Daphne Park resident Akshadha Seshamani is going from middle school directly to the University of Washington’s transition school program for early entrance.
Akshadha, 13, is also a member of the Highlands Youth Board. She will continue to serve our community while attending UW.
We asked Akshadha to share some of her experiences qualifying for the program and excitement looking ahead.
Are you excited about starting college early?
I completed 8th grade at Pacific Cascade Middle School. Now, skipping high school altogether to enter college early was not an easy decision for me or my family, but I am excited to have this opportunity.
The transition school program is offered by the University of Washington Robinson Center for Young Scholars. When I received the admission letter, I was beyond ecstatic.
On the other hand, my parents were quite nervous. While they encourage me to dream big, they want me to enjoy childhood. They wanted me to understand that this is a serious decision beyond just academic rigor. I am thankful to my parents and brother as they are always there for me, helping me think through different perspectives and supporting my decisions.
Not only did I have to qualify for the program, but also convince my parents to allow me to do this. And I am excited to get started.
What made you apply for the program? And what do you want to study?
I eventually want to go to law school after undergrad. Ever since the 2016 presidential election, I have been extremely interested in history, politics, the constitution, and law. Watching old episodes of “Law and Order” with my dad makes me even more enthusiastic. I enjoy the way the show portrays the inner workings of court, whether it be the showing of the judge’s chambers, plea bargains, or the appeals system.
Law became more than just an inkling; it became a certainty. My parents were often witness to my long-winded rants about history, politics, and law. One summer my mom signed me up for a Mock Trial course at the Robinson Center. I enjoyed the class, as it was instructive and fun, with a lot of group activity.
It was there that I got to know about the transition program. The prospect of finishing undergrad early to get to law school excited me. Just for fun, I decided to apply. After a lengthy discussion with my parents (just trying to talk them into it), I began my application.
What does the application process look like and how did you prepare for it? Walk us through your experience.
The application was broken up into three main requirements: the ACT, essays, and letters of recommendation. This was followed by an interview.
In December 2021, I took my ACT test at Sumner High School. Entering the hall, I was slightly nervous. The only “preparation” I had was a practice test I found online to familiarize myself with the format. The exam covered four sections: English, math, reading and science.
Two weeks later, I could hear my brother scream my results from his room. He said I had secured a 33 out of 36 in English, and overall, the 93rd percentile. I later understood the score was excellent for my age. I would attribute my success to the tips and tricks my elementary and middle school teachers taught me about test taking as well as my love of reading.
With phase one of the application process complete, I started writing the essays. There were many prompts with topics relating to hobbies, self-awareness and impacts of COVID on learning. And, of course, the main essay question asked, “Why is transition school right for you?”
These essays required a lot of introspection and forced me to be honest about my strengths and weaknesses. With phase two finally complete, I got letters of recommendation from my math, language arts, and Spanish teachers. With my grades up to that point, I submitted the application and prayed for good news.
About two months later, I got the news that I had been selected for the next phase of the application: the interview. Before the interview started, I had 45 minutes to complete a writing prompt. It was completely impromptu and I had to plan, write, and edit my response all in that short period of time.
The interviewers were very friendly, and they had a lot of questions. Their questions gauged whether I had the mental fortitude and maturity to skip high school and study with people much older than me. Afterwards, they answered many of my questions, and the session was over in what felt like a snap. They interviewed my parents as well.
After waiting for another month, I got the news that I had been admitted into the program. Surprisingly, my parents were the unsure ones. I spent a few weeks trying to convince them before they ultimately agreed. After that, I signed up for the program.
When does transition school start?
Classes started on Sept. 28, which is aligned with the normal UW schedule. I just attended the orientation program, and it was great to meet other kids in the program. In total, there will be 14 students in our cohort. The classes will be held at UW Robinson Center, located right next to Drumheller Fountain.
While we will be taking courses related to math, biology, language arts and history, the goal of this program is to prepare us for learning at the college level. This means an emphasis on analysis, communication and self-reliance.
At what age will you complete undergrad? Have you decided on your major? Are you interested in participating in anything beyond academics at UW?
Each student in the transition program is guaranteed any major of our choice. We can choose after our second year. At age 14, I will be a true freshman at UW. I can complete undergrad when I am 17.
After that, students in the transition program can choose to extend our time in college. There are some students who go on to complete two or three majors. Transition school alumni will also offer their support through mentorship.
Once I become a true freshman next year, I plan to join many clubs such as Mock Trial and other service organizations. I’m most excited for the Indian Acapella group, Awaaz. I’ve been learning Indian classical music from a very young age, and I hope to continue that in college.
Will you be living on campus? Are you going to continue serving the Issaquah Highlands community?
UW doesn’t allow students under the age of 17 to reside in dorms, so I will be commuting from Issaquah Highlands to Seattle.
My parents have lived here in Issaquah Highlands since 2006. We love the neighborhood a lot and I plan to remain active in the community through the HY Board. I also hope to create some regular vlogs (video blogs) about my experiences in UW transition school to help other students who may want to try taking this path.
