Western Carolina University

Who is a First-Year Student?

Helping ensure that you are on the correct path helps ensure that you find the best information.

You are a first-year student if you wish to enroll at WCU to earn an undergraduate degree, and:

• You are still completing or have completed high school or its equivalent

 AND

• You have not attempted college coursework since completion of high school (with the exception of the summer immediately following spring graduation from high school)

NOTE: Earning advanced standing or dual-enrollment college courses while in high school does not change your student type from first year to transfer; the timing of high school completion determines the student type, not the amount of college coursework completed (including early college or other dual-enrollment students who may have earned an associate’s degree while completing high school). Your amount of college credit (and other advanced credits such as AP or IB) affects your student classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) rather than your student type.