Transfer Center
Newly Admitted Transfer Students
Admitted and Getting Ready to Start?
We want to make your transfer as easy as possible. Please contact the Transfer Center at any point if you need help getting started or have questions along the way.
Next Steps
You've been admitted! Hurrah! The most important next steps for you to take are summarized on the Admissions Next Steps page. Make sure you do those, and then follow some additional tips below.
Begin Checking Your CWU Email
This is the official method of communicating with you, so start checking it regularly, or forward it to your main email account. For assistance regarding your email account, check with the CWU Service Desk.
Review Your Transfer Credit Report
Sign into your MyCWU, go to the Student tab across the top, click on "Records" from the left-hand navigation bar to expand the records option, and select "View Transfer Credit Report." You can also find the link to these records on your applicant portal.
Accept Your Financial Aid Award
If you’ve applied for federal or state aid, make sure you accept your award in a timely fashion! Check with Financial Aid with questions.
Secure Housing (if needed)
The Admissions Next Steps link at the top of the page includes information for on-campus housing, which includes our Living Learning Community for Transfer Students in Stephens-Whitney Hall, where you can live with fellow transfer students and regularly be invited to events and programs aimed at transfer students. If you plan to live off-campus in Ellensburg, please be aware that the vacancy rate in Ellensburg is quite low and you’ll want to begin looking for housing several months before your quarter of attendance.
If you're attending a Center and are looking for housing, please contact the Center for suggestions
Connect with your Advisor
After you've confirmed your admission and completed your pre-advising questionnaire (see the Next Steps page), you'll be contacted by an Academic Advisor inviting you to sign up for an appointment to go over your previous credit and help you register for your first quarter of classes. A couple of useful guides for understanding requirements and registering for classes are:
How to Read the Academic Requirements Report
How to Use Scheduler to Register for Classes
Peer-to-Peer Mentor Appointments
You can connect with a student who has walked a mile in your shoes. Your Transfer Center Peer Ambassadors are happy to meet with current or prospective transfer students to talk about transfer experience at CWU, answer your questions, help you find resources, and be as successful as possible! You can schedule an appointment (virtual or in-person) via email.
Submit Your Final Transcript
If you were in your final quarter(s) of attendance at your previous institution when you submitted your CWU application, you’ll need to send a final transcript to us once you've finished your final class there. Contact your previous institution’s registrar’s office to make that request. Most send electronically using a service like Parchment. If you are earning an associate's degree there, please wait until that degree has posted on your transcript.
Attend Orientation
For students attending the Ellensburg campus, we offer Orientation for Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Students admitted for Fall quarter are required to come for an in-person Transfer Student Orientation in September, just prior to the start of classes. Orientation is full of fun and helpful events to help you transition, both academically and socially. Students admitted for Winter and Spring quarters are highly encouraged to attend one of the Virtual Orientation sessions through Zoom.
For students attending the Des Moines, Lynnwood, JBLM, Pierce County, Sammamish, Moses Lake, Wenatchee, Yakima, or Online campus, we offer Virtual Orientation session for Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters through Zoom. Attendance at a Virtual Orientation session is highly encouraged. The Centers offer welcome events that students will receive invitations to directly.
Register for your Orientation session here!
Start Smart - Ellensburg campus
Newly admitted Ellensburg students are invited to stop by the Transfer Lounge in Bouillon 210 the day before classes begin to grab a treat and some swag, meet other new transfers, ask any last-minute questions, and even have one of our peers help you locate your classes. For Spring 2026, Start Smart happens Monday, March 30, 10am-4pm.
Health and Wellbeing Resource Guide
CWU has lots of resources to support you while you're a student. Our published guide includes resources for emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, as well as information on staying safe.
CWU News
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