Understanding UW CADRs?

I recently found out about the UW CADRs (College Academic Distribution Requirements). Can someone please explain what exactly they entail and how they impact my chances of getting into the University of Washington? Thanks in advance!

UW CADRs (College Academic Distribution Requirements) are a set of high school coursework requirements that the University of Washington expects its applicants to have completed. These requirements ensure that incoming students have a strong academic foundation, are well-prepared for college-level work, and have a well-rounded education. Here's a breakdown of the CADRs:

1. English: 4 years of college-preparatory English, emphasizing reading, writing, understanding and interpretation of literature, and speaking skills.

2. Mathematics: 3 years of college-preparatory math, including algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra. Math courses taken in your senior year are highly recommended to ensure readiness for college-level coursework.

3. Social Science: 3 years, including history, civics, geography, economics, and/or political science.

4. World Language: 2 years in one language (American Sign Language and some computer languages can meet this requirement). Proficiency demonstrated by testing can also fulfill this requirement.

5. Lab Science: 3 years of lab-based science courses, including one year of biological science (e.g., biology) and one year of physical science (e.g., physics or chemistry).

6. Senior-Year Math-Based Quantitative Course: This may include a course in senior-year mathematics, computer science, statistics, or another advanced quantitative course (this can also be part of the 3-year math requirement mentioned earlier).

Meeting these requirements means your application to the University of Washington will be considered, but they do not guarantee admission. In addition to meeting the CADRs, the University of Washington considers other factors such as GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters in their holistic admission process. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure you both meet the CADRs and also put together a well-rounded, polished application.

If you want to read more about the CADRs, check out UW's website: https://admit.washington.edu/apply/transfer/cadr/. I hope this initial overview helps clear up some of your confusion, though!