WSU ROAR Admissions
Before You Begin
We recommend reviewing:
Step 1: Complete the Student Application
The application includes the following:
- Student and parent/guardian information
- Education background and medical history
- Work or volunteer experience (if any)
- A personal essay
- Format this as a written essay, a video, a slideshow, or any other way you want
Required Documents
In the application, you’ll be required to provide the following documents. We recommend you have them ready before you begin filling out the application.
- Academic transcript(s)
- Most recent psychological or behavioral evaluation
- Most recent Individualized Learning Plan (IEP), or other support plan, learning plan, or documentation from your school or educational authority that outlines accommodations or services received.
Need a physical or digital copy instead? Email us at coe.roar@wsu.edu
Personal Essay Questions
- Why do you want to attend WSU ROAR?
- If accepted into the program, you’ll live on campus with other ROAR students. What would you want them to know about you?
- What do you want to learn at WSU?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Step 2: Submit a Skills Assessment
As part of the application process, we ask that our prospective students complete a skills assessment. This short survey helps the ROAR team better understand each applicant’s current level of independence and support needed. Your honest responses ensure that we can provide the right kind of support.
The skills assessment covers a range of independent living skills, including:
- Eating and food preparation
- Grooming, hygiene, and dressing
- Household responsibilities
- Traveling and using transportation
- Shopping and using communitiy services
- Planning, scheduling, and social skills
- Health, safety, and sexuality
Step 3: Obtain Two Recommendations
Applicants must obtain two recommendations from people who know the applicant professionally (e.g. teacher, administrator, supervisor, etc.). These must not be family members. The recommender should fill out the form within ten business days of submission of the application.
Step 4: Send In Your Application Fee
Please send a non-refundable $25 application fee payable to WSU ROAR.
What Happens Next?
Once we’ve received all parts of the application, our Admissions Committee will review and score it. Selected applicants will be invited to an interview and assessment phase. Final decisions are made on a rolling basis. For more information, please contact us at coe.roar@wsu.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
WSU ROAR is designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are between the ages of 18 and 26, have completed high school, and are not eligible for traditional college program, even with accommodations. Eligible students should be ready to grow in independence, live on campus, and participate in academic, employment, and community experiences.
Learn more about eligibility and program requirements.
WSU ROAR typically accepts up to 12 students each year, with all new students beginning the program in the Fall semester. If we reach capacity, we may place additional qualified applicants on a waitlist and contact them if space becomes available.
Not at all! WSU ROAR welcomes applicants from across the country. While many of our students are from Washington, we also have students from out of state, and we do not charge out-of-state tuition.
We’re also happy to consider applicants from outside the United States who meet our admissions criteria.
Applications open October 1 and close February 28 of the next year. Because we use a rolling admissions process, we review applications as they come in. Submitting your application early means it will be reviewed sooner, and it lowers your chance of being placed on a waitlist. We strongly encourage students to apply as early as possible.
Yes, you can! We encourage prospective students and families to attend a WSU ROAR tour, though it is not required. Our tours give you the chance to see what life is like at ROAR:
- Explore the ROAR classroom spaces
- Visit WSU dorms and apartments
- Meet WSU ROAR staff and students
- Sit in on a course and ask questions
Visiting can help students and families decide if WSU ROAR is the right fit, and to give students a clearer picture of what its like to live and learn on campus. It’s a great way to reduce the “transition shock” that can come with starting something new. Tour dates and sign-up information can be found on our WSU ROAR Tours page.
WSU ROAR students live on campus for both years of the program.
- In Year 1, students live in WSU residence halls (dorms) alongside their peers.
- In Year 2, students may choose to move into on-campus apartments or private housing to gain more independent living experience.
Yes! WSU ROAR is an approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) through the U.S. Department of Education. Students who meet the requirements for a CTP may be eligible for:
- Federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant (based on qualifying Expected Family Contribution)
- Support through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
- Scholarships, including those available specifically for students with disabilities
- Other resources based on need, eligibility, and availability
Please see our page on Financial Aid for more details.
If a prospective student is not admitted to WSU ROAR, we’ll provide thoughtful feedback on areas to grow before reapplying. This may include suggestions like building independent living skils, gaining volunteer or work experience, or practicing self-advocacy. Our goal is to help every applicant succeed, whether that’s now or in a future admissions cycle. We welcome reapplications and are happy to provide guidance on next steps. Please contact us if you have questions or would like additional support.