UW Bothell STARS Program

In partnership with Career Services, STARS scholars explore career pathways, build professional skills, and prepare for internships and future careers through hands-on experiences and guided support.

Experiences include:

• Spring Tech Trek: Visit local technology companies, explore career paths, and connect with industry professionals.
• Career fairs: Meet employers on campus and explore internship and job opportunities.
• Career workshops: Learn how to strengthen resumes, prepare for interviews, and develop effective job-search strategies.
• Internship preparation: Receive guidance and support throughout the internship search and application process.
• Networking opportunities: Connect with recent alumni and industry partners to learn from their experiences and career journeys.

STARS scholars who submit a FAFSA are automatically considered for the UW Bothell Engineering & Technology Scholars (BETS) Scholarship. The BETS Scholarship provides financial support for academically talented students with financial need who are pursuing engineering and technology degrees.

Join a close-knit cohort of about 35 – 40 scholars who share an interest in technology and engineering. From the start, you’ll learn alongside peers who support one another throughout college.
 
Beyond your cohort, you’ll be part of the larger STARS community, including faculty, staff, and industry partners who are invested in your success. 

Community building experiences include:

• Connecting early through the Summer Bridge program
• Taking classes together throughout the year
• Having the option to live on campus in the dedicated STARS wing (apply for housing here)
• Monthly community socials to interact with all cohorts and the campus community

This built-in support system helps you build relationships, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.

We’re committed to providing high-touch, personalized support in and out of the classroom.

As a STARS scholar, you’ll have access to:

• A dedicated STARS director, academic advisor, and academic success coach
• Peer facilitators, peer coaches, and tutors
• Opportunities to connect with faculty and industry mentors
• A coordinated support team that provides guidance throughout your college journey.

We’ll help you explore your purpose, set goals, prepare for your career, and build a supportive, inclusive community that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, well-being, belonging, and persistence.

STARS Success Seminars: Each quarter, STARS combines strength-based skill-building, personalized academic strategies, tutoring, and project-based workshops to support academic progress and career prep. This includes:

• B CUSP 102: Transitioning into College Learning* (Pre-fall course starts during Summer Bridge)
• B CORE 133: Reflect, engage, prepare 
• B LEAD 102: Leading with purpose: Working in teams 
• B LEAD 206: Learning to lead: Collaboration in diverse context

Reimagined courses: Partnering with STEM faculty, we’ve redesigned courses such as the two-quarter Calculus I sequence and quarterly STARS Success Seminars to give you more time to master core material and build a solid foundation for future computer science and engineering courses.

Reserved course sections: To support timely progress and reduce enrollment barriers, STARS reserves seats in high-demand prerequisite courses during the first year. These courses are taken with fellow scholars, reinforcing the cohort model and collaborative learning. Reserved courses include:

• STMATH 113/114 Calculus I: Stretch I & II*  
• STMATH 125 Calculus II  
• B WRIT 134 Composition, with tech focus  

Get priority registration for high-demand prerequisite courses, including calculus, composition, physics, computer science, and other introductory (100-level) STEM courses. This early access helps you stay on track for competitive major admissions and create schedules that support academic goals while balancing work, family, and personal commitments.

Summer Bridge Week is a one-week immersive residential experience in August designed to help you transition to college confidently.

It offers campus orientation, support networking, and access to key resources, ensuring you’re prepared to succeed before classes start. Learn more about Summer Bridge Week.

Spend your first year living at the UW Bothell Residential Village in the STARS wing of Summit Hall (over half of our scholars choose this option) you can experience independent living, make new friends, and build lasting connections.

To live on-campus:

• Apply to Summit Hall within your housing application. Details and forms are on the Residential Village website.
• Choose to room with another STARS scholar (leave your roommate question blank; we’ll assign one later) or friends you know.
• We’ll work with the housing managers to assign you and your roommate(s) to the STARS wing.

*Please note that STARS is unable to provide your housing costs at this time. Scholars with the BETS scholarship may also use their funds for housing.

The STARS Center (UW1-321) is your on-campus home base, which is an exclusive, welcoming space for scholars only. It’s ideal for studying, relaxing, connecting with peers, or meeting with staff.

Located here are class essentials, computers with dual-monitor stations, and snacks to keep you energized. It’s a safe, comfortable environment to focus and recharge.