Post-baccalaureates and non-matriculating

Your status will be decided by your primary objective.

If you want to enter graduate school at the UW, you live locally, and you have a bachelor of science in Biology or another field closely related to Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, OR you simply want to take a few courses, you should enter as a non-degree seeking student.  Non-Matriculating status is less expensive and is suitable in most cases. Please see the FAQ site for non-degree enrollment at UW. Information on graduate Non-Matriculating status in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences can be found here.

If your first degree was in a unrelated field and you want to study for a second degree (regardless of your final objective), you should apply as a Postbaccalaureate student.

A Postbaccalaureate student is admitted for a second bachelors' degree. PostBacs are treated almost the same as other matriculating undergraduates; they register at the same time as other undergrads and have priorities for courses.  There are a few differences; financial aid treats PostBacs differently, PostBacs cannot declare minors or honors, and students are not always eligible for specific internships and scholarships. In SAFS, PostBacs are eligible for departmental scholarships and attending Friday Harbor Laboratories.

All PostBacs need to apply through UW Admissions.  Admission can be competitive for PostBacs, so take special care to complete your application fully.  You should declare your intention to complete the AFS degree on your admissions application.

If you need to complete foundation courses (Introductory biology, chemistry, and calculus), attend a community college and complete these series.   You are more likely to be admitted as a PostBac if you need courses offered by our department only. Further, your assessment by the UW Admissions office will be similar to that of a transfer student. Refer to our transfer planning information if you attend a community college.  Pay particular attention to the transfer planning worksheet and the course equivalency guides. 

It is possible to take a mix of community college courses with some UW FISH courses as a Non-Matriculating student while you are preparing for admission as a PostBac.  Please contact the SAFS Adviser to explore this option.

Our graduate program is VERY competitive and enrolling in courses in our department under any status does not, unfortunately, guarantee admission to our graduate program.

If you are admitted as a PostBac student and your goal is a second bachelor’s degree, moving to Seattle to complete the degree is reasonable.

Most PostBacs complete their B.S. degree, but there is no policy prohibiting you from applying to graduate school, here or elsewhere, before you complete this second degree.