incoming students to move to campus early, make connections, and take a small, engaging course with a UW faculty member before Autumn Quarter begins.

College Edge is designed to help students understand what college-level learning feels like, build academic confidence, and form meaningful connections while earning UW credit. Courses emphasize hands-on, experiential learning and encourage curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Students are also introduced to how artificial intelligence is shaping learning, work, and everyday life through guided, accessible activities that do not require prior AI experience. The goal is awareness, critical thinking, and thoughtful engagement, not technical expertise.

College Edge serves both incoming first-year students and incoming transfer students, with courses designed to support each group’s transition to the University of Washington. Across all courses, students are encouraged to explore UW’s campus, academic resources, and the broader Seattle area through field trips, local experiences, and place-based learning that brings course topics to life.

College Edge is a program of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college at the University of Washington. Arts and Sciences offers courses that form the academic foundation for all UW undergraduates. Whether you plan to major within Arts and Sciences or elsewhere on campus, College Edge is excited to welcome new students into the UW community through this early academic experience.

All College Edge courses are:

• Taught by regular UW faculty and instructors

• Open to incoming first-year students and incoming transfer students

• Small, discussion-based, hands-on learning seminars

• Designed to introduce academic disciplines across the College of Arts and Sciences

• Built around experiential learning on campus and in the greater Seattle area

• Structured to include guided engagement with AI tools and ideas

Interested in exploring College Edge courses and resources?

Learn more: https://collegeedge.uw.edu/

Can’t wait to get to get started at UW? College Edge allows you to arrive early and start strong.